FIRST Needs a Spokesperson

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Posted by mike aubry.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chiefs, from Pontiac Central.

Posted on 8/17/99 4:24 AM MST


In Reply to: FIRST Needs a Spokesperson posted by Andy Baker on 8/13/99 2:03 PM MST:



> So... who would you like to be our spokesperson?

I would like to see a 30 second collage, like at the end of the nationals be turned into a commercial
that is aired whenever a specific targetted audience would be watching. Link it up with a high tech science
movie (like Apollo 13) or a movie that the target audience is high school age movie goers, or a show
like 'science guy' Bill Nye. I wouldn't mind getting a big name as a spokesperson, but beware of ego's
at the FIRST leadership level. Remember that this whole concept continues to emphasize to kids that
the people they want to grow up and look up to, are not the stars of sports or movies! If that is to held true
then the picking of a spokesperson's field is narrowed considerably. I can't see someone from the political
arena being someone that kids will look up to, either. If this idea of FIRST is going to be shared, communicated,
or marketted, it most likely will require a grass roots effort. The key to this in my opinion, is not the 'Who' -
spokesperson role, but instead the 'How'! I vote for using the web as a primary means, followed up with
print and billboards! Their are lots of ways to catch the attention of people - the tradeoff is the cost.
Time on televised events can be very expensive, but their are other ways to do it. FIRST must do this regionally,
but should rely on a consortium of existing teams within the regional areas to help guide them by telling them
what school districts, and the best method to market to them. (newsprint, billboards, etc.) The consortium becomes
the big brother or regional alliance. I'm am positive, based on the PCHS / Delphi endeavors over the past 3 yrs, that
although it's somewhat healthy for us to say we brought a great number of teams to FIRST, that the task to do so
is time consuming at the least. Sorry, this is long - but I think you have an idea here worthy of some input! Thanks
for the opportunity.
Mike A.