Elite (invite only) FIRST teams

Originally Posted by KathieK

OK, so here's my "flack".

If you are looking to start a selective FIRST team for the sole purpose of creating a very competitive team, then sorry, you've missed the point of FIRST.

It ain't about the robots.

Wouldn't it be a better use of your VERY LIMITED TIME as a freshman, to get more students interested in STEM areas instead of limiting your team to only a chosen few?

I see that I came across as wanting this for the sole purpose of being competitive, and so I need to jump on it quickly and apologize for coming across that way. The main point would be to weed out serious students, and to simulate a business environment as much as possible, from the way hiring works, all the way to product (in this case the robot) development and selection.

Sorry for coming across the other way, I slammed out the thread in a relatively short amount of time.

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

It's interesting. I'm not sure I like 'elite' though. When I think of 'elite' teams in FIRST, I think of teams who have worked hard to put it all together into a successful package of achievement gained through the years of trial, error, battle scars, and callouses. To start an 'elite' team would mean a whole 'nother thing.

Elite wasn't really meant to be a snobby type term, but more of show where I've found ideas for the team. Elite means I've gone through hell on a team, and watched others get torn apart by issues that could be solved by something as simple as a more corporate environment. Elite means taking most of the dead weight out of a team, in order to focus the learning as much as possible. Elite was more of my way of saying a selected, focused force, rather than a scattered group of students and mentors working feverishly to complete a task.

Originally Posted by lilstogi11

In my own opinion, the idea is awesome.

His point of an application/selection is not meant to rule out the spirit of involvement that is FIRST. I think its a a great idea for people who have moved on from the high school level and want to enter a level that simulates more of a corporate or business type of engineering experience because this will help lead those students into the life of the work force. Sure, high school teams do this as well, but I think the level of engagement Craig is talking about is to focus on a more advanced feel for the engineering and design aspect of the robot.
Other than being more competitive and a little more exclusive, I don't see how its that far from the inclusive mindset of FIRST.
Good luck with it Craig

Exactly.

The goal here would be to have the team operate as a business would. In order to join a company, you need to apply. If the position you're applying is already full, you can either get denied or apply for a different position (obviously we'd have to set a certain number of posts per job). Once you're on the company, you're going to have shop hours. You're going to have to make design changes rapidly, and then "sell" your idea to the Board in order to get funding and the ability to move forward.


I think a team like this could do a world of good, if properly managed. It would teach students huge responsibility, and immerse them into the business model much earlier than a normal team. There are a ton of students that wouldn't work well on a team this structured, and that's fine. Many students haven't developed to that level yet. However, I believe it would be immeasurably beneficial for the ones that ARE ready for it.

EDIT: I forgot to make this clear! This team wouldn't be based at a normal public high school. Instead, it would be based at a Middle College program, which is only populated by students who are either not very involved in the public school system, or who are far in advance of the normal schooling level. That locale would ensure a fairly professional applicant field.