Some Things to Consider for the 2009 Season

[Chris Fultz]

Students – you don’t have to look very hard to find bad news stories about many of the companies that you see named during FIRST competitions. Many of the company names that you see listed in the pits, on robots and on team websites as sponsors are facing economic challenges like we have not seen in many, many years. Unemployment in the US is at a record level and the number of companies entering bankruptcy protection is staggering. The impact is on big business, small business and everything in between.

So, what does that mean and how should it affect you? As you talk to your sponsors and work to try and raise funds for this season, remember that the company you are talking to may be in the middle of layoffs or other staff reductions. They could be near bankruptcy. The small business that could always give you a few hundred dollars may be wondering if they can keep their doors open as their workload has dropped. The person you have always talked to may be worried if they will have a job in the next few weeks. That company that aways donated some machining time may not exist anymore. No business or area of the country is immune and the reach will be far.

Before you knock on doors, do some research. See if the company you are going to talk to has been in the news – is the company doing well or are they struggling? Try to understand their challenges and be understanding if the donation you receive is a little smaller, or if they simply say “we are not able to support you this year” due to … .

And, whatever their level of support, be sure you are thanking them for helping your team. Remember, when companies are scrambling to reduce costs, often times external donations are early items to get cut.

Remember too, that many of your mentors work for these same companies that are in the headlines. They may be concerned about the cutbacks around them, maybe even worried about their own jobs. Their volunteer hours might be reduced, their ability to travel with you to events could be limited.

Everything is not all gloom and doom, and many companies and sponsors will remain involved and provide a high level of support. My point is for you to be aware of your sponsors and mentors and their situations and realize it could have a big impact on you and your team in the coming months.

[lenny8]

this year just seems tougher in every way if its not learning new controls or new programming its trying to make money to even make it to one event this year. i know in my team we are still trying to get money to get to the events, we haven't even covered the travel expenses yet but, we still plan on having the best year in the teams history this year.

-Lenny

I think this year will provide teams with a new (for some teams, anyway) challenge: A real budget limit. I understand that many teams have "budget issues," but this year magnifies them. Higher budget constraints come into play in the real world, so it's good practice to get used to them here.

Also, Ingenuity and Innovation should be pressed a little bit this year. Nothing breeds innovation like necessity.

[Pat Arnold]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

...Students –The impact is on big business, small business and everything in between.

...Try to understand their challenges and be understanding if the donation you receive is a little smaller, or if they simply say “we are not able to support you this year” due to … .

And, whatever their level of support, be sure you are thanking them for helping your team.

What an important topic. When businesses (or mentors) go unthanked or unrecognized, their generousity often goes elsewhere even in the best of economies. In the current market, team understanding of their community's issues & needs is critical.

To create a strong partnership with sponsors (& your community) involve your team & provide help when possible. From assisting a small business with website issues, to helping at a company's employee picnic, to assisting with a business's canned food drive, to helping paint a store-front; teams have man/student power to contribute. It allows others to see the positive impact of FIRST teams & its value for your community's investment (beyond the inspiration of future technologists).

So...I guess my point is that team efforts invested in areas usually associated with the Chairman'a Award are even more critical this year! Don't just build a robot; build up your community.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Pat Arnold

What an important topic. When businesses (or mentors) go unthanked or unrecognized, their generousity often goes elsewhere even in the best of economies. In the current market, team understanding of their community's issues & needs is critical.

To create a strong partnership with sponsors (& your community) involve your team & provide help when possible. From assisting a small business with website issues, to helping at a company's employee picnic, to assisting with a business's canned food drive, to helping paint a store-front; teams have man/student power to contribute. It allows others to see the positive impact of FIRST teams & its value for your community's investment (beyond the inspiration of future technologists).

So...I guess my point is that team efforts invested in areas usually associated with the Chairman'a Award are even more critical this year! Don't just build a robot; build up your community.

EXCELLENT Thoughts.

I would just like to expand on them a little. Students, realize that many mentors spend their personal vacation days with you instead of their families. Some of us travel hundreds or thousands of miles just to help. What I am getting at, yes sponsors who give you money are great. But FIRST is about mentors inspiring kids, thank them for their time. Even if it is just a smile.

While we are thanking people, thank the parents. I know a lot of teams have parents provide food. Thank them, but take it a step further, help them set up, help them clean up. Invite them to sit down and eat with you. I know my parents got a irritated when no one would help them. These people are donating a LOT of time and money into you guys, at least help them out.

Most importantly, I know a lot of teams want to win a Chairman's award. Awards are great, they are fun, but there are a total of about 15 Chairman's award winning teams in the WORLD. This is about 1% of the teams. Do not do something just to win an award. Do things because they make the world a better place.

I think it is time for another one of my stories, this is about the impact a small action can have.

One day a man is walking the beach, he sees an elderly man walking alone along the shore. The elderly man stoops down and picks up something then tosses it into the water. A couple feet later he does this again. The first man asks the elderly man, "What are you doing?"
The elderly man replies, "I am tossing these starfish back in the water so they don't die."
"But what good could you possibly do? There are so many starfish and you are only one man, what difference does it make?" Replied the first man.
As the man stoops to pick up another starfish, "It made a difference to this one." And he tosses the starfish back into the ocean.

Story is a perfect analogy for FIRST. As a mentor I realize that there is no way that even in a thousand years could I change the world, as a student I realized I couldn't make every mentor feel appreciated. But you know what, to the students I help I do change the world. And to the mentors I thanked I did change their world.

Summing it all up, you don't need to be Dean Kamen to change the world. You don't need to win, you dont need a major sponsor. You can change the world just by helping one person. So, say thank you to your mentors, to your parents, to your community, and to anyone who helps you.

This is my way of saying thanks to all the people who tossed me back into the ocean, thanks RUSH.

[Tom Line]

I like this post. Being a Ford employee, I guess you could say I'm living it.

In the past 1 year, we have fired or forced to leave approximately 500 people in my plant. The plant started out with 1300 or so folks. To put that in perspective, look at the person sitting in front of you, the person to you left, the person to your right and behind. Get rid of 1 in every 3 of them. Your friends, neighbors.... can you imagine how horrible it is to know that the folks being walked out the door have families at home that are now wondering where their next meal is coming from?

So when you go to your build locations, if they happen to be at one of your sponsors - thank them. They're going through incredibly hard times. To continue to support a program like this while they're getting rid of huge portions of their workforce shows unbelievable commitment to our communities.