Scouter/strategizer for hire

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

To address the original question, I would be all for teams treating you guys like their mentors if they so choose. Depending on the team this may cover gas and a roof over your head for the weekend. Even this is pushing it as mentors are there the whole season and you guys are just hopping in for the weekend. I would definitely wonder about any team that would reward a weekend strategy team with anything above and beyond what they do for their mentors.

Would someone in this situation really want to be a mentor?

If you are considered a mentor of the team, you're in a position where you can pretty much be held responsible for anything that happens to the kids while they are under team supervision.

I know this isn't really under the domain of the original topic of this thread, but it's something to think about.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Cory

Would someone in this situation really want to be a mentor?

If you are considered a mentor of the team, you're in a position where you can pretty much be held responsible for anything that happens to the kids while they are under team supervision.

I know this isn't really under the domain of the original topic of this thread, but it's something to think about.

This is a very good point Cory and I think it is important, even if it doesn't directly address the initial question.

To be honest, it didn't even cross my mind.

[JaneYoung]

There are likely cause and effect possibilities that stem from ideas like this. It is good to step back and look at/think of all the ones that you can.

I thought about the awards. As it stands now, how are judges going to understand that a team hired a strategist at the competition? Many judges (as well as others) understand the concept of helping to change the culture. By hiring strategists, is that helping to change the culture? If it is, how is it doing so and to what end? There's a lot to think about in a proposal such a this one, I think. If you are hired and you don't come through with the success you are offering the team, can they sue you? It becomes a business. Let's say teams at regionals make it a common practice to hire strategists - then what comes next - working within the culture in society that exists now? Where can it lead?

Also, part of being an FRC team is developing and growing. If the team invites strategists to come to some team meetings and share experience/knowledge, that is a way to help the team develop and grow. If the team hires strategists to come to the regional and work for the team in achieving success on the field, it can still help the team develop and grow but it can also invite problems that the team and the strategists need to be prepared for.

This is an .02, nothing more.
Jane

[Karthik]

Dylan,

Kudos to you for wanting to spread your knowledge and expertise to other teams. Many FIRST teams seem to lack sound strategic planning at competitions. Hopefully by helping a single team out at a regional, you can inspire them to focus more on strategic planning in the future. This in my mind is a very good thing.

As for the issue of payment by donation, I see no issue with it. One of the most important part of the FIRST program is developing partnerships. What makes FIRST a unique program is that teams are encouraged to develop partnerships with engineers and mentors to increase the learning and inspiration of the student participants. This is exactly what any team who uses Dylan's services would be doing. Many teams give their mentors gifts at the end of the year, or even cover their travel costs during the season as recognition for their dedication and sacrifices. Chipping in to cover Dylan's travel costs, or buying him dinner seem like a more than fair way to recognize and reward the service he would be providing for the team.

[Starke]

Originally Posted by Karthik

As for the issue of payment by donation, I see no issue with it. One of the most important part of the FIRST program is developing partnerships. What makes FIRST a unique program is that teams are encouraged to develop partnerships with engineers and mentors to increase the learning and inspiration of the student participants. This is exactly what any team who uses Dylan's services would be doing. Many teams give their mentors gifts at the end of the year, or even cover their travel costs during the season as recognition for their dedication and sacrifices. Chipping in to cover Dylan's travel costs, or buying him dinner seem like a more than fair way to recognize and reward the service he would be providing for the team.

As Dylan mentioned when starting this thread, I am the second part to the equation of this idea. What Karthik said is exactly what we are aiming for. Dylan and I are not looking to charge teams for our services, simply covering the costs to be there to help. Both of us love scouting and strategizing, and desire to share our knowledge with other teams! This thread is meant to share our idea with the CD community and see what other teams think.

- Matt

[Madison]

Also, for the record, this notion is certainly not unprecedented. A team's engineering mentor was unable to attend the 2003 Championship in Houston due to illness, and consequently, I was asked to substitute. The team's sponsor covered all of my travel costs.

[colin340]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

There are likely cause and effect possibilities that stem from ideas like this. It is good to step back and look at/think of all the ones that you can.

I thought about the awards. As it stands now, how are judges going to understand that a team hired a strategist at the competition? Many judges (as well as others) understand the concept of helping to change the culture. By hiring strategists, is that helping to change the culture? If it is, how is it doing so and to what end? There's a lot to think about in a proposal such a this one, I think. If you are hired and you don't come through with the success you are offering the team, can they sue you? It becomes a business. Let's say teams at regionals make it a common practice to hire strategists - then what comes next - working within the culture in society that exists now? Where can it lead?

Also, part of being an FRC team is developing and growing. If the team invites strategists to come to some team meetings and share experience/knowledge, that is a way to help the team develop and grow. If the team hires strategists to come to the regional and work for the team in achieving success on the field, it can still help the team develop and grow but it can also invite problems that the team and the strategists need to be prepared for.

This is an .02, nothing more.
Jane

you bring up some good points Jane but form talking to dill-un (Dylan) i would not call it hiring i don't think would make money he would just break even as he said ( NOT MONETARY PAYMENTS!) food, gas and leting him sleep in your cold garage during the comp is not really hireing him

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by colin340

you bring up some good points Jane but form talking to dill-un (Dylan) i would not call it hiring i don't think would make money he would just break even as he said ( NOT MONETARY PAYMENTS!) food, gas and leting him sleep in your cold garage during the comp is not really hireing him

Right,
so in the proposals, it should be stated as such with the purpose being made crystal clear. In working through this, every aspect should be carefully thought of from every angle. One is still offering their services and there will be expectations attached to the services on both sides. Those expectations should be looked at and addressed whether it is a service exchange that helps with travel costs or it is a monetary payment. In other words, this is a golden opportunity for a couple of entrepreneurs to develop a business plan.

[Steve Ketron]

I personally have enjoyed the chance to work with Dylan in the past and would like to officially invite him to come to Michigan and help my team. Considering that scouting/strategizing is one of the major areas of concern with the iPirates and my new team Ketronix, I believe it would be worth everything to have such valuable experience come in and show my students what and how scouting/strategizing is done correctly. Dylan drop me an e-mail and I will hook you up in Michigan.

[Wetzel]

The team I am with now, 1884, has in the past not had enough technical mentors. This year, they got extra funds to offer potential mentors a fellowship. It's a decent about of money, £250 for undergraduates and £500 for professional mentors. It's enough to cover my costs to take the bus to and from the meetings for the season. They are expecting a minimum of 40 hours during build season(lol), and there is an application process. I would be working with them anyways, but the fellowship attracted a PhD mechatronics student from Imperial College. Now that he has been around a few weeks, he has actually committed to more time and seems to be enjoying himself, in addition to being really helpful!

It is basically a stipend in an attempt to lure mentors, rather than people that want to goto more regionals trying to cover their expenses. I might be slightly biased about it, but I don't see a fellowship as a bad thing to offer. VCU offers a 3 course 400 level engineering elective course where you work with a FRC team for the build season. Not so different an incentive.

Wetzel

[Mike Starke]

Dylan is a great resource, that I have been able to work with for a long time. And with Matt, well he's my brother, and I must say, he's awesome with strategy as well. He aided the 1126 alliance in 2006 at Championship when they won Galileo and was about to play the Newton alliance. Matt had all the information about the Newton alliance and quickly stepped in to help 1126. FLR 2008- 1126 was knocked out in quarter finals, and immediately after words came to the help of our alliance, giving suggestions and strategies. If that isn't GP, I'm not sure what is.

Matt and Dylan were planning all year how to beat 1114, and it happened at IRI. The 1126 alliance beat the 1114 alliance in the semi finals. Their strategy worked. (I'm not bashing 1114, in fact, it's a compliment to them).

As Dylan said, he has been on field team for 3 years, and he has all the experience you could ask for. Dylan has lead the field team into 3 consecutive times into elimination rounds in Atlanta. (06, 07, 08). And once to Einstein (06). Dylan is a very friendly, personable guy, and can remain calm and thinks with a clear head. He is great to get along with, and plays well with others.
Matt has been around FIRST for about 6-7 years and has seen it all. The good years, the bad years. Robots and strategies that work, and those that don't. Matt too is a great guy to work with, and will listen to your thoughts and share his as well.

These guys are great, and aren't in it for the money (well there's none involved anyway). Like Dylan said, it's just to cover their expenses. They love FIRST, and just wanna be able to use their talents and abilities to help others.