The Imminent Dissolution of Team 2065

[Spartan151]

Thank for everything you've said, guys. When I wrote this entry this morning, I was a bit down, and wrote it in haste, so it sounds a bit worse than it is. But nonetheless I've looked at what you all have said and, like all of the truth that hurts, that's what it is. Truth. I'll talk to my coach about a merger and talk with our former coach as well. But....the merger can only happen if the two school districts allow it (or at least, that's what I've been told).

And you're right. I need to take a good long look at what's happened here and look at the true goals of FIRST. I'll find answers there as well, but I would have never thought of it right then and there unless you said something. Thanks. I see now that, in ways I didn't think about before, there is hope. This is why I love FIRST, and why I love CD. You guys have given me a lot of different ideas to try out if the merger doesn't work. And even if it does, they're still worth trying. So I take back my previous statement....(see below).

The team isn't dead yet.

[guakam0li1089]

for more ways to get sponsers, you could ask the parents of the team members to ask the companies they work for. in many cases, these companies have prgrams in which they sponsor such activities for tax purposes. its worth looking into. i hope we will be able to see you guys in atlanta this year. good luck.

[Jon Stratis]

I would heavily agree with what most people have said here. FIRST is about inspiration, and when you lose that, you end up losing a team. That being said, there's only so much any one person can do to inspire a team to greatness. If you really think your team is unsustainable, then finding another team to merge with would be a great solution. The individuals on your team who are passionate about the program would get to continue, while the other team would gain some great, motivated individuals.

For other teams/captains/mentors or whoever that are afraid this might happen with their team in the near future, a few suggestions:

1. recruit young. Let the entire school know you're recruiting, but focus your efforts on sophomores and freshmen. If you can recruit 2 freshmen and show them how much fun the team can be, they'll bring 5 friends with them the next year. And another 5 friends the next. By focusing recruitment efforts on the underclassmen, you'll end up getting the upper classmen for free.
2. Have a plan for every meeting. Know what needs to be accomplished, and communicate that to the team members - set reasonable goals that will fill up the entire time. By having enough work for everyone to do, it'll help make sure you don't have some kids sitting off to the side not knowing what to do.
3. Make it fun. The atmosphere in your workspace is just as important as everything else. The students should be excited, they should be able to see progress being made and feel the anticipation for the completed robot. They should want to come back every night to work because they want to, not because something has to get finished. All to often, i hear someone say "oh look, it's almost time to go home" and someone else reply "seriously? we just got here!".
4. Finally, inspiration comes from everyone on the team. In the end, if someone doesn't want to be there, no amount of persuasion is going to inspire them. The real inspiration comes from inside. There aren't magic words that can be said to create inspiration. Only a feeling that comes from deep within that makes you tingle with excitement and anticipation.


We all certainly hope for the best with your team, and that you can get through the current difficulties, and emerge as a bigger, more cohesive team.

[AdamHeard]

Excuse me if I sound harsh, but this is simply what I believe.

I'll Quote Dave Lavery, "Learn to Swim".

It does not matter what happens, what resources you have or how desperate the situation looks; you find a way to make it happen.

In terms of funding, you'll have to find a way to get the money.

In terms of people, you'll have to find a way to motivate them. And actually, 14 members is a lot, even if most don't do much. I've only competed in a season or two with more than 14 student members.

[customh]

I am a former member of what I still consider my team, and last year we competed with ~8 members. It can be done, and money isn't a problem with all the companies out there that want to employ people like us later.

[smurfgirl]

There are a few things I think you can take away from this. Sometimes, no matter what you do to try to hold things together and keep them under control, they still fall apart. This is just something that happens, a fact of life that we have to cope with. As hard as it is, we have to accept this, and move on to other battles. You remained reasonable and calm through your description of the situation. No whining, pointing fingers, or yelling about what happened. This shows something about you as a person. It sounds like you have great potential yourself, and I don't think you or the few students/engineers who are left with your team really want things to end this way. It may be the end (at least temporarily) of one team number, but it doesn't mean it has to be the end of the FIRST experience for you guys. Merge with the other team. It will build character, and you won't have to end things on a sour note.