Disbanded Teams

[mrmummert]

There used to be team 616 from Southampton High , Southampton County,Va.
They were in existance from 2001 thru 2005 and very early 2006.
During late 2005 and the first week of 2006 it was planned to have both
616 and newer team 1610 from Franklin High (rookie year 2005) work together
at a local community college and merge the following year. While we held meetings and did some planning both school boards never worked anything out.

(I won't go into the details here and don't fully know all of it anyway. Its still
a sore subject down here.) Anyway team 616's lead teacher got so fed up with what happened she quit and 616 died along with her. 1610 continued on and went on to win the NASA/VCU regional that year. Later three former students of 616 and one of the mentors joined 1610. 1610 also already had one mentor who had worked with 616 previously.

1610 continued on until they were moved from the high school. During last year the space at the school that 1610 had used was needed for another class and all of 1610's stuff was moved to storage. Many mentor meetings
were held and we also attended many school board meetings until a place
was found for 1610. By then though it was very late in the fall of 2008 and almost winter and 1610's lead teacher decided to pull the plug and not compete for this year 2009. 1610 almost died.

But ...it was decided to continue on and compete in 2010. The school system
gave us a former gym to use (built in 1935) and spent some money to upgrade the building so we could use it. (it had no heat and old wiring and lighting)Hopefully we will be able to start setting up our shop soon (they are finishing up the rehab work as i write this)...anyway...1610 at least continues.

Thats not to say 616 has been forgotten. We at least got to know them in 2005 and i at least am grateful for 616 leading the way in our area for the FIRST program and the mentors who have joined 1610 after 616 was lost.

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by mrmummert

Thats not to say 616 has been forgotten. We at least got to know them in 2005 and i at least am grateful for 616 leading the way in our area for the FIRST program and the mentors who have joined 1610 after 616 was lost.

Thanks Hank.

FIRST was a great program for Southampton, and they wanted to claim our winnings for the school system, but showed us no support otherwise.

The usual VCU teams still remember 616, but the students who remember us are becoming slim. Maybe one day 616 will come back, but by the time that happens they may be known as 4616!

[keehun]

Originally Posted by ay2b

In 2009, there are approximately 1700 teams (1682, IIRC), and the highest number is at least 3122. They occasionally skip a few numbers, but based on those numbers it indicates that something like 40% of all FIRST teams fold.

This really scares me because our team barely signed up for our local regional. Our team balance is like less than my personal savings account after buying a MacBook Pro (aka, sub $100ish..)

Gotta fundraise!

Now, my main question is, why do these teams fold?

Too contrasting ideals among teachers/team leaders/students? Fundraising troubles?

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by keehun

Now, my main question is, why do these teams fold?

Too contrasting ideals among teachers/team leaders/students? Fundraising troubles?

I can't say for sure, but I would expect that it breaks down like this:

30% of disbanded teams had financial problems
60% had adult leadership problems or burnout
5% had other school/sponsor issues
5% had some other problem

Rarely, if ever, would a team fail for student reasons. If the adult mentorship is strong, the students can come and go and the program will survive.

[Not2B]

465 competed in 2000 and 2001, but the sponsor could not return (bankruptcy), so 465 was no longer.

However, 862 was created in 2002 with a new sponsor at the same school complex. And I do mean complex. (Canton-Plymouth-Salem is an interesting beast of a high school system with 6200 students on 305 acres) FIRST HQ felt it was going to be easier to form a new team rather than convert 465 over to the new sponsor and organization. Not really sure why.

[Sunstroke]

Originally Posted by ay2b

It's interesting when FIRST allows teams that switch schools to keep the same number and when they don't. I'm not sure what that decision is based on. I've heard that the number stays with the school, but I know of two examples (and therefore suspect it's happened a lot more) where that was not the case -- all the mentors stayed together, but switched schools, and kept the same team number. In both these cases, the old school no longer had a team.

In 1994, Team 144 was with Walnut Hills High School. At some point after that, they switched to Northwest High School. I don't know which school they were with in 1996.

In 2000, Team 488 was Redmond High School. They didn't participate in 2001. In 2002, Team 488 reformed with Franklin High School.

Team 190 was originally a pairing of Doherty High School and WPI; however, that shifted to Mass Academy and WPI in 1994 and 1995

Although, Mass Academy is possibly facing closure, which means that a high school shift might happen again...

[Mrpresident1776]

Here's an article out Richmond that I found saddening.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/new...223208/236489/

JUAN ANTONIO LIZAMA TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: March 20, 2009

Robotics teams feel pinch from recession Budgets have shrunk as some sponsors cut back on their support

James River High School's robotics team lost a major sponsor, JetBlue Airways, this year because of the recession.

"They were an outstanding sponsor for us, but times are tough all around, so they just couldn't afford to sponsor us anymore," said Bob Benway, a physics teacher and coach at the Chesterfield County school. "We've taken some hits from other sponsors as well."

Benway and his team were busy working on the robot yesterday in the crowded pit area at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center in preparation for the annual FIRST Robotics Competition NASA/VCU Regional today and tomorrow. (FIRST is For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.)

This year, many of the 70 participating high school teams from Virginia, Canada and Brazil are feeling the effects of a weak economy. They have lost school-funded transportation and sponsors. They've cut their budgets, skipped competitions and worked harder to raise money.

Pattie Cook, the Virginia FIRST regional director, said she picked up some new sponsors and lost some in her fundraising for this year's competition.

"A few companies and partners whose budgets were sliced hugely . . . said, 'You know, we need to take a pass this year. We're so sorry,'" she said.

Teams pay a $6,000 registration fee, which includes a kit with parts to build the robots.

Matt Wilson, a physics teacher and coach for the Goochland High School team, said the robotics program's budget shrank to $10,000 from $16,000 last year. So the team did not participate in a second competition and could not build a robot prototype for practice.

"Lots of the smaller companies that we would get a couple of hundred dollars from were not able to contribute this year," he said yesterday at the Siegel Center while team members worked nearby, adjusting a battery running low after a skirmish session. "We may have lost monetary donations, but the level of mentor support has increased this year."

James River High's Benway said a grant from NASA saved the team.

"Without that NASA support this year, I'm not sure we would be on the field right now," he said as he bumped fists with mentor Lloyd O'Hara when the team successfully hooked the robot to the control system.

Budget constraints forced the team to skip a Washington competition about two weeks ago, coaches did not receive their polo shirts and team members had to pay for food.

Even though the team could not do as much as the members wanted to, the important thing is that students are learning about science and engineering, Benway said just before the team rolled the robot for a second inspection.

"I know of no better program in the educational circles that gives as much hands-on work with the state-of-the-art equipment that they have," he said.

The Richmond Community High School team was unsure whether Qimonda, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January, would support the team this year. But FIRST Robotics is one of few programs the company decided to continue funding, said John Siket, who was laid off from Qimonda's memory-chip plant in Henrico County. Siket, who is still looking for a job, continued volunteering with the team.

"We actually were able to spend more time on the robot because we were laid off," he said.

Charles Montgomery, an engineer with Philip Morris, said his supervisor encouraged his volunteering with the Trinity Episcopal School team, which has a $10,000 budget and has not been affected financially so far. But the company has gone through a major reorganization.

"People who are still there are kind of concerned about, 'Gee, do I have time to do this kind of thing and still keep on doing my regular job?'" he said as he guided a student in drilling holes and screwing parts on the robot.

Some teams, on the other hand, are thriving.

Fran Nolen, a physics teacher and coach for the Deep Run High School team in Henrico County, said her team is bigger and has a larger budget, totaling $39,000 this year. Her team was the regional champion and recipient of the Chairman's Award last year.

"We're fortunate to have strong sponsors," she said. "This is our strongest year yet."

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or jlizama@timesdispatch.com .