School/Team Relationships 2

[Jnadke]

How much money do you receive from your school PTA, ASB, etc?
We are actually fundend by the entire Appleton Area School District (~80,00 people). A pet project of the current Superintendent. We must keep enrollment open to all 3 Appleton High Schools, so we do. Let's just say we get "enough". Not as much as some of the Delphi teams, though.

Is robotics only a club or is it a class for credits at your school?
For the past 6 years, it has just been a club. Next year, however, it will be a class for anyone in Tesla Engineering Charter School or not in it. This year is the first that we were eligible to get a letter in FIRST. If you already got one, then you get a patch. It seems I haven't recieved mine yet...

Who does all the PR work for your team (shirts, website, brochurs, fundraising, etc)?
Some of the less technically inclined people opted to head this up. But also, they did have people helping them do this (even people that were technically inclined). Nothing on our team is delegated unless it absolutely must get done. Everyone knows the work that needs to get done. This year, due to budget cuts, a bit less than 2/3 of the students got to go to nationals. Those who put in the most work, as evaluated by the mentors, were eligible to go.

Does your team work at school or a nearby college? (Where does the building take place and where are team meetings held?)
We actually work at our High School's tech center. It's a rather spacious area that we can work in. We have a machine shop at the high school that has lathes, mills, drill presses, welding tools, plasma cutters (fun, fun). Anything this machinery is to imprecise to do, we can do out at FV Technical College, which has a large machine shop at our disposal. This year a teacher (from FVTC) headed up teaching a few students the machinery over there. Lastly, an area machine shop let us use thier equipment to make our gearboxes. If I have a pic of these, I'll show you. They are sealed and hella shiny.

What is the general attitude of people in your school toward your robotics team? Do they think it is cool or nerdy?
In physics class, everything thinks that "we can put together a nuclear reactor from a toothpick and pocket lint". Hehe... okay, so I am exaggerating, but you do get experience working with things that normal students don't get to. However, some other clubs are upset about our budget... they have a general idea.

On a more individual note, if your team group can't decide on something or they are just sitting around lazy, do you try to get the group to work or do you just do things yourself?
The students make all the decisions. There are a few students that help pull the team together but a concensus is made on all the major details of the robot (shape, function, etc). Then sub-groups are split up and exact details are finalized. The engineers and teachers help give advice, and keep everyone on track during the starting phases of the build. After that, everyone pretty much knows what needs to get done and works together quite well.

Last, who works with your team, Physics teachers, mechanical engineers, math teachers, art teachers, parents, etc?
We have many teachers, engineers, and parents that help out with the team, from Plexus and Kimberly-Clark. A total of 16, not including parents. Mainly our teachers are Mr Schuff, Mr Reisweber, Mr Jones, and Mr Wegand. One of them have to be at the premisis in order for us to. If they are not there, we can't do work at school. Our most active parents are Mr and Mrs Belling and Mr and Mrs Lambi.

Well, I hope that answers it.