new team

[maltz1881]

I have started 3 possibly 4 new teams just this year. I started with the superintendant and pointed out the benefits such as having local businesses and large corporations work with them. I gave them a few days and either emailed or called them back to set up an appointment with them. If I didn't get anywhere I went to the principal. I also mentioned the local scholarships available for the kids.

In these trying day financially, most schools are struggling. A week or so ago I called a district and asked if they wanted to join. I got a resounding no. Today my phone rang and it was the same school who thought about it and changed their minds. They now have 2 teachers who want to help get it going.

Look for a district that has a FLL but no FRC. Explain that this is the next step. Usually once they have taken part of FIRST they want to continue.

Good Luck!!

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by maltz1881

I have started 3 possibly 4 new teams just this year. I started with the superintendant and pointed out the benefits such as having local businesses and large corporations work with them. I gave them a few days and either emailed or called them back to set up an appointment with them. If I didn't get anywhere I went to the principal. I also mentioned the local scholarships available for the kids.

In these trying day financially, most schools are struggling. A week or so ago I called a district and asked if they wanted to join. I got a resounding no. Today my phone rang and it was the same school who thought about it and changed their minds. They now have 2 teachers who want to help get it going.

Look for a district that has a FLL but no FRC. Explain that this is the next step. Usually once they have taken part of FIRST they want to continue.

Good Luck!!

And you plan on supporting these 3 or 4 teams how? Will it negatively impact your team in any way? Would it have been more beneficial to have included these schools in your team (or another local team) first before starting off so they could hit the ground running? There are a lot of ways to give students access to FRC and starting a team is not always the most prudent choice.

Growth is good but unsupported growth is bad. I would rather see a slower growth that we can maintain.

[maltz1881]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

And you plan on supporting these 3 or 4 teams how? Will it negatively impact your team in any way? Would it have been more beneficial to have included these schools in your team (or another local team) first before starting off so they could hit the ground running? There are a lot of ways to give students access to FRC and starting a team is not always the most prudent choice.

Growth is good but unsupported growth is bad. I would rather see a slower growth that we can maintain.

My team will be fine. 1 team already has 12 engineers and 4 teachers, another has 1 engineer and 2 teachers and the other 2 teams has 2 teachers as well.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by maltz1881

My team will be fine. 1 team already has 12 engineers and 4 teachers, another has 1 engineer and 2 teachers and the other 2 teams has 2 teachers as well.

I think you missed the point of what he was saying. Do all of those teams have a sustainable source of income? Do all of them have enough engineering mentors to build solid robots and to inspire students? (Sounds like there's only 1 engineer on any of the three teams!) Far too often FRC is presented as "a good idea" to some teachers, then the team gets some grant money from JCPenny, and then they're left to sink or swim on their own without any real engineers or experience. I would hope rather than starting "3 maybe 4!" teams you guys would start teams with sustainable practices and plans.

[maltz1881]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I think you missed the point of what he was saying. Do all of those teams have a sustainable source of income? Do all of them have enough engineering mentors to build solid robots and to inspire students? (Sounds like there's only 1 engineer on any of the three teams!) Far too often FRC is presented as "a good idea" to some teachers, then the team gets some grant money from JCPenny, and then they're left to sink or swim on their own without any real engineers or experience. I would hope rather than starting "3 maybe 4!" teams you guys would start teams with sustainable practices and plans.

Like I said, 1 of the teams has 12 enginners and 4 teachers, 1 team has 1 engineer who was a professor of robotics at a local college ( yes I called him an engineer). My team has 0 engineers and at both competitions we were at, we won Excellence in Engineering Awards. Only 1 of these teams received the JCPenney grant.

The team who has 12 engineers on it will be a team to watch out for. They have a great plan in place. 2 of the teams I have already sent to rookie workshops. They both have FLL experience. The 3rd team will undoubtedly need somebody to hold their hand and I plan on it. They do have FLL experience as well.

If the 4th team plans on starting up it is in a rural school but they have a wood shop, metal shop, auto shop and they teach welding. They also have FLL experience. They have a retired engineer who teaches C.A.D.

I have seen teams who have started with a lot less who have gone on to become successful.... mine!

[BACONDUDE1902]

and ypu don't need to find the students you can just ask the FRC kids if they want to be in FTC so when the FRC starts then u can just stop doing FTc for that 6 weeks and u get $500 to your team. Me and half of the FRC is doing FTC and FRC.