Alumni Reach-back Resources

[sammyjalex]

This thread reminded me of an idea that I've been returning to over the last year or so and I think it's worth a CD thread. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=116720

Joe brought up an interesting point:

Is there a place where a team can say what their needs are in terms of mentors or a possible mentor can post their skills so that the two can be matched? I feel like this would be tremendously helpful for a lot of teams.

I find that it is especially challenging for urban teams for find mentors that are willing and able to dedicate themselves to a team and grow that team or even instill the foundations that can help the team to sustain itself beyond any given point. It is rare that our stand-out teams are from the city itself. Of course, it is fantastic when a team find growth in that environment. I believe that the FIRST VISTA Program (http://www3.usfirst.org/community/vo...-vista-program) will make a great push for team sustainability in urban areas, but I do not think that sustainability and team growth can ever be "top-down" or rather initiated from a level outside of the team.

Imagine if there were an app that allowed FRC alum to register their current location so that these alum in turn could see teams in their current area and teams could see them. Too often, FIRST alum simply don't know about the teams around them or are not sure how to make the first step toward making a connection with an unfamiliar team.

Another idea: There is already a FIRST Alum Facebook group. I was so excited to find that group, but I had a particular expectation. I had thought it would be like a classifieds page for apartments or jobs. Some posts would be current mentors soliciting other alum in their respective area to join their team. Other posts might be alum in a new area looking for a team that needs mentors. Instead, this group posts updates about the game and events. It is still a great resource to keep alum involved but I think the former is necessary and has the potential to be powerful in the growth of more sustainable teams.

I propose a challenge to CD: Let us make Facebook group for alum in each city so that new residents, college students or college graduates, can become part of their local FIRST community, learn what teams are around, and learn what teams need mentors; and those who have been around for a while can continue to build their teams using a centralized and familiar resource to attract new mentors or event volunteers.

We always ask how we can make team sustainability a priority. Let's continue to do so.

All the best,
Sam