We are starting a new team

[nevereverregret]

Hey, We are starting a new team . Umm... any tips? We are from team 2487 and we got tired of all the... ummm well all the garbage... that was going on so we decided to branch off and start our own team. We have 2 students who are going to run the team and we are planning on opening it to other schools like oakdale, which dont have teams. As of now we are going to run it out of our advisors garage. We are starting up a limited liability corperation to keep track of money. We already registered with first and our temp number is 2009600 . We are going to go to all the places we went to last year and fundraise because we did all the fundrasing for our old team and the store owners know us... (maybe they should have helped?) and we are going to hold another chinese auction in the fire department as well as sell water and things at summer fest. Anyone have any tips for us?

[ATannahill]

Do you really think is the best solution? IMO you should have tried to sort out the trouble (post in FAHA if you want help while being anonymous) before branching off.

If you feel you want to start a new team, you are on a good track, fund raising is needed in all teams. Try to get mentors and parents to help with travel, food and things that adults need to take care of.

[Jack Jones]

You may be on to a new way to grow new teams. Next year two people from 2009600 who are tired of the … ummm well all the garbage … can come on CD and announce branching off. Who knows, it could lead to the exponential growth of garbage-less teams.

[Joe G.]

If you decide to keep with the new team, then you seem to be on the right track.

However...

I would advise you to work to eradicate any and all...garbage...from 2487, rather than run away from it. Get them to open themselves up to other schools, or even help these schools start their own teams. If you feel you have a better way to run a team financially, push it within 2487.

Remember, FIRST's goal is to inspire all of its students, not some of them. If the...garbage is inhibiting this goal, then you are hurting those who remain on 2487. If it is not, than you may be doing this for the wrong reasons.

[Chris is me]

What is all this "garbage" a veiled message for? I feel like a little kid standing around a bunch of adults using code words so my innocent little mind won't be spoiled. 0_0

If you really think starting a new team is the best solution, get funding straight away. Talk to potential sponsors and push yourselves as experienced FRC competitors looking for a fresh start for the 2010 season. Start raising awareness now for FIRST while getting to know local teams who can help you get on your feet. And don't do it alone!

[nevereverregret]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Do you really think is the best solution? IMO you should have tried to sort out the trouble (post in FAHA if you want help while being anonymous) before branching off.

If you feel you want to start a new team, you are on a good track, fund raising is needed in all teams. Try to get mentors and parents to help with travel, food and things that adults need to take care of.

Yeah, we have spent the entire year trying to work it out and the entire year stunk. It was not fun what so ever. We have tried everything, we went to our advisors multip times and they changed nothing. We feel that by now this is the only solution, things only get worse.

[nevereverregret]

Originally Posted by rocketperson44

If you decide to keep with the new team, then you seem to be on the right track.

However...

I would advise you to work to eradicate any and all...garbage...from 2487, rather than run away from it. Get them to open themselves up to other schools, or even help these schools start their own teams. If you feel you have a better way to run a team financially, push it within 2487.

Remember, FIRST's goal is to inspire all of its students, not some of them. If the...garbage is inhibiting this goal, then you are hurting those who remain on 2487. If it is not, than you may be doing this for the wrong reasons.

This will actully be better for both sides, team 2487 gets to work the way they wish and so do we. We will finally be able to get something out of it. Its also no the financial reasons we are leaving, we did all the fundrasing ourselves anyway.

[EricH]

For both Chris and Sammy: Some things are better left non-public. If I see someone say "garbage", I usually figure that either a) I don't want to know what it is or b) I don't want to know who it involves or c) I just don't want to know. I would say this qualifies as at least one of the three.

We do have a forum called FIRST-Aholics Anonymous Mailbox, where "dirty" situations can be discussed without the team being identified, and solutions can be suggested to things that can be fixed. Both people with questions and responders can, if they choose, remain anonymous. (Those with the questions are anonymous by rule.)

[robochick1319]

I am sorry to hear that things are not going well for your team.

I understand having trouble with people but please make sure that this is the only other option. You don't want to make a radical decision that will only complicate things.

You mentioned having students running things. This does not sound like the best ideas. It is vital that you have support from engineers, teachers, parents, and other members of the community to help your team maintain peace and be successful in the new season.

Don't forget what the purpose of this program is all about: learning about science and technology. You need a good support system to do this.

I hope things improve for y'all.

[Cooley744]

Sorry things didn't go well for you this year. As far as I'm concerned, don't let people "guilt you" over branching off and forming your own team. Sometimes you can keep giving, but the other side won't give and so there is no compromise. I have NO CLUE what your team situation is. I just wanted to say that you shouldn't feel bad for starting a new team if you feel that you have tried every other option. I hope the best for your new team.

[wendymom]

Before you start the process of a limited corp. consider going through 4-H or explorer scouts. Starting a corp is time consuming and expensive. The other two organizations are already set up and you can operate under their umbrella which will provide you with insurance and 501 (c) 3 status. If you have any questions just PM me.

Good Luck

[Mechanical]

We tried all of those solutions and none of them worked. We unfortunately have had to except the fact that it just cant work anymore. Also it would be less stressful for everyone involved if we branch off. Thank you though for all of your suggestions.

[Phil Ross]

Originally Posted by EricH

For both Chris and Sammy: Some things are better left non-public. If I see someone say "garbage", I usually figure that either a) I don't want to know what it is or b) I don't want to know who it involves or c) I just don't want to know. I would say this qualifies as at least one of the three.

I absolutely agree. Although you might have had some arguments with your previous team it doesn't help anyone to announce it like this. Even though you have tried working it out to fix the problems that you saw it still isn't very gracious. Since you've already broken off from your team maybe the best course of action for you to take with your old team is to at least set aside your differences and work together to better your community.

It seems like you are already on the right path the finding funding and people. But if you want to have some sort of positive impact on your area you don't want to have this bad vibe that causes your competition with your old team.

Also, you need to find more than 1 advisor (or parent, or other responsible adult) in order to help with all of the logistical stuff that you encounter as a FIRST team.

In the future make sure that when you are presenting a question to the FIRST community and you are representing your team that you phrase your question more diplomatically. PM me if you have any more questions and best of luck in the 2010 season.