CALLING ALL STUDENTS, MENTORS, TEAMS -- SPREAD THE COOL

[nbascomb]

FIRST will be sending soon a similar note, but I wanted to reach out to all of you directly, hoping you'll send to your teammates/mentors--and other teams--so the word doesn't get lost in the messenger.

Dear Mentors and Students:

Congratulations on building your robots! I know what an accomplishment this is and I applaud your efforts! As you’re sending your robots off into the world, I too am sending my new book THE NEW COOL (a hardcover and eBook) into the world, as it will officially be available for sale wherever books are sold on March 1st! Here's the Amazon link.

In the book, I share an in-depth, inspiring look at the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), particularly through the experience of one remarkable team: the “D'Penguineers” (Team 1717) and their Mentor, Amir Abo-Shaeer. At the back of the book I also include a full page about FIRST, with contact info to get involved. The more people that read THE NEW COOL—the more new minds we can inspire to join FIRST!

Below I have outlined a few ways we can work together to spread the word, and I welcome your thoughts on the book and any questions you may have. I can be contacted at nbascomb@me.com or via message or post in THE NEW COOL Facebook Group.

HOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT FIRST & THE NEW COOL:

1) Make the week of March 1st THE NEW COOL WEEK by doing the following:
a. Starting March 1st, change your Facebook Profile to THE NEW COOL book jacket (available to download at my website). And post Amazon link.
b. Send a message to your friends/family through Facebook/Twitter/email about the book
c. Post THE NEW COOL Excerpt and Videos on your team website and social media pages.
2) Share THE NEW COOL press release (available at my website) with local media
3) Join THE NEW COOL Facebook Group.
4) Share news of the book to fellow FTC and FLL teams in your area.
5) When you’ve had chance to read the book, post your review online, tell your local bookstore about it, and encourage others you know to read the book (word-of-mouth is an author’s close friend!)

The more we do in the opening weeks of the book’s publication, the better shot we have of putting the book on the bestseller lists and alerting the world to the power of FIRST!

As you heard at kickoff, Dean Kamen is eager for the world to know about the book and feels it is a great vehicle for others to learn about FIRST. Your efforts in spreading the word would be a tremendous boon, and I’d appreciate anything you can do.

Thank you for your continued support of your team and FIRST, and I look forward to your thoughts about THE NEW COOL!

Sincerely,


Neal Bascomb


All digital assets available at nealbascomb.com/first/media1.html

[nighterfighter]

Can't wait to read it, plan on getting it for my birthday. (Which happens to be the day after our regional! )

[Ted Weisse]

My copy has shipped today. I decided to go with the hardcopy over the kindle version. Now today I am thinking I really wanted to read it today, but waiting until Thursday will just have to be. I'll be reading it between matches on Friday and Saturday if I don't finish it on Thursday.

[1986titans]

I just requested it from the library. It looks like a few other people have already done the same.

[robodude03]

Posted to our Facebook page. I will be ordering my copy soon

[nbascomb]

Originally Posted by robodude03

Posted to our Facebook page. I will be ordering my copy soon

This is fantastic, best way to get the word out since national newspapers are for some reason reluctant to write about feel-good stories.

If anybody can suggest other team facebook pages for me to "Like" and share with, post here or email me direct at nbascomb@me.com

N

[Libby K]

I have twittered/facebooked my heart out about it! The book is fantastic. I was a driver during Galileo's eliminations and remember watching all the teams mentioned perform. I am proud to show this off as a representation of the program we're all so passionate about. Thank you for portraying us so well!

[LBseale]

Sorry we beat you Libby =P

Of course thanks to Neal for including our team, but he already knows that. I sped-read all the 1717 parts last night, it's awesome. Anyone in FIRST will understand and enjoy the story. Anyone not in FIRST will certainly be impressed.

[arob9119]

I changed my FB profil pic and posted everything to FB and my team's website. Oh, and I just ordered a copy of the book. I can't wait to read it!

[nbascomb]

Originally Posted by arob9119

I changed my FB profil pic and posted everything to FB and my team's website. Oh, and I just ordered a copy of the book. I can't wait to read it!

Alex, this is fantastic. Thanks. If you would, please send around this Chief Delphi post to your teammates--and to any friends on others teams. This way we get everybody working together.

Hope you love the book! N

[arob9119]

Originally Posted by nbascomb

Alex, this is fantastic. Thanks. If you would, please send around this Chief Delphi post to your teammates--and to any friends on others teams. This way we get everybody working together.

Hope you love the book! N

yeah, definitely. I'll invite some people to the FB group to help get people interested.

thanks!

[Horsegirrl]

Originally Posted by Libby K

I have twittered/facebooked my heart out about it! The book is fantastic. I was a driver during Galileo's eliminations and remember watching all the teams mentioned perform. I am proud to show this off as a representation of the program we're all so passionate about. Thank you for portraying us so well!

I am already on page 150, and i love it!

Originally Posted by LBseale

Sorry we beat you Libby =P

Of course thanks to Neal for including our team, but he already knows that. I sped-read all the 1717 parts last night, it's awesome. Anyone in FIRST will understand and enjoy the story. Anyone not in FIRST will certainly be impressed.

i'm even impressed and i'm in FIRST

[nbascomb]

Originally Posted by 1986titans

I just requested it from the library. It looks like a few other people have already done the same.

That's great. You can suggest the library to order another copy, and for schools who do not have copies available, please suggest they order a copy for their stacks. Hope you enjoy.

[andrewhsu]

It's an honor to have been a part of the book; however, the thing I realized most while I was reading it (started at 2 am last night and finished it in a sitting) was how much I miss FIRST. Honestly, nothing has quite compared to the experience yet (enjoy it while you can!), and I really hope that I'll be able to mentor or get involved otherwise in a few years! Also, in case anyone was wondering, the events in the book were unbelievably realistic. I couldn't help but burst out in laughter when seeing utterly inane quotes from some of my teammates .
@Neal: The book turned out so well. I hadn't read any of your other works, and was surprised at how accurately and enjoyably the story was told. As I said, I read it in one sitting!

Order the book! It's a really fun read, and the there are so many things about build and competition that remind you how awesome the FIRST community really is.