Alright, I’m not usually a fan of bump posts…and to be honest, it’s taking every bit of ENGL 101 in me to keep from just posting “bump.”
We all want to help you get to be the best team possible. All you’ve gotta do is ask, and I’ll bet my dollars to your donuts that you’ll have enough help to get back on your wheels/feet/treads.
That said, even if you read the post last season, go back and re-read Gary’s post. Then convince him to come to Palmetto for once. 
Awesome post! Thank you Billfred for bumping this thread or I would have missed it! <3
i couldnt have said it before. I was the only veteran on my rookie team and you really see the downfall of lack of experience the second time ur on a rookie team. competition is gonna be fun tho
Thanks for the ‘bump’ as well. As a rookie team it is encouraging to know that we will not be alone in the big world of FIRST robotics. 
If I can schedule a business trip with a connection through Charlotte that Wednesday evening, can you pick me up at the airport?
I just wanted to say thanks for a great thread.
We’re a rookie team, and though our kids have won some prizes in years past, they’ve never tackled anything on the scale of FIRST.
I agree with a lot of what y’all have said, and I want to add my own personal thoughts on what we’ve all accomplished.
Our team shipped a completely functional bot, and we’ve also submitted entries to the AVA and website awards cats. We’ll see what happens at our regionals – in Tel Aviv-- next month.
I mentored our web and animation crews, and since this is my first time mentoring, I just wanted to say how mind-blowing it has been to see kids and their ideas EMPOWERED.
They really had to leave the “I” at the door, and learn to talk team. To start out with one kid’s sketch–like we did–and have that sketch evolve into a full-fledged mascot/mission/movie took time and teamwork–and vision. I am so proud that each kid in my two crews got behind an idea–even if it wasn’t his own–and helped to make it a group success.
I can see how proud THEY are too–and I feel truly blessed and energized by this whole process.
Thank you for the Inspiring post. It means a lot when you are a rookie team and very nervous. Our team is quite lucky this year we have a regional meeting a state away we will be able to attend as spectators so we can see what it is like but for many teams this is a first run and so we are soo nervous. Thank you for the encouragement.
this is a very inspiring post. after all of the problems that we have had over this rookie year it is good to know that all is not over and not to give up hope
If you’re robot decides to break in a match don’t discouraged because it broke, be excited! It’s a great way to make friends!
In Cleveland last year, one rookie robot broke down in the middle of a Practice match and began to smoke. One of our members spent the rest of the time helping them fix it.
On our 11th year we even had to fight School Board Policy…
We moved from the area our sponsor gave to us to our school this year.
Very beautiful piece… (yes, I called it a piece) I was almost brought to tears
very inspirational post. i read it last year, but i read it again and it still feels good. We shipped a full functioning robot, but only after a solid final week of around the clock work every day. and even today, our practice robot is not 100% complete.
All you’ve gotta do is ask, and I’ll bet my dollars to your donuts that you’ll have enough help to get back on your wheels/feet/treads.
Would that be Krispy Kreme donuts? MMmmmmm good.
Billfred, are you aware you bump posted this post 1 year after the last time this was posted? :rolleyes:
Team 1501 will be more than willing to help any rookie team. Don’t let the high number scare you, we have been around 5 years. Previous team was 535.
Yep. 'Twas the point.
RAMTECH will be available if any teams need help in Florida Regional! Just for a loud group with blue and yellow uniforms or pass by our pit and our pit crew would be glad to help!
i think this letter needs to become a sticky as it is really a great letter for all members to look back on time and time again.
and yes i am aware that this is a really old old old post but this post is totally worth re reading for all teams
i’m so glad you re-opened this post. my team has been working for the past two days straight, and tempers were flaring from the stress. i sat them all down and read them this post, and i could see some of the members fighting back tears. i know my eyes started tearing up.
as a rookie team in a tough situation (broken parts, unfinished bot), this post made our whole 6 weeks worthwile. thank you for showing us this post.
good luck to all the teams and i hope you can make the deadline!
Rachel -
Broken parts, unfinished robots are something all of the teams have contended with at one time or another - usually at an inconvenient time. When things get difficult, it is good that you can turn to the wisdom in Gary’s post and it is also good to remember that you guys aren’t alone. There’s a whole lot of FIRST teams hanging in there with you. And some of us have broken parts and an unfinished robot… We’ll deal with it. Don’t forget to get some rest soon.
Jane
I myself am on a rookie team, I think we did a good job with our robot and the challenges we faced. I can not wait until competition to see what other teams came up with and some ideas possibly for next year. What I like is there is no ONE right answer, so all the robots will be really different.:rolleyes:
Also for all of the rookies out there (including us) dont worry if you didnt get that ramp on there or that arm or that emp system hidden in your plywood frame:yikes: . If you have a robot that is in compliance with the rules and runs you did better than a lot of the rookies out there. we for example wanted a fully functional ramp bot that could hold 2 robots and be made out of diamond plate aluminum. what we ended up with was a plywood box that was barely in compliance with the rules (we are still working with the compliancosity).
During the two weeks between the ship date and the competetion is when you should be working on your logo and tshirts. and during the summer is when you should be fully utilizing the kop you paid 6000 bucks for and making a kick $@#$@#$@# robot that you can show to companies to get their sponsorship.
And sell all other expensive kop parts on ebay and say they are brand new because they are.
And next year advertise so you get more people to join your team. and then petition your school board for a workshop or team up with your school teams that need a workshop and start a petition for a workshop.
This was only your first year and i am sure that most of the rookies are in the same boat as you.
And the rookie teams that accomplished what they planned on doing from the beginning and got it done without a workshop and on the weekends at peoples houses with limited tools and experience, I truly applaud you for sticking to your goals and not giving up because you didn’t want to take the chance to fail.
also go win at regionals with your “plywood shoebox” just to stick it to the more experinced teams:p
p.s. yes i did say compliancosity…
Thanks for the encouragment. Our team has had a wonderful experience these last six weeks. Suprisingly, we’ve had more ups than downs. Our students are extremely excited and ready to compete, despite some of our shortcomings on the robot end.
I’d like to thank the teams that have given us tips and encouragement throughout the build season. It is nice to see the gracious professionalism in action among so many teams.