Interested in being a Key Volunteer? California wants YOU 🫵!

FIRST General Forum
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For those who don’t know, events need 100+ volunteer to operate. Volunteering with FIRST is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had – it’s why I continue to do it after so many events.

FIRST designates some volunteer roles as “Key Volunteers.” These are typically positions that benefit from specialized experience or are more of a leadership role at an event.

I’m going to let you in on some insider info: Volunteer Coordinators are required to have these Key Volunteers in place by January 31st. So, now is the time that we’re looking far and wide to fill those final positions.

Many events around the world are recruiting actively for these positions. I can only speak directly to California, but I can share that nearly all Key Volunteer roles are still available at at least on event in the state.

:arrow_right::arrow_right::arrow_right:APPLY HERE

Questions and Answers

How do I become a Key Volunteer?

There are many paths to becoming a Key Volunteer. Prior FIRST experience is helpful for most roles and required for some. The best thing to do is apply, apply, apply! If you don’t meet requirements, your Volunteer Coordinator will assign you to another role or be in touch. Check out typical volunteer paths for technical KV roles and non-technical KV roles.

I don’t meet some of the requirements. Will I still be assigned?

There are certain requirements which local events must adhere to when assigning KVs and others in which there is some leeway. Apply to your event or contact your local event organizer for more information.

Are the roles below still available/is this list accurate?

Maybe. As of the time of posting, this list is accurate. However, some events did not participate in this listing and other positions may be filled by the time you apply. Applying does not guarantee assignment and listing in this post is completely unofficial and does not guarantee the role is still available.

Currently available Key Volunteer roles at California regionals:

All roles as a table

X=Role open
Same disclaimers as above: a few events didn’t participate in the chart, not all data is guaranteed to be 100% up to date, and an open roles does not guarantee you will be assigned if you apply.

Hueneme Port Silicon Valley Ventura County San Francisco Los Angeles Sacramento San Diego Central Valley Orange County Monterey Bay Aerospace Valley East Bay
Control System Advisor (CSA) X X X X X X X
Emcee X X X
Field Supervisor X X X X
FIRST Technical Advisor
FIRST Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA) X X X X X
Game Announcer X X X X X
Head Referee X
Judge Advisor
Lead Queuer X X X X
Lead Robot Inspector X X
Pit Admin Supervisor X X X X X
Referee X X X X X X X
Robot Inspector X X X X X X X X
Safety Manager X X X X X X X
Scorekeeper X X
Webcast Operator X X X X
Event Photographer X X X X X X X
Field Resetter X X X X X X X X X
Inspection Manager X X X X X X X X
Judge X X X X X X X X X
Load-in/ Load-out Crew X X X X X X X
Machine Shop Staff X X X X X X X X
Pit Administrator X X X X X X
Practice Field Attendant X X X X X X X X X
Queuer X X X X X X X X X
Quiet Room Attendant X X X X X X X X X
Safety Attendant X X X X X X X X X
Spare Parts Attendant X X X X X X X
Student Ambassador Coordinator X X X X
Volunteer Room Assistant X X X X X

Control System Advisor (CSA)

Wear the orange hat and help troubleshoot robot issues! Recruiting at Silicon Valley, Ventura, Sacramento, San Diego, Orange County, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley

Emcee

Be the voice of the competition! Introduce matches, wave flags, and entertain. Recruiting at Silicon Valley, Orange County, and Monterey Bay.

Field Supervisor

Build the field and lead the field reset process – open at Sacramento, San Diego, Central Valley, and Monterey Bay.

FIRST Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA)

Troubleshoot robots during matches and help manage technical aspects of the arena. We need you at Ventura, San Diego, Central Valley, Orange County, and Monterey Bay.

Game Announcer

Call the play-by-play of some exciting Crescendo matches at Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Orange County, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Lead Queuer

Get robots to and from their matches on time! Help bring order to the chaos and Hueneme Port, Ventura, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Pit Admin Supervisor

Attention in the pits! We need a pit admin supervisor at Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Central Valley, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Referee

Become a zebra and call the rules of the game! Recruiting refs at Hueneme Port, Silicon Valley, Ventura, Sacramento, Central Valley, Orange County, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley – pretty much most events.

Robot Inspector (RI)

RIs ensure teams are safe and in compliance with all rules at events. You can help on practice day only, or on all days. This is a great role for mentors and alumni and we hope you’ll join us at Hueneme Port, Silicon Valley, Ventura, Sacramento, Central Valley, Orange County, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Safety Manager

Help insure the safety of all participants across the venue at Silicon Valley, Ventura, Sacramento, San Diego, Orange County, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Scorekeeper

In 3, 2, 1, RUSH! As a part of the field staff, you’ll start the matches and publish scores at the direction of the Head Referee. Join us at Monterey Bay or Aerospace Valley.

:arrow_right::arrow_right::arrow_right:APPLY HERE

Webcast Operator

Switch between video feeds to create an immersive webcast. Recruiting for Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Monterey Bay, and Aerospace Valley.

Non-Key Roles

Nearly all events are still recruiting for the majority of non-key roles. If you’re interested in a more entry level or lower commitment role, we’d LOVE to have you. The following non-key roles are available across most events:

  • Event Photographer
  • Field Resetter
  • Inspection Manager
  • Judge
  • Load-in/Load-out Crew
  • Machine Shop Staff
  • Pit Administrator
  • Practice Field Attendant
  • Queuer
  • Quiet Room Attendant
  • Safety Attendant
  • Spare Parts Attendant
  • Student Ambassador Coordinator
  • Volunteer Room Assistant

:arrow_right::arrow_right::arrow_right:APPLY HERE

What if I’m not in California?

Many events need your help. Apply today! Contact your local event organizer for more information about which roles are needed.

:arrow_right::arrow_right::arrow_right:APPLY HERE

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Ohhhhhh those GA roles are so tempting. I’ve always wanted to do a west coast event.

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CSA’d for the first time at San Diego last year (yay for having a regional on my college campus!), looking forward to doing it again this year.

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where do I apply

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Not sure if sarcastic or not but

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Dangit, I’d love to do a bunch of these, but unfortunately I think I’m supposed to be either in the middle of a bunch of ME finals, racing cars, flying planes, or something during most of these.

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How come the SF, LA, and East Bay Regionals have completely filled already?

Unrelated, but how do event photographers work? Like, where do the photos go? I feel like I rarely see libraries of official event photos, and if I do, they’re scattered and hard to find. Is that just how it is right now?

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I’m going to guess they didn’t participate in the listing.

For LA, the other option is that the VC actually already has most of the volunteers, and has assigned them. Helps when most of the pool has been doing this for, er, a “few” years–you just kind of know where people go, check with them early to remind them to sign up, and assign as fast as they do (and that VC does do that last part–I consistently get the LA assignment before just about anything else).

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How much are you willing to pay for shipping?

(Me to the event, that is)

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Yeah I mentioned in the OP that some events weren’t able to participate. All events in CA are still recruiting.

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Yes, we also need plenty of roles filled, we just missed participating in the chart generation.

Thanks for putting this ask out to the community, Jared!

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In my experience, most regions normally have a flickr or smugmug dedicated to hosting event photos, though I haven’t found one for California yet.

For reference, here’s all of the (active) flickr accounts that I’m aware of:

FIRST in Missouri | Flickr.
Robotique FIRST Québec | Flickr
FIRST Mid-Atlantic | Flickr
Iowa FRC | Flickr
FIRST Indiana Robotics | Flickr
Daniel Ernst | Flickr (He does most of the FiM photography)
FIRST Chesapeake | Flickr
FIRST Israel | Flickr
FIRST Washington | Flickr
FIRST Robotics Canada | Flickr

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I just offered to volunteer at Denver or I’d be really tempted. Orange County was fun when I volunteered there several years ago. The only reason I can volunteer week 4 is that’s the second regional week for several ARC teams so I most likely won’t need to be here to set up the field.

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As someone else posted, this varies by region.

Within California, each event does their own thing, but FIRST CA sends out links to the galleries in the newsletters. There is often a thread on CD with those galleries.

I’ve proposed centralizing things, at least within the state, but nothing’s come of that yet.

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For anyone interested in CSA’ing at SF or Monterey—I’ve been CSA at SF for the past few years and did Monterey last year, but inconveniently this year my primary commitment at those events will be to my team. However, if there is anyone interested in CSA’ing at those events who may be looking at CSA’ing for the first time (or who may be nervous about being the only CSA at the event), I will be around and would be happy to help provide support. From past experience, there are generally also plenty of people floating around whose primary commitment isn’t or can’t be to being a CSA but who are more than able to help support when they have downtime. Both SF and Monterey are also small enough to not be too difficult to manage.

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Anyone in the Monterrey Bay area willing to let a volunteer couch surf for the weekend? If so, I think I’ve found my spring break plans

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I was fortunate enough to make it out to CVR way back in 2011, very positive volunteer experience. I’ve volunteered all around the country and California is definitely a venue for volunteering. (Jokes aside, had positive experiences with folks there, would suggest it if you wanted to travel to volunteer…would not suggest getting stuck in Fresno on Easter Sunday)

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just remember that you are MINE until the end of week 4 :stuck_out_tongue:
(then CA can have you…)

(edit: for clarity, Ari is one of the Best CSA’s we have here in Israel… and we need him for the Israeli events)

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Same question here… I currently have weeks 1-4 claimed, but I’m certainly willing to do a bit of travel for the right price!

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Quick bump as we have just one (1) week to fill key roles!

Get those Key Volunteer applications in to receive training on time and make your VCs happy!

I can share that for Orange County, I’m looking for:

  • 1 Safety Manager
  • 1 FIRST Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA)
  • 1 Control System Advisor (CSA)
  • 2 Robot Inspectors (RI) - Thursday only
  • 1 additional Emcee and/or GA (we have one of each and would like some relief)

As far as non-key roles, we’d love:

  • 6-7 Field Resetters - ThuFriSat or FriSat
  • 1 Pit Admin and/or Spare Parts Attendant - Thursday only
  • 1-2 Queuers - ThuFriSat or FriSat
  • 1 Quiet Room Attendant - Friday only
  • Safety Attendant for any portion of the event
  • Practice Field Attendant for any portion of the event
  • Always taking more applications for judges, especially those without an affiliated team competing at the event
  • Always taking any and all help for field assembly and disassembly

P.S. those of you volunteering at Champs, make sure to get your Regional/District applications in ASAP to expedite your Champs application :slight_smile:

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