massFIRST is BORN

Other FIRST-related Organizations
1

Hello all,

In response to this thread:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/s…&threadid=22749

I then created this thread:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22756&highlight=massfirst

It was a little over a year ago when I concieved the idea for NU to hold an off-season FIRST event. Now currently called the Beantown Blitz, that event is happening in two weeks. This is rather exciting, and organizing events this big is a fantastic experience (and lots of fun). However, I discovered that my love isn’t only putting events together, but rather… I enjoy seeing new ideas through until actual execution (the FIRST Robotics Conference is another example).

I decided I need a summer project, and what a better time to kick off massFIRST than at the Beantown Blitz! Many affluent people from around Boston will be dropping in, and we plan on having a ‘FIRST Promotional Area’ filled with information on sponsoring teams and donating to FIRST.

A few years ago, there were 40 teams in Mass… now there are 28. It might be a bit naive to think that one organization could fundraise for teams throughout an entire state, but this is ultimately what I see massFIRST as being about:

-massFIRST will approach new companies for sponsorship in any monetary or in-kind amount
-massFIRST will deposite that money into their own account, and will take care of tax-writoff materials for the companies
(essentially, massFIRST is the laison between the companies & the teams)
-teams in Mass will apply to massFIRST for grant money
-massFIRST committee will meet and distribute ALL FUNDS according to need
(what’s great about this, is the money gathers interest between when the company donates it, to when it’s sent into FIRST for Registration fees)

I personally believe that the ultimate goal for massFIRST is to enable every high school student in the state THE OPTION to join a FIRST team. To teams who request grant money, I’d probably have the requirement for them to approach every high school within a certain radius to make sure that those students have the option to join a team. If a team gets too large, then a rookie team could be more-easily started because some of the students will have experience in FIRST already.

This thread is created in hopes of gaining feedback. As usual, all this probably won’t be put in place by next year… but there isn’t a better time to start!

ByE :slight_smile:

erin

p.s. massFIRST could also be a link between FIRST students & getting internships and/or could be used for college recruitment (perhaps scholarships as well).

2

WOW! Erin, You’ve really struck the nail on the head with this idea. Not only giving every vicinity of Mass. an option to have a team, it would also provide countless Kids the opprotunity to experience something that could change their lives. Bravo on this idea, and keep up the good work.

3

This is one of the best ideas that I have ever heard of. I believe this could be an awesome way to start up new teams and expand the horizon for FIRST teams that are a little shy on funds. Especially if there are no area corporate sponsors in the area. I just have one question. What would the teams put as their sponsor? massFIRST or the corporations that donated?

4

Their sponsor would simply be stated as massFIRST, but there will be banners & other promotional material at Regionals stating what companies are involved with massFIRST… and this is a bonus for the companies. All the companies will get advertisement at all the Regionals instead of just on the back of one team’s T-shirt.

5

could the 2 Rhode Island teams get in on this. I mean we can get to massechusetts from anywhere in the state in 30 minutes.

6

Because one of the selling-points in regards to massFIRST is the overall hope to strengthen the economy & give Massachusetts a technological advantage, it would be difficult to justify to companies the reasoning behind letting teams from other states take part in this (at first anyway…).

The one loophole could be to let High Schools from MA participate on your team.

If this works out in the future, perhaps similar organizations could be started in other states… or it could be renamed New England FIRST (NE-FIRST).

As for right now, one state is a large enough goal to achieve… but to anyone here reading this thread: let me know if this idea intrigues you. massFIRST will be needing help.

7

Erin-

This sounds like a great idea. Indiana is trying to set up something like this (IndianaFIRST). With the amazing sucess that Indiana has had and with the current “brain drain” that seems to be happenning with Indiana, a program like IndianaFIRST could help. We are in a different situation than Mass., however. We have been growing yearly…up to 20 teams this year (one nat. champ, one nat. runner up, regional winners, chairman’s award winners, woodie flowers recipients, overall amazing teams). I would be interested in how your “summer project” goes. For more info on how to get started (sorry for volunteering you guys) Amanda Morrison and David Kelly (the two that I know) have really been influential in getting IndianaFIRST going. I will probably join that crew after I graduate (three days of school left WOO!).

Good luck!

8

A few years back, Colleen Shaver from team 190 was trying to start something called “BostonFirst” when she was a student at BU and on team 246. It started to take off, then she transferred to WPI. You should contact her, as she went through some of the process you are now experiencing.

Her idea of BostonFirst gave us the idea to start IndianaFIRST. Up to this point, IndianaFIRST has been these things:

  1. IndianaFIRST Website, created and managed by David Kelly.

  2. Indiana FIRST team leaders’ meeting: Team leaders from all Indiana teams have gotten together to talk each of the last 3 years, in the early fall. This usually happens in Sept. or early October. I have organized and facilitated those meetings.

  3. Indiana FIRST Forums: All Indiana teams have been invited to attend and host workshop sessions for the past 3 years. This has taken place at Ivy Tech State College in Kokomo. For most sessions, 2 or 3 people from different teams present on the same subject. This way, audiences get different opinions on similar subjects, proving that there is more than one way to run a FIRST team or design a FIRST robot. This has been coordinated by team 45, but the veteran teams all pitch in to educate the rookies and each other.

  4. Kokomo Kickoff: Indiana teams (and all other teams) have been invited to Kokomo to attend a remote kickoff for the past 3 years. This has been coordinated by team 45 and hosted again at Ivy Tech State College.

We are looking to create a more formal association of teams within Indiana, but that process is not easily done. Stay tuned for more details on that.

My main point here is that you can get teams together and cooperate without having an official organization. David has done a great job with the website and all the teams have really pulled together to put on the workshops and meetings. These are things that many states and regions could do.

Andy B.

9

wow sounds like a very connected, strong and supportive organization. these "State"FIRST programs

yet i just makes me wanna cry that California… or at lease SOuthern California seem to distant from this kinda thing to be A SoCAl first:(