In response to this thread:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22749
who in Massachusetts would be interested in starting a support program for the teams here in this state? (Yes… I am ripping of the Indiana-FIRST people, but that just means you have a good idea) I mean, geeze… we’re the oldest state in the country and we still don’t have a Regional! 
Lets discuss…
We need a regional here in Boston. Either NU or BU or MIT (my preference for historical reasons).
As for creating a MassFIRST organization - I’m game. I know how to make those web dealies, so lemme know if that helps.
We could also get advice from the Indiana FIRSTers to find out how to make things run smoother as we get started…cough cough 
And let’s get Woodie involved too!
I think its a great idea and I’d be happy to help out.
one of the mentors was talking of utc to have one in west springfield big e fair grounds but they want to stay in conn.
Yes, I know about that one (connections with UTC). The Big E grounds has better venues… but UTC is Hartford based; so of course, they wanted to stay in CT.
Of course, me personally… would love to see a Regional in Boston. I camped out at the Hynes convention center all day today, but it’s not appropriate for holding a regional in. But the important thing is… i’m looking around.
But MassFIRST wouldn’t really be about putting together events, it would be more about support, workshops, team building, networking… stuff like that. I’m just getting an idea for interest.
I think we should have it in WUSTA!!! Thats Worcester to you outsiders.
We need another Regional in New England. Boston would be a good location especially since several of the regioanl events in the New England Area and Middle Atlantic States (especially those closer to N.E.) filled up fast. I was at Hynes too with Erin, its not suited for it. Also there are alot of hotels obviously in this area and you could take the T around town. We should all get together and form this!
I have said this many times before, but someone needs to start a team in Salem MA!
They have a HS and also Salem Community College for support!!
Plus I really want to see a robotics demonstration on Salem Commons when I go there in October every year!!
If you are looking at starting a regional, maybe forming a regional committee is more appropriate than forming a support group for teams. There is nothing that says you can’t do both group, but each one of them takes a huge amount of resource and people to pull them off. A regional committee, for example, have enough work for a whole year. A team support group like IRI, WRRF, and SCRRF, also takes a lot of work, pretty much year round minus the 6 weeks.
You should focus in one thing first before taking different front at once.
*Originally posted by Erin Rapacki *
** But MassFIRST wouldn’t really be about putting together events, it would be more about support, workshops, team building, networking… stuff like that. **
It would be about helping area teams.
157#1driver The worcester centrum centre(i spelt it right) would be a great place for a regional. there is crazy amounts of room for pits and competition grounds as well as cheap places to park. Also 190 is leterally less than 3 miles away from it. The city of worcetser as i know first hand as a resident is very interested in giving back to the community. Also they want to keep up their image as an all american city having a first regional their would be very easy. Hell if all comes to the wors we could do it at wpi right in teh room battle cry is held in. Also I have some connections to city hall in worcester so support from the city wouldnt be that hard to get. As far as the creating of a massachusetts first organization. Im all for it eventhough im in new york. I have lived in massachusetts and would be more than willing to promote my time to it.
*Originally posted by Ken L *
**You should focus in one thing first before taking different front at once. **
I would go for creating Mass FIRST and then work on the regional and a workshop like the one in Indiana. This way we can increase the communication between teams and get together a large enough group that when we want to do something complicated (like invitationals, workshops, and regionals) we can just look for a show of hands and form a committee.
Here in Southern California we have SCRRF AND a regional committee. SCRRF is focused on supporting teams through workshops, fundraising, mentor referals, off-season competitions and whatever else we can think of. We have also turned in all the paperwork for 501©3, though I don’t recall hearing that it is official yet. (It takes months to be processed)
The Regional committee has one goal, support the regional. The regional committee provides most of the bodies to put on the event. It also has its own fundraising subcommittee to cover local expenses. (If you think raising $10-30K for a team is hard, try raising $170K for a regional.)
But if you look closely at the membership of the two groups, there is a lot of overlap at the top. Most of the SCRRF board is also on the Regional committee. The two organizations HAVE to work together, so it really helps co-ordination when they are the same people. But by having them separate organizations, it helps maintain the focus.
One of these days, when the FIRST competition moves to the Dave Lavery model, or when the Regional funding is better established, we might merge the organizations. Or rather, SCRRF will become the de-facto organizing committee. But that will be a couple of years yet.
BTW all you Southern California teams ARE sending a representative to the SCRFF meeting on Saturday, RIGHT?
Well i must admit this for going off topic lsightly earlier… but yeah, form a support base for area teams. Then from there you could have a subornitate group to put together a regional. However, let’s working on supporting one another first and then and only then worrry about a regional event here. I think we’d all agree that more teams, perhaps even more teams, from Mass. would be better than a regional (ok don’t yell at me) that come back every year and compete.
Now what I want to do is drive our bot through Qunicy Market holding a garbage pail (we proved we could do this at Freshman Open House) with a sign on it that says donate too FIRST Robotics… but that’s another story.
Just thinking about the amount of work involved and how late in the year it is, maybe it would be better to start something like a New England FIRST Team Leaders Association. Team Leaders could meet monthly or something and offer advice/help with fundraising, selling FIRST to companies/schools, etc. Maybe that would be an easier place to start than a 501©3 and once we had all the people in a room we could have a good discussion about a Boston regional (or anything else) and branch off into a committee to form it.
Wouldn’t the team leaders be the first people to found MassFIRST anyway? Or ar least they’d be the most likely representatives to it. From then you elect an overall board of people (which these team leaders may be on or at least someone they know they can trust to be on it).
I would go for creating Mass FIRST and then work on the regional and a workshop like the one in Indiana. This way we can increase the communication between teams and get together a large enough group that when we want to do something complicated (like invitationals, workshops, and regionals) we can just look for a show of hands and form a committee.
I would gladly do that if I go to college in Boston. I was thinking of seeing if I could hold workshops in the Boston Musuem since they all ready do that with robotics. Boston is such a interesting place and it sure beats New York in terms of people and activities(except for baseball).
This sounds like a great idea. How do we start?
I think a good start is to gather at many people as possible who are interested in making it happen and then start discussing all these ideas. So…tell all your friends!
I think you guys should start out small. Maybe not even have it have 501©3 status first. I’m not sure how well ‘bonded’ the teams are in the state, but that will make a huge difference on how well your organizaition will run. In reality, IndianaFIRST has been in existance since the 2000 season, i believe. Starting out small with a few workshops once a year will be great. Then every year gradually build up to where you need to be. I think Indiana is at the point in time where we need to get an established organization going to further build awareness and support. Andy Baker’s house is getting a little too small for us to have meetings.
Let us know if you need any advice or help with anything, we all would be glad to help. :]