frc team sustainability workshop steven wright steve burke first team 1983
TRANSCRIPT
FRC Team Sustainability Workshop
Steven WrightSteve Burke
FIRST Team 1983
Introduction 5 min
Resources 5 min
Who does what 5 min
Sustaining the Organization 5 min
Q&A 35 min
FRC Sustainability Workshop Agenda
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is FRC Team Sustainability?
It’s intended to be a challenge: “…a project too big, in a time too short, with a budget too small, and a team too large.”
– Woody Flowers
Challenge: keeping it fun?
Solution: Acquire and maintain the necessary resources
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat are resources?
People/ Volunteers• Parents, faculty, students, mentors• Sponsors
Money• Grants, awards• Donations, gift matching, • Fundraising - Outreach• Team fees
Facilities and Engineering Skills
• Rooms
• Equipment
• Expertise• Tools
Money
People /Volunteers
Facilities &Engineering
Skills
FRC Sustainability WorkshopHow to attract resources
Use the force: Student Inspiralation
Engage – “That looks fun”
Inspire – “I want to do that too”
Motivate – “I can do that”
Confidence – “I know how to do it”
Impact – “I can show others”
FRC Sustainability WorkshopHow to attract resources
Use the force: Student InspiralationMotivate Team:
- Other students- Parents- Faculty- Volunteers
Money
People /Volunteers
Facilities &Engineering
Skills
Facilities &Engineering
Skills
People /Volunteers
Money
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWho provides what?
FeesMaterials
Fab SpaceMachining
Tools
Meeting Space
GrantsFundraisers
Parent/Volunteers
Skilled Participants:
Mentors/Students
Organization/Authority
Industry Sponsorships
Training:OJT/
Workshops/ Industry
School/Church/
Business/ Lodge/
Homeowner
Non Profit Status
Students
Faculty
Mentors
Needs: Resources/Skills Who provides
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to sustainability?
Parents and Volunteers are the key
• Parents, - Parents influence schools, PTSA- Have industry contacts- Most creditable
• Volunteers- Usually parents, also can be faculty, students or mentors- Have industry contacts
People /Volunteers
FRC Sustainability WorkshopStudents vs. Mentors
Where do you draw the line?
Funding, treasury, grant applications, non-profit status
Design calculations, finalize design/troubleshooting
Leadership/focus
Student obstacles
Mentors / Volunteers help overcome obstacles
What students can do
Design by similarity, be creative
Bring excitement, demonstrate student involvement
Define team objectives, represent sub-teams
Learn, experience, build, perform
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
Five Basics: Make your volunteers feel welcome:
1. Be accessible/approachable:
2. Have a structure they understand & can see themselves in it
3. Open dialogue, decisions are transparent
4. Show appreciation for their time
5. Trust to help each other
show the value and create opportunities for them to be engaged and inspired
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
A Basic Leadership Team Structure
LEADMENTOR
PARENT COORDIN-
ATOR
COACH
LEADENGINEER
TOGETHER THEY• Provide Focus and Direction
• Direct policies and actions
• Efficient decision process
•Effective communications
•Address feedback
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
The basics: Parent meetings
• Leadership briefs on status- Demonstrate actions are taken and accomplishments are realized- Openly discuss policies- Emphasize parent involvement
Leaders must openly show appreciation to volunteers
• Forum for feedback- Encourage parent/volunteer engagement Difficult issues: resolve off-line and report back in parent meeting
• Parents feel engaged- They network with others breaking down barriers to volunteerism
Their concerns are addressed
COACHLEAD
MENTOR
PARENT COORDIN-
ATOR
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
The basics: Parent meetings “Inspiralation” of the parents
• Provide volunteer opportunities=CONFIDENCE AND IMPACT
• Student briefings = HIGH VALUE (WHY WE ARE HERE)
• Treasurer Briefings = TRANSPARENCY, IMPACT MEASURES
Money
People /Volunteers
Facilities &Engineering
Skills
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
The basics: Parent meetings (cont’d)
Be briefDo not waste parents time !
• Set agenda, touch core areas (all three)
• Allow time to socialize at the start and end• Capture agreements and take actions for next meeting
• Encourage parent feedback, if necessary differ to after the meeting• For major events create sub teams to manage and meet
Money
People /Volunteer
s
Facilities &
Engineer-ing Skills
FRC Sustainability WorkshopWhat is the key to Volunteerism?
The basics: Treasurer
• Assures sponsors that money is being handled properly
• Efficient reimbursement process reduces barriers to volunteerism
• Facilitate interface with 401.3(c) non-profit organization
Money
FRC Sustainability WorkshopOther Challenges?
School/Admin/Community Support• Parent understanding and support
- Impact on student future; + Personal experience+ Understanding of STEM career options+ Improved scholarship opportunities
• Leads to Principle/School board/Community support
Social Suicide/Time commitment• De-emphasize social dependencies
- Pre-freshman awareness- Greater focus on STEM objectives- Parent support
• Personal accomplishment• Fun
Facilities &Engineering
Skills
FRC Sustainability WorkshopOutreach Efforts
Use your robot as an ambassador off the field
Make FIRST even more fun
Improve volunteer commitment
Have a “community outreach” story to tell and finding ways to tell it makes the team stronger
Q&A
FRC Sustainability WorkshopDialogue and Q&A
FRC Sustainability WorkshopContact Information
FIRST Website - www.USFIRST.orgFIRST Washington – www.firstwa.orgFIRST Wiki - www.firstwiki.net/index.php/main_pageFIRST forums – http://forms.usfirst.org/index.phpEvents/Teams – www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingonChief Delphi – www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/portal.phpNon Engineer Mentor Organization – www.firstnemo.orgSkunkworks 1983 Team Website – skunkworks1983.com
Gary Miller, Skunkworks Robotics; [email protected] Burke, Skunkworks Robotics; [email protected] Wright, Skunkworks Robotics; [email protected] Steele, Coach Skunkworks Robotics; [email protected]