One of the most difficult things about starting up a new FIRST Robotics team is figuring out not only how to build a robot in six short weeks, but how to find mentors and corporate sponsors, and what to expect when your team arrives at a regional competition.
To answer these and other pressing questions, FIRST turned to the best resource it could find: its own teams! The Green Machine is one of 20 teams taking part in a new initiative called the FIRST President’s Circle. These teams are working with FIRST throughout the 2008 season to identify the best-known resources for rookie teams to grow into successful, long-term robotics teams.
In October 2007, FIRST designated pages on its website to President’s Circle to address the specific needs of rookie teams. These pages include listings of the top websites new FIRST teams should visit, suggestions on where teams can begin the search for financial support, and a catalog of “must have” resources. Among The Green Machine’s contributions to this project: its 2007 team handbook is listed in the top ten FIRST team manuals, and the team’s webmaster was tapped by FIRSTto help design, format, and post-President’s Circle web content.
Participants in the President’s Circle were selected after submitting a two-minute video aimed at inspiring, recruiting, and mentoring new teams. The Green Machine was the first team to upload a President’s Circle submission video to the FIRST Channel on YouTube in May. This video, produced and edited by team members, illustrated The Green Machine’s involvement with the start-up of seven rookie teams in 2007.
Joining our team in the President’s Circle this year are: Raider Robotix, Team 25; Team RUSH, Team 27; TeknoKats, Team 45; Team Hammond, Team 71; The Navigators, Team 79; Pink Team, Team 233; Techno Ticks, Team 236; The CIA, Team 291; Starbot, Team 337; Churchville-Chili FIRST , Team 340; Miss Daisy, Team 341; MOE, Team 365; Midnight Mechanics, Team 812; Falcon Robotics , Team 842; Simbots , Team 1114; Eagle Engineering, Team 1138; Xaviermania, Team 1846; Apple Pi, Team 2067, and Panteras, Team 2283.