Innovative Fundraising Aka Community Management

1. Innovative Fundraising Aka Community Management Team 839 : Rosie Robotics Agawam High School (Agawam, MA)

2. Who we are…………… • Authored by: • Many • Presented by: • Dana Henry • Rosie Founder (2002) • Technician, Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea Systems • John Burns • Rosie Founder (2002) • Tech Ed Coordinator Agawam School District • Many State Wide Tech Ed Committees

3. Who we are……… • Rosie’s story--- • Rookie year 2002 • Offshoot of Buzz • Rookie All Star/Top Rookie Seed 2002 • KPCB Entrepreneurship 2004, 05 and 06. • Daimler Chrysler Spirit 2004 • Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam 2004

4. What are we going to talk about? • It takes a village to make a FIRST Robotics team truly successful. • More than just a teacher and some students. • Support from every discipline. • Support from every level. • Support from parents. • Promote promote promote!!! • By drawing attention to your team, you draw checks

5. School Support • School Committee • Play the game • A strong backer or two on the school board is a must. • A MA State Rep named Rosemary is a good thing. • Visibility for the team is the goal. • Put the students up front. • Fit the program into the Superintendent’s goals.

6. Superintendent’s Goals for 2004-2007(and how Rosie helped) • To increase student achievement. • FIRST Robotics is the premier program of its type in the country for giving students a reason to stay in school, get good grades and become excited again about math, science, and business. • To provide a positive and safe learning environment • We’ve brought in trainers from Hamilton Sundstrand and FIRST to help teach the students conflict resolution, constructive feedback, working in a diverse group setting, brainstorming, setting goals (and achieving them). Encourage students to explore their options, offer praise appropriately, but not sparingly. • To promote parent and community involvement in the education of the children. • There is no way that one individual teacher can run a program of this scope without significant parental involvement, from chaperoning a road trip to supervising shop work. Rosie has recruited about 10 adults – all from different employers; some parents, some recent graduates, some homemakers, etc.

7. Superintendents Goals for 2004-2007(and how Rosie helped) • To foster a climate of communication and collaboration. • Without communication, we would be nowhere. MIT, Balzar Tool, LM, Mechanical Plastics, HS, Buzz, Science dept., Career Center • To recognize and support varied learning styles and differences in order to maximize individual success. • We have a place for everybody. Every skill set is utilized. It’s not just for nerds – everyone has different intelligences. • To provide professional development for all employees. • Ask John Burns how much he has learned from this program! • To maintain favorable student/staff ratios. • We do pretty well in this department… mentors are always available and present in multiples. • To provide a curriculum with high standards for all students. • Performance is the key. Expect high performance and you will get it..

8. Curriculum Connections • Become part of the school’s approved course of study

9. Curriculum Connections • Engineering the Future is the curriculum designed by the Boston Museum of Science • Automated systems is a VEX based robotics course

10. Curriculum Connections • Put independent study course in your curriculum

11. Curriculum Connections • Use the quality and diversity of your mentors to provide an alternate method for your students to receive credit and recognition for what they learn.

12. Curriculum Connections • Bring your show to the Elementary Schools and demonstrate using the State Standards

13. School Support • School Administration • Meet with the Principal regularly. • Even if it’s just in the hall for 3 minutes. • It does not hurt to have a parent or two on the PTSO/SIC. • Good way to find out what is happening within the school. • Get quality face time. Go to school committee meetings, PTSO, football games. • Volunteer to host a career fair or club night. • If you volunteer to do the set up, then its automatic you get prime real estate!! • Do NOT upset the custodial staff! • Feed them!

14. School Support • Student Body • NOT just for nerds. That’s a tough one to get over. • Wide variety of skills needed. Spirit, writing, www • Diversity: we are about 50/50. • Develop a job application • Faculty/Staff • Get a great one. We did. • Multiple is good. (We’re training the 2nd one!) • Make sure they are the “Keeper of the Keys.” • Showcasing Achievements • Show off trophies/awards. We have our own case in the hall. • Get on principals brag board. • Showcase the robots, run’em at lunch in the halls, display in the library, Back to School, Open House, Town parades etc. • Lower Grade Levels • Farm System VEX/FLL/JFLL • FIRST is providing it, utilize it.

15. Community Support • Local Government • Mayor, you need the office. • Provide photo ops, they all love them. • Be honest and forthright – remember, they want to get reelected!

16. Community Support • Councilors/School Committee • Young and Amerusso • State Government • DOE get in front of them any way you can • Driscoll and the Jensen twins at Conference hosted at AHS, MASC

17. Raising Awareness in the Community • Brochures / Pamphlets • Provide tangible communications – not just words – unique designs (triangle, *tion ball) • Fundraisers • Look at it not just as an opportunity to make money, but also to get the word out and provide a service to the community. • Display your “product” • bring ‘bots to fundraisers, march in parades • Build a World Class display booth • Work with other city departments – DPW, Senior Center – for something that benefits them • We’re still getting mileage from Road Iron. • Mentors/NEMOs – don’t turn down any assistance offered

18. Media Management • Find a parent that doesn’t like to see there kid on TV, in the paper, or on the radio. Not the police log or scanner. • Do you know the phone/fax/email of your local beat reporter? • Do you know the phone/fax/email of you local TV/Radio reporters? • Letters to the Editor • Press Releases & “PR” • Can you write your own articles for the local paper? • Do you have an AP English student?

19. Media • Interviews – Say “YES!!!” • Students’ opportunity to shine • Kris/John on radio. • Internet Publication • Website • Foreign Policy • Au Canada!!, Au Belgique!! • Thank you!

20. ION (Inter Organizational Networking) • Local and National Engineering Societies • ESWM/ASME/SME • Colleges & Universities • MIT, Northeastern, UMass, WPI, STCC • Other Teams • Team173/1368 • True North Events • Community Orgs • Lions Club • Masonic Lodges • Rotary • Chamber of Commerce

21. ION (Inter Organizational Networking) • Civic Organizations • Junior Women’s Club • Shriners’ Hospital for Children • Springfield Science Museum • Sponsors • Berkshire Power • Hamilton Sundstrand • Hartford Steam Boiler • Red Sox • Mass Mentoring Partnership

22. FIRST exposure • FIRST Hierarchy • Woody, Dean & Dave • Competition Staff • Be nice to Judges/Staff/Cuers • Other Teams • Offer assistance • Regional chapters • NE FIRST

23. FIRST and NEMO • Traditional fundraising events include: • Rosie’s World Famous Ziti Dinners • 6th Annual Tournament of Rosie • Butter Braid/Gourmet Coffee sales • Raffles • Specifics and white papers of these ideas can be found on www.firstnemo.org

24. Community Management • Topics that were covered • Getting support from the school • From the top • Raising Awareness in the Community • High profile • Dealing with the media • Get published • Manipulating the Man • “Hello Mr. Mayor.” • Inter-organization Networking • ESWM/MIT

25. Take away this… • Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance. –Anonymous www.team839.com www.rosierobotics.com