Innovative Fundraising

Aka Community Management

Team 839 : Rosie Robotics Agawam High School (Agawam, MA)

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

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

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

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.

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.

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..

Curriculum Connections

 Become part of the school’s approved course of study

Curriculum Connections

 Engineering the Future is the curriculum designed by the Boston Museum of Science  Automated systems is a VEX based robotics course

Curriculum Connections

 Put independent study course in your curriculum

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.

Curriculum Connections

 Bring your show to the Elementary Schools and demonstrate using the State Standards

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!

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 2 nd Make sure they are the “ one!) 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.

Community Support

 Local Government  Mayor, you need the office.

  Provide photo ops, they all love them.

Be honest and forthright reelected!

– remember, they want to get

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

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

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?

Media



Interviews – Say “YES!!!”



Students’ opportunity to shine



Kris/John on radio.



Internet Publication



Website



Foreign Policy



Au Canada!!, Au Belgique!!



Thank you!

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

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

FIRST exposure

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

FIRST and NEMO



Traditional fundraising events include:

 Rosie’s World Famous Ziti Dinners  6 th Annual Tournament of Rosie  Butter Braid/Gourmet Coffee sales  Raffles  Specifics and white papers of these ideas can be found on www.firstnemo.org

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

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