FIRST Unveils Team Resources: For Teams, By Teams

January 1, 2009

By MN Regional Staff

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, how to find 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! Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, 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 and develop resources for start-up teams to grow into successful, long-term robotics 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.

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.

Teams participating in the 2007 FIRST President's Circle include: The Green Machine, Team 1816; 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.