If you have not met me, I'm Keith Hall, the FIRST Senior Mentor for Illinois. My role is to support the teams. Experience has taught me that in a region as large as Illinois, it is an impossible job for just one person.
That's where FIRST Gracious Professionalism and Cooperatition shine. Since there are so many teams and only a few FIRST staff members, the only way to make sure that teams get what they need to succeed is to encourage everyone make it a priority to help each other.
That help can be as simple as pointing the person to a web site that has the information they need. It could also mean organizing several teams together to hold training, workshops, and even off-season scrimmages. This doesn't have to be expensive. For example, teams can schedule a room at the local libraries to learn about programming together. Teams with fields can host short "check-up" clinics to help other teams and play a few practice rounds. Several long-established teams already do these sorts of things, but to build a stronger FTC community we need more!
To locate teams in your area visit http://www.usfirst.org/whats-going-on select teams, FTC, add a state, zip code and a distance. Once you find the teams around you, if you are having difficulty making contact please let us know, we will make the introductions.
So if you are having issues, please let us know! If you would like to help other teams, please let us know! We all want to see all the teams give the judges some really tough choices at competitions, and see some really competitive robots! Don't forget, the judges do give awards for community service and involvement. Get involved in creating your own FTC community in your area and inspire your students to excellence!
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