TEAM MERCURY 1089 HIGHTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 2008-2009 Business Plan Table of Contents I. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 2 II. About FIRST ............................................................................................................................ 4 III. About the FIRST Robotics Competition .............................................................................. 5 IV. About Team Mercury............................................................................................................. 6 V. Team Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 7 VI. Team History .......................................................................................................................... 8 VII. Team Goals .......................................................................................................................... 10 Member Goals ........................................................................................................................... 10 Increasing Awareness of FIRST ............................................................................................... 11 Create partnerships with sponsors ............................................................................................ 12 Overall Organizational Goals ................................................................................................... 13 Goals within FIRST .................................................................................................................. 14 VIII. Team Organization............................................................................................................ 17 Year-Round Structure ............................................................................................................... 17 Build Season Structure .............................................................................................................. 18 IX. Committee Responsibilities .................................................................................................. 19 X. Year-Round Committees ....................................................................................................... 20 Web Design Committee ............................................................................................................ 21 Digital Animation Committee ................................................................................................... 22 Media Committee...................................................................................................................... 23 Public Relations Committee ..................................................................................................... 24 Spirit Committee ....................................................................................................................... 25 Records and Business Committee ............................................................................................. 26 XI. Seasonal Committees ............................................................................................................ 27 Robot Design Committee .......................................................................................................... 28 Programming Committee .......................................................................................................... 29 Award Submissions Committee ................................................................................................ 30 XII. Competition Committees .................................................................................................... 31 Pit Crew .................................................................................................................................... 32 Drive Team ............................................................................................................................... 33 Scouting Committee .................................................................................................................. 34 XIII. Financial Plan .................................................................................................................... 35 XIV. Sponsorship ........................................................................................................................ 36 XV. Fundraising .......................................................................................................................... 37 XVI. For More Information ....................................................................................................... 38 Team Mercury 1089 Page 1 2008-2009 Business Plan I. Executive Summary Team Name: Team Mercury Mission Statement: Team Mercury will inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology by creating partnerships with parents, sponsors, and community members. Students will employ teamwork and organizational skills to simulate the environment of a small business. Through the development and presentation of a FIRST competition robot, Team Mercury will engage the community by participating in local outreach events. Lastly, the team will exemplify the spirit of gracious professionalism in its communication with all parties influenced by its projects, and have a blast while doing it! Founding Date: September 5, 2002 Founders: • Chris Gregory: Team Advisor • Erik, Lauralynne, and Wayne Cokeley: Programming, financial planning, team organization • Sara and Michael Reffler, Dr. Robin-Ann Klotsky: non-technical mentoring, programming, sensor technology • Matt and Neil Palmere: robot construction, programming • FRC Team 25, Raider Robotix Number of Team Members: 50 “Mercurites” Location: Hightstown High School, Hightstown, New Jersey Sponsors: • Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) • East Windsor Board of Education (BOE) • SPECO Tile & Marble, Inc. • Machine Medic • CB Thinkx LLC • VFW New Jersey Post 5700 • Hightstown High School Student Council • Hightstown High School Athletic Department • Cardinal Partners • Shiseido • Conair Services Rendered: • Provide opportunities for students in leadership, project management, engineering, science, technology, communication, and gracious professionalism through mentor and student lead workshops • Create and mentor sustainable and successful FRC teams • Support FTC program through scrimmage and volunteer at NJ FTC State Championship • Increase involvement in FLL in local middle and elementary schools by starting teams • Promote FIRST in the community in innovative ways, including robot demonstrations and participation in community outreach events Team Mercury 1089 Page 2 2008-2009 Business Plan • Educate the school about FIRST via viral ad campaign, fundraising, and team shirt days • Advertise FIRST via President’s Circle submission and media contacts • Promote FIRST to NJ Politicians, school board officials, and teachers Sponsor Relationships: • Send information regarding the current season to sponsors throughout the year • Present thank you letters, gifts, and trophies to sponsors at the end of year • Create and distribute BMS banners and “Proud to be a BMS team” buttons at competitions • Attend the Bristol-Myers Squibb annual “wrap party” • Present robot and successes to the East Windsor Board of Education • Receive dedicated mentoring from SPECO Tile and Marble, Incorporated, CB Thinkx LLC, and Machine Medic • Provided 3 classrooms, practice space, a computer server, and coach stipend by HHS • Awarded grants from the East Windsor BOE and HHS Student Council • Receive funding for transportation from the HHS Athletic Department Team Functions and Successes: • Organized “Committee of the Whole” structure to prioritize goals and responsibilities • Comprehensive recruitment plan • Successful leadership development program • Over 20 alumni studying science/technology/engineering fields in top colleges • Role models to other students in school, through team “code of conduct” requirements • Largely student-run organization • Improved self-initiative and motivation in students • 14 educated mentors providing leadership and knowledge via resources and workshops • Development of team parent organization • Change in the culture of the community via parades, town celebrations, and movie premieres • Creation/mentoring of 8 FRC teams • Development of other team resources, delivered via our website and kickoff workshops • Successful plan for increasing gracious professionalism at competition • Recipient of numerous awards: 2009 Philadelphia Regional Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award 2009 Philadelphia Regional Best Website Award 2009 New Jersey Regional Chairman’s Award 2008 New Jersey Regional Gracious Professionalism Award 2008 Snow Day Showdown Most Gracious Team Award 2006 and 2008 New Jersey Regional Best Website Awards 2006 New Jersey Regional Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award Future Plans: • Expose the community to FIRST through more outreach activities • Develop more innovative methods to spread the message of FIRST to the school • Increase involvement in FTC and FLL through team creation, mentoring, and event hosting • Create and mentor successful FIRST programs at other local schools • Dynamically teach the values of FIRST to a younger generation through a kid-friendly website • Start and mentor more FRC teams • Strengthen partnerships