Documents | 2012 Chairmans Questions
2012 Chairman's Short Answer responses
1. Impact on Team Members
FIRST Team 1912 Combustion nurtures skilled leaders with public classes in CAD, animation, web design, and
LabView. Our new Zero Robotics SPHERES team learned C and made the semifinals. 100% of alumni go to college,
where 77% major in STEM fields, updating us as they mentor teams from Boston to Mexico. Members letter in
robotics at school, and take the spirit of community service, financial sustainability, and social
networking into their lives as they rebuild the culture of our world.
2. Role Model Characteristics
As the champions of STEM in the Gulf Coast, 1912 gave the FIRST experience to 1 new FRC and 4 JrFLL teams
with our Ignition Team program. FIRST Flames sparks children's love for science through parades and camps.
With Torchbearer events like Special Olympics, we blaze a lead as volunteers while reaching the sponsor
side of the Combustion Triangle with visits, newsletters and demos. Fundraising and outreach strategies on
our website support teams everywhere for a stronger FIRST community.
3. Impact on Community
1912 inspires our community to embrace STEM with robot demos at a College and Career Night, Boy Scouts expo,
Boys and Girls Club, Teen Summit, and 5 children's camps. We raised supplies for troops in Operation Gratitude
and funds for Kevin Tremble. At Boo Fest we raised money for disabled children, and strengthened our Coast
with marsh restorations and city cleanups. The Hospice Crawfish Cook-off tied 1912 into local traditions
as our Ignition Team helped found 5 FIRST teams across the state.
4. Innovative Methods to Spread FIRST
1912 connects with the public via demos, social media, our website, and local TV interviews. To advocate STEM
education, we fostered political influence with state capitol, city council, and school board visits. We invite
VIPs to Open House and the Bayou, while our parades and mall demos excite the general public. To honor 9/11 we
added a flag stitch for FIRST, and donated ice cream sale proceeds to St. Jude's Children's Hospital on behalf
of a grateful 1912 relative.
5. Strength of Partnership
After years of 1912 demos, FIRST is now in hot demand by partners like the July 4th Heritage Fest and the Capitol Rotunda.
We represent teens in STEM at the Tulane Engineering Conferences with Team 2992, and will bring FIRST to pep
rallies with our robot for school cheerleaders. 4 FRC teams helped us host our 3rd Jumpstart, which reached 13
rookies. We ally with the VFW in Veterans' Day parades, and the Slidell Women's Civic Club in Mardi Gras parades
and low-income families' charities.
6. Communication Methods
To reach our growing community, 1912 connects with the public via our updated website and a Times Picayune
column written by a 1912 student. Email blasts notify the team, and newsletters keep sponsors posted. We
fill our school bulletin board and play programs with open events that our website and social media networks
on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube quickly announce. The 1912-sponsored Bayou Regional webcast and
our regular demos maintain FIRST enthusiasm in the community year-round.
7. Other Considerations
Diverse 1912 services build the spirit of FIRST into every niche of our community, from school engineering classes to
USFirst Girls. We even volunteered at FLL and FRC regionals and championships. This year, we paid 4 JrFLL
registrations, directed JCPenney's sponsorship to Team 3946, and supported a deceased student's family with
a bake sale. As 3rd year Beta Testers, we uploaded a Kinect manual and a Youtube video with over 5600 views. We
celebrate annually with paintball and pool parties.
