Achieving the Chairman’s Award while Finding Sponsorship Opportunities Tips & Tricks Chairman’s & Fundraising Steve Hyer Team RUSH – Clarkston, MI.

Achieving the Chairman’s Award while Finding Sponsorship

OpportunitiesTips & Tricks

Chairman’s & Fundraising

Steve HyerTeam RUSH – Clarkston, MI

Agenda

• Introductions• Why do you want to win the award?• Coming up with a Game Plan• The Written Submission• The Presentation• Q & A Practice• Chairman’s Award Rubric• Sustainability• Regatta

Why do you want to win?

• Highest Award – why not?• What can you learn while working on it?• Eventually, you will see results• You’ll win, when you get to the point that your

team isn’t doing things for the award anymore

• Note: Winning World Chairman’s is “IMPOSSIBLE”

Coming up with a Game Plan

• Make a Giant List of Everything Your Team Does• Categorize it Into 3 Main Points– i.e. Creating Leaders, Global Community Engagement

System, and Making all teams Sustainable

• Develop a 1 to 2 min Tell Me About Your Team Spiel

Written Submission

• Tell Your Team’s Story in Large Essay• Be sure to Include Data Points but not JUST Data– You will need an ongoing data management system– Change over time is more powerful than 1 number

• Use Your 3 Main Points• Include different things in each Mini Essay• Pictures can include Graphs of Data

The Presentation

• 5 to 6 minutes, limit setup time• Avoid complex metaphors, but make it fun• Practice Hundreds of Times• Should be Most Prestigious Position on Team• Picking a Time Slot• Presentation is Icing on Cake• Summary, doesn’t need to include EVERYTHING• Make it Personal when possible• Name Tags

Q & A

• Includes Chairman’s and Judges• To win, you must win ALL Awards• List of Practice Questions and Resources at:

www.teamrush27.net/chairmans

• Write Down Questions in Pit and After Interview• Clarify in Future Based on Questions Asked• Develop Practiced Answers• Be Ready and Practice for Curveball

Chairman’s Award Rubric (1/2)

• Impact on Team Members• Role Model Characteristics• Increased interest in STEM Careers• Innovative ways to Spread FIRST's Message• Continuous Improvement Demonstrated• Strong Community Partnerships with School,

Sponsors, Community

Chairman’s Award Rubric (2/2)

• Community Participation and Volunteerism• Strong Mentor Relationships• Enhances Diversity in STEM Careers/Field• Examples of GP• Written Submission Effectively

Communicates team’s message• Interview was effective and informative

Advice

• Don’t Copy Other Teams, Be Yourself• Judges will get to know your team• Don’t assume they know anything• Focus on Improving over Time• Everyone who does more will win and eventually

it will be your turn!

• START with MASTER LIST OF EVERTYTHING!• Come up with 3 Main Points, Practice!

Sustainability

• Financial Support• Mentors & Volunteers• Students

Financials• Budget• Student Contribution• Corporate Sponsorships

– Proposal Packets– Diversify sponsors

• Community sponsors– Multiple, smaller sponsors

• Fund-raisers– Magic Stu– Parents Night Out (PNO)– PIG competition– Flower bulbs– Pizza kits

Community Partners

• Chamber of Commerce• Parks and Rec• Community events

– Taste of Clarkston– Concerts in the Park– Parades

• Camps– Boy scouts/girl scouts– FLL– Girls in Engineering

• Relationships = longevity

Regatta

• Unique event– Engineering Challenge– Leadership and Mentoring– Entrepreneurial Exercise– FIRST Networking

‘RUSH’ To-Do List

• Make Contact with Local Chamber of Commerce• Develop Event to Host at Your Build Site– List Potential Partners in Community– Get 10 Local Organizations and Businesses to Attend

• Plan for Feeder System (Camp, Elementary School Presentations, School Event, etc.)

Questions?

www.teamrush27.net

Steve – [email protected]