Business Plan Boyne City High School Robotics Program 1035 Boyne Ave., Boyne City, MI 49712 bcblaze@boyne.k12.mi.us www.boyne.k12.mi.us/robotics
Table of Contents I. Title Page 1 II. Table of Contents...2 III. Team Mission Statement...3 IV. Team Origin 4 V. Organizational Structure...5 VI. Relationships 6 VII. Deployment of Resources.7 VIII. Future Plans..8 IX. Financial Statement...9-10 X. Risk Analysis..11 Page 2 of 11
Mission Statement Boyne City Blaze (BC Blaze) provides Boyne City High School students with a guided, hands-on opportunity to explore various applications of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Artistic Design, and Mathematics). By partnering with community mentors, BC Blaze fosters a variety of valuable life skills such as innovation, self-confidence, leadership, inspiration, and communication: the same skills needed to become the creative, scientific and technological leaders of the future. BC Blaze FIRST Robotics Team is an exceptional place for students to learn science, technology, engineering, construction, business, marketing, and teamwork. Students are exposed to possible career opportunities while exploring their many interests and apply the knowledge they ve gained in school. The robotics program provides the chance to learn from experienced mentors within the community, fostering relationships that allow local industries a chance to assist in the development of future employees. Through a hands-on approach and a shared experience, our robotics team strengthens the community. This valuable experience requires an investment of time, money, and effort by the students, mentors, and community to be a success. In addition to robot costs, entry fees and travel expenses must be planned. Through sponsorships from local businesses and organizations, donations of time and materials from local supporters in industry, and a variety of fundraising efforts, BC Blaze Robotics Team is working toward being a viable and sustainable program. Page 3 of 11
Team Origin BC Blaze was founded in 2011 and proudly received the Highest Rookie Seed Award at our first competition. Our second year, we increased growth and joined the winning alliance at the Troy District, qualifying for State Competition. In 2013-14, an advisory board and organizational structure were instituted with Blaze extending focus to promote STEAM and FIRST year-round. Blaze won the Engineering Inspiration and Entrepreneurship Awards during the competition season. In 2015, BC Blaze saw growth with increased community awareness and another Entrepreneurship Award. In 2016, Blaze focused on recruiting new talent, refining past practices, mentoring a Rookie team, and building a solid robot. By joining the winning Alliance at the Standish-Sterling District, earning Safety and Entrepreneurship Awards at both the LSSU and Standish Sterling Districts, and having a solid performance at States, our team qualified for Worlds. By raising $16,000, the community supported our aspirations to compete at the World Championship where we earned a special Judges Award on the Newton-Hopper Field. In 2017, BC Blaze increased student interest, adult mentorship, and direction from veteran teammates and won Chairman s Award at the LSSU District. Proudly, 4377 also earned two Safety Awards, two Entrepreneurship Awards and an Engineering Inspiration Award. BC Blaze s 2018 season saw a boom in the female population of our team, with our team being almost 50% female. In 2018, Blaze expects a successful leadership season in the FIRST community and continued development of BC Blaze. Page 4 of 11
Organizational Structure BC Blaze robotic program is run by the student team members with mentor guidance and oversight; this allows the students to gain and develop leadership skills and hands-on experience in engineering and business roles. Below are our organizational structures, which highlight the student and mentor roles. Each structure has two components, one focusing on the build/competition and the other on operations/public relations. Page 5 of 11
Relationships In order to maintain a strong program, building and retention of talent are crucial. BC Blaze begins recruiting new members with spring eighth-grade orientation and then holds a Fall introductory workshop allowing students to explore coding, the machine shop, and general robotics. Throughout the year, juniors and seniors mentor underclassmen to maintain a consistent level of experience. At the end of one year of participation, students obtain a Varsity Letter. BC Blaze also values strong relationships with the school. In 2018, BCHS added a STEAM class, increasing awareness by promoting real-life applications of STEAM. By partnering with the high school business, visual imaging, drafting, STEAM class, woodshop and machine tool classes, BC Blaze is able to spread the message of gracious professionalism throughout the school and promote the philosophy of FIRST. BC Blaze realizes that partnerships with area businesses, manufacturers, and community leaders are vital to the success of our team and need to be a top priority. Sponsorship comes in many forms: monetary donation, in-kind donation, or mentorship. Throughout the year, sponsors are kept up to date on the robot build and team activities. BC Blaze participates in Boyne City's signature event, Stroll the Streets, where local businesses, organizations, bands, and artists line Main Street to entertain and interact with the public. This is a great opportunity to spread the word of FIRST while recruiting new members and mentors, fundraising, and networking. BC Blaze wants the Boyne community to feel invested in Blaze. Page 6 of 11
Deployment of Resources Knowing FIRST is not simply about building a robot, BC Blaze defines their structure to include a mechanical build team, a programming team, and an operations team. Students with little interest in mechanics can still be a crucial part of our team while allowing the build team to dedicate more time to the robot build. By having sub-teams work closely together, critical deadlines are met and all students are more involved. BC Blaze is gaining recognition within the school. The sharing of resources (wood shop, machine tool shop, CAD, STEAM class and Visual Imaging) creates relationships that benefit both members of BC Blaze as well as others in the High School. Team members actively support both elementary and middle school STEAM initiatives. In addition to Stroll the Streets, BC Blaze participates in many community activities to spread the message of FIRST. In the fall, our team demonstrates the robot at Boyne City s Business Expo and hosts a 5k Zombie Fun Run. Blaze showcases the robot in the 4 of July Parade where it is viewed by th locals and visiting tourists, and in 2018, Blaze hosted the first annual Thunder Run. Annually, team members demonstrate the robot to area economic leaders at the Northern Lakes Economic Association conference and present to the Boyne City Local Development Finance Authority. BC Blaze encourages STEAM in young girls by hosting a Girl Scout event with a robotics theme. Since 2014, BC Blaze has hosted four area kickoffs, where workshop and discussion sessions were held, lunch and design rooms were provided, and the game telecast was shown. Page 7 of 11
Future Plans To have a successful robotics program and allow all interested students to participate in FIRST, BC Blaze understands the need to continuously recruit talented students and have financial security. To achieve this, our team plans to grow and strengthen their partnership with Boyne City High School business, STEAM, Visual Imaging, CAD, and machine tool classes. Members of our team are currently working on robotics based lesson plans for elementary and middle school students. This plan includes an assembly for the elementary students and a new FIRST-inspired lego club. The middle school plan focuses on hands-on activities for students relating to creativity, strategy, engineering, and gracious professionalism. Next, BC Blaze hopes to expand excitement for the program by continuing their community outreach programs year-round: The Basketball Showcase of this year s robot, the Elementary Carnival in the spring, Stroll the Streets, the 4 of July parade and the Thunder Run in the summer, th and the Zombie Run and Boyne Expo in the Fall. These activities are a great opportunity for us to raise money through donations, network with businesses, be visible in the community, and recruit future members. Lastly, we plan to continue to fund our program with local business sponsorships, participating in a variety of fundraisers, and continuing to develop new program opportunities. Short term, our goal is to have the majority of our sponsorships in place by the end of December each year, so that we can devote our energies to next year s build season. Page 8 of 11
Financial Statement Our goal is to have a financially secure program. We realize to accomplish this, we must solicit sponsorships year-round, develop annual fundraising programs, and apply for grants when available. The student operations team, with the support of a fundraising mentor, is responsible for contacting businesses to schedule and make presentations, plan fundraising activities and research grants. Our team s annual budget is $40,500 worth of monetary income with in-kind donations helping to offset costs. The finances can be broken down into three main categories: Competition expenses - registration, lodging, and transportation fees; Parts & Material expenses - items needed to build the robot; and, Marketing expenses - items needed for promoting FIRST, team branding, team spirit, public relations, sponsor updates, and appreciation. With the help of an accounting mentor, operations members use a general ledger to keep track of incoming and outgoing capital. A monthly report is presented to both the advisory committee and students. Attached is a summary of our budget: Page 9 of 11
Boyne City Blaze Income and Expenditure Statement 2016-17 FIRST ROBOTICS BUDGET 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR COMPETITIONS: REGISTRATION REGIONAL $2,500.00 REGIONAL $2,500.00 STATE $4,000.00 WORLDS $5,000.00 LODGING REGIONAL $2,000.00 REGIONAL $2,000.00 STATE WORLDS $3,000.00 $4,000.00 TEAM SPIRIT $1,000.00 TRANSPORTATION COSTS KICK-OFF $0.00 REGIONAL $300.00 REGIONAL STATE $300.00 $400.00 WORLDS $4,000.00 MATERIALS & COSTS: ROBOT PARTS $4,000.00 PIT & FIELD PIECES $500.00 TOOLS & SUPPLIES $1,000.00 MARKETING: $500.00 TOTAL $37,000.00 REVENUE: GRANTS $4,000.00 SPONSORSHIPS $15,000.00 FUNDRAISING $8,000.00 PRIOR YEAR CARRYOVER $10,000.00 TOTAL FIRST ROBOTICS BUDGET $37,000.00 Page 10 of 11
Risk Analysis The Boyne City Robotics team uses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to predict future outcomes of the team. Strengths Supportive school system integrating programs including Art, Visual Imaging, Machine Shop, CAD, and Business Management Supportive Community Software and equipment available in school for design, build and public relations Skilled mentors who provide numerous resources Interested, quality students Weaknesses Small school and therefore a small student population to recruit from Most student team members are involved in other extra curricular activities resulting in conflicts with time/schedules Small community Local sponsors have limited resources for providing large financial aid Numerous sponsors are needed to meet financial need Mentor hours (Limited, conflicting) Opportunities Increase community outreach activities Develop and present STEAM related programs to the elementary and middle school to cultivate interest in younger students Expand fundraising activities Scholarships for FIRST members Non-technical opportunities to learn more about business, management, marketing, photography, and graphic design. Threats Small, rural area with 10 teams competing for the same limited sponsor and mentor resources Local economy is based on tourism which can change quickly depending on unforeseen circumstances Loss of experienced/skilled students upon graduation Snow days during build season Loss of talented students due to conflicts of time with other school cocurricular activities, especially during the build season Page 11 of 11