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 knowledge they have 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 at Boyne City High School. At their first competition, the team received the Highest Rookie Seed Award. In our second year, the program expanded, joining the winning alliance at the Troy District and qualifying for State Competition. In 2013-14, an advisory board and organizational structure was instituted for a year-round program. Blaze extended focus to promote the concept of STEAM and FIRST. Blaze won the Engineering Inspiration and Entrepreneurship Awards during the competition season. 2015 was a year of growth for BC Blaze, expanding recognition in the community through public appearances. The program received runner-up Safety recognition at both district competitions and won the Entrepreneurship Award at the St. Joseph District. In 2016, focus advanced into recruiting new talent, refining past practices, mentoring a Rookie team, and building a solid robot. Blaze was on the winning Alliance at the Standish-Sterling District, earning Safety and Entrepreneurship Awards. At the LSSU District, the team again won both Safety and Entrepreneurship Awards. With a solid performance at State Competition, the team qualified for Worlds. Raising $16,000, the community assisted the team aspirations for Blaze to compete at Worlds. The team earned a special Judges Award on the Newton-Hopper Field. The 2017 BC Blaze season increased student interest, adult mentorship, and direction from veteran teammates. Blaze anticipates a successful leadership season in the FIRST community, and continued development of team 4377. 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 is crucial. BC Blaze begins recruiting new members with spring eighth grade orientation, and then holds a fall introductory workshop. This workshop includes exploration of the machine shop, programming, 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. By partnering with the high school business, visual imaging, drafting, 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 the team and need to be a top priority. A sponsor may come 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. During the summer, BC Blaze participates in Boyne City's Stroll the Streets, a weekly evening event where local businesses, organizations, bands, and artists line Main Street to entertain and interact with the public. Passersby are encouraged to drive the previous season s robot. This is a great outreach opportunity for spreading the word of FIRST, recruiting new members and mentors, fundraising, community involvement and networking. BC Blaze wants the Boyne community to feel invested in the team and the robot. Page 6 of 11
Deployment of Resources Knowing FIRST is not simply about building a robot, BC Blaze defined their structure to include a mechanical build team, a programming team, and an operational team. Students with little interest in mechanics can still be a crucial part of the 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 space (wood shop, machine tool shop, CAD classroom) and resources has created a relationship that benefits both members of BC Blaze as well as others in the High School. In addition to Stroll the Streets, BC Blaze has participated in many community activities to spread the message of FIRST: in the fall, the team demonstrated the robot at Boyne City s Business Expo; the team drove the robot in the 4 th of July Parade where it was viewed by locals and visiting tourists; team members demonstrated the robot to area economic leaders at a Northern Lakes Economic Association conference; the team presented to the Boyne City Local Development Finance Authority; and, in the fall, BC Blaze hosted a 5k Zombie Fun Run. Since 2014, BC Blaze has hosted four area kickoffs, where workshop/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, the team plans to grow and strengthen their partnership with Boyne City High School business, Visual Imaging, CAD and machine tool classes. Members of the 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 hands-on activities for the upper middle school students relating to creativity, strategy, engineering, and gracious professionalism. Additionally, BC Blaze is hosting a Girl Scout event with a robotics theme. Next, BC Blaze hopes to expand excitement for the program by continuing their community outreach programs year round: The Elementary Carnival in the spring, Stroll the Streets and the 4 th of July parade in the summer, and the Zombie Run and Boyne Expo in the fall. These activities are a great opportunity for us to raise money through donations, be visible in the community, and recruit future members. Lastly, we plan to continue to fund our program with local business by participating in a variety of fundraisers, helping the Friends of the Library during the summer, and continuing to develop new programs. 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 the task of 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. The team s annual budget is $40,500 worth of monetary income and 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 MEALS TRANSPORTATION COSTS KICK-OFF $0.00 REGIONAL $300.00 REGIONAL STATE $300.00 $400.00 WORLDS $7,500.00 MATERIALS & COSTS ROBOT PARTS $4,000.00 PIT & FIELD PIECES $500.00 TOOLS & SUPPLIES $1,000.00 MARKETING $500.00 TOTAL $40,500.00 REVENUE: GRANTS $2,500.00 SPONSORSHIPS $20,000.00 FUNDRAISING $9,000.00 PRIOR YEAR CARRYOVER $9,000.00 TOTAL FIRST ROBOTICS BUDGET $40,500.00 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 SupporTve school system integratng programs including Art, Visual Imaging, Machine Shop, CAD, and Business Management SupporTve Community So\ware and equipment available in school for design, build and public relatons Skilled mentors who provide numerous resources Interested, quality students Weaknesses Small school and therefore a small student populaton to recruit from Most student team members are involved in other extra curricular actvites resultng in conflicts with Tme/schedules Small community Local sponsors have limited resources for providing large financial aid Numerous sponsors are needed to meet financial need Mentor hours (Limited, conflictng) OpportuniTes Increase community outreach actvites Develop and present STEAM related programs to the elementary and middle school to cultvate interest in younger students Expand fundraising actvites Scholarships for FIRST members Non-technical opportunites to learn more about business, management, marketng, photography, and graphic design. Threats Small, rural area with 10 teams competng 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 graduaton Snow days during build season Loss of talented students due to conflicts of Tme with other school cocurricular actvites, especially during the build season Page 11 of 11