Is NEMO what you're looking for?

Kathie Kentfield and Jenny Beatty at the 2014 New England District Championship in Boston

NEMO(Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) was formed twelve years ago when three FIRST Robotics Competition mentors started exchanging information on Chief Delphi, an online forum for FIRST teams.  They realized that even though they were from different areas of the country (California, Connecticut, and Maryland) their teams were experiencing the same struggles – how to plan travel, raise funds, and recruit more mentors among others.  And although there were plenty of resources available for technical topics, not as much existed to support the mentors dealing with the non-technical areas.  They decided to form a virtual organization to provide resources and support to mentors like themselves.

Jenny Beatty, co-founder, is the organization’s Chief Learning Officer.  Kathie Kentfield, also a co-founder, is the organization’s Director.  Together they run NEMO.  “But it’s not ‘our’ organization!” insists Kentfield.  “NEMO belongs to the mentors who contribute to it – via suggestions for white papers, facilitating NEMO meetings in their areas, and posting to our online forums.”  The group’s membership has included over 1000 registered mentors across all four FIRST programs, and includes international members as well.  They hold several meetings at local FIRST events throughout the year and a popular annual meeting at the Championships.  The NEMO website, www.firstnemo.org, contains a calendar of NEMO meetings and a resources page.  The resources include compilations of suggestions from mentors in the form of white papers and presentations.

Kentfield says, “We start most meetings by asking the mentors what are their most pressing non-technical issues on the team this season – and without fail the response is usually lack of money and/or an issue that can be traced back to a lack of a good team organization plan.  You can’t have a sustainable, successful team without creating a strong foundation – and that takes work.  It’s great to start the conversation going and then sit back and listen to the great ideas that the mentors share with one another – that’s what NEMO is all about.”

Beatty says "There is a misconception that you can only join NEMO if you aren't an engineer. NEMO welcomes non-technical mentors, as well as the engineering mentors and teachers. We've had support for the technical community and many of the contributors to our resource papers are engineers."

NEMO is open to all college-age and adult mentors of all FIRST programs.  It is free to join.  To become a member of NEMO, visit http://www.firstnemo.org/join.htm.