Good Morning Teams,
Officially, I’m on vacation this week, but as you can tell, I’m still plugged in. If anything really important happens, I’ll let you know. But until then, I’m enjoying the time off.
199 days to Kickoff
See you then!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
What’s with all the Surveys?
Good Morning Teams,
I have another quick survey for FRC teams. This one is only four questions long and will close at noon on Thursday, July 1st. Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDHRXPY to let us know what you think about the build season. Should we make it longer, shorter, or should we allow teams unlimited access to their robot between kickoff and competition?
The Kit of Parts Survey and the 2010 FRC Season survey close next week. Kate is still looking for responses from 38 more teams, so please, make sure your team is included.
So, what’s with all the surveys? FRC genuinely wants to know what you think. As we continue to grow it is becoming increasingly difficult to talk to each of you in person, so we’re using the next best available method. Please keep an eye on this blog and on future FRC Team email blasts for upcoming surveys. We tally the results and read all the comments, so make sure your team is a part of the solution.
As you know by now FIRST received the majority of the votes in the Pitney Bowes contest, and all three organizations were awarded $9K. Thank you for your help in getting the message to Pitney Bowes that FIRST is foremost. There is still time to vote in the AMEX/Take Part Members’ Project contest. You can vote once a week, so when you get a chance, go here: http://www.takepart.com/membersproject
It’s not final yet, so I can’t share all the details, but I expect to be hiring FRC staff this summer. I know members of the FIRST community are uniquely qualified, so get your resumes ready. I’ll post details here as soon as possible.
www.Roboticstrends.com has just completed the report Current State and Future Needs of the Robotics Workforce and is hosting a free virtual event today on Autonomy, Navigation and Mobility. More details are available at www.robovirtualevents.com
Now that the GDC has met on site and we’ve started to construct prototypes, the FRC Engineering department is officially in lockdown.
And, like Elvis, the robotic dinosaurs have left the building. It’s a lot quieter in my office now without the growling and howling from the floor below.
206 days to Kickoff
See you then!
I have another quick survey for FRC teams. This one is only four questions long and will close at noon on Thursday, July 1st. Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDHRXPY to let us know what you think about the build season. Should we make it longer, shorter, or should we allow teams unlimited access to their robot between kickoff and competition?
The Kit of Parts Survey and the 2010 FRC Season survey close next week. Kate is still looking for responses from 38 more teams, so please, make sure your team is included.
So, what’s with all the surveys? FRC genuinely wants to know what you think. As we continue to grow it is becoming increasingly difficult to talk to each of you in person, so we’re using the next best available method. Please keep an eye on this blog and on future FRC Team email blasts for upcoming surveys. We tally the results and read all the comments, so make sure your team is a part of the solution.
As you know by now FIRST received the majority of the votes in the Pitney Bowes contest, and all three organizations were awarded $9K. Thank you for your help in getting the message to Pitney Bowes that FIRST is foremost. There is still time to vote in the AMEX/Take Part Members’ Project contest. You can vote once a week, so when you get a chance, go here: http://www.takepart.com/membersproject
It’s not final yet, so I can’t share all the details, but I expect to be hiring FRC staff this summer. I know members of the FIRST community are uniquely qualified, so get your resumes ready. I’ll post details here as soon as possible.
www.Roboticstrends.com has just completed the report Current State and Future Needs of the Robotics Workforce and is hosting a free virtual event today on Autonomy, Navigation and Mobility. More details are available at www.robovirtualevents.com
Now that the GDC has met on site and we’ve started to construct prototypes, the FRC Engineering department is officially in lockdown.
And, like Elvis, the robotic dinosaurs have left the building. It’s a lot quieter in my office now without the growling and howling from the floor below.
206 days to Kickoff
See you then!
Monday, June 14, 2010
The GDC were here
Good Morning Teams,
The Game Design Committee spent the weekend on the first floor here at 200 Bedford Street. We waded our way through your suggestions and have narrowed the field down to four game concepts, each with their own diabolical twist. We discussed the Coast Guard’s robotic water games with Vince Wilczynski and wondered what we could do to make this year’s game the biggest and the best in order to celebrate FIRST’s 20th anniversary.
Woodie was away on vacation, Aiden was unable to attend and Dean couldn’t join us until Sunday due to other commitments. But, Paul Lazarus brought his filming equipment and FRC staff fueled the GDC with snicker doodles, blueberry pie and the ever present Haagen-Dazs, so by Sunday we were able to build a few prototypes and begin trying out ideas. We are far from finished, but each member of the GDC walked away with something to think about before our next teleconference and we're planning for another onsite soon.
Today Dean is at the JCPenny store managers’ meeting in Texas where eight local FRC teams are introducing senior staff to the excitement of FIRST by playing a mini Breakaway tournament. I wish them all the best of luck. I’m back in my office, planning for the future and finishing up the leftover fruit and bacon.
208 days to Kickoff
See you then!
The Game Design Committee spent the weekend on the first floor here at 200 Bedford Street. We waded our way through your suggestions and have narrowed the field down to four game concepts, each with their own diabolical twist. We discussed the Coast Guard’s robotic water games with Vince Wilczynski and wondered what we could do to make this year’s game the biggest and the best in order to celebrate FIRST’s 20th anniversary.
Woodie was away on vacation, Aiden was unable to attend and Dean couldn’t join us until Sunday due to other commitments. But, Paul Lazarus brought his filming equipment and FRC staff fueled the GDC with snicker doodles, blueberry pie and the ever present Haagen-Dazs, so by Sunday we were able to build a few prototypes and begin trying out ideas. We are far from finished, but each member of the GDC walked away with something to think about before our next teleconference and we're planning for another onsite soon.
Today Dean is at the JCPenny store managers’ meeting in Texas where eight local FRC teams are introducing senior staff to the excitement of FIRST by playing a mini Breakaway tournament. I wish them all the best of luck. I’m back in my office, planning for the future and finishing up the leftover fruit and bacon.
208 days to Kickoff
See you then!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Grace under Pressure
I want to thank team 811 the Cardinals for their assistance this morning. Three members of team 811 got up early on their first day of summer vacation to represent FRC during an Expo here at headquarters. Their robot navigated bumps and hung from the tower while the team members demonstrated troubleshooting skills and grace under pressure when things didn’t go as planned. They were a big hit with the visiting RDs and FLL Operational Partners. What’s your team doing this summer to spread the word about FIRST?
211days to Kickoff
See you then!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
We have a full house
Good Morning Teams,
There are 38 Regional and assistant Regional Directors who recruit and support teams, recruit and supervise volunteers, fundraise and ensure FRC kickoffs and events happen in your area. All but one are in Manchester this week. I met with the group yesterday to go over the 2010 and 2011 FRC seasons and expect to meet with them several more times before the week is over. At the same time, FLL is hosting almost 80 FLL operational partners in FIRST Place so we are a bit crowded at the moment. But we all have something to look forward to, Dean is graciously hosting a dinner for us all at Westwind this evening.
I have one additional item to add to the list of things teams should do to protect expensive items in the kit of parts. If you haven’t done so already, consider attaching an Ethernet “pig tail” to your classmate to protect the Ethernet connector.
We’ve only heard from 460 teams on the Kit of Parts and the FRC team surveys. Kate is hoping to hear from a minimum of 500 teams which means she needs at least 40 more of you to participate. The surveys close Wednesday, June 23rd so you still have time to make sure your voice is heard. Please make sure your team takes this opportunity to tell us what you think.
We spend a lot of time during the summer reviewing the previous season and planning for next year. This week, we calculated the distances every team traveled to attend FRC competition events. Did you know FRC teams traveled almost 1 million miles this year one way?
We are still looking for personal contact information on ALL students who were nominated for the 2010 Dean’s List Award program. This includes everyone—not just those that won. If you haven’t yet supplied this info, please do so ASAP to deanslist@usfirst.org
213 days to Kickoff
See you then!
There are 38 Regional and assistant Regional Directors who recruit and support teams, recruit and supervise volunteers, fundraise and ensure FRC kickoffs and events happen in your area. All but one are in Manchester this week. I met with the group yesterday to go over the 2010 and 2011 FRC seasons and expect to meet with them several more times before the week is over. At the same time, FLL is hosting almost 80 FLL operational partners in FIRST Place so we are a bit crowded at the moment. But we all have something to look forward to, Dean is graciously hosting a dinner for us all at Westwind this evening.
I have one additional item to add to the list of things teams should do to protect expensive items in the kit of parts. If you haven’t done so already, consider attaching an Ethernet “pig tail” to your classmate to protect the Ethernet connector.
We’ve only heard from 460 teams on the Kit of Parts and the FRC team surveys. Kate is hoping to hear from a minimum of 500 teams which means she needs at least 40 more of you to participate. The surveys close Wednesday, June 23rd so you still have time to make sure your voice is heard. Please make sure your team takes this opportunity to tell us what you think.
We spend a lot of time during the summer reviewing the previous season and planning for next year. This week, we calculated the distances every team traveled to attend FRC competition events. Did you know FRC teams traveled almost 1 million miles this year one way?
We are still looking for personal contact information on ALL students who were nominated for the 2010 Dean’s List Award program. This includes everyone—not just those that won. If you haven’t yet supplied this info, please do so ASAP to deanslist@usfirst.org
213 days to Kickoff
See you then!
Monday, June 7, 2010
FIRST has a new President
Good Afternoon Teams,
I’m very excited to announce FIRST has a new President. Jon Dudas, the former US Undersecretary of Commerce and Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office and a long time FIRST supporter will be starting in early July. Details here.
Also, thank you everyone for your input for the GDC. I’ve read all your suggestions and Kate will present them to the other members of the GDC at our next meeting. There are a lot of interesting ideas for us to discuss so, please save anything else you might think of for next year.
215 days to Kickoff
See you then!
I’m very excited to announce FIRST has a new President. Jon Dudas, the former US Undersecretary of Commerce and Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office and a long time FIRST supporter will be starting in early July. Details here.
Also, thank you everyone for your input for the GDC. I’ve read all your suggestions and Kate will present them to the other members of the GDC at our next meeting. There are a lot of interesting ideas for us to discuss so, please save anything else you might think of for next year.
215 days to Kickoff
See you then!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
FIRST needs your vote
Good Morning Teams,
You already know you’re going to be reusing components from the 2010 kit of parts. Why not make sure they’re in the best condition possible when build season starts next January? Go here for storage recommendations from the manufacturers.
Pitney Bowes will donate $9,000 to the most popular organization listed on its Innovation in Action webpage. You can vote for FIRST here. Deadline June 9th at 10:00 EDT. The winner will be announced June 9th at the World Innovation Forum.
American Express is donating $200,000 to the most popular organization listed in its Members Project webpage. You can register to vote for FIRST here, then vote once every week for the next 12 weeks. Deadline August 22nd. The winners will be announced August 30th.
Now the GDC wants to know if you have any suggestions for the 2011 FRC game that are specific to our upcoming 20th anniversary. Again, please send your ideas to FRCTeams@usfirst.org and put “For GDC eyes only” in the subject line. They’re really reading these (thank you Eric H, John R, Jason L & Billfred L for your input last week).
220 days to Kickoff
See you then!
You already know you’re going to be reusing components from the 2010 kit of parts. Why not make sure they’re in the best condition possible when build season starts next January? Go here for storage recommendations from the manufacturers.
Pitney Bowes will donate $9,000 to the most popular organization listed on its Innovation in Action webpage. You can vote for FIRST here. Deadline June 9th at 10:00 EDT. The winner will be announced June 9th at the World Innovation Forum.
American Express is donating $200,000 to the most popular organization listed in its Members Project webpage. You can register to vote for FIRST here, then vote once every week for the next 12 weeks. Deadline August 22nd. The winners will be announced August 30th.
Now the GDC wants to know if you have any suggestions for the 2011 FRC game that are specific to our upcoming 20th anniversary. Again, please send your ideas to FRCTeams@usfirst.org and put “For GDC eyes only” in the subject line. They’re really reading these (thank you Eric H, John R, Jason L & Billfred L for your input last week).
220 days to Kickoff
See you then!
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