Categories
FRC Updates

Ready…Set…Go!

Just over 111 days ago, I knew very little about the FIRST FRC program.  Now in just 11 days it is KICK-OFF for “Joe’s Average Slackers” – Orleans County’s premier robot building team.  The rookie FIRST team 4093!

Over the last few months we have researched the web, drawn from the expertise of regional reps, gotten lucky, and worked hard to build a team of HS aged students and Adult mentors that are about to embark on a challenge in which they will discover the varying degrees of success.  No matter the outcome of the competition, we already have a team of winners!

There is a lot of work to do over the next 8 weeks.  I wish you all the best as you conquer the challenge.  I am proud to work with all of you already!

LET’S DO IT!!

Categories
FLL

Holiday Faire

Some of our young FLL team members helped man the Robotics Club booth at Holiday Faire

Holiday Faire

In addition to sharing information about both the FLL and FRC teams, the kids helped other youngsters build little robot cars projects (made from a wooden spool, rubber band, and pencils.)

thanks everyone

Categories
FLL

Genesee County Aces Robotics Team Takes First Place!

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H “Genesee County Aces Robotics Team” for finishing first in this weekend’s First Lego League Buffalo qualifying tournament:

http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/robotics-team-grabs-first-place-competition/29206

they will go on to compete in the regional final in December.

Categories
FRC

FRC Meeting November 3, 2011

Let’s start by saying:

CONGRATS to the Medina Varsity Soccer team on winning the Section VI, B1 Championship for the FIRST time in school history!!!

CONGRATS to the Medina HS Marching Band on their NYS Championship in Syracuse this past week too!!

It has been a great week for our friends and teammates from Medina.

Our meeting was a small group, but we did accomplish some things and have homework to accomplish more at the next meeting.

1)  Team members must go to usfirst.org and register in the STIMS system as members of team 4093.

2) Team members should spend 15 minutes a day looking at FRC related things.  Start with this site https://lego.wiksclan.com  (where you are now) and check out links to usfirst.org and others.  Also, go to youtube and watch video of previous FRC competitions.  LOOK at the robots!

3)  COMMENT on this post.  Ask a question, tell us you were here, suggest a name…  whatever, but comment so that we know you are doing your homework 🙂

4)  You HAVE to pick a nickname for your team at the next meeting.  One of the things you have to work with alot is deadlines.  SO, on November 15th you MUST have a nickname.  Google first teams and see what they are already using and brainstorm.   As I said last night, if you don’t do it, you will be forever known as the “pink ladies”.

The other plan for the next meeting is to look at a previous challenge and think about strategies for that.  You will also begin building a base from the box of parts that you looked at last night.

Congrats to the founding officers:  President, Morgan Seielstad, Vice President Ben Miller, Treasurer Kyler McQuillan and Secretary Nick Ettinger.

Categories
FRC News

Rah Cha Cha Ruckus

Marlene, Morgan, Ben and I went to hang out at Penfield Robotic’s “Rah Cha Cha Ruckus” event today. We talked to a number of other teams, and gawked at the robots from last-year’s FIRST Robotics competition.

ruckus playfield

Categories
FLL FRC Updates

October 24, 2011

October 24, 2011

A recap of tonight….what  was said and what I wanted to say!

FLL — First Lego League (4th to 8th grade)

FRC— First Robotics Challenge (9th to 12th grade – there are some  exceptions based onconversations with parents and students regarding the rules)

 

OUR WEBSITE AND BLOG ARE LOCATED AT  https://lego.wiksclan.com/   (for information about FRC see https://frc4093.com/ )   PLEASE go there and sign up to receive  updates!!!!!  It is the best way to get information out BETWEEN meetings.

 

SPONSORSHIP 

 

Sponsorship is everyone’s responsibility.
We need about $5000 to support our upcoming FLL team(s).  We also need nearly that to support the FRC  team’s endeavors that are coming up fast.   Every donor counts!  Ask everyone,  for any amount!  Contributions are tax  deductible since they will go to the Cooperative Extension to be used by us.  They are an exempt 501 (c) (3) corp.

Our first  sponsor is an in-kind donation of rental space for the FRC build.

The second  Sponsor is purchasing an NXT kit for the FLL.

It is amazing what you can accomplish by just asking.   I am happy to help you with the brochures or if you are asked questions that  you would like help with give them my contact info, or have me call them.  robotics@wiksclan.com .  (I am Marlene Seielstad)

FLL For Now

 For Now, the  FLL group will meet once a month and learn some build and programming skills.  The challenge for them will not roll out until Sept. 2012.

In the  plans:

  • Building  a “field” Does anyone have a 4×8 sheet of plywood to donate?  ½ or ¾ (better) inch thick?  Pieces of 2×4 4ft or 8ft long?
  • A  field trip to a local FLL competition, if it can be arranged.
  • Kids  to participate in Public Presentation Days in February (presentations are part  of the FLL competition)
  • We  believe we will have the 2011 challenge board in early December (Hand me down  from another team)
  • They  will meet once a month for now.
  • I  promise to give them more attention once the FRC team and mentors are in place  (since there roll out is Jan 7th – yikes!)

FRC—

 First—- Can anyone go on Saturday (this week 29th)?  I know it is short notice.  As of now we have one car leaving to go for the day and one car that will go for the afternoon.  We have room. Mentors and team members that can make time WILL learn a lot, guaranteed.   More info is at http://www.ruckus.penfieldrobotics.com/ruckus-information/
We have a ton of stuff to do!

We need:

  • A Name  (ie; Orleans Storm, First Team 4093)
  • A shirt Color (green, red, purple, pink…get it)
  • A logo for us.

JANUARY 7TH NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR CALENDAR
 

We need to plan a build schedule:

 FRC–FEED BACK PLEASE

 I would like to  schedule with the least amount of conflicts for everyone and the sooner we nail  down the build schedule the better.  Other teams have a schedule that is 2.5 hours on weekdays and 6 hours on Saturday.  Does that work for us?  Do we want 2 hours and 7 hours.  I need your input and then will create something that works so everyone can come most of the time.  Information regarding how early you can  arrive and how late you can stay would be helpful.  If you have a commitment on a specific day of  the week, what time?

I know that  everyone will not make every meeting, but if you can make most of them, or come  late or leave early…  Scheduling will be  the hardest part, but we still want everyone to participate to whatever level  they are able.  During the build we will
do time cards so that when positions are selected for competition we will have
a deciding factor if we need it.  Hours  spent doing work at home and documented will count also.

Team Members should:

Become familiar with www.usfirst.org   go to the FRC tab and look around.  Look at past challenge info.  READ, READ, READ…

We have some awesome mentors that have signed up to help, with a fabulous set of skills!!  Thank you in advance for your willingness and availability!!!!

MEETING SCHEDULE:

EVERYONE: Shifts during the afternoon of December 3rd to be determined at Meeting 11/15

FLL:

Tuesday, November 15th Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

Monday December 12th, December Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

FRC:

Thursday, November 3rd Education Center Classroom, 6:30-800pm

Tuesday, November 15th   Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

Monday, November 28th Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

Wednesday, December 7th Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

Monday December 12th, Education Center Classroom, 7:00-8:30pm

We will be picking a couple of meeting times over the Holiday break to set  up the build site, when we can be there for a few productive hours.

FRC—JANUARY 7TH ALL DAY!!!

 PLEASE email me with any questions or comments.  The meeting schedule uses different days; we are trying to see what works best for everyone.

Categories
FRC News

October 22nd training news… FRC Kids–What are you doing Oct 29th??

Saturday, October 22nd, Erik, Morgan and I attended a regional FIRST training session.  I attended the NEMO (non engineering mentor org) side, while Erik and Morgan received some PTC training.  All of that is news we can use, I am sure.

But, outside of the training sessions, I garnished some great information as well!  There is a competition in Webster next Saturday.  We would like to go and take some or all of our HS aged (FRC) kids with us.   We have been invited (IF you bring safety glasses) into the pits by more than one team.  They even implied they would let you drive!  Email robotics@wiksclan.com if you can go.  We will also talk about it Monday, but the sooner we know the better.  The event is all day, we could go for all or part of the day.

See you tomorrow!

 

Categories
FRC Sponsorship

WOO HOO!!!

The FRC rookie team has received a $6500 grant from JCPenney. This directly pay for our registration and qualifying event!   We are off and running!!!!

Categories
News

FIRST’s Kamen speaks on U.S. Science, Technology Education

Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) — Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Robotics Championships, talks about the U.S. system of education and challenges in interesting students in science and technology. He speaks with Matt Miller and Carol Massar on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg).

The 5-minute video can be seen here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/75801890/

Categories
FRC Sponsorship

Sponsorship Update 10.13.11

News you can use!!!

When I spoke with the regional rep from FIRST he guaranteed me that we would receive one of two things.  Either $5,000 start up grant from a fund he “manages” or a $6,500 Rookie team grant from JCPenney.  We are still waiting for final approval from the JCPenney store, so I do not know which we have, but it is AT LEAST $5,000 for the FRC competition team!!!

We have secured a build location which is considered an “in kind” sponsorship.  The value of that is probably around $1,000.  There is build space, some practice space, and WIFI for our use while on site.

We still need to raise $2-$4,000.  I have a sponsorship brochure in publisher format.  I will have some printed for the meeting on October 24th (7pm).  (If anyone has a good quality color copier at their disposal that could print more, let me know)  The request we will be making is for funds from the sponsor’s 2012 budget.  We truly will not need the bulk of the money until January.  (We need $6500 by 11/30/11 so depending on which grant we receive we may need $1500 now)  Many companies are doing their budgets for next year now, so if we get in the door and ask before those are finalized we may be able to ask them to plan on helping us both this year and sustaining us in future years.

Please be thinking of businesses that you would be comfortable approaching.  There are levels of sponsorship from $100 to $5000 so we do not need to all go to the biggest manufacturer in town to seek out funds.  You may also want to make a tax deductible donation yourself.  That is OK too!  I will have the Chamber of Commerce and Pennysaver Business directories on hand, so that you can “claim” your sponsor and we will not all go to the same companies.

See you all soon!!!!

Don’t forget to invite friends that may want to be a part of this!  IT IS REALLY HAPPENING!!!!!