FIRST Interactive Annual Report Online!

annual reportWant to get up close and personal with FIRST’s reach and impact?  Check out the  interactive 2012 FIRST Annual Report , now available online. Great for sharing with schools, educators, and potential sponsors.  Please note that the data is for 2012.  You can get the most recent numbers on the FIRST website.

FRC Update: Robot Stop Build Day Tuesday, 2/19/13, Important deadlines, 2013 FIRST Scholarship opportunity updates & More!

FRCicon_RGBGreetings Teams:

ROBOT STOP BUILD DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, 2/19/13! On this day, your team MUST stop work on your robot and seal it in the bag provided in your Kit of Parts (KoP), with the tag from your KoP. You may work on your robot until midnight local time, but the seal must be on the bag when the clock strikes midnight!

Is your team ready? Have you:

  •         Located and printed the Robot Lock-Up form?
  •        Called or emailed Team Support with any questions or concerns?

Important Deadlines:

Award Submission (via STIMS):

  •       *  Website Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET 
  •         Chairman’s Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET
  •          Woodie Flowers Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET

Award Submission (via TIMS):

  •         Dean’s List Award: 2/21/13 @12 pm (noon) ET

FIRST Future Innovator Award Submission (via http://www.allthingspatent.com/FRC/): 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET

FRC Blog: There have been several important updates posted on the FRC Blog recently. Please review a recent post on wireless security here:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-wireless-security-karthik-at-tedx-and-a-pop-safety-quiz. In case you missed last month’s important blog about safety and the announcement of our Safety Animation Award winner – you can find it here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-safety-safety-safety.

2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates:  Find out about new scholarships, and all FIRST Scholarships with deadlines in March at:http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2013_Assets/FIRST_Scholarship_News_2-14-13.pdf

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity

V 1(800)871-8326

F 603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

www.usfirst.org

*There was an error in today’s FRC email blast regarding 2013 FRC Award submissions. Please note: There is no FRC Website Award this year. In addition to the Chairman’s Award and Woodie Flowers Award submissions, Entrepreneurship Award submissions are due via STIMS on 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET. We apologize for the miscommunication.

FRC Update: Award submission reminder,Robot Stop Build Day 2/19/13, Travel discount programs for FRC Teams & More!

FRCicon_RGBAward Submission Reminder: Don’t forget that submissions for the Chairman’s Award, Woodie Flower’s Award and Entrepreneurship Award are due by Thursday, 2/21/13 at 12:00 pm (noon) EST in STIMS. Additionally, Dean’s List Award submissions are due in TIMS by Thursday, 2/21/13 at 12:00 pm (noon) EST. Teams are encouraged to review how to submit for awards before the deadline, as no late submissions will be accepted after the 12:00 pm deadline on 2/21/13. Read more about all FRC awards here: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org.

Robot Stop Build Day- Tuesday, 2/19/13: On this day, your team MUST stop work on your robot and seal it in the bag provided in your Kit of Parts (KoP), with the tag from your KoP. You may work on your robot until midnight local time, but the seal must be on the bag when the clock strikes midnight! You will also need to complete the Robot Lock-Up form: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/upload/pdfs/2012/12/Robot_Lockup_form_v3-0%2011.20.12.pdf. Please note: Robot Lock-Up forms will be inspected upon arrival at your event. Details on the process are available in section 5 of the Administrative Manual- Robot Transportation: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/.

FRC Blog: Please review the FRC Blog: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-mandatory-team-update-and-axis-m1013-camera for information on a mandatory Team Update.

Airline and Car Rental Discount Programs for FRC Teams: For information about these travel discounts, please visit: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/travel-discounts.

FIRST® Virtual Technical Advisor: Are you looking for help with your robot? Do you have technical experience and want to help a team? We have the solution! FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor (VTA) is here to help! Sign up to find/give support from anywhere in the world! https://my.usfirst.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/Virtual_login.aspx.

Message from Autodesk: Check out Phil’s third webinar, where he completes the drive base kit by adding the Toughbox Mini assembly. Phil also reviews how to share your robot design using Autodesk Design Review and Autodesk Inventor Publisher. You can view these and other entries throughout the season on Phil’s Autodesk Inventor FRC blog.

Go Teams!
FRC Team Support

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity
V 1(800)871-8326
F 603-666-3907
E frcteams@usfirst.org
W http://www.usfirst.org

FLL Update: Global Innovation, Patent It, Jr.FLL Showcase

Senior Solutions Aqua SM I-E-C–>Win Big with FLL

Want a chance at winning $20,000? Enter your SENIOR SOLUTIONS Project idea in the FLL Global Innovation Award competition! Remember: ANY FLL team registered for the SENIOR SOLUTIONS season is eligible. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2013. Visit the Global Innovation website for details: http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org

–> Patent It!
Protecting your Project idea? We want to hear from FLL teams who have either already filed or are in the process of filing for a patent. Contact us at fllinovationaward@usfirst.org and type “Patent It” in the subject line.

–> The Young Generation
Now is a great time to check out the Jr.FLL Online Showcase to see what teams are working on this season for the Super Seniors Challenge: http://jrfllshowcase.usfirst.org/

 

*THIS EMAIL IS FROM FIRST – MANCHESTER NH USA. BE SURE TO WATCH FOR EMAILS FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTNER.*

With High 5’s and Admiration,
FLL Team Support

Stay Connected with FLL!
Twitter (@firstlegoleague)| YouTube (youtube.com/fllglobal)|FLL Blog (fllblog.wordpress.com)
FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League (http://firstlegoleague.org) | fllteams@usfirst.org | +1 603-666-3906 x0, +1 800-871-8326 x0 | FIRST(R) (http://usfirst.org) - 200 Bedford Street – Manchester NH USA 03101

 

FLL Update: Global Innovation/Reviews for FIRST

Print–>Submissions Now Accepted – FLL Global Innovation Award

Any currently registered FLL team may now enter their SENIOR SOLUTIONS Project invention for a chance to win $20,000 in the Global Innovation Award competition. Visit the website at http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org. Since opening day 31 teams have submitted their FLL Project solutions – inventions range from devices that combat memory loss to fire prevention sensors. Voting opens February 11th, so submit your team’s idea soon!

Read all the details in the FAQ section on http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org. Please read all submission criteria carefully and do not post photos of children under the age of 18.  Prize money may be used to further develop the team’s invention and/or support team activities related to FIRST programs.

–>What Do You Say?!

Help FIRST reach a wider audience by posting a review on Charity Navigator, http://bit.ly/fLR0IS . Whether it’s a post-tournament recap or an overall FLL experience, we want to hear what you have to say. And to that we say “Thank you!”

*THIS EMAIL IS FROM FIRST – MANCHESTER NH USA. BE SURE TO WATCH FOR EMAILS FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTNER.*

With High 5’s and Admiration,
FLL Team Support

Stay Connected with FLL!
Twitter (@firstlegoleague)| YouTube (youtube.com/fllglobal)|FLL Blog (fllblog.wordpress.com)
FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League (http://firstlegoleague.org) | fllteams@usfirst.org | +1 603-666-3906 x0, +1 800-871-8326 x0 | FIRST(R) (http://usfirst.org) - 200 Bedford Street – Manchester NH USA 03101

FRC Update: Payments for additional Regional Events & Championship Deadline,2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates, FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor and Much More!

FRCicon_RGBGreetings Teams:

Payments for Additional Regional Events & Championship Deadline: Payments for additional regional events and Championship are due Friday, 1/25/13 – please confirm withFIRST Finance you have the funding for the events for which you are registered,  if they are not paid at this time. If you do not have the funding, please email ar@usfirst.org as to your status. We do have a waitlist of teams wanting to go to specific events, so if you do not have the funding to attend please let us know so we can give another team the opportunity.

2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates:  Find out about recently confirmed scholarships, the new Bart Kamen FIRST Memorial Scholarship Fund, and all FIRSTScholarships with deadlines in February.  See all at: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2013_Assets/FIRST_Scholarship_News_1-17-13.pdf.

Team Updates: Team Updates will be available every Tuesday and Friday through Thursday, 2/14/13, then every Tuesday through Championship. Team Updates can be found here: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/Updates/0.

FRC Blog: Please visit the FRC Blog: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-team-update-1-15-2013 for important information on a recent Team Update.

FIRST® Virtual Technical Advisor: Are you looking for help with your robot? Do you have technical experience and want to help a team? We have the solution! FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor (VTA) is here to help! Sign up to find/give support from anywhere in the world!https://my.usfirst.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/Virtual_login.aspx.

Consent and Release Forms: If you haven’t done so already, please consider which 2013FIRST Consent and Release form your team members will be submitting this season.  Remember, if you choose to submit the electronic Consent and Release form you will only need to do so once to attend the 2013 FRC competition events. Students and their parents access the electronic form in STIMS; adult mentors in TIMS).

If anyone on your team opts to submit a hard-copy Consent and Release form instead, please download at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form and follow instructions for submission located in the “Process Overview Document”.

If team members submitted hard-copy Consent and Release forms for Kickoff, please note that they will need to supply another hard-copy Consent and Release form for your team’s competition event. Electronic Consent and Release forms do not need to be resubmitted.

Michigan (FiM) and MAR (Mid-Atlantic Robotics) teams will find instructions specific to their Consent and Release form submissions in the “process overview document” as well.

Print your Team Roster! No matter which method you choose (electronic or hard-copy), you MUST print off your Team Roster from TIMS and bring it with you to your initial competition event. To print the Team Roster:

1)  On the Team Summary page in TIMS, scroll down to the “Student/Roster” field.

2)  Click “View” next to Team Roster.

3) Click Printable Roster.

4) If you have any students/mentors who are providing hard-copy forms, please write in their names on the printed roster and attach their Consent and Release forms.

For more information about the 2013 Consent and Release form, including FAQs and a helpful process overview, please visit: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form.

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

 

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity

V 1(800)871-8326

F 603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

http://www.usfirst.org

FTC Update: Thank your Mentor Day, Programming Survey, FIRST Scholarships

FTCicon_RGBIt’s national Thank your Mentor Day.  Thank you FTC Mentors! (We couldn’t do this without you)mentor month

Contents:

  1. Announcing 1-credit hour Mentor Training
  2. Team Programming Survey
  3. IR Beacons temporarily out of stock
  4. FIRST Scholarships update

1.   Beginning Feb. 18, FTC Coaches and Mentors will have access to a free, IACET certified, online continuing education course.  Visit the FTC Blog for more information.

2.  We want to know what programming language you use.  Let us know by taking this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V2VZPVD.  It should take 2 minutes or less.

3.   The IR Beacon is temporarily out of stock at HITECHNIC.com.  We currently expect them to be available mid- to late- February.  We’ll keep you posted on any relevant updates to their availability.

4.  Check out the scholarships FIRST students are eligible for.  There are several brand-new ones, like the Bart Kamen FIRST Memorial Scholarship fund.  The deadlines for many of these scholarships are coming soon, so don’t forget to take a look: FIRST Scholarship Updates

 

FLL Global Innovation Submissions Open January 17th!

Global innovationGlobal Innovation – Submissions Open TOMORROW

FLL is pleased to announce the opening of submissions for the FLL Global Innovation Award. Teams can begin the submission process January 17, 2013 at 12pm ET on http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org. An updated FAQ will be available on the site at that time. Please note that online voting will begin on February 11th in order to give all teams time to post their submissions on the site. Both submission entry and voting will officially end on March 1, 2013 at 12pm ET. More details on voting will be forthcoming.

*THIS EMAIL IS FROM FIRST HEADQUARTERS. BE SURE TO WATCH FOR EMAILS FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTNER.*

With High 5’s and Admiration,
FLL Team Support

Stay Connected with FLL!
Twitter (@firstlegoleague)| YouTube (youtube.com/fllglobal)|FLL Blog (fllblog.wordpress.com)
FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League (http://firstlegoleague.org) | fllteams@usfirst.org | +1 603-666-3906 x0, +1 800-871-8326 x0 | FIRST(R) (http://usfirst.org) - 200 Bedford Street – Manchester NH USA 03101

 

Tampa Bay Mentor hosts Weekly FRC Mentor Roundtable Telecons

Mentor Andrew Schreiber (FRC79) will be hosting a mentor roundtable teleconference every Saturday at 10 AM EST for the remainder of buildseason. The purpose of these calls is to help keep everyone aware of major changes that occurred over the week and what deadlines are coming up. Additionally, it would provide a place to get to know other mentors in the area. To participate call (724) 444-7444 and enter 125954 as the call id. Pressing #1 will log you in as a guest. All calls will be recorded and available in iTunes or on http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=125954&cmd=tc after they are completed.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Andrew at schreiaj@gmail.com

FLL Update: Global Innovation Kick Off, New LEGO Platform – EV3 and more!

Print–>Global Innovation Kick Off
We are days away from launching the 3rd season of the FIRST® LEGO® League Global Innovation Award! The website (http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org/) will open for team submissions for the SENIOR SOLUTIONS℠ season on Thursday, January 17th at 12:00pm ET. Voting will begin on Monday, February 11th at 12:00pm ET. Voting and submissions will end on Friday, March 1st.

Watch this inspring video to learn more about the award: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mEdzXVLk9TU

–>LEGO Group Announces New Robotics Platform – EV3

Based on feedback from more than 800 educators worldwide, the LEGO Group announces the next generation of robotics – the EV3. The EV3 solutions will offer new and improved hardware and software. For more details and FLL related questions and answers check out the Q&A on the FIRST LEGO League website:http://firstlegoleague.org/productEV3

–>Thanks for Voting!

Thanks to our amazing community for voting for the Dean Kamen/Paul Lazurus video, “SLINGSHOT”, as an audience favorite in the FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition. View the top 10 here:http://vimeo.com/album/2184435

*THIS EMAIL IS FROM FIRST HEADQUARTERS. BE SURE TO WATCH FOR EMAILS FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTNER.*

With High 5’s and Admiration,
FLL Team Support

Stay Connected with FLL!
Twitter (@firstlegoleague)| YouTube (youtube.com/fllglobal)|FLL Blog (fllblog.wordpress.com)
FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League (http://firstlegoleague.org) | fllteams@usfirst.org | +1 603-666-3906 x0, +1 800-871-8326 x0 | FIRST(R) (http://usfirst.org) - 200 Bedford Street – Manchester NH USA 03101

 

 

 

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