FRC Update: FIRST HQ Closed 12/26, Kit of Parts Inventory, Important KoP and Kickoff Information & More

Greetings Teams:

FIRST HQ Closed 12/26: FIRST Headquarters will close at 3 PM EST on Friday, 12/23, in honor of the Christmas holiday. Our regular business hours will resume Tuesday, December 27th @ 8:30 AM EST.

Don’t forget to take inventory of your Kit of Parts (KoP) after Kickoff: After receiving and checking all items in your Kit of Parts (KoP), should you determine you are missing a part(s), or need replacement part(s) you must use the FIRST ”Replacement Parts Request” system to order replacements.  Find more details about this process here: http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/2012-kit-of-parts-replacement-parts-process.

IMPORTANT: This is a time limited, one-time only opportunity to submit your Replacement Parts Request.  We must receive your Replacement Parts Request by 8:00 pm EST on January 11, 2012.

Important KoP and Kickoff Information: Please visit Bill’s Blog for information on this year’s KoP and for specifics on what to bring to your local Kickoff event:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/emailblastarchive.aspx.

Payments for Additional Regional Events & Championship Deadline: Payments for Additional Regional Events and the Championship are due Friday 1/27/2012 – please confirm with FIRSTFinance that you have the funding for the events that you are registered for 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 wait list of teams wanting to go to the Championship, so if you do not have the funding to attend, please let us know so that we can give another team the opportunity.

Surrogate Kit Pickup Reminder: If a team is unable to pick up its KoP at the Local Kickoff selected, an alternate, or “Surrogate” team may be designated to do so. The team must provide FIRST with an authorized Surrogate Kit Pickup letter, signed by the main or alternate contact, on school or sponsor letterhead that follows this template: http://tinyurl.com/69jodt3.

All Surrogate Kit Pickup letters must be received at FIRST no later than 5:00 pm EST on January 3rd, 2012.

The surrogate letter should be sent or faxed to:
FIRST 
attn: FRC Team Support/Operations
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Fax #: 603-666-3907

Or scanned and emailed to frcteams@usfirst.org

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

 

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

V603-666-3906

F603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

www.usfirst.org

FRC Update: FIRST Scholarship News, 2012 FRC Kickoff Workshops & More!

Greetings Teams:
FIRST Scholarship News – December Update:  Four NEW FIRST Scholarship Opportunities!   Find out more about the scholarship opportunities for 2012 and about new, recently confirmed, and modified FIRST Scholarships.   Also read messages from some of our FIRST Scholarship Providers. See:  http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2012_Assets/FIRST%20Scholarship%20News%2012-15-11.pdf .
2012 FRC Kickoff Workshops: Information on the 2012 FRC Kickoff Workshops being held at FIRST Headquarters on Friday, January 6th has been posted: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/firstplace/2012frckickoffworkshops. Please note that this information is subject to change as Kickoff approaches.
Adult Mentor Electronic Consent & Release Forms Now Available in TIMS: When you log in to TIMS today, you’ll notice it looks a little different.  Upon logging in, you’ll be brought to “My FRC Dashboard”. The first field at the top of this screen is “FIRST Consent & Release Form,” click “Respond” to complete the electronic consent and release form.  This electronic form is available to any adult team contacts who are listed in TIMS (this includes mentors, scholarship, guidance counselors, etc.).  Anyone who does not complete the electronic consent and release form will need to complete a hard-copy form.
Consent and Release Forms: If you haven’t done so already, please consider which 2012 FIRST Consent and Release form your team members will be submitting this season.  Remember, electronic Consent and Release forms “cover” individuals at all 2012FIRST 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”.
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 Kickoff, and 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 2012 Consent and Release Form, including FAQ’s and a helpful Process Overview, please visit:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form.
Team Profile Information in TIMS will be exported on Monday, December 19thThis information is used for program books that are distributed to visitors, VIPS and teams at events. To make sure that you have the most up to date information included in your profile:
Surrogate Kit Pickup Reminder: If a team is unable to pick up its KoP at the Local Kickoff selected, an alternate, or “Surrogate” team may be designated to do so. The team must provide FIRST with an authorized Surrogate Kit Pickup letter, signed by the main or alternate contact, on school or sponsor letterhead that follows this template: http://tinyurl.com/69jodt3.
All Surrogate Kit Pickup letters must be received at FIRST no later than 5:00 pm EST on January 3rd, 2012.
The surrogate letter should be sent or faxed to:
FIRST 
attn: FRC Team Support/Operations

200 Bedford Street

Manchester, NH 03101

Fax #: 603-666-3907
Or scanned and emailed to frcteams@usfirst.org
Go Teams!
FRC Team Support
 
FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization
V603-666-3906
F603-666-3907
E frcteams@usfirst.org

FRC Teams – Important Dates!

From Bill’s Blog:

A lot of important deadlines are coming up.

  • Dec 1st - Initial, 2nd and Unrestricted Regional Event registration, 1st & 2nd Qualifying Event registration, and Championship Registration closes.  We have 2260 registered FRC teams as of this morning and spaces at some events is getting tight.  If you know of a team that plans to join us this coming season, encourage them to register soon.
  • Dec 2nd – Initial Regional and 1st & 2nd Qualifying Event registration payment due.
  • Dec 2nd –Kickoff Registration closes. (Manchester workshop registration remains open until 12/16.)  I’m surprised that 224 teams have not yet indicated in TIMS how they want to receive their kit of parts.  Kickoffs are filling up.  Register soon.
  • Dec 2nd -Request for Bag & Tag Exemption due.(Remember , Bag & Tag means you transport your robot to the event yourself.)  Details can be found in the Robot Transportation section of the 2012 Administrative Manual
  • Dec 3rd Surrogate kit pickup paperwork due. Details are located on the bottom of the 2012 Local Kickoff Information page.
  • Dec 8th –  Contest Announcement is located on the Safety Pag

Read more at http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/,

FRC Update: Admin section of 2012 FRC Manual Live, Student Awards & Mentor Awards Submissions Live!

Check out Bill’s Blog to see what else is going on.  54 days till Kick-off – and lots to do between now and then!

2012 FRC Administrative Manual: The 2012 FRC Administrative Manual has been released:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/competition-manual-and-related-documents.

FIRST Scholarship News – November Update:  Scholarship Opportunities valued at nearly $14 million:   Find out more about the scholarship opportunities for 2012 and about recently confirmed and recently modified FIRST Scholarships.   Also read messages from some of our FIRST Scholarship Providers. Seehttp://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2012_Assets/FIRST%20Scholarship%20News%2011-10-11.pdf.

Award Submissions Open TodaySubmissions for the Dean’s List, Chairman’s, Woodie Flowers and Website Awards opened today, November 10th at noon EST. Student team members must submit award entries for the Chairman’s, Woodie Flowers and Website Awards in STIMS:https://my.usfirst.org/stims/site.lasso, while team mentors may select students to nominate for the Dean’s List Award in TIMS: https://my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso.

Please visit the FRC season calendar for more important dates and deadlines:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/frc-season-calendar.

New Safety Ambassador Program: UL has introduced a new Safety Ambassador Program for the 2012 season. You may find information on the program available on our Safety page:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/safety-video-and-manual.

Have you registered for your Local Kickoff in TIMS yet?

 “Kit and Kickoff Preferences” in TIMS is where you indicate how your team wants to pickup/receive the Kit of Parts (KoP) and where/if your team plans to attend a local Kickoff.  Please log in to TIMS, and note the following before you making your selections:

  1. Picking up your KoP at a Kickoff will save your team shipping costs and prevent delays;
  2. If your team can’t attend a Kickoff, but knows a nearby team that can, you can ask that team to act as your Surrogate and pick up your KoP for you (description below);
  3. If your team chooses not to attend any Kickoff and does not opt for the Surrogate Kit Pickup option, the KoP will be shipped to your Shipping Contact and your team will be responsible for the shipping costs.* Teams that choose to have their KoP shipped can expect to receive it sometime during the week after Kickoff.  International teams should be aware your delivery will depend on customs clearance;
  4. Your team may attend more than one Kickoff.  For example, you can send members to the Kickoff in Manchester, NH, at the same time that other members of your team attend a Local Kickoff in your area.  However, you must indicate only one kickoff for kit pickup.
  5. All Kit Shipping information must be accurate by the December 2nd deadline as the packing and palletizing process for shipment will begin the week after the deadline. Once Kits are palletized,FIRST cannot accept any changes to your shipping selections.

• If your team chooses to fly members to the Manchester Kickoff, they will not be able to take the KoP back on the plane. We recommend that you send other adult team members to a Local Kickoff to collect the KoP (this is the Surrogate Kit Pickup option that is outlined below), or select “Ship my kit to my team shipping contact’s address. I agree to pay the shipping fee”* within the “Kit Pick up/Delivery” section in TIMS for your KoP shipment.


*
If you have chosen–Ship my kit to my team shipping contact’s address. I agree to pay the shipping fee–please make sure:
• You have a valid FedEx or UPS shipping account number in TIMS. If this number is not entered or is inaccurate, your KoP cannot be shipped!
• Your Shipping Contact’s primary shipping address is accurate in TIMS – this is where the KoP will be shipped.
• Most teams can expect to receive their KoP starting the week after Kickoff. However, if you are an international team your delivery will depend on customs clearance.

Surrogate Kit Pickup Option

If a team is unable to pick up its KoP at the Local Kickoff selected, an alternate, or “Surrogate” team may be designated to do so. The team unable to attend kickoff must still register for the kickoff and must provide FIRST with an authorized Surrogate Kit Pickup letter, signed by the main or alternate contact, on school or sponsor letterhead that follows this template: http://tinyurl.com/69jodt3.

All Surrogate Kit Pickup letters must be received at FIRST no later than 5:00 pm EST on January 3rd, 2012.

The surrogate letter should be sent or faxed to:
FIRST 
attn: FRC Team Support/Operations
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Fax #: 603-666-3907

Or scanned and emailed to frcteams@usfirst.org.

Go Teams!

 

FRC Team Support

 

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

V 603-666-3906

F 603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

W www.usfirst.org

FRC Teams – Share your Stories!

Check out Bill’s Blog for the latest FRC updates, among them, a call for stories:

“I need your stories.  Some writers met with Dean and Jon recently to discuss a book they have in progress.  The conversation worked its way around to the benefits of failure; how failing can be a positive step on the way to success.  So that’s what I’d like to hear from you.  How has your team failed and walked away a winner?  Let me know at FRCTeams@usfirst.org  Understand, I’ll be sharing your stories with the writers so please describe your experience in a way non FIRSTers would understand and include contact information in case they have further questions.  Thank  you for your help.”

Read the rest in 1782 Teams and Counting

FRC Update: 2nd Regional Event Registration/Championship Registration/Kit & Kickoff section in TIMS open & more!

Greetings Teams:

2nd Regional Event Registration opens soon: Teams will be able to register for their 2nd Regional event in TIMS starting 10/27 at 12 noon ET: https://my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso. Mid-Atlantic Robotics (MAR) and FIRST in Michigan (FiM) teams will be able to register for a regional event outside of their region/district at this time.

Championship Registration for Pre-qualified and Veteran teams who DID NOT compete at the 2011 Championship: These teams may register for Championship in TIMS beginning 10/13 @ noon EST.

Championship Registration for Veteran Teams who DID compete at the 2011 Championship: These teams may register for the 2012 Championship in TIMS starting 10/27 at 12 noon ET.

Kit & Kickoff section in TIMS is open: The Kit & Kickoff section of TIMS is open. If you haven’t done so already, team Main and Alternate contacts may select your team’s Kit & Kickoff preferences in TIMS now: https://my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso.

2012 Safety Animation Contest: The 2012 Safety Animation Contest Announcement is now posted on our website: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/safety-video-and-manual.

Bill’s Blog: Please visit Bill’s Blog to see a sneak peak video about this year’s Kit of Parts: http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/.

FIRST Choice: FRC is partnering with AndyMark to offer FIRST Choice for the 2012 season. Please visit Bill’s Blog for information on the program. If your school blocks http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/, remember you can always catch up Bill’s Blog on our FRC News & Email Blasts page: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/emailblastarchive.aspx.

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

200 Bedford Street

Manchester, NH 03101

Phone: (603) 666-3906  Fax: (603) 666-3907

http://www.usfirst.org

FRC Event Registration Opens September 29!

From Bill’s Blog:  “TIMS is now scheduled to open for Event Registration on Thursday, September 29th.   As of this morning, 341 FRC teams have completed the pre-registration process in TIMS and are ready for Registration.  Are you ready?”

Florida has two – count ‘em! Two! – regionals this year:

  • Orlando Regional on March 8-10, 2012 and
  • South Florida Regional in  Boca Raton  March 29-31, 2012

Read the full blog for lots more information and to see the current roster of events at http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011/09/list-new-region.html

FRC News at Bill’s Blog!

Check out the latest FIRST Robotics Competition news at “Bill’s Blog” .  On tap this week:

  • 2011 FRC Awards Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VQVBPH2 – Please complete by noon, September 28
  • Marketing is looking for FRC team members who have repurposed items in constructive, unique or amazing ways to feature in an upcoming national publication.  Please send marketing@usfirst.org a photo and brief description of your creation by this Wednesday, September 21st and if we choose to include your design we’ll be in touch for more details.
  • Senior Mentor call “FRC Mentor Orientation 101”.  Senior Mentor Mike Henry and expert Mike Siegel will answer questions about team organization, member recruitment and team registration this Thursday 9/22 at 7pm Eastern time. Call 1-866-951-1151 and use conference room number 7052714 that night to participate.
  • The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is now accepting applications from young women in the US and Puerto Rico in grades 9-12 for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Visit Bill’s Blog for complete details on these updates and more!

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