2.20.23 – MDE Grant, $500 Lottery spots and more

Topics today include:
MDE Grant
Team Volunteers
Lottery Info for $500 3rd events
Week 0 Practice Event at Kettering this weekend
Programmers Needed
Consent and Release Forms
Help Getting Robot Built
MDE Grant
We don’t yet have an exact timeline for when the MDE grants will be announced or paid, but we do know that the packet is being prepared for approval by the State Superintendent.  I heard from Ashley Arras last Friday that it will “hopefully be in a few weeks.”
TWO TEAM VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Each team must provide volunteers for two roles for two days at each event they attend. Students, PARENTS, FRIENDS, ALUMNI, and SCHOOL STAFF, all count toward this.
The only role that is off-limits to anyone associated with your team is Judging. However, if you have sponsors that would like to Judge and don’t directly work with your team, we’d love to have them and they will count too.
Set up and tear down works well for small teams that can’t spare anyone during the event itself. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at the events you are attending to find out what is needed.
By the way, you don’t have to volunteer at the events you are attending.  Any FIM event counts.
LOTTERY FOR $500 THIRD DISTRICT EVENT SPOTS
We will have a lottery at 5:00 pm this Friday, February 24 for $500 third district event spots.
We currently have open spots at the following Week 4 and Week 5 events:
Week 4: March 25-27
Lakeview #2 (Sat night load in, Sun, Mon)
Week 5: March 30-April 1 
Kentwood
Macomb
Saline
Troy #2
If you are interested in one of these $500 spots, please let us know by filling out this simple form. Be sure you do not already have an event scheduled during that week:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAoGj90CcP7tGGx7EgNid-n4D6MWZ94GWU2Ybv0SYgFK43Aw/viewform
To be eligible for the lottery, we must verify that your two volunteers are in the system for your first two events. You will receive the link to that form once you fill out the lottery interest form.  You will be required to offer two more volunteers at your third event if you are awarded a lottery spot.
Unrelated to a third event, If you want to switch out of one of your 2 current district competitions and move into one of these open spots, just let me know.
WEEK O PRACTICE EVENT
Kettering University is offering teams an opportunity to practice on a real field this Saturday, February 25 which is the week before actual competitions begin. We also use this event to train our volunteers.
Many of the sports are filled, but they still have some open spots for both the morning and afternoon sessions.

What: FREE Week 0 FRC Event and Field Volunteer Training

Who: Teams Competing in the 2023 FRC Game

  • 24 Teams per session – first come, first served

  • Attendance will be limited to 7 people per Team

  • Spots still open for morning and afternoon sessions

When: Saturday, February 25, 2023

Morning Session: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Session: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where: Kettering University

FIRST Robotics Community Center

1700 University Drive

Cost: Free

Sign Up:

Field Set-Up:

  • We are looking for volunteers for setup and tear down.

  • When: February 24, 1:00 p.m

  • Contact Alex Ferra at afera@feratechnology.com to help set up/tear down.

Please contact Clinton Bolinger, Associate Director of the Robotics Center at Kettering University with any questions – cbolinger@kettering.edu.

 
Clinton Bolinger
Associate Director of the Robotics Center

Desk Phone: (810) 762-9698
Cell Phone: (810) 394-3273
Email: cbolinger@kettering.edu 
CSA’S NEEDED
We are looking for volunteers to help teams connect to the field at events. CSA’s can be mentors or students. Please fill out this form to tell us who your strongest coders are, especially in Java:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY85sXhMnYyXRuj6QhtO9_Xh9di7FOqVxWgh1jzwEgGFD9Og/viewform
CONSENT AND RELEASE FORMS
You are required to have consent and release forms signed for both FIRST and FIRST in Michigan for every member of your team that is attending the event.  The HQ and FIM forms are 2 separate forms. These are in your firstinspires.org dashboard under your tasks.
Sometimes the FIM form for students will not come up until after the HQ form is signed and the coach has accepted the student on the team. Simply go back into the dashboard to complete the FIM form.
The SmartWaiver FIM Consent and Release form on our firstinmichigan.org website DOES NOT work for FRC. We only use it for our younger programs.
NEED HELP GETTING YOUR ROBOT BUILT?

If your team may not be ready for your first event, it’s best to tell us now. I can have teams ready to help at the event, but even better, I can find a team to help you NOW!! Just respond to this email and give me details on how far along you are (or are not!) and where you need help! I’ll get busy trying to find you assistance.

I am excited for competitions to start.
Best Regards,

Gail Alpert
President, FIRST in Michigan
248-425-4148