TWO TOPICS IN TODAY’S E-BLAST
Volunteer Requirement
Lottery for a $500 Third Event
GRANT through Indiana Michigan Power due this Friday
TEAM VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT FOR LOTTERY AND NON-LOTTERY TEAMS
Each team must provide volunteers to staff two roles for two days at each event they attend. Students, PARENTS, FRIENDS, ALUMNI, and SCHOOL STAFF, all count toward this. 2025 Rookies need to staff one role both days at their events.
Any Role Except Judging
Your volunteers can pick any open role except Judging. We don’t allow anyone related to a team to be in the FRC Judges room. However, if you have sponsors who want to Judge and don’t work directly with your team, we’d love to have them!
Set Up and Team Down
Volunteering as a team for set up and tear down works well for small teams that can’t spare anyone during the event itself. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator (VC) at your event(s) to make arrangements to help with set up or tear down instead. You can find the VC contact info by clicking on your event here: https://firstinmichigan.us/FRC/events/
By the way, you don’t have to volunteer at the events you are attending. Any FIM event counts.
LOTTERY FOR A $500 THIRD DISTRICT EVENT SPOT
Lottery Date/Time
We will have a lottery on Thursday, January 30 at 5:00 pm for teams that want to pick up a third event for $500.
List of Open Spots
Below is a list of the current spots we have open. These may change if a team wants to switch events (not add an event) prior to the lottery. A final list of open spots will be sent out shortly before the lottery.
How to Get Into The Lottery
If you are interested in one of these $500 spots, here are the steps to take:
- Register for the lottery first (required to be in the lottery):
- Provide the names of your volunteers for your two events by filling out this form, so we can verify they are in the system: (required for lottery teams)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqqOF6XisN8rV0mSJjvTRYhXVCFWCADGxxyay34QjRP5Hxeg/viewform
Do points earned at a third event count?
Because not everyone will get 3 events, only the points earned at the first two events you attend will count. For example, if you signed up initially for events on weeks 3 and 5 and then win a lottery spot for a week 1 event, only the points earned for Weeks 1 and 3 will count. Points earned at the third event you play do not count.
Switch Events Before the Lottery
Again, If you want to switch out of one of your 2 current district competitions (not add a third) and move into one of these open spots before the lottery, just let me know by filling out a switch event form and emailing me.
AEP GRANTS DUE THIS FRIDAY
I just learned that AEP, a utility company operating through Indiana Michigan Power, offers up to $6,000 FRC grants. They are due this Friday at 11:59 PM. Their service territory seems to be mostly in SW Michigan. I know they cover these specific areas:
| Bangor | Constantine | Hartford | Schoolcraft |
| Benton Harbor | Covert | Lawton | St Joe |
| Berrien Springs | Decatur | Marcellus | Stevensville |
| Bloomingdale | Dowagiac | Mattawan | Three Rivers |
| Bridgman | Eau Clair | New Buffalo | Vicksburg |
| Buchanon | Edwardsburg | Paw Paw | Watervliet |
| Cassapolis | Gobles | Portage | White Pigeon |
| Coloma |
I don’t know what other cities they cover so check it out.
Here’s the info I received from them:
AEP offers competitive grants to help student teams from elementary through high school build robots and compete in local, regional and international events to teams within the service areas of our seven operating units in 11-states and near major AEP facilities such as power plants.
AEP provides support up to these levels:
- FRC — up to $6,000
- FTC – up to $2,000
- FLLC – up to $500
- FLLE – up to $250
There is a limit of one grant per program, e.g. FRC, FTC, FLLC or FLLE, per school or organization per year.
Application are due 11:59 PM EST, Fourth Friday in January
APPLY NOW: https://aep.com/AEPFIRSTGrant
Best Regards,
Gail Alpert
President, FIRST in Michigan
