Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

This has occurred in Maryland this year with Harford Tech. The school previously had a team years ago but hasn't been active for a while. They are excited about having an event at their facility.

However, getting to this stage with the school required us to have a contact from a FIRST community member and a bit of a past history. Getting buy in on the administrative level for the school and the district is more difficult when teams are not present as they don't see the direct impact right away.

This being said, if there are locations, with or without team(s), in CHP District that anyone has contacts with please forward them to your RDs. We are starting the planning process for events next year and the more sites we can look at the merrier.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

We discussed attending our own event, but decided against it. While we're not running the event, the district is doing that, I wanted to make sure our students were available for volunteers if need be. Additionally 1111 will be taking care of concessions and we're hopefully going to be running our shop as a machine shop, so I didnt want to pull students away from those roles in order to compete. Also, while we never would exploit it, and I dont think any other team would either, I dont like even the idea of a perceived home team advantage, so we made the decision to not compete between that possible but unlikely perception and because I wanted my students and parents to be available as volunteers.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

I forgot about this thread for a bit until one of my students asked me about it. They asked me word for word, "why are there mentors on CD that just keep bashing every decision on going to districts?" This got me to read through the thread a bit and I can totally see where they're coming from. A lot of the posts come off extremely accusatory against the planning committees and steering committee, and many could have been figured out with a simple email to the team's RD instead of going through and complaining about what seems like half the things said by the steering committee. Remember students read these posts too, and if my kids are actively asking me why all the negativity, there must be many more thinking it too.
Many people seem to forget how difficult it must be to switch to districts. Your taking so much that was done by FIRST HQ and, and putting on the backs of largely a volunteer group. While there are paid staff, they still have to do everything they had to do before with running all four programs in their states in addition to the added workload on districts. Instead of complaining about things, how about we help each other out. Instead of saying just "the district should have done this", how about asking, "hey, I think this could have gone better this way, have you looked into it that way, and if not, could I do so?"

Maybe I'm just reading into these posts too much, but again, this is a public forum that our kids are reading, and I know they're having at least the same thoughts as I am on my team.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

I just re-read the thread, and outside of the relative inanity over the logo and terminology (which is standard Chief affair; go look at the tired thread about FIRST changing their logo and then please bleach both pairs of our eyes) it's reasoned thought from mentors who have been in FIRST for a long time and I don't think there is any push back moving to the district system within the teams who have posted here. In fact, this is something some of us have been pushing for for 5-6 years. We have had issues of growing FRC in places where it should thrive (I would love to see a day where Hampton Roads has as many teams as NoVA) and it's outside the scope of my team or any individual team to easily remedy something like that. On top of that, competitive drive and team camaraderie are also pretty lousy in the area, and maybe districts can fix that.

I don't doubt that everyone in this thread is also not aware of the sacrifices that have to be made in transitioning to the district system. I know my team has financially and logistically prepared itself to undertake reasonable inherent difficulties. Any perceived shortcoming I see as with lines of communication are usually channeled into private discussions that you don't see and public posts that you do see. It's not a complaint, a diatribe, a long winded litany, a Shakesperean tragedy, or a Homeric epic, it's usually just a question with possible criticism that I want answered.

My perception is that no one here has bashed the inherent idea of districts, but some people who have been around the block with some others before feel their voice is not heard through the proper primary channels and decide to bolster their voice through this forum. No one is dressing down FIRST Chesapeake or VirginiaFIRST/DC FIRST/ Maryland FIRST here. But perception is reality, and if there is a different reality somewhere else there is not much I can do to change it.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Hey now!! I take offense to that...oh wait, it's true.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Greetings Zach,
You are coming in at the tail end of a conversation that has been going on for well over a year. Many of us have done those things that you have mentioned. Many of us were worried about being able to complete the needed changes in a short period of time, but we were willing and able to assist in the transition. We were then told we would not have a seat at the table in planning the events.

There is a HUGE wealth of knowledge and people-power that is not being tapped into. This is very frustrating. I think what you are sensing is frustration. I know I am frustrated. With that being said, I am still willing are able to assist in these events. If anyone from CHP is reading, this all you have to do is ask.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

:-)

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

: (

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

This right here. There are 3 separate groups with experience running semi-district size events in a high school. And I know for a fact that one of those groups is not being utilized. I'm, sure the same is true for the other 2.

On top of that there are some of us that feel the priorities that have been utilized in deciding how much to spend on each event are way out of wack.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Sorry, dude. Just smiling through the pain.

(the pun. it hurts! but I can't resist)

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

1 sec, gotta get my glove off....

SLAP!

See you on the 7th!

:D

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

This is the exact tone that causes people to think much of this thread carries a negative attitude. This is dismissive of the other side of the conversation. There have been multiple comments along these lines pretty steadily through this thread.

Conversationally, this may fly. I know a lot of this thread happens between friends and acquaintances who may know how a post is supposed to be read and interpreted, but that rapport doesn't carry over to the general public.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Wish I was able to come up this weekend, having a 7 week old at home makes that difficult. Good luck with IROC this weekend.

With all of the complaints I've had about the handling of districts, they have done a good job of supporting off-season events.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

I can't wait to see how the new Chesapeake district goes this year and good luck to all teams

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

We are starting to make Lead assignments across the District and will be concentrating on the other assignments starting in Jan.
Interested? http://www.firstchesapeake.org/volunteer
NOTE: preference for the Chesapeake District Championship assignments will be given to those who volunteer at local Chesapeake District events.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Sounds like fun, maybe I'll sign up!

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

From the Jan 5 newsletter:

Championship Slot +/- from 2015 to 2016.

Total Slots: +7
RCA Slots: +0
EI Slots: -1
RAS Slots: -2
Winner Slots: -6*
At-Large Slots: +16*

*backup provision excluded

---
DLFA Slots: -3
WFFA Slots: -2 (I assume)
--

The district seems to have the same award allocation as the Pacific Northwest, with the obvious exception being 3 fewer DLFA slots. Not sure if this was a decision made by HQ or the district...

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Any info as to how these slots were selected? Have they given out the points system for the district yet?

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

Whilst I've not done the math, my understating is that that the number of slots is created by the number of teams in the district to give a proportional amount at the Championship. As for a point system, I've not seen one yet, nor do I expect to see one until after kickoff.

Re: FIRST Chesapeake Districts
 

The total number of slots that a District has to award is the precentage of spots at CMP that is proportional to the percentage of teams that district has.

In the past FIRST has dictated 1 to x (sorry I don't remember the value of x) CA, EI and RAS and the 3 teams on the DCMP winning alliance earn spots. The individual district could then decide exactly what number between 1 and x they award. This is done to adjust for the different sizes of districts. For example for CA and EI there will be as many teams competing for those awards at DCMP as the number of district events.

As far as the points system a lot of time was invested in the original unified district points system so I don't expect major changes from the last two years. Yes last year they made an adjustment to account for the lack of win and loss in qualification rounds but otherwise the basics were the same. Of course last years rules are not this years rules so it could always change. I do have a feeling we will know in just a few days.