RCU robot chicks union
 

RCU (robot chicks union) is one of the great organizations to spring out of the FIRST family. Here is the link. All girls should join.

http://www.robotchicksunion.org/

Chris Ryon
Team 287 advisor

Just so you know.... When I was intervied by NPR I had a RCU head band on, and they asked me about it. The lady didnt really get why I was wearing one cuzz I am a guy..... but hey I think I should be able to wear one I am the server admin! So you guys where on NPR.

Just thought I would let you know

You should have told her that you were playing the sensitive angle and was wearing it to pick up chicks and then winked at her!!! lol

That would have been insanely funny:D But i like his reasoning for wearing. It's authentic.;)

I got an head band at IRI last year, I'm a big supporter of RCU... even if I'm not a girl :D

I signed up for that when some girls told me about it at Houston...

I noticed this when I went to the website ...
Perhaps there is a missing 'g'?

The website is going through renovations. Thank you for pointing that out.

My team love RCU. Last years robot still has like 3 or 4 stickers on it (we never got any this year to put on it) and i still have a RCU headband in my car hanging from my mirror...erm actualy i might have taken it off, but i have several in my glove box still:)

Oh my goodness! I really want to join this, but everytime that there was a meeting (at two regionals and at nationals) I had to be in the pit and/or the stands... It really sucked... And now this stupid computer won't open the webpage... I guess I will just have to wait until I get home today!

I am huge supporter!

yay! We're always looking for new members. Esp. members who are enthusiastic and want to get involved. If you have any questions or just wanna talk feel free to IM me: LilGenkiGirl (AOL) or e-mail abi@470robotics.com

RCU is a great way to bring the girls of FIRST together (and some of the guys, too... thanks for your support!).

I would say, 'hey, let's start a Robot Guys Union' - but I think the boys of FIRST are too mischevious and busy fixing and programming and terrorizing each other to form some kind of union. :)

I think that whoever is organizing RCU should contact SWE (Society for Women in Engineering) and try to make it an official section of that organization as well. I'm sure they would recognize FIRST and offer their help.

This way you may be able to get more information, funding, and/or recognition as being an official organization and be able to offer more benefits and importance instead of just using RCU as an excellent way to network between women in FIRST and using it to help eachother out.

Also, people of even higher importance may be more willing to recognize the RCU as an important organization if it were part of something bigger. It's a win-win situation.

I am willing to help out with such endeavors... I too want to see more women in FIRST, and specifically help the female rookies get through their challenging first year and guide them into the Tech-based community.

Let me know!


ByE

erin

I got it! Finally! Just though y'all would want to know! I feel so proud!

The RCU has been doing a lot of work lately to do more for FIRST and FLL. We've also been working hard on establishing ourselves as an organization. Recently, we formed a partnership with Girls, Inc. giving us a non-profit status. As for working with SWE, some RCU girls are working with their STEPS summer program and we hope to form a stronger partnership with them in the future. any and all help with our projects and branching out would be greatly appreciated. We're all busy with our own teams and personal, so the more girls involved would lighten the load for everyone and still allow us to make a big impact on not only FIRST, but the rest of the world as well.

Well, since I have officially filled out the form and joined, feel free to tell me what to do. IM me at:

Goldphish60 (aim)
or
actuallyiwasthinkingsomethingcomplet...@h otmail.com (msn)

YAY Amanda.

We have a couple big projects we are currently working on. I'm going to start putting together a list of tasks that need to be worked on. I'll post them here ASAP. But a overview of them: FIRSTClass - a pen-pal program between FIRST and FLL girls. (untitled quilt project) - I need to get the detaily-details of this program, but I do know that it is a quilt(s) that is going to be made by FLL girls about engineering. But I'll get more info up in the next couple of days. You're also more than welcome to submit your own project ideas. We're also looking for pics for the site, inspirational quotes, and we're always looking for good, reliable writers. Anyway, congrats and thank you for joining. If you nee anything, feel free to contact either myself or any of the other RCU moderators.

Robot Chicks Union
 

I have been involved with NASA and FIRST since the end of the 1999 season. I am particularly interested in recruiting more women to engineering and science, and, in particular, to both FIRST and BotBall competitions, since NASA is a major sponsor of both.

I am really interested in recruiting more girls' schools (both middle and high schools). I am the product of a girls' high school (The Bishop's School) and a women's college (Mills) and would like to see if we could come up with a video that we could put on the web, send out in the mail, etc. to girls' schools.

I know that St. Francis in Sacramento (winners of the 2003 Sacramento Regional) and Archer School in Los Angeles would be very willing to help. But I need some more leads in the rest of the country. If you would be willing to appear in a taped video, video conference, or web cast, with your robot, your trophies, some parents, teachers, mentors and maybe even a sponsor or two, that would really help me to get this going.

So please respond, ladies (and gentlemen as well)..PS. I can't promise, but if I can get enough support, that would certainly help...

Flora
fboyer@mail.arc.nasa.gov:]

Flora,
I will pass this on to my team to see if they want to help, but, speaking for myself, I would love to help.

Miss Abi's post
 

Did you know that Miss Abbe was the name of my Art Appreciation teacher at my girls' school? She later went on to marry the science fiction writer Gregory Benford. In fact, one of his writing partners, Greg Bear, came to the Seattle FIRST Regional in 2002...

Anyway, I would be delighted with your help. Thank you and more later.

Flora

Re: Robot Chicks Union
 

We will. We have a female TIG welder, and another girl training on TIG this summer. We've had female captains past 3 years, and another female team captain has been voted in for this next year.

Women on teams...
 

Thank you...and you are close, to boot.

I'm helping Wendy Wooten and the rest of the LA 2004 Fundraising Committee for next year, since NASA has done its' 3 years in LA. In fact, I'm meeting her next weekend in LA. Since I come down there about every 4 weeks, perhaps we can set something up where I can come and videotape you and the team. I will talk to her next week when I see her. It might work for me to come to one of the SCRR group meetings, as well.

I've been a redhead a couple of times in my life...it's fun!

Flora

Re: Women on teams...
 

Originally posted by Flora
[b]I'm helping Wendy Wooten and the rest of the LA 2004 Fundraising Committee for next year,

From: Cheryl
That's my husband too.

Originally posted by Flora
In fact, I'm meeting her next weekend in LA. Since I come down there about every 4 weeks, perhaps we can set something up where I can come and videotape you and the team. I will talk to her next week when I see her. It might work for me to come to one of the SCRR group meetings, as well.

SCRRF meeting is this sat. Mark will be there. Wendy won't.

i have the highest regard for what your orginization is doing. you ladies should be very proud of your accomplishments. it may seem kind of weird since im a guy...but if there is anything i can do i would be happy to help out in anyway i can.

good luck in your future endeavours!!



greg

Greg..

Unless its behind the scenes (Webmaster, event coodinating, contact waypoint) there's probably not much you can do with the RCU. But hey, there's always stuff that needs done, and it doesn't have to be by a girl.

I think the best thing you can do, is get the girls on your team involved with it. Expanding the female population of RCU will help it immensly. For every 5 people who joins just to join, there will be 1 who joins and makes something of it.

Get the word out.. there are many ways. I wore my RCU headband at regionals and Nationals :)

and Abi.. you know you can't count on me for anything

Greg,
Like Brandon said, getting girls on your team to join is one way to help. You can also help by encouraging girls on your team to try their hand at different aspects of the team, not just PR, but also build. We do have several male supporters and hope to define specific tasks and roles they can fill in the near future. Except for Brandon, because I can't count on him for anything :)

Re: RCU robot chicks union
 

I want a RCU headband!!!!

Re: RCU robot chicks union
 

We'll be making more. You send me your snail mail by pm and I'll mail you one.

Re: RCU robot chicks union
 

hey... i found a link to RCU and joined online.... i think its a really awesome thing yall are doin! I only one of 3 chicks on our robotics team... but not only that... im a co-captain... i run everything (w/ help from my co-captain)... and i know its tuff.. cuz guys dont wanna take directions from a girl... but truth is girls are more organized and usually expect perfection (at least i do..hehe)... i was wondering if on ur site.. u could post other members of RCU, so i could contact them.. (could i possibly be a RCU representative at the VCU richmond regionals?) email me! mandm_candie@hotmail.com