Purdue 2005
 

Westside Boiler Invasion is actually hoping to get a regional organized at Purdue University next year, for the first time ever. Is there anybody else starting up new regionals, or who thinks they'd come to ours? That would be so cool!

Purdue 2005
 

I'd just like to give an update that the Purdue Regional is definitely good to go for next year. We got the thumbs up from FIRST a couple weeks ago.

With the new entry fee increase, I'm sure that many of the Indiana teams will appreciate the chance to travel somewhere that's somewhat local and won't require hotel accomodations.

The reason I'm posting is to get some honest feedback about a conflict of interest.

Team 461 has all of it's engineering support in the form of undergraduate engineering students that attend Purdue University. There's been some lively discussion among our team about attending the regional which our Univeristy (and an independent group of students) is sponsoring. The cost savings would be enormous, and though we're not hurting terribly for money, every team would love to save 20 to 30% of their budget if possible.

Is this any different from having Motoroala teams attend what was once the Motorolla Midwest Regional? Are there other colleges that attend and host their own regional?

What is the probability of backlash if our team is successful at our own regional, or wins any sort of award?

Is this something that's practical?

Feel free to give some honest and constructive. Thanks in advance!

Matt

Re: Purdue 2005
 

If you guys win an award it's because you're a great team that deserves to win an award - that's my opinion.

I'm excited for this.. I'm not sure if we'll go as a team, but just to know that there's going to be an official Indiana Regional is awesome. I know I'll be there no matter what :)

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I am from the Pacific Northwest, where the two teams I've been on have basically been rookie teams. The first team I was on took a year off due to budget issues, so it was basically a rookie team when I joined even though it was technically their second year. Then last year, I started a team with all rookie team members at my own school.

This year, I got to go back to the Detriot Regional and watch some veteran teams in action. I got to see chiefdelphi #47, and the killer bees #33, among others, because there were several really good robots. I was on a college visit to decide between Michigan and Purdue.

I ended up picking Purdue and am going into the freshman engineering program at Purdue. It was icing on the cake when I realized that Michigan didn't have a FIRST team. Purdue not only mentors a team, but will have its own regional next year!!! I won't have to travel far to stay in touch with the action of FIRST.

I'm looking forward to staying involved.

And team 461, if you guys do good next year, it's not going to be because you are at your own regional. You guys had an awesome robot this year, (I saw lots of video via webcast), and you didn't have your own regional. So if you win awards, don't feel bad, because you probably earned them.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

It's no different at all; I wouldn't expect any conflict of interest issues. Of course some will complain, but that's just what happens when you get a huge group of people together. Go ahead and attend your own regional and if you get any flack, you'll have a lot of people defending you.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Matt,

I agree with Mike. This opinion will be the overwhelming majority opinion of FIRSTers. If 461 does not compete, it would be a disservice to your team members, Purdue, WLHS, your families, and your community.

This regional will be great and unique. Many people have stepped forward already to volunteer their services to make it work. One of the great things about Purdue is the number of alumni who are involved in FIRST. The unique thing about this regional will be the venue. It will be held in the Armory, which has a very large, flat arena. Bleachers will be brought in and set up just for this competition. Pits will be very close to the field. It's gonna be a very exciting time!

Andy B.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I don't see how this would be so very different from team members being on the Regional Committees or volunteering to be Inspectors. Here in Southern California, if we eliminated all the teams that had members that were on the committee or otherwise volunteering, we would have eliminated at least 25% of the teams that attended last year.

I would avoid having team members acting as Judges and not allow them to inspect their own robot or that of a mentee team. We used those guidlines last year and nobody had any complaints at the Team Forum last night.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Matt,

Georgia Tech is one of the major sponsors for the Peachtree Regional and the Georgia Tech FIRST group (a group of undergraduate students) help run the committee and the team recruitment effort. We participate in the Peachtree regional with our team, the Circuitrunners team 1002, and even won the regional and the regional chairman's this year. We did not receive any backlash for it since others saw that the team deserved it.

I definetaly say that you should participate in the regional that your team will help run. It's great to be able to participate in the regional that you put so much time and effort to plan and get going. It seems that your situation is very similar to what ours was about 2 years ago so if you have any questions, let me know. Good luck and have fun with it :) .

Re: Purdue 2005
 

As a college advisor for the WBI team, I'm excited about having a regional here on campus. Just a similar note as those from other university teams have pointed out, I've been to a regional that was in part sponsored by a university. The VCU sponsors the regional in Virginia. Having been on a team in high school that atteneded that regional, I can say that we never heard anyone say anything negative when one of the VCU teams was successfull in any way. I think attending a regional in your own community is a great way to show support for those sponsors, and encourage the community to come out and see what competitions are like. Very few of us ever have the opportunity to really have a "home game." in FIRST.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

dont worry about confilcts with a host team/sponser winning an award or the competition. It seems every year multiple awards at the UTC regional go to UTC sponsored teams and many of the past UTC regional winners have been UTC sponsored.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Don't worry about conflicts. It would be worse to not appear at your own regional than it would be to win it.

Just follow the guideline's that ChrisH posted above, and especially, don't fill the ranks of judges with Purdue people. (I don't think I need to explain why :eek: )

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Since I can't edit my last post... I'll add another. The University of Washington competed at their regional for 2 years. Then the venue was changed because there were not enough local teams to support the regional.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Seeing a bunch of teams from Indiana and probably Michagin competing at the same time.... If I wanted to see that, I'd just go to the Championship in Atlanta. :yikes:

Kidding. I'm sure it would be a great event, and on a beautiful campus. If your team wins an award, it would be because they earned it, and all teams would know it in their hearts. There should be an extra award given to you for your efforts in making another regional.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I can't wait for the Purdue Regional!!!! :D

-Kyle

Re: Purdue 2005
 

PURDUE REGIONAL! 10 blocks from my apartment...at most...probably less! All i can say is that i've been excited and talking about this for the last 3 years and i cant believe its finaly going to happen. The day i found out the dates i requested them off work!
Now if only DJ and I can figure out how to secure the announcer spots:)

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Matt-

Between the team grants we will issue, the direct event support funding, and the NASA engineering support dedicated to the event, we have committed over $300,000 of NASA funds to support the Lafayette regional competition in 2005. Based on this, we (and FIRST) definitely consider this one of the "NASA-sponsored events" for next year. So if anyone gives your team a hard time about competing at the regional, tell them it is a NASA event and to come talk to me. I will set them straight. :D

-dave

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I'm really looking forward to this regional for many reasons.

1. It's just a few blocks down the street from my dorm, which means I can just walk to see my old team compete and not drive 2 1/2 hours to the MWR.

2. The level of competition at this regional should be awesome.

3. Even though I've never been into the Armory, I hear it's really nice and should make for a good set-up to host a regional.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

For two years the regional committee of Purdue FIRST Programs has been working hard to make this regional happen. Purdue FIRST Programs is the student organization in charge of team 461. All of us in this organization have been doing our best to get this regional funded and organized.

After IRI this year, we found out that this regional will have full support from NASA (a sweet three-year deal). Needless to say, we were all absolutely thrilled to find that out. Regionals are expensive, and although Purdue fully supports this competition, they couldn't give enough money to host it on their own.

I think it is fantastic that NASA has chosen to support what will be one of the more competitive and action-packed regionals of the season. Besides, Purdue and NASA go waaay back.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Does anyone know the tentative date for the Purdue Regional?
And oh, it wouldn't be back-to-back with the Midwest Regional, would it? :D

Re: Purdue 2005
 

The Boilermaker Regional is March 17-19. The date for the Midwest Regional is not finalized.

Andy B.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I don't expect that to happen, but I also DON'T expect that there will be no Purdue people as judges. There are several Purdue employees who support FIRST, engineering, and education in general who should be judges, but there should be no more than, say, 2 judges who are affiliated with Purdue. I am sure that the committee will do a good job representing the Science, Education, and Engineering community of Indiana.

Re: Purdue 2005
 

I think there will be a few Rolls-Royce badges in the judging ranks. Rolls-Royce is a corporate sponsor of the regional and will provide other support to the event.

Several RR engineering managers have been IRI judges and involved with other special FIRST events and been very excited about being involved.

Chris -

Re: Purdue 2005
 

Sounds good to me!


I'll be at the Purdue Regional!


Not sure if i'll be showing up anywhere else next year though :eek:

Re: Purdue 2005
 

You best show up to nats DJ....HAHA

-Kyle