Chief Delphi - Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

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Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Excellent news: Robotics Owego had our first meeting on Monday. It was an infomation session with about ten students, about three parents, the high school teacher, and four Lockheed employees. Its hard to judge opinions, especially with little feed back, but I don't think the students were bored, rather become quite interested once we start doing something.

Key right now seems to be fundraising. Lockheed has not commited to sponsoring a team. However, I think they will and since we have six months before registration am not worried. What we do need is additional sponsors, some amount of cash to hold a summer program to keep the interst levels up. That and more money means more opertunities, so more sponsors are always welcomed.

Being new to the area, I don't know much about tech companies in the Owego (Vestal Binghamton) area. If you know of any, please post them so we can add it to the growing list of fokes to talk to.

Definately a good start and soon I'm sure we will be off and running.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Just heard back from Lockheed who agreed to donate $2,000. In addition to local companies, we will be pursuing a possible matching donation from Corporate and possibly any local suppliers, distributors, etc that Lockheed works with that would be willing to help out.

The good news is we have our first sponsor!
:yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Man, that's scary... its been almost two years since I last posted on this thread.

For those not in the know, a team at Owego fell through due to lack of funding. Lockheed has continued supporting Chuck at $2,000 per year but is NOT interested in supporting more. In the mean while I just try to keep talking up Robotics and learning as much about team different teams (how they work and operate) as I can. Well, a coworker and I spoke in person to the Principle of Owego and he's interested in setting up a team and wants to talk with the School Board around June!

Looks like it's time for round two. Wish us luck.

PS: Keep your ears open to the Elmira area. Monday's Star-Gazette had an article asking about FIRST and how to get a team. There may be genuine interest there and I've already pinged the collumist (Leanna Landsmann) looking for information.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Good luck! It would be nice to have more than one rookie next year at FLR! :p

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinez (Post 412009)

Evening,

My name is Jeff Martinez, Alumni of Team 229 Division by Zero at Clarkson University, New Hire at Lockheed Martin Owego, and I need help starting a FIRST Robotics Team. More specifically, there is a group called Engineering Explorer Post 76 sponsored by Lockheed. It’s a group of employees and local high schoolers of around 30 people and each year they have an engineering project. Last year they built Telescopes, this year involves Lego Mindstorm and next year I want to encourage them to try FIRST. That’s where I need your help. I want to educate and excite them about FIRST Robotics, any advice you could give me would be most welcome.

What I really want to learn is:
Are there any FIRSTers in the Binghamton Area looking for a Team?
Do any of you have Lockheed Martin Sponsors or Mentors?
Any teams in the Greater Binghamton Area, or elsewhere, willing to help us out?
How did your team first get started and what did you do to get people excited?
Anyone have advice for a potential team where most haven’t heard the name FIRST before?

My ideas so far are:
Next meeting (Tuesday), bring some recap videos from 229’s previous seasons.
Encourage everyone to attend a group meeting to watch Kickoff.
Find a near by team willing to attend a meeting and show off their bot.
Attend a Regional, ether at Rochester or NYC.

So far the Adult Leadership seems to like the idea, and is allowing me to pitch my idea to see what the Students feel about it. That’s why I’m posting here, and really my next move is up to you guys. There is a regrettable lack of FIRST Robotics Teams in the Greater Binghamton Area, and my goal is to forever change that.

Hello, I live in Bainbridge, NY which is only 30 mins from Binghamton, NY. I am part of T-Rx 145 which is out of Norwich, NY about 45 mins from Binghamton. Another team in the Binghamton are is out of Endicott i think. That is team 2053 Tigertronics, also there is 639 which is Code red, they are out of Ithaca, NY. If you need any help with anything please give 145 a shout. I can also give you contact info to my mentors. We are having an open house at the Norwich High School on May 6th if you are interested.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFlame145 (Post 742384)

Yep, familar with all of those teams being on Chuck the last 3 years and prior 4 at Clarkson. This will be more a matter of getting the school on board and "seeing the light" as it were. Funding scared them off last time and I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. Thanks for the offer and I'll keep in touch!