Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

As some of you may have heard, the Firebirds, team 433, have been investing a great deal of time and energy in mentoring team 1874, the Amamazians, who had registered as the first FRC team in the country of Ghana and the continent of Africa. The team, comprised of 20 members and 4 mentors, is based in Aggrey Memorial Secondary School in Cape Coast. The team was ecstatic to be able to have the opportunity to participate in what they called “the robotic dream.” Though the team faces distance barriers, their resources were sufficient, considering Aggrey S.S. is similar to what we would consider a technical school. More importantly, their enthusiasm was, and remains, incredible, and though they were originally unfamiliar with the concept, gracious professionalism is truly evident in this team.

Ever since the summer, our team has been hard at work contacting potential sponsors. In early fall, we were elated to find a company who had agreed to donate a large amount of money towards Team 1874’s expenses. To our dismay, the sponsor rescinded their commitment two days before the payment was due and we were left with no choice but to drop the registration for team 1874, who had planned on competing at the Philadelphia Regional.

Though we have faced hardships with this endeavor, we are not going to give up. Instead, we have adjusted our original plans, and are arranging to bring 8 members of Team 1874 to the Philadelphia Regional in 2006 to observe the event in preparation for when they plan to compete in 2007. We continue to stay in communication with their team and though they will not be able to build a robot, we are still sharing information and materials that will eventually assist them in the process.

In an effort to both raise funds for this undertaking and to celebrate the end of the build season with other teams, the Firebirds have decided to host a post-build team social, dubbed the “Firebirds Fiesta”. The event will be held


The event will allow teams to socialize and unwind after the six weeks as well as talk about their own experiences in the build season, and brag about their respective robots. Music will, of course, be a highlight of the night. Please refer to the attached document for further information (this includes some more very important details), the registration form, and the permission form. We ask that all teams register via e-mail or mail no later than Friday, February 17th.

On behalf of the Firebirds, good luck during the build season. We hope to see you at the Fiesta!

Liz Campo
Team 433, the Firebirds

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Liz,

Your team’s efforts are very noble. It is unfortunate that this team will not be able to officially compete this season but perhaps there is still a way for them to get started with robotics while you continue to raise funds.

Does your team or someone you know have a past year’s robot and set of controls, etc. that you could send to this team to use? This team could modify a completed robot to play the 2006 game, even if it could not be used in an official competition. This could be a great way for them to get their feet wet and build confidence.

We were recently given a 2004 robot from another team in our area that has disbanded. We do not currently have all of the controls, etc. but could probably provide the robot if that would help. PM me if you would like to discuss this further.

Thank you for what you have done.

Jay

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Everyone-

Going along with what Liz has already said, I really hope that a lot of you can come to our FIESTA!!! It'll be tons of fun, with good music, good food, and most importantly, good people! And the Amamazians can really use any money we can raise for them. Also, another large part of our mission over in Ghana is to raise awareness for health issues that plague the country, so every little bit counts. The Ghanaian team is more than prepared to enter the FIRST world of gracious professionalism, and we look forward to seeing them as a registered team in 2007.

Hoping to see you at the FIESTA!!!

*can't wait for kick-off*

Karen <3

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

To the Liz and the Firebirds:

I am sure the crew from Miss Daisy will be very interested in attending the FIESTA. Sounds like a fun time and a great cause!!

If you need any help now or in the future please let us know.

Al Ostrow
Team 341

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

i think that at our party we should serve pasta b/c it's punny like that ^.^

n our centerpieces should be robots

n our theme should be green mountains! hehe. n random shovels for the decor

i should probably tell u these ideas in person, but i just came up with them while in computer class... so i'm typing them here!!!

lastly, people please come! it's going to be soo much fun b/c i'm decorating! we're going to have a DJ, lights, a fog machine, n a pneumonic ice cream maker!!! it's going to be blast! (n we may or may not serve pasta!!!)

did i mention free food? :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Congrats to Firebird's 1874 on sponsoring an African team.

OaktownCrewz 1188 joined forces with a South African team early last year. They make up half of our team and have volunteered to do the website and animation. They will travel to the US a couple of weeks before Nationals, live with us, go to school with us, and we'll travel to Atlanta as a whole team.

Over the next couple of weeks, we're trying to get a webcast going. We've sent them controllers and the OCCRA manual to get them started. We see this as a two to three year partnership before the SA part of our team strikes out on their own.

Keep going Firebirds. Our efforts will spread the word of FIRST to a new continent.

Ducky78

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

25 days til the FIESTA!!!!!!!!!!

do you have your registration forms in yet???

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Can I please have some registration forms or info about this event. Thanks

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

all the info that isn't in the first post there by Liz is in the attached document, including registration forms ( please register if you plan on coming so we can get an estimate of the number of people who will be there, which btw is capped at 500).

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I will definiately be attending and i think some more people from 1712 will too.

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Yes Sir Chuck, several members of 1712 plan to be in attendance. Hope to see everyone there!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

nice Ira, real nice...lol

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

This looks like a GREAT idea. I know how it feels to come so close you can practically taste it, and still wonder if you ever will. The Amazanians story reflects very closely to that of 1089s. I'm going to bring this up with my advisor & the other kids on my team and see if they're up for it. I'll be there even if they decide they're not interested. Carli will probably come too, but I'm hoping for more support from us.

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

19 days!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Thanks for the sympathetic responses so far - just remember to turn in registration so we can make arrangements for the appropriate number of people plannign on attending (forms are in my first post!)

It's still not to late to register so keep them coming :)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

yay come to the fiesta!!! we're planning on having DDR set up on a smart board (it's like a really big tv. but not. lol) :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

WOW! The Fiesta is only a few days away!

Many teams have expressed interest in the event - if you are planning on coming,this is just a reminder that we need an approximate head count frm each team. You can e-mail them to our mentor at

bfoell@msjacad.org

Let us know so we can make appropriate plans! We have a lot of fun stuff planned so get excited :)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

YAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I'M SOO EXCITED!!! :D

hey we're hooking up DDR to the smartboard, it'll be cool.
did i mention that we have pinatas? lol
everybody loves a pinata!!!
it'll be lots n lots of fun! (b/c of the pinatas...)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Can't wait for next week! I hope everyone has turned in their registration forms and you guys are going to have a GREAT turnout!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I wish I could attend this great event. It sounds like it will be a blast and what you all are doing is amazing! Keep up the good work. I've always hear wonderful things from this team. They keep on amazing me and of course the rest of the FIRST community. Thank you for being an inspiration. :)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Only one week til the Social!! Think how relaxing it wil be...the robot shipped, awards submitted...

get psyched!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

post post post post

im like a human post-it!!!!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I tried to get the interest to spread through my team but it didn't work.

My friend on my team and I wanted to go though... and maybe some others?...

would that be possible if we just came?

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

the team says yes!




EVERYONE MUST GO!!!!!!! :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I didn't think to let our rookie team know (I know, what a failure!), but I talked to one of the kids today and he seemed kind of into it. I doubt we'd have much more than 1 or 2 extra students, would that be all right?

Can't wait!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Of course its fine!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

i was already excited to go to this, but this just makes it so much better!
i must ask though; im assuming its a PS2 and not a machine, since outputing the video and sound from a ddr machine is annoying, so will it be a U.S. or J.P. PS2, and what mix? if its only a U.S. version, i could always bring my modded ps2 and DDRextreme JP which is so insanely better.
also, what pads will you guys have? if their soft pads, i have a feeling a few of my freinds and i will rip them apart in a minute.

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Well, after putting it off for a little bit, I got Team 1712's registration in to go to the Fiesta this weekend. Quite a few people from our team are planning on going (including Zac, who posted above me), and we can't wait to be there.

See you all on Friday!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

If you do bring your own PS2, etc. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT! We had some kids provide controllers and things for our Annual Bowling Lock-In, and a few disappeared. I don't want this to happen to you...

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

i wish i could come but it is a little too far away for me to go to right now :(

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I know you guys have a directions page on the first post, but could you provide an address so that I could just google maps it?
thanks

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

address:

120 West Wissahickon
Flourtown PA 19031

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Update:

We know the build season was probably a very hectic time for all teams,even if you did not turn in a registration form, your team can still attend and come the night of the event. Be sure to follow the rules in the first post/attached document and attached document such as one mentor per team rule, permssion forms and team t-shirt and long jeans dress code.

If you have any songs you'd like to have played, let us know now and we'll try to make arrangements for that...a there will be a request sheet.

Also, mentors: your spouses are most welcome to attend. As we noted, there will be a separate section for the mentors to socialize without the loud music.

Feel free to e-mail our mentor (address in above post) with any questions!

Hope to see you all there!

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Also, with concern to directions, this sounds silly, but make sure you enter at the driveway that with the sign that says "Mount Saint Joseph Academy"...there is another one close by so just to prevent any confusion!

Can't wait! And remember - even if you didn't register, you can still come, as long as you abide by the said regulations :)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

had a great time! must do again next year! :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Props to the Firebirds for putting on such a great event! Thanks for the great time and being able to meet all these new people. Hope to see everyone there soon at the Philly Regional! As Chuck said, you have to do this again sometime.

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Oh man... WISH I COULD'VE GONE! The distance from NJ was a little difficult... especially since a family thing and religious deal both sort of came up for tonight... :(

My hope is that the Firebird's will throw another fiesta after nationals, when the WHOLE season is over! :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

thanks for such an amazing time guys! the night was truely so much fun! i hope you guys were able to raise a fair amount of money for the team.
if you guys do this again later, ill most certainly come again.

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Thanks to everyone who came!

It was soooo much FUN!!

There were 12 teams represented!

We're going to make this social an annual event, so there will definately be another one next year! An after nats social, though...thats a good idea...

:D !

Karen <3

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Yes, ditto to what Karen said! :D

On behalf of the Firebirds, Thank you thank you thank you to all the teams who came out and supported this!! I can't wait to see all of you at the NJ or Philly regionals!

I know the Firebirds had blast putting this together, so thanks for attending and we're soo glad you all had fun (and all for a good cause too!)! Everyone who will be at Philly: be sure to look out for members of team 1874 who will be observing this year's competition.

Thanks again to everyone and good luck at all of your competitions!

-Liz

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Congrats to 433 on a great event for a worthy cause! For the first year it was very well attended, and I'm sure it will grow in the future. By the way, the Hula Hoop Mentor Contest was cruel and unjust ;)

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

That was a lot of fun, and we did have a pretty good turn out! I hope that next year more people can make it. The more the merrier! Thanks to all that came, as Liz, Karen, and so many others already said. :D

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

Had a fun time even when no one on my team could dance(including me).

Re: Firebird's Social to benefit African FRC Team 1874
 

I had a good time. ^_^ I hope I can go again next year!!!