Chief Delphi - When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

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Re: When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

Thanks for giving us all a peek into the NASA grant process, Dave. Many teams (mine included) have benefited from this great program in past years. Attention to the points you made above will (hopefully) enable many others to benefit in future years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlavery (Post 653041)

... -- There are different types of grants available (e.g. “Challenge Grants” and “Growth Grants”). Each type has specific requirements and limitations on who can receive them. Make sure you read and understand those requirements. Many proposals had to be declined because the team was not eligible for the type of grant for which they applied. For example, no rookie grants were available for the Las Vegas regional for 2008 (as documented in the application instructions). Yet we received several rookie grant applications for this event, which then all had to be turned down.

Apparently not all LVR rookie grant applications were turned down. If I understand Dave's point above, there were some applications for Regional Challenge Grants submitted by new teams planning to attend the Las Vegas Regional, and these had to be turned down because such grants are not available for that event this year, right? One rookie team that is registered for the Las Vegas Regional (FRC 2464) did receive a Program Growth Grant; per the instructions, that type of grant is not tied to any particular competition. So at least on LVR team read the application instructions and followed them correctly.

NASA is the best friend FIRST has, and the total of 165 grants awarded to FRC teams for 2008 is just one of many ways that fact is made clear for all to see. NASA sponsored teams in particular, and all teams who receive any kind of sponsorship (isn't that all of us?) should heed the advice that Dave saved for last:

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlavery

On one final note, if you do receive sponsorship (from NASA or anyone else), say "thank you." This is not a hard requirement. You are not under any obligation to do so. You will still be able to get a grant if you don’t do this. But it is an appropriate acknowledgement of the sponsorship being provided, it is both a gracious and a professional thing to do, and it is simple good manners.

... The moral of the story: You can build bridges, or you can burn them. The choice is yours.

-dave

Re: When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

Well, thank you Mr. Lavery for your work in the grant process and continued support of FIRST. And of course thank you NASA for the financial support.

Is there any specific e-mail address or mailing address to use to contact NASA in a more professional way in order to more properly thank them?

Re: When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlavery (Post 653041)

-- There are different types of grants available (e.g. “Challenge Grants” and “Growth Grants”). Each type has specific requirements and limitations on who can receive them. Make sure you read and understand those requirements. Many proposals had to be declined because the team was not eligible for the type of grant for which they applied.
-dave

Thanks Dave and I thought that I had read the reqs thoroughly myself.:eek: I had not looked at seeking this source of funding since year two back in 2002 but ...
Now giving the reqs the eagle eye in hindsight I see it clearly now:D , veteran teams could only apply for a Challenge grant to Hawaii:ahh: Key mistake was the wording that these are good for veterans at a new regional for first year only. Bayou was new last year too bad OKC was not a NASA sponsored regional but they seem to be busting at the seams with STATE money for grants and teams.

Sorry Dave and Co. I wasted your time and mine,

APS

Re: When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon Blues

Is there any specific e-mail address or mailing address to use to contact NASA in a more professional way in order to more properly thank them?

Dr. James Green
Director, Planetary Systems Division
Science Missions Directorate
NASA Headquarters
300 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20546

Jim is my division director, and a great supporter of FIRST, BotBall, BEST, the NASA Robotics Academy, and many other programs. You may not see his name frequently within the FIRST community, but without his advocacy and support NASA would not be able to participate at anywhere near the level that we do.

-dave

-dave

Re: When is the notification of the 2008 NASA grant winners?

Thanks Dave for who to send the thanks to.
We have a lot of the thankful teams in Maryland.