**FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

[I don't see the link to "Pledge" Listed on the Website anywhere, but got this email yesterday...]

**FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen

Hello FIRST® Teams, Mentors, Coaches, Volunteers, Sponsors and the entire FIRSTCommunity:

This year we would like to fill the stands at each FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) regional with ‘new non-FIRSTers’ as well as all of the local FIRST Community….and you can help us!

Here’s more on what I’m asking you to do and why.

The more people see FIRST up close…the more they understand what we are trying to accomplish.

Right now many seats go empty for our events, and they are a great place for local student groups, teachers, dignitaries, corporations and others to experience how the problem solving going on at FIRST today is the predecessor for tomorrow’s innovations.

What can you do to help?

1. Visit www.usfirst.org Home Page and take a pledge to bring ‘new’ attendees to the FRC Regionals this season.
2. Take the Pledge – commit to introduce one…ten…up to 25 new visitors to an FRC Regional. (You will be able to sign up by Regional event)
3. Watch the totals rise for your local Regional as the season unfolds!
4. We will check the event attendance against all the pledges you make for a ‘special shout’ at Championship to the Regional that brings in the most new visitors to the event this year.

Show your local community that FIRST is the best event they will ever attend!

When I’m Asking You To Do It:
You need to take the pledge before your Regional begins.
You may add ‘pledges’ to your event up until the day before the event begins!

I look forward to seeing all of the new visitors you bring to the Regionals this season….so they too can experience the possibilities, the energy, and the commitment that is FIRST.

Thank you for all you do for FIRST!

Dean Kamen

Go Teams!!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

This email was "recalled" by FIRST. Apparently it was sent in error !!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

The pledge button is mentioned in the Bill's Blog.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

I think it was sent with a typo, recalled, and sent again with the correct information. The one Kim posted here is the second one I saw.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Is there any plan for regionals to add more (and better) seating as a result of this homework assignment. Once the elimination tournament starts and teams send most of their pit crews to the field, it tends to get a little tight in the stands. I'd hate to pledge to bring 25 new people to an FRC event, tell them to come around 1 on Saturday because that's when the most exciting part of the day starts, then have them show up only to find they couldn't find a place to sit.

If we're going to make a concerted effort to get new people to the event, we need to make just a large of an effort to keep them there, especially if they're driving for a few hours to come. We need to work on being inclusive of "outsiders". The scoring this year helps with that (when I tell people the game is like soccer and show them a picture of the robot, they "get it" pretty quickly). But, as fans, referees, teams, and, especially, MC's and Game Announcers, we need to make sure they can understand the experience without having to have them ask a random stranger to explain what the heck is going on.

I love the plan and plan on telling anybody that will listen to come up to beautiful West Lafayette, I just hope they can find seats and enjoy themselves when they get there.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Anyone else having the problem I am?

I cannot input a number of people in the box. All other fields work, and yes I have checked all the obvious reasons.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Solved it.

In the box for the number of people, it will not allow you to use the 10 key pad, but will accept numbers from the top row of keys. It did allow you to use the 10 key pad while inputting your birth date.

Interesting

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Yeah the first one had www.usfirst.com I know because I tried to click the link before they recalled it!

And where are you guys finding the pledge signup??? I must be blind??? (or it doesnt work in firefox or IE6??)
Is this the connect a million minds thing??? I thought that was completely separate from Dean's homework... Connect a million minds is a TW cable thing to get youth inspired, it isnt how many adult family members can you bring to a regional... I thought Dean was thinking all public?!?

Maybe Im blind or misinterpreting?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

It is on the FIRST home page in the lower left corner. Big blue box.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Just read a little while ago that many DC-area schools are taking a field trip to the regional on Friday :ahh: That's pretty awesome. We planned on bringing a small contingent of our new FLL kids, though we probably won't get the original 120 that showed interest, lol. Look for a bunch of munchkins running around in purple shirts on Saturday :cool:.

The blue box didn't show up for me at first on Firefox, but I refreshed the page and then it showed up.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

The coopertition aspect of the game in qualifying matches will likely prove confusing to spectators, even after explanation of the rules. The elimination rounds will be much easier for the fans to appreciate.

The stands will be more crowded on Saturday afternoon, but some of the venues have adequate capacity to accommodate the fans as well as team members. Big crowds could really raise the energy level at the events. I'm inviting a bunch of my JPL co-workers for the Saturday competition in Long Beach.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

Huh.... no big blue box here.... guess its time to notify FIRST tech support!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

See that big white hole with the 98 and 1049 in it? That's supposed to be the blue box with the links. (I suspect the 98 and 1049 were the number of pledges/new spectators at the time you took your screenshot.)

Contact FIRST website support with your browser details.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

I got that 98/1049 originally with IE6, but refreshing brought the Blue Box up.
Although, the Blue Box I get is repeated within the space, so there are a few oddities that need attention.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/Special Request from Dean Kamen
 

I sure hope Regionals are prepared for this. As it stands, there are some that barely have enough seating space to accommodate the teams in attendance without people standing or sitting in aisles (much to the ire of crown control volunteers and fire marshals alike).