[EricH]

Back when I first "got involved", there was no FTC. There was no FVC. There was no AndyMark (though there were an Andy Baker and a Mark Koors, both on team 45). There was no FLL. There were no alliances. The competition that year? Ladder Logic.

My dad had gotten involved with my K-12 school's robotics team (formerly known as team 61, Southern California Circuit Breakers--now 207, 294, and 330), known as team 82, the BeachBots. (The number change to 330 happened the following year due to FRC numbering at the time.) I hung out in the shop if I had nothing else to do--I was all of 9 years old at the time. From 1998 to 2000, I hung out in the shop. In 2001 and 2002, I couldn't do that due to site rules. But in 2003, I was able to join the team.

I've been to the inaugural SVR, Los Angeles, Arizona, and San Diego regionals (and, in the case of SVR, L.A., and Arizona, the second year as well--matter of fact, I didn't miss an L.A. Regional until 2010, and I went to at least one competition every year from 1999 to 2010, then ran into doing other stuff and haven't been in two years). I went to Nationals in 2000. And I thought these robots were kind of cool. Trust me, I officially joined as soon as I could. Some would say I never left.

I still have a badge somewhere labeling me an official Robo-Orphan.