[Erin Rapacki]

Last year I started from scratch with the organization of Beantown Blitz... it didn't happen in the end (tho we got 70% of the way there), but we are giving another whack at it for the upcoming 2004 season. (and it'll be so much easier because I know so much more)

There's a lot to learn, and a lot to know. I'd recommend trying to help out on a regional committee to see how they set things up, and if your event is later in the year... help out at off-season comps too. I recieved invaluable experience by being a ref at PARC, doing staging at WPI, helping with set up the field at WPI and a West Suffield gig, and judging at IRI. Get first-hand experience... you build a network that way as well.

-Call FIRST directly for the field, you just have to send people (a truck) to pick it up. But every offseason comp this year was able to get a real field directly from FIRST.

-you have to provide the carpet yourselves tho, borrow one from a regional, ask a neighboring team who has one, or buy one yourself. You also need people to sew the carpet together...

-I was told last year that better off-season FIRST field software will be coming out this year, so you won't have to make your own scoring program.

-awards, trophies, prizes... those are clearly up to you and your team. They are often original, catering to the setting of the event. They are usual kept fun.

ga... i gotta run, feel free to ask more questions



ByE

erin