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Unread 15-02-2007, 14:45
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d.courtney d.courtney is offline
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AKA: David
FRC #0781 (Kinetic Knights)
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Kincardine, Ontario
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Re: To extend or not to extend the ship date!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery View Post
FIRST did extend the deadline in 2003 after a major blizzard, but this is nothing compared to what hit in 2003. Many places are already back in school, or will be tomorrow.
Personally, I think FIRST should allow some more fix-it-window time, but not extend the deadline.
What FIRST needs is a system that allows everyone 6 weeks, not 6 weeks of fine weather at FIRST HQ, but 6 weeks where you live... just because for you this is better then the one time FIRST did give a two day extension doesn't mean its better for all, for us this is our worst year yet for weather, but simply because FIRST doesn't get a 1/10 of the snow we get doesn't mean we can get safely to build.
I have had one American FIRST member tell me we should be able to do just as well as a team without snow days, as we Canadians should be used to the snow. Unfortunately thats how I feel FIRST thinks about the issue, unless the US is hit hard by snow who cares?
I am not putting my two sense into this issue because I believe we should get an extension this year, because its not a problem that can be solved this year. It is however something that they need to take note and need to change in coming years, how simple is having a clause on the shipping date saying that it can be extended with proof showing the school/roads were closed in your area signed by your administration?
I don't know anyone that would have a problem with some team that lost 5 days of build getting those tacked on the end to fulfill their own 6 week build. To me it seems like a graciously professional thing FIRST could do in a situation where that happens.

Quote:
Originally Posted by artdutra04 View Post
Blizzards, Nor'easters, and ice storms for the most part just don't spring out of thin air (no pun intended); usually you have at least a few days notice that these storms are coming. If you know a storm is coming, then don't just sit there and hope it misses you, act and prepare accordingly! (Especially if you know you won't be able to meet at your school/primary build location.)

If you won't be able to meet at your school on a snow day, then the night before take any and everything you can and work at a mentor's house/garage/basement the next day. If none of the mentors on your team have any sort of tools at their house, take the robot home and practice driving or coding. I'm sure your team's programmers would love to have an entire day with the robot all to themselves.

Yesterday schools across New England were closed due to the snow and ice storm. But rather sit back and hope that the ship date will be extended to accommodate for the bad weather, we went ahead with out meetings regardless of the Nor'easter. We drove through the snow and ice, and met anyway all day long, taking advantage of the fact that school was closed.

Where there is a will to get the robot done, there is a way.
Our school administration wont let us work anywhere but at the school, and although I would love a day with the robot and bringing it home with us, again school rules won't let it be worked on anywhere but at school before competitions. It isn't so simple to just say you can still work on it, there are liability issues with the school, and simply the safety of getting into town. I would never put our team at risk of being stopped, or my life in danger on the roads, to get an extra day of work on it during bad weather.

Last edited by d.courtney : 15-02-2007 at 14:53.
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