[dapub]

Dan,
That is very cool. I did notice a few at GSR that unfolded into mini-workshops. At American School for the Deaf, we have a full woodshop and students to work on building stuff like that. Maybe we can pull it together in time to ship to Atlanta. We really want one anyway.

How tall is yours? The full 70"? I am wondering how much extra $$$ that would be to ship. As a totally rookie team (and with 50 students + mentors) you can imagine we are really scrounging to try and get to Atlanta.

I also want to really thank you and Chop Shop for your compassion in the stands at GSR. The silent applause was just awesome, you cannot imagine how it touched our deaf students and mentors. They normally live in a world of isolation, and for them being a part of a team at that regional was a life-changing experience. They were finally being recognized by the "real" world as belonging. It is hard to explain. But after working on a team with both deaf and hearing students and mentors for build, and having to learn to communicate, and having frustration on both ends, I was so proud to be a part of a team that was recognized for the awesome accomplishments we made. Many lives have been touched and changed through this experience.

I also want to congratulate you on your understanding of our needs in the stands. I heard that there was actually someone who gave our team members a lot of grief on Saturday, because the organizers decided to give us reserved seating (the same we had had the day before) to accomodate for our ASL interpreters, as well as have a clear vision of the screens.... so our deaf members could understand what was going on. That was very sad for me, to think that someone could be so selfish as to not understand that people with special needs really do need special accomodations, sometimes. Unfortunately, the deaf have told me that they are often treated this way.

Anyway, a great big, huge THANKS to everyone at GSR for that amazing applause. Even though we got creamed by Buzz and 501 in the quarter-finals, we all came home feeling like huge winners. Our team is really pumped!