MI Upper Peninsula FIRST Event

[Colin P]

In the next few years, Michigan Technological University and MTU's Robotic Systems Enterprise wish to host a District or offseason in Houghton, MI.

What I ask of the CD community is for some feedback on this idea. Would your team be willing to travel to the UP? What do you think of the area? Would a district or an offseason be better?

Would you rather attend a District in the snow or an offseason in the fall?

What's the longest distance you'd travel for an event?

On a somewhat related note, for anyone unfamiliar with the Robotic Systems Enterprise (so, most of you):

"Enterprise teams perform testing and analysis, make recommendations, manufacture parts, develop products and processes, provide services, meet budgets and schedules, and manage multiple projects. Faculty members act as coaches and mentors. Industry sponsors advise and guide.

Students develop the critical skills needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing work environment. And industry sponsors gain a fresh look at important problems—and potential solutions—through the eyes of an unbiased team."

The Robotic Systems Enterprise is a student program that mentors teams 857, 2586, and 3771 in the Spring and participates in the Sailbot program in the fall.

Thanks in advance for your response as we try to determine the feasibility of this plan.

[Karibou]

I think that my team might be willing to attend a district event, though it depends on the week that it falls on. We always try to do one "away" event, and would have travelled to TC again this year if it had not been on the same week as MME testing (we have a lot of key juniors this year). Travel expenses might be the only thing keeping us, especially if gas costs keep rising, and I can see that being a problem for other teams as well.


On a personal level, I would attend both. I'm going to be at Tech in the fall ;P Do you know what you would use as the venue?

[Colin P]

Originally Posted by Karibou

Do you know what you would use as the venue?

Most likely the Student Development Complex, a really big sports complex with multipurpose room comparable to the size of Kettering's venue and a large basketball gym with lots of seating.

If not here, maybe Houghton High up the road.

[wo-bot 141]

Can you send me a personal message with contacts. I know the 3617 cold logic Marquette team, is thinking the same thing. perhaps we can collaborate for a venue/event.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

we would love to go

[Jack Jones]

Before now I would have said there's a good chance a District in the U.P. could work, but seeing Niles with only 35 teams signed up and the cost being only $500, I think there will need to be many more teams formed in the area before we'll see an event in Houghton.

A summer off-season is another matter, what with all the Wisconsin teams that are a few hours away, and the fact that "God's Country" is gorgeous in the summer.

You can't blame us trolls for being afraid to brave the early spring weather up there.

[GaryVoshol]

I'd love to go. The SDC would make a great venue.

Jack makes good points about winter driving.

I think that an official district event would have more chance of success than an off-season during the (high) school year. To go so far, most teams would have to take time off school. That might be easier to get authorized if it was for an official event. Even a one-day Saturday event would require travel time and missing school on Friday.

A summer event would be nice, but you'd probably run into the problem of many volunteers being away from college for the summer.

You'd have to time it around other events going on in the area, so there would be enough hotel space.