Bill's Blog - What do you mean this is the last full week before CMP?

[Kristian Calhoun]

Bill mentions no new information regarding anything happening on Friday or Saturday night of the Championships, nor any news about the field layout in the dome/pits. He mostly discusses the FRC Live topics, including the future of game design. Other tid-bits: the Q&A is now closed, and particularly innovative teams, such as those filing patents, should contact Bill directly.

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011...full-week.html

[SammyKay]

if you go to http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...p_Info_A-Z.pdf and scroll down to page six, there is info about Friday and Saturday.

FIRST Sponsored Team Eventsupdated 4/15
There are two team social events tentatively scheduled for the FIRST Championships.
The first event will be held inside the Edward Jones Dome on Friday evening, April 29 at 8:30 PM. The intention is for a staged entertainment performance. There will be no foodservice provided; however there will be concession stands open throughout the show. More details on this will be revealed at a later date.
The second event will be held on Saturday April 30; immediately following Closing Ceremonies. There will be different entertainment options, from music to karaoke to interactive entertainment, held at various locations in the America's Center. A packaged meal will be provided upon departure from the Closing Ceremonies in the Edward Jones Dome. Wristbands will be given out at Pit administration for the packaged meal on Saturday morning, ending at 4 PM Saturday afternoon. There will be 30 wristbands provided per FRC team, and 15 per each FTC and FLL and Jr.FLL team. Further details of this event will be announced at a later date.
There are no tickets for this event, other than to receive your food.

[Phalanx]

There will be different entertainment options, from music to karaoke to interactive entertainment, held at various locations in the America's Center. A packaged meal will be provided upon departure from the Closing Ceremonies in the Edward Jones Dome. Wristbands will be given out at Pit administration for the packaged meal on Saturday morning, ending at 4 PM Saturday afternoon. There will be 30 wristbands provided per FRC team, and 15 per each FTC and FLL and Jr.FLL team. Further details of this event will be announced at a later date.
There are no tickets for this event, other than to receive your food.

That begs the question, for those of us attending, even though our team is not, what can or should we do so we can join in the festivities?

[Debbie]

Originally Posted by SammyKay

if you go to http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...p_Info_A-Z.pdf and scroll down to page six, there is info about Friday and Saturday.

Anyone know how to get the rest of your team fed if you have more than 30? Will we be able to purchase wristbands?

[SammyKay]

Originally Posted by Debbie

Anyone know how to get the rest of your team fed if you have more than 30? Will we be able to purchase wristbands?

no idea...our team only has 11 students, and a total of at least 22 people I believe are going to be at Championships from our team. (the extra 11 are mentors/parents) I have no idea if they will be attending the team socials however....

[SammyKay]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

That begs the question, for those of us attending, even though our team is not, what can or should we do so we can join in the festivities?

I would think get a hold of someone at FIRST soon or talk to pit admin when you get there about it. if that doesn't work, PM me and I'll see if I can find extra wristbands somewhere.

[Billfred]

I don't think we'll be using all 30 of our allocation. Unless FIRST does something to put an unexpected constraint on distribution, I suspect that we as a community can make sure everyone gets to go to the ball social.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by SammyKay

if you go to http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...p_Info_A-Z.pdf and scroll down to page six, there is info about Friday and Saturday.

So... it is true... they moved two divisional fields out of the dome to have a stage for this performance act for one night. That's not acceptable in my book.

[Debbie]

Originally Posted by SammyKay

no idea...our team only has 11 students, and a total of at least 22 people I believe are going to be at Championships from our team. (the extra 11 are mentors/parents) I have no idea if they will be attending the team socials however....

Originally Posted by SammyKay

I would think get a hold of someone at FIRST soon or talk to pit admin when you get there about it. if that doesn't work, PM me and I'll see if I can find extra wristbands somewhere.

Thanks! We have 29 students and 10 mentors (plus 10 parents/siblings traveling with us). We anticipated everyone going as in the past, so I am going to have to hop on some dinner arrangements if we don't all go there.

I'm hoping they will offer some way to get everyone in..I know quite a few Michigan teams with more than 30 kids. So, I'd certainly want to get all the kids in first.

If they are all covered, we certainly would appreciate any spares you won't be using! Thanks so much!

[Aren_Hill]

What Alex said, they're forgetting the C in FRC again.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

So... it is true... they moved two divisional fields out of the dome to have a stage for this performance act for one night. That's not acceptable in my book.

IF that is the case, I agree it is not acceptable. But I don't want to start complaining about something that may not be to true.

Aren, maybe they are changing the C from Competition to Celebration?

[SammyKay]

Originally Posted by Debbie

Thanks! We have 29 students and 10 mentors (plus 10 parents/siblings traveling with us). We anticipated everyone going as in the past, so I am going to have to hop on some dinner arrangements if we don't all go there.

I'm hoping they will offer some way to get everyone in..I know quite a few Michigan teams with more than 30 kids. So, I'd certainly want to get all the kids in first.

If they are all covered, we certainly would appreciate any spares you won't be using! Thanks so much!

I'll check with the mentors in charge of us for those nights to see which mentors/parents are going to be with the students and if we have any extra ones. I'll let you know!

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

So... it is true... they moved two divisional fields out of the dome to have a stage for this performance act for one night. That's not acceptable in my book.

I agree whole heartedly. If FIRST is about changing the world and I've hard Dean say in x amount of speeches since 2003 how the rock stars aren't gonna change the world then why is FIRST eliminating two fields for the rock stars? Were those statements because we were envious that other organizations were catching their attention and not us?

I really wouldn't mind two pit fields IF there were more divisions and FTC/FLL expanded, not a rock concert. I really try to be supportive of FIRST's decisions but it is hitting a sad and hypocritical state. IMHO

Yes this will be fun in some ways but no matter how fun or exciting something is, it doesn't validate the "why" in the equation. These rock stars our here to celebrate us and our machines not us celebrating them.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Aren_Hill

What Alex said, they're forgetting the C in FRC again.

They're also forgetting the F and R...

[JaneYoung]

I'm feeling more and more old school and antiquated with each passing blog. 'Team social' is not what comes to my mind when I read about Friday and Saturday nights. 'Entertainment events' is what comes to my mind.

Brendan - maybe in some ways, our leaders have lost vision or - their vision of FIRST has changed. I'm not sure what the intent is regarding what teams will be celebrating. That wouldn't be a GDC question - that would definitely be a FIRST HQ question if one were to pose it.

It (the Championship) should be entertaining, that's for sure. That appears to be a keyword.

Jane