**FIRST EMAIL**/TIMS/STIMS Update/Beta Testing/FIRST HQ Business Hours/Sr Mentor Cal

[Mark McLeod]

Greetings Teams:

TIMS/STIMS Update: The Team Information Management System (TIMS) and Student Team Information Management System (STIMS) will open for pre-registration soon. We will provide you with a firm date for when you may log in to your account and input your 2012 information in an upcoming email blast. We thank you for your patience!

Beta Testing Application Deadline Friday 9/2: As FRC prepares for the 2012 season we are seeking a limited number of teams to assist us with beta testing new software. A limited number of teams will also be asked to test hardware elements of the control system. Interested teams should complete the Beta Test Application available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N3LTRHX by Friday, September 2, 2011 at noon ET.

Beta testing will run from September 2011 through the end of December 2011. Selected teams will be notified by September 16, 2011 and beta testing will begin after FIRST receives a signed Disclosure Agreement from the beta test team. Please direct questions regarding submissions to FRCbetatest@usfirst.org.

FIRST HQ Resumes Normal Business Hours Tuesday, 9/6: As Summer ends and we ramp up for the 2012 season, FIRST HQ will resume normal business hours beginning Tuesday, 9/6. Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, 9/5 in honor of Labor Day. Once we resume normal business hours, you may contact Team Support by phone Monday thru Friday, from 8:30 am ET to 5:00 pm ET, at 1-800-871-8326, ext. 0.

Choosing a Competition- Senior Mentor Call Sept. 8th, 2011: Join Senior Mentor, Kathie Kentfield; and Frank Merrick, FRC Deputy Director for the Senior Mentor call taking place Thursday, 9/8. You may find details and an outline of the call here: http://tinyurl.com/3h94c24.

Go Teams!

[Akash Rastogi]

".........soon"


*sigh*

[Mark McLeod]

Knew you'd be interested, and left on tinderhooks.

[rsisk]

I wonder if we sang songs to Bill Miller if that would get TIMS opened sooner, like the way it worked to wring game hints out of Dave Laverly.

[Akash Rastogi]

On another note, I wonder if they'll choose beta test teams based on who gave the best results and feedback last time or based on who didn't get a chance to be a beta tester yet. I'm hoping the former.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

On another note, I wonder if they'll choose beta test teams based on who gave the best results and feedback last time or based on who didn't get a chance to be a beta tester yet. I'm hoping the former.

I would hope some combination of the two... get the teams that gave really great feedback to do it again, but also get new teams in there to give feedback. Otherwise, you create a system where it's fairly difficult for any other teams to get to participate in the beta test program.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

On another note, I wonder if they'll choose beta test teams based on who gave the best results and feedback last time or based on who didn't get a chance to be a beta tester yet. I'm hoping the former.

I would email FIRST directly at this point.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I would email FIRST directly at this point.

True, doing now.

I too would like to see a mix. I know of a certain yellow and black team that applied to each beta test, but didn't get a chance to do so, even with very capable students and mentors. So, hopefully they get it this year

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

I know of a certain yellow and black team that applied to each beta test, but didn't get a chance to do so, even with very capable students and mentors. So, hopefully they get it this year

1676?

[KathieK]

Please remember to join us on Thursday, Sept 8 for the Choosing a Competition call with Frank Merrick, FRC Deputy Director. Frank will go over some changes for this year's competition season.

The call will start at 7pm ET. For dial-in information private message me or check the FIRST website later today. A revised outline for the call will be posted soon, and includes dial-in information.