FRC Blogged- District Award Allocations and Kickoff Taping

[MamaSpoldi]

I for one am very sad to see the reduction in the number of Dean's List Finalists being sent from the Districts as well as the Woodie Flowers Finalist. I know that I will be corrected that it is not about the number of previous regionals that are being replaced. However, last year we would have had 14 Dean's List Finalists heading to Champs from NE regionals and now it is a max of 6... and from 7 Woodie Flowers Finalists down to 1. This is a very large reduction (more than 50%) even if you take into account that mentors and students from outside of NE would/could have won some of those spots in previous years.

I just feel that these awards are about celebrating those among us who are role models. Granted these people do not make choices based on how it will look to an awards committee, they do what they do because they believe in the message of FIRST. Reducing the number of these awards just leaves us with less to celebrate.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by MamaSpoldi

I just feel that these awards are about celebrating those among us who are role models. Granted these people do not make choices based on how it will look to an awards committee, they do what they do because they believe in the message of FIRST. Reducing the number of these awards just leaves us with less to celebrate.

Not necessarily. You can celebrate your students and mentors any day of the week

Keep in mind how difficult judging becomes at the Championship level for these awards. I don't see it as a bad thing to become more selective.

[Alan Anderson]

I can see I'm going to have to adjust my vocabulary. Until now, I thought FIRST was calling the areas running a district model "Regions" -- the Mid-Atlantic Robotics Region, the Pacific Northwest Region, etc. I've been very careful to follow that usage. Now, however, it seems they're being labeled "Districts".

Except I thought that was what they called the smaller areas within a larger region hosting district competitions. I'm confused.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I can see I'm going to have to adjust my vocabulary. Until now, I thought FIRST was calling the areas running a district model "Regions" -- the Mid-Atlantic Robotics Region, the Pacific Northwest Region, etc. I've been very careful to follow that usage. Now, however, it seems they're being labeled "Districts".

Except I thought that was what they called the smaller areas within a larger region hosting district competitions. I'm confused.

The only time I've ever seen a map actually divided into numbered districts" was a map of MI, and I think was to show how teams are/were divided into "home districts" ie. one they are arbitrarily signed up for. There's been no such division like that in MAR, but the 'first level' of competitions has been referred to as "district events'.

My guess is this is just to further distinguish/seperate the district model from the regional model, so instead of going to "regionals" or "regional championships", you're going to the "district championship"

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Dean assigns homework at CMP, hardly anybody does it.
Frank mentions sending in shirts for the video, six score teams do it.

Totally.

[MikeE]

Maybe I missed it in an earlier post but I don't see the total number of teams advancing from each District Championships to the FIRST Championships.

Applying the multipliers/rounding implies PNW & NE could be sending 22, 23 or 24 teams. I vote for 24

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by MikeE

Maybe I missed it in an earlier post but I don't see the total number of teams advancing from each District Championships to the FIRST Championships.

Applying the multipliers/rounding implies PNW & NE could be sending 22, 23 or 24 teams. I vote for 24

From an earlier blog:

FiM 32
MAR 18
NE 24
PNW 24

[MikeE]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

From an earlier blog:

Thanks. I obviously didn't read all the way to the end of that post!

Originally Posted by Calvin Hartley

There's three pyramids this year.

Oh boy a Coopertition Pyramid!

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

Oh boy a Coopertition Pyramid!

Stop that.

[DampRobot]

This actually gave me quite a chuckle.

Especially impressive was the...but, I guess I shouldn’t say any more.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I can see I'm going to have to adjust my vocabulary. Until now, I thought FIRST was calling the areas running a district model "Regions" -- the Mid-Atlantic Robotics Region, the Pacific Northwest Region, etc. I've been very careful to follow that usage. Now, however, it seems they're being labeled "Districts".

Except I thought that was what they called the smaller areas within a larger region hosting district competitions. I'm confused.

In PNW we consider ourselves the Pacific Northwest District. The qualifying events district events and the big event District Championships of DCMP. In PNW there is no geographic divisions within the District any team is allowed to register for any event, until of course slots are filled. Of course most teams registered for the closest event as one of their two. I've heard that one of the reasons for the fiM home events was to determine which event they were eligible to present for Chairman's, of course now teams are able to present for Chairman's at all events they attend whether District or Regional.

[Kimmeh]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I've heard that one of the reasons for the fiM home events was to determine which event they were eligible to present for Chairman's, of course now teams are able to present for Chairman's at all events they attend whether District or Regional.

One of the advantages of districts is so that for more teams, they can travel to/from home to at least one event instead of needing hotels. It was my understanding that home events are actually the event closest to you. By ensuring that you get your home event, it ensures that you don't need to book hotel rooms.

However, I don't recall reading this anywhere and the briefest of searches didn't show much. Can someone from FiM explain home events better?

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by Kimmeh

One of the advantages of districts is so that for more teams, they can travel to/from home to at least one event instead of needing hotels. It was my understanding that home events are actually the event closest to you. By ensuring that you get your home event, it ensures that you don't need to book hotel rooms.

Funny, we've always needed a hotel for our home event. I mean, I wouldn't want a 3+ hour commute to our home event.</serious sarcasm>

Now, our team is in FiM, though I don't know all the specifics about what qualifies as home event. I think it is closest, but I could be wrong. About the map of "districts" within the district, I think that mostly serves as a way to assign district contacts or some such thing. Otherwise, FiM is a district, with district events and a district (state) championship.

[Kimmeh]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

Funny, we've always needed a hotel for our home event. I mean, I wouldn't want a 3+ hour commute to our home event.</serious sarcasm>.

That's why I said more, not all. And besides, it's your fault for being in the wrong part of the state. =P /sarcasm

Seriously though, because of the way Michigan is, the district structure actually makes it harder on teams in the UP because there is no short, cheap way to get to the bulk of the events in Michigan. The event in Escanaba is closer for you guys, but a hotel room is still a hotel room. All it saves you guys is gas and travel time.

*Internet hugs* One day, we'll be able to teleport, right? =/