Florida Regional Thank Yous

[RoboMadi]

Ah...... I just got back from the Florida Regional and right away i've a list of people/teams i would like to congratulate and thank. (I just couldn't wait )

1. First of Thanks and Congratulates to Team 1902, Exploding Bacon. You guys ROCK! Thanks for putting up with me for three days . I will remember your fun filled meetings, awesome food, cool members/mentors etc etc. I don't think i've to mention that much over here as you guys are well-known for pigging...
2. CD Friends: Arefin Bari, Dan THE MAN, Tytus, Billfred (thanks for the surprise entry), Jaine, Jane, James, Berry (I've your umbrella hat ), Marry, .......oh this list goes on on and on. Even if i haven't mentioned your name, you know you were the highlight of my trip.
3. Nancy and Mike Walker: It was fun working with you guys throughout the competition!
4. All the Robot Inspectors, Refferees, and Volunteers who had to put up with my hyperness and deal with me anyway possible.

5. Congrats to Team 79 for winning the Chairmans. You guys deserved it! Good Luck in ATL!
6. Congratulates to team 1270,86, and 1251 (Regional Winners!)
7. Also Congratulate to 1902, 108, 179, and 386 for providing some intense matches. Good Luck with the rest of the season guys!

8. Finally THANKS to all the teams, volunteers, RPC, and everyone associated with Florida Regional in anyway possible. You did an awesome job!


And now i start packing to head back to Northern Virginia. But before that i want to make sure i duct tape Arefin
Thanks


Imad Arain

[mrs. p]

i have many thank you's but would like to say THANK YOU to S.P.A.M. for believing in us and picking us as an alliance partner.

[zander_108]

I would like to say thank you to team voltage 386!!! we wouldnt have been able to do it without you..

[ahanktcd]

The thanks is reciprocated! Team 386 had the best time of our lives! We've had a great year this year and competing in the finals was the proverbial icing on the cake!

I'm sorry you guys weren't able to compete in all the matches, but our team is always glad to help out, whether it be in competition, or in the pits.

Thanks All!

Team Voltage 386

[Tim Arnold]

I would like to extend a huge thank-you to team 86, Team Resistance, and especially Josh (wsansewjs here on CD) for producing and delivering a large (10ft by 3ft) banner for us. I don't have any pictures of it just yet, but it looked MEGA AWESOME and was exactly what we wanted, for a great price. They had a incredibly short turn around time, and delivered it to us in perfect condition at the start of Thursday. You may have seen hanging from the closed bleachers above our indoor pit.

Thanks again team 86, and congrats on being the regional winner!

[JaneYoung]

Well, I'm back here in Austin, Texas and before I take a nice long nap I want to put some thoughts together for the folks in Florida and those who traveled there to compete.

Orlando is beautiful - I have never been there before. The stars, the palm trees - I got to see a rocket travel up to those beautiful stars. The folks in Orlando are just plain friendly, e-v-e-r-y one. The restaurants are fun, the food is delicious, wonderful.

Meeting so many people from here in CD was so much fun and I am a little scared of saying names because if I forget one, I'll feel bad..but man, you guys are so cool. Watching the teams compete together, dance together, work together was so inspiring. I've been told the Florida Regional rocks - now I'll be spending some time telling others.

I do want to thank 1902 for hosting me. The Austin household is the hub for the team and was a place of very little sleep this weekend and I want to thank Wendy, James, and family for allowing me to be a part of the fun and the spirit of 1902 - a great FIRST team.

It was a total blast volunteering for FIRST at the volunteer check-in table, meeting so many dedicated people who have given time and support to the Florida Regional - some for many years. We distributed several 5 year and 10 year pins to the volunteers.

The one thing I thought about as I left the palm trees and beauty of Florida was all of the mentors' and students' eyes that I looked into. The students' eyes were filled with determination and understanding of what was being asked of them as team. The mentors' eyes were filled with a similar but different understanding and determination. Their eyes reflected their passion for the success of their students who participate in FIRST and their support of all of the teams' efforts. They were warm, wise, and full of humor. All of them.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who participated in and supported the Florida Regional this weekend.

Jane

[Barry Bonzack]

Thanks to team 386 for winning our first couple qualifying matches when 1390 still hadn't passed inspection.

Thanks to all of my friends (too many to name, and some I prefer people not know I'm associated with [cough arefin]) for making FIRST events the most fun days of the year

Thanks for team 1902 for always making me a part of their team and feel welcome. Also thank you for the effort put into completing my challenge. The only thing about this team that is better than their robot is their teamwork, FIRST Values, big picture point-of-view, work ethic, professionalism, senses of humor, and everything else that is more important than a piece of machinery.

To all of the Volunteers, officials, Referees, IFI crew, and everyone else that helps make this event one of the biggest landmarks year after year as most inspiring piece of my life.

And to the other announcers that helped me ease into my training on game calling. It was a wonderful thrilling experience. I just got on the VIMS system and put my name in the hat for announcer at the Kansas City Regional.

[Doug Leppard]

Jane it was great to meet you and learn how other teams work.

Those certainly were kind words about 1902.

[Arefin Bari]

Every year, I walk into the arena and think about how exhausted I will be after 3 days on saturday night. When I sit and think on saturday night, it feels like thursday morning was 10 mins ago.

After coming back to FIRST for the 6th season, I realize how many friends I have made throughout the years and how much they care. I would hate to go through a list of names and miss someone. You guys already know who you are. Thank you for making 2007 Florida regional a blast for me.

But I do want to extend a thank you out to this one group. I like to call them piggies. Wendy, Mr. Austin, Dan, George, Mike, Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Coleman, Ryan, Mr. Leppard, James, Scott, Caroline, Katie... ok... you get the idea... Team 1902 always welcomes me on their team since I have known them. They are a family and they always gladly took me in whether it was because I needed a team to hang out with, somewhere to stay, to keep me in the right path (I love you Wendy), or if I was hungry... the list goes on. I don't have words to describe the gracious professionalism they show to the FIRST community as well as to any individual that needs anything.

And ofcourse the guys... and the ladies who hung out with me all week/weekend long, I had a blast. Marcus (179), Dan (1902), Wendy (1345... yes he is a guy, there are two Wendys), Imad (612, thanks for coming all the way down here), Tytus (1889), Jaine (1889), Mary (180 alumni), Michelle (1065), Barry (1390), Tessa (233 alumni)... I had a great time with you guys whether it was to run around and chase each other, see each other in action on the field, those late nights that we stayed up and hung out, I won't forget them.

... I was very surprised that Tytus has managed to go through a regional without hurting himself.

and... just incase your mom decides to show you this post Katie, I will have your sugar cookies again next time. =)

Originally Posted by RoboMadi

And now i start packing to head back to Northern Virginia. But before that i want to make sure i duct tape Arefin
Thanks.

Darn Madi, you are a little too late. My kids managed to duct tape me friday night. =)

[swamp_child]

Big thanks to 1902 for picking us for the finals!
you guys, rock, and i dont think there is a person in FIRST who doesn't love exploding Bacon!

[Swampdude]

A big thanks to 1902. We had it all in the bag guys. I'm sorry our arms weren't up for the challenge. Those matches were just coming way too fast to keep them working. The intensity of those matches is almost unreal, at the speed and dynamics of them. George your my buddy, I'm thrilled and honored to have fought that battle with you again. Thanks! We couldn't have come any closer. In hindsight I can think of a dozen things I would have done differently to win it, but there was just no time to get a plan together. I wish they would find a way to give us a breather in the semi's and finals. Like awards in-between matches etc. However I am also really happy with our alliance partners 108. You guys did a great job getting us to the semis. Sorry the banebug bit you... And also big thanks to 386, you guys were a strong partner.
I guess the silver lining is 1251 got to take home the gold. Congratulations guys! also to 1270, thanks for coming all the way from Ohio, I know you're glad you did, you guys improved to an awesome scoring unit from start to finish you get my most improved award. 86 you guys played strong D all day and your ramp was fantastic. You guys deserved the win last year, so now you got what was coming. Congrats to all of you, a great alliance. Those matches came in a blur, but were a great end to the Florida Regional.
I also want to say I really enjoyed seeing everyone. This was one of my best FIRST seasons. I'm real proud of my team, they all did an excellent job in scouting, programming, maintenance, support etc. etc. etc.
I wish you all luck at Las Vegas. If anyone can fit me in a carry-on let me know.

[POLISH703]

Thank you 1902 for dealing with me on friday. You guys are a fun team and I am looking forward to seeing you guys at nationals.
MAKIN BACON

Also, HUGE thank you to team 159 The Aztecs. You guys saved me a LONG walk back to my hotel. And thanks for the shirt too.

Another Thank you to Barry Bonzack. You were a huge help to me.

[CWBWBN]

what an awesome regional! i met so many new faces and made alot of new friends. definately my best FIRST trip ever. thanks to everyone who fed me and put me up and most of all dealt with my company! i'm looking forward to seeing you all at nationals.

mch
<3

[wendymom]

Wow!!! I had so much fun it has taken me 24 hours to recover.

I want to thank all the individual people and all the teams that helped get 1062 up and running and able to compete. The kids on that team really saw the values of FIRST in action. So many teams gave parts and people. We have a picture taken Thurs night with shirts from 6 or 7 different teams surrounding the robot getting it going. This is what FIRST is all about and team 1062 was amazed at how everyone pulled together to get them ready to compete.

Also a big thanks to 108,386 and 179, you were great alliance partners.
I also want to thank all the parents on my team for all you do so I don't have to think about how we are going to eat, if the paperwork is done, or if someone is hanging out in the stands with the kids. I also want to thank my college guys.....we couldn't survive without you. To my high school, and middle school kids......GREAT JOB. You make me proud....(even though I"m not a grandma yet!)

For all our adopted team members....keep coming by...we love you too!!

[vic burg]

108 would love to thank 179 and 1902 for being such a wonderful alliance and to apologize for having our one match delayed.
But, we would also love to thank 386 for stepping in and helping us out to complete the finals.

Exploding Swamp Cats love Voltage!
Florida Regional will never be the same!
:XD:
I hope everyone else had as wonderful time as we did.