2008 Boston Regional

[Chris Marra]

Now that we have been given official approval by the powers above (aka: Boston RPC), The Blue Alliance will be filming a special behind-the-scenes episode looking at the regional from a point of view most teams don't get to see while caught up in competition.

As part of the coverage, we are requesting t-shirts from any attending teams who can spare one. It will be featured at least once in the video, and we can return them if necessary. Please PM me if your team can accomodate us so we can work something out.

Thanks,
Chris Marra

[Brandon Holley]

I know 125 is psyched to be back in our hometown for another great regional. Only 9 days away!

[Stillen]

TEAM 549 is kinda in a logistical nightmare with transportation. We are staying at the HYATT, and we are having a problem with transportation to and from the venue..... We only a limited amount of transportation , and want to try and minimize the trips back and fourth.... Are there any teams out there that are staying at the Hyatt that have a HUGE bus or similar??

Mike

[TD78]

Are you staying at the Hyatt in Cambridge? If so, you shouldn't need a bus at all. My team stayed there last year and it's only a 5-8 minute walk across the bridge. Keep in mind you have to cross a few streets, but if you use the sidewalks and crosswalks, you shouldnt have a problem.

[Conor Ryan]

Yeah walking from the Hyatt is a pretty nice walk over to the Venue, plan on leaving about 15 minutes before you want to be there.

Good luck to everyone going to Boston, it is always a great show they put on, this will be the first one I have missed since they brought it back (I believe MIT was home to one of the earliest FIRST competitions). Boston has been home to some of the most unique stuff I have seen at a regional, make sure you make time in your busy schedule to see the opening ceremonies and anything else they put on- everything they do is a big production! 2 years ago they had the greatest Opening Ceremony ever! I hope they top it this year!

[Stillen]

Originally Posted by RollinTDollin

Are you staying at the Hyatt in Cambridge? If so, you shouldn't need a bus at all. My team stayed there last year and it's only a 5-8 minute walk across the bridge. Keep in mind you have to cross a few streets, but if you use the sidewalks and crosswalks, you shouldnt have a problem.

Hmmm, I just banged it into my GPS, it looks to be just under a 1 mile walk, does this seem right?

[ReaperGoat]

yeah, a mile sounds right. 1735 is staying there too...a bunch of teams are!

[TD78]

Originally Posted by Stillen

Hmmm, I just banged it into my GPS, it looks to be just under a 1 mile walk, does this seem right?

yup! you can just about see the hotel across the river from the arena. its a great way to wake up in the morning on the way over to the pits, especially when its brisk out!

[Brandon Holley]

Yeah its less than a mile...not a bad walk

[Roger]

MCAS - ELA Reading Comprehension Session 3 - March 27th

Out of curiousity how is everyone handling MCAS on Thursday? I would guess there is a high percentage of schools from Massachusetts going to this regional (just guessing, y'know? ) and the 10th graders are finishing up their MCAS on Thursday morning.

At our parents meeting last night we decided to have parents drive them in after school Thursday, all 14 of them. Fortunately we have enough students for drivers on Thursday, but I'm thinking that day is going to seem rather empty.

(For those out-of-state, MCAS is a Massachusetts state-wide test given to various grades at various times of the year. And in spite of the teacher asking everybody what the schedule was and everybody assuring him everything was okay -- it wasn't.)

[KathieK]

This sort of thing happens in many states during FRC competition season. Last week the CT teams faced their mandatory state testing on Thursday and some also had SATs on Saturday which were re-scheduled from a previous date that was snowed out. You do what you can do to get the students there when they can be there.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Chris Marra

Now that we have been given official approval by the powers above (aka: Boston RPC), The Blue Alliance will be filming a special behind-the-scenes episode looking at the regional from a point of view most teams don't get to see while caught up in competition.

As part of the coverage, we are requesting t-shirts from any attending teams who can spare one. It will be featured at least once in the video, and we can return them if necessary. Please PM me if your team can accomodate us so we can work something out.

Thanks,
Chris Marra

Can you guys also film stuff about BMG being there? Their performance, interviews perhaps (ok when they aren't blue, it'd be hard otherwise), etc?

[Roger]

Originally Posted by KathieK

You do what you can do to get the students there when they can be there.

I know that. I was curious what teams were doing for this time: Skip it and take a makeup (not an option with us), get extra transportation right after the test (we didn't want to rush them), get extra transportation after school (what we did), wait until Friday to drive them in, etc. Plus how would it affect the team having a whole grade out for the day. Granted, it's a practice day, but for a lot of teams this is their first and only regional.

Too bad this regional wasn't held the weekend before (St Patricks weekend, so big a holiday in Boston the government takes the day off and calls it Evacuation Day) -- maybe it would have been the Green Man Group!

[MOE]

HELLOOooo
Well this is Bostons turn to shine. This should be a Hoot at BU hope all have a safe trip and welcome to BOSTON. See All of the Great TEAMS Soooon
Team 88 TJ2 and MOE

[BandChick]

I am sad to be missing this regional!
Good luck to a ALARM and thanks again for the wonderful time I had staying with you all last year!