**FIRST EMAIL**/Senior Mentor Teleconference Call February 5 - 2009 Robot Inspection

[Mark McLeod]

Greetings Teams:

Mark your Calendars! The FIRST Senior Mentors are pleased to announce they will be hosting a post-Kickoff Teleconference call for FRC Team mentors and coaches this Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 7 pm EST. This call will feature FIRST Head Robot Inspector Russ Beavis and his presentation of:

2009 Top 10 Robot Inspection Issues

10) Why do we inspect?

9) How do we inspect? (“The Checklist”)

8) How do we train the inspectors?

7) The new control system; the role of the inspectors (also the FRC Diagnostic Window app)

6) Rover Wheels and other “traction-free” ground contact devices

5) Size and Weight checks, what you need to know this year…

4) Electrical safety & ESD

3) Sharp edges

2) Pneumatics

AND… The Number 1 Issue:
1) BUMPERS, bumpers, and bumpers


The call is hosted by FIRST Senior Mentor Jessica Jankowitsch, Pittsburgh, PA (December’s “FIRST Unsung Hero” on Chief Delphi).

All FRC team mentors and coaches are welcome. The call in number is 1-800-503-2899. The Access number is 6663906.

You may find it helpful to download the 2009 Inspection Checklist and Inspection BOM Template for reference on this call. These documents will be available on the FIRST web site shortly at: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=452. Please look in Section 8 (The Robot) of the 2009 Manual.

We will have 150 lines available, so lines are on a "first come, first served" basis. We suggest calling in approximately 5 minutes before the teleconference is scheduled start. This call will also be recorded and be made available for replay at: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc....aspx?id=10124 .

When you have accessed the conference call line, please put your phone on "mute". Press " * 6 " to mute your phone so that your background noises and chatter will not be heard throughout the call. Whenever you wish to speak, press " * 7 " to un-mute your line.

If your phone has a separate "mute" key, you may press that key to mute your microphone element at all times, except when you wish to speak.

The FIRST Senior Mentor Hotline provides an opportunity for teams, coaches, and mentors to direct questions and/or to request other assistance from FIRST Senior Mentors. All correspondence and inquiries for the Senior Mentors should be addressed to FIRSTseniormentors@usfirst.org .

Please join us on Thursday!

Again, all team coaches & mentors are welcome, especially those working with rookie teams.

Go Teams!

The FIRST Senior Mentors