2012 Texas Robot Roundup

[Meredith Novak]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Our team isn't as competitive as many of our neighbors on the playing field - we're getting there though. But the kids are still inspired, they still go on to postsecondary ed in STEM fields, they keep in touch and spread the mission of FIRST - that's better than a full trophy case.

Why assume a full trophy case and spreading the message of FIRST (mentoring rookies) are mutually exclusive? Team 16 supported 6 rookies this season and earned 5 banners - I am equally proud of both.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

Why assume a full trophy case and spreading the message of FIRST (mentoring rookies) are mutually exclusive? Team 16 supported 6 rookies this season and earned 5 banners - I am equally proud of both.

Of course they are not exclusive; much like this year's game, balance is essential.

[2789_B_Garcia]

In talking about FRC teams, I once heard a wise man named Andy say that you can't judge a team unless you understand what it's goals are. In my few years in FRC, I'm glad to see that teams with different goals can still come together in this community and share a greater sense of connectedness. I know my team is humbled by the amount of work chairman's award-winning teams (yes, we do scout teams based solely on awards) put into helping other teams, and while my team helps out other teams when asked, I feel like we as a team are focused on getting our own house in order before we feel confident enough to take other teams under our wing. While that may sound self-serving, it is rooted in the belief that our team still has much to learn and accomplish before we will feel capable of being able to help other teams on a deep and meaningful scale.

Our team has traveled to three out-of-state events over the past few years. We have learned a great deal about the greater FRC community, and made connections with teams that run the gamut of any scale you could put on calibre of program. This coming year we plan on going to all of the Texas regionals so that we can participate more in the local community, and so that we can deepen relationships with friends we've made on other teams from here in Texas. It is my hope that in doing so, 2789 will continue to grow strong enough to someday be able to help other teams, rookies, rebuilding teams, or otherwise. Last year, the TRR was a great growing experience for us, and we are definitely looking forward to this year's roundup!

I would also like to point out that teams like 148, 118, 1477 and 16 mentor and inspire 2789 without even knowing it by not making it easy for us to beat them. :-)

[Andy Baker]

I like ice cream. If I walk into an ice cream store, I will choose one of my favorites to go into my waffle cone (or a cup, if I feel like it). Then, I may put a topping on it or I may not.

Each time someone else goes into the ice cream store with me, they never order the same thing I did. How can this be? I like ice cream, and so do they, but they don't like the same flavors! Aaaaah!

Also, there are times when the folks who run this ice cream store don't have the flavors I like. Can you believe that?!!! Although this really frustrates me, I get over this treachery and I still order something. After all, it is ice cream. I like ice cream.

Andy

[Paul Copioli]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

I like ice cream. If I walk into an ice cream store, I will choose one of my favorites to go into my waffle cone (or a cup, if I feel like it). Then, I may put a topping on it or I may not.

Each time someone else goes into the ice cream store with me, they never order the same thing I did. How can this be? I like ice cream, and so do they, but they don't like the same flavors! Aaaaah!

Also, there are times when the folks who run this ice cream store don't have the flavors I like. Can you believe that?!!! Although this really frustrates me, I get over this treachery and I still order something. After all, it is ice cream. I like ice cream.

Andy

Andy Baker is my hero. I like ice cream too; mint chocolate chip to be exact.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

I like ice cream. If I walk into an ice cream store, I will choose one of my favorites to go into my waffle cone (or a cup, if I feel like it). Then, I may put a topping on it or I may not.

Each time someone else goes into the ice cream store with me, they never order the same thing I did. How can this be? I like ice cream, and so do they, but they don't like the same flavors! Aaaaah!

Also, there are times when the folks who run this ice cream store don't have the flavors I like. Can you believe that?!!! Although this really frustrates me, I get over this treachery and I still order something. After all, it is ice cream. I like ice cream.

Andy

Hi Andy!
I like ice cream too. I also like certain flavors more than others. Sometimes I like one flavor, other times I like other flavors. There are types of ice cream I really don't like (yes, not all ice cream appeals to me).

So the cool thing is, I'm part of this super-special ice cream club. A bunch of me and my ice cream liking friends get together and share our perspectives and opinions on ice cream. The result is, we work together to make BETTER ice cream!

Now, even after our club talks about it, sometimes there are flavors of ice cream I don't like. I don't eat these, and I just let the ice cream maker know I'm disappointed they don't have my flavor of ice cream. Sometimes the ice cream maker takes my feedback, sometimes they don't -- but at least they get to hear how I feel about the ice cream.

It is tough to make good ice cream without feedback from the ice cream community.

Ice cream is an iterative process.

-John

[jessjank.]

List of Registered Teams can now be found HERE




(I really like ice cream... yum. Darn you guys are making me hungry...)

[Michael Blake]

Originally Posted by jessjank.

List of Registered Teams can now be found HERE

Jess, what's the team count cap this year? Last year I believe it was 32?

THANKS!

[jessjank.]

Originally Posted by Michael Blake

Jess, what's the team count cap this year? Last year I believe it was 32?

THANKS!

The cap is set at 40 for veteran team registration; we are reserving an additional 2 slots for pre-rookies that are in the works. 26 teams have completed registration. I have received expressed interest from more teams than spots still left.

We are currently in the Early Registration period until May 25th. Regular Registration closes officially on June 29th, after which the event committee may accept additional teams on a wait list.

Last year the cap was set at 30 teams. 29 teams registered. Two backed out before the event due to circumstances out of their control, two were no-shows.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by JVN

...Ice cream is an iterative process.
-John

I feel like this should be on tshirts.

[Taylor]

When I'm eating ice cream with loved ones, one of my favorite things to do is to trade and share. Somewhere is a photograph that I think exemplifies summer. It's an empty bowl with about a half dozen spoons in it.

[kramarczyk]

What I don't get are the folks that keep pushing on the door to the ice cream shop when the door is clearly labeled, "PULL".

[lynca]

I had no idea so many people like Ice Cream on CD.

Maybe those people should start an ice cream thread

In the meantime, can we channel this discussion back to TRR ?

[waialua359]

Good luck to all the teams at this event.
I wish we could go, but the robot shipping logistics nightmare is just too much to worry about.
We intend to just do IRI the week before as we try to find possible alternatives to not having the same shipping company handle our robot just for that event.

[Pjohn1959]

You will be missed. But I think you need to keep a little sanity. Traveling back and forth over 5 time zones have got to wear a person down.