Bill's Blog

[Rosiebotboss]

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/

Good Afternoon Teams,

Believe it or not, life at HQ is busy during the off season. I apologize for neglecting to blog last week and for blogging late this week, but I want to assure you, it’s not for lack of activity here in Manchester.

The GDC met on site this past weekend. Conceptually the 2012 game is a lock and the 2012 Game Manual is 90% complete (and on track to be shorter than previous years). Now, in addition to following up on the 2011 season and making all the repairs/changes/upgrades that were pushed off until after Championship, the staff can get started on all the logistical and administrative tasks that go into turning a game concept into a successful competition. We need to finalize the designs, order game pieces, prepare fields, redesign field road cases, update the field management system, schedule events and chase down all the hundreds of other details that go into hosting a successful season. Meanwhile, the GDC needs to finalize the scoring and turn our attention to the 2013 game.

You’d think the GDC would want rest on our laurels for a moment having designed a game in record time, but we are still far from our goal of getting a season ahead. The GDC has monthly onsite meetings scheduled through the fall and will be holding conference calls at least weekly in order to get everything done. One of the many reasons I enjoy working with this team has to do with the game selection process that Linda did a good job of describing in her guest blog. As a group we tweek game ideas that didn’t make it in prior years and we modify game ideas that evolved during game development but were left behind in the final cut, while at the same time members propose radical new game ideas. In the end we often take a piece from each of these categories to construct something completely different .

So, what else is happening at HQ this week?
• FIRST as a whole is reviewing and updating our strategic plan. We’re trying to define the ultimate goals of the organization, describe what success looks like, and map out the steps necessary to get there in 5 – 10 years. This is not as easy as it sounds.
• FRC is developing a Qualification Event Structure based on what we learned during District Event pilot. We’re currently in negotiations with RDs and Regional Planning Committees from areas that are interested in participating. I’ll let you know the minute we have dates and venues locked in.
• Kate, Collin, Carla and assorted staff members are preparing for the annual Supplier’s Summit and Dean’s List Summit which will include dinner at Dean’s house this August.
• IT is completely redesigning the Volunteer Information Management System (VIMS) and making upgrades to TIMS and STIMS in preparation for FRC registration this fall.
• The engineering staff is developing the 2012 control system which will incorporate the new 4-slot FRC cRIO II. They’re going to need Beta Test teams again this year. Watch this space, I’ll let you know the second they’re ready to take applications.
• We’ve reviewed the initial applications submitted by candidates for the new FRC Engineer position and we’re initiating the interview process. If you are interested in (and qualified for) the position and haven’t yet submitted an application, consider this last call.
191 days until the 2012 kickoff
See you then!