**FIRST EMAIL**/ Homework - FIRST & Time Warner Cable Partnership

FIRST General Forum
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Hello FIRST Teams, Mentors, Coaches, Volunteers, Sponsors, and the entire FIRST Community….

I have an unscheduled, urgent homework assignment that will help us spread the word about FIRST and our mission in a new and exciting way.

This month, Time Warner Cable (TWC) will launch a new partnership with FIRST. We need to make sure the launch is successful, specifically, the launch of TWC’s new web site, connectamillionminds.com, which celebrates youth participation in science and technology. I’m asking you – through your incredible participation on the site - to let the executives and employees of TWC know that partnering with FIRST is the best decision they ever made. That’s right, The Best. Ever.

Here’s more on what I’m asking you to do and why.

What is the FIRST / Time Warner Cable Partnership?
It’s a partnership that will put FIRST teams and events on TV and on the Web. TWC is investing $100 million (cash and in-kind) over 5 years in STEM. (No, not all of it in FIRST).

What is “Connect A Million Minds”?
It’s the name and the goal of TWC’s program - to connect a million kids to STEM. It’s also the name of the TWC web site – connectamillionminds.com - where you can take the pledge to introduce young people to STEM programs – like FIRST – and inspire others to do the same.

Why is this web site launch important?
TWC is going to promote this web site like crazy. By giving FIRST a priority presence on the site (we are the one and only group invited to participate BEFORE the site launches!), your photos and pledges can be the first thing visitors see!

What I’m asking you to do:

  1. Visit www.connectamillionminds.com. As a beta user, you will have exclusive access to the site with this case-sensitive username (RobotZ) and password (Rule)
  2. Take the Pledge – commit to introduce one…ten…a hundred youth! to FIRST and STEM opportunities
  3. Upload – post an inspiring FIRST photo and a few words about how you connected young people to STEM programs
  4. Send us your feedback. E-mail your comments and suggestions for the Connect a Million Minds site to TWC.Camm@twcable.com
    Show TWC that FIRST is the best partner they’ve ever had!

When I’m Asking You To Do It:
FIRST will have special access to the beta site from 11/2 – 11/8, so you need to take the pledge and upload your content by November 8th. The official site launches to the public a few days later.
I look forward to seeing your content and hearing the reactions of TWC executives to the energy and commitment of the FIRST community. Thank you for all you do for FIRST.

Dean Kamen

FIRST™ (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: (603) 666-3906 Fax: (603) 666-3907

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I’m in.

And I already discovered an FTC team in Colton, CA that I didn’t know existed. Cool.

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This is awesome !!!

I have one thing to request. All of you that attended the ‘FIRSTsteps’ conference last April at the Championship may remember the discussion on iGoogle and cPalms. About how we need a national igoogle gadget that pushes ‘relevant’ event data to users. This is starting to get a lot closer.

We need to nicely ask TWC to provide a gadget that pushes customizable data to users.

For example if every teacher had the gadget on the desktop then it can push competition events, science competition, professional development and other opportunities to the teacher on a geographically relevant basis. Sort of how the The Weather Channel gadget give you your local weather data. The query is basically there. Just need the gadget.

This is a pleasant surprise.
.

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  1. I was able to login/register using Internet Explorer (Firefox would not load the site)

  2. I took the pledge, but I’m not sure how to introduce those people to the science/tech opportunities thorugh their website. I could not find the connect people button. (anybody else have success with this ? )

  3. I will send my feedback to the TWC contact

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I tried to log in but the message was the Beta is closed :confused:

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Same here.

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PSA posted on the FIRST website
http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=16049

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