After careful monitoring of the current weather situation, the GeorgiaFIRST leadership has made the decision to cancel the 2017 FRC Kick-off Event scheduled for this Saturday (7th) at Georgia Tech. We realize the importance of this event as a launch into the new season and are therefore disappointed right along with you. However, your safety is our number one priority. With many school systems closing early today and canceling afternoon and weekend events, our attendance would have been minimal at best.
You will be able to watch the FIRST broadcast of the 2017 kick-off and SteamWorks game announcement here:
The next issue – distribution of the kit-of-parts – will be handled as follows:
Our kits will be delivered to the Atlanta Destination Einstein location at Johnson Research and Development. The address is:
263 Decatur Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30310
A kit pick-up event only is planned for Sunday, January 8th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. We will have volunteers on hand to help with the distribution of kits and to help you load into your vehicle. To see the size of the kit-of-parts that you will pick up, please go here:
If you are unable to pick up your kit on Sunday, please let us know. We will work with you to make sure you receive your kit-of-parts in a timely manner. Contact Connie Haynes at: chaynes@gafirst.org or call 770-366-5612.
We are working to reschedule the workshops offered at the kick-off event and will let you know if this is possible.
Stay safe in this weather, watch the kick-off feed and Go FIRST!
As someone in Michigan I always find these things a little funny, but I had my perspective properly set a couple years ago. I was traveling for work and was in Sweden working with some great people over there. We were making small talk at lunch (their English was great, my Swedish is non-existent) no communication difficulties at all until I mentioned that after speaking with my kids I found out that they had a “snow-day” after getting about a foot of snow (I was even fancy enough to say about 30cm). Lots of puzzled looks at the table, some back and forth in Swedish, when they smiled and said:
Oh we had one of those in 1976, when we received 1.5meters of snow in one day, but if we shut down every time 30cm fell, we would be closed most of winter.
So it really is all about what you are accustom to, and prepared for – be safe and good luck.
It does seem a little silly to cancel based on speculation. But most schools north of Atlanta have canceled weekend events. That creates a lot of liability if you choose to travel with you team regardless of how bad the roads really are.
But just as a point of reference, Most of the snow related traffic issues in Atlanta come from northerners who “know” how to drive in snow. Any self respecting southerner is at home with his 5 loaves of bread and 2 gallons of milk. :yikes:
I was working remotely with some people in Huntsville, AL a few years ago. After not hearing from a guy for a couple of days, I got an apologetic email with a photo. There had been a snowstorm, road closures, people stayed home from work. “Look”, he said, “you can’t even see my driveway, it’s covered in snow!” There was maybe an inch of snow on the road in the photo. I laughed. I’m from Ottawa. The snowbanks at the end of my driveway right now are taller than my car.
But, I also recognize we’re a city that expects snow and prepares for it. We spend a ton of city money on plow equipment, and most people prepare themselves with snow tires, scrapers, etc. It’s a very different (and dangerous) game if you weren’t expecting it!
For all those getting snowed in this weekend - Stay safe. Set up Skype/Google Hangout/whatever to let your team communicate and watch the stream from home. It’s truly amazing how much you can accomplish (in terms of planning and initial design) remotely like this - it forces everyone to stay on point, practically eliminates side conversations that distract people. Use this time wisely and safely!
From Michigan where snow never phases anyone, and taught in Maryland where any mention of the stuff closes the state (and creates headaches for mentors), I totally understand. As I looked at the weather sites, it looks to be a legit nasty snow/ice machine. Hope everyone is able to watch kickoff online.
As someone from a smaller town in Michigan that historically has not been prompt in their snow removal efforts (though it’s been much faster in recent years), I can say that even just using All-Season tires and dropping your speed is pretty much all you need to do in the majority of cases of winter weather. It’s a bit more difficult with smaller cars and/or rear wheel drive but even unplowed/salted roads are usually still traversable as long as you’re not going up/down large hills or driving too fast.
Slow down, plan extra stopping distance, and don’t use dry-road tires. :rolleyes:
For Georgia teams, Kit pick up is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Atlanta DE Field. From the GaFirst Email
The next issue – distribution of the kit-of-parts – will be handled as follows:
Our kits will be delivered to the Atlanta Destination Einstein location at Johnson Research and Development. The address is:
263 Decatur Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30310
A kit pick-up event only is planned for Sunday, January 8th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. We will have volunteers on hand to help with the distribution of kits and to help you load into your vehicle. To see the size of the kit-of-parts that you will pick up, please go here:
If you are unable to pick up your kit on Sunday, please let us know. We will work with you to make sure you receive your kit-of-parts in a timely manner. Contact Connie Haynes at: chaynes@gafirst.org or call 770-366-5612.
Yes it is! Our school system has shut down official activities for the weekend. We are setting up a web conference to hold a strategy session Saturday afternoon. It will be a great introduction to virtual meetings for our students. I might loose a few hair follicles in the process though…
In Atlanta, pretty much if you are not going a hill, you are going down a hill. We rarely have dry snow. It is a mixture of water, sleet, snow, & ice. Even when patchy you have black ice in shady areas. Invariably on corner apexes after a stretch of dry road. Much different than dry snow pack that exists further north for most of the year. But on the plus side, we actually have a summer that lasts for more than a weekend.
Oh joy, 100 degree heat for 3+ months out of the year. :rolleyes:
In all seriousness, I hope that if anyone drives, they follow Chris’ advice. Leave extra space, slow it down, and don’t take corners like you’re in Formula One.
