Posted by colleen. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Other on team #246, a FIRST-aholic, from John D. O’Byrant High School and Boston University/MassPEP.
Posted on 9/21/99 9:14 AM MST
Rumor had it coming my way that FIRST said the UTC NE regional wouldn’t be at the Meadows Music Thearter because, well, it wasn’t the greatest place for viewing competiton, etc… but looking at the list that’s where it is again…
anyone know the circumstances?
Posted by Tom.
Other on team none from none sponsored by none.
Posted on 9/21/99 1:11 PM MST
In Reply to: Meadows again?? posted by colleen on 9/21/99 9:14 AM MST:
Coll,
I am not sure. I hope not. It was absolutely impossible to do strategy from those stands. I was wondering that very same thing on saturday. I hope someone knows.
bye,
Tom
Posted by Andy Grady. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #42, P.A.R.T.S, from Alvirne High School and Daniel Webster College.
Posted on 9/21/99 6:51 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Meadows again?? posted by Tom on 9/21/99 1:11 PM MST:
Upon seeing that the competition was being held at the Meadows once again this year, for the first time ever I feel like i would rather go to New Jersey or Philly for the competition. Don’t get me wrong, the meadows is a great place and all, but just not for a competition. Personally i like to view matches from above, while being relatively close. When the New England regional was in NH it was perfect, with the exception of the fact that it was crowded. Also when you were out on the field for a match, there was a real feeling of electricity that the close confines of stadium seating provided. Last year, with the larger, one sided, spread out seating i felt that the New England competition lost its edge. For instance I love to watch matches, sitting in the seats at the meadows gave a tough view of the competition. You couldn’t really see the whole field unless you were a mile away, in which case you would need binoculars. Because of this, I didn’t even realize how exiting the matches were until Rumble at the Rock, when i had the chance to view them with stadium seating. More than that I agree with Tom that strategy is gonna be hell, I plan on doing strategy for my team this year, but i believe that it is gonna be extremely difficult to do it well being so far away. Oh well, who knows, maybe we will get used to it :),
cya all,
Andy Grady, Team 42 DWC/Alvirne
Posted by Tom.
Other on team none from none sponsored by none.
Posted on 9/22/99 10:37 AM MST
In Reply to: Stadium vs. Stage seating posted by Andy Grady on 9/21/99 6:51 PM MST:
: Andy,
Did they officially announce that the new england regional was at the meadows? Or did they just say that it was in hartford? I hope that they find somewhere eles to hold it.
Tom
Posted by David Kelso. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #131, C.H.A.O.S.-, from Central High School and OSRAM SYLVANIA/ Fleet Bank.
Posted on 9/22/99 3:15 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Stadium vs. Stage seating posted by Tom on 9/22/99 10:37 AM MST:
I am sure that everyone who was at the NE Competition last year hopes that the location will be different. Anything that happened within 3 feet of the floor was not visible in the seats. I was also amazed at the poor turnout. The place seemed empty most of the weekend. Finally, I hope that if it is there, the cost of a lunch is less. Our kids could have blown a full day’s food allowance on just lunch and a snack.
: : Andy,
: Did they officially announce that the new england regional was at the meadows? Or did they just say that it was in hartford? I hope that they find somewhere eles to hold it.
: Tom
Posted by Jerry Eckert.
Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 9/22/99 8:26 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Stadium vs. Stage seating posted by David Kelso on 9/22/99 3:15 PM MST:
: Finally, I hope that if it is there, the cost of a lunch is less. Our kids could have blown a full day’s food allowance on just lunch and a snack.
Perhaps they thought they were doing us a favor?
Had all the money people couldn’t use to buy T-shirts been allowed to burn holes in thier pockets simultaneously there would have been a major catastrophe at the Meadows. By relieving us of that burden the disaster was avoided and everyone made it back home safely on Saturday night.
Posted by colleen. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Other on team #246, a FIRST-aholic, from John D. O’Byrant High School and Boston University/MassPEP.
Posted on 9/23/99 9:05 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Stadium vs. Stage seating posted by David Kelso on 9/22/99 3:15 PM MST:
i totally agree with the problems you had…watching matches was bad, doing strategy was virtually impossible unless you sat in the back, and the cost of food was outrageous…also, i understand Meadow’s has issues and rules the need to follow in terms of rules, liability, etc…but it was also a hassle that everytime to stepped out in the aisle or stopped to talk to someone, they were telling you to move…the atmosphere just wasn’t the greatest for the FIRST spirit in general…
granted we all appreciate Meadows for supplying the venue, it’s probably not a something many places are overly eager to host considering our enthusiasm, but if they are that insistent on keeping the competition in CT., maybe there’s other places?
btw… does anyone know when that new convention center in NH is going to be done? Will FIRST definitely move it back to NH when it’s complete?
colleen
Posted by Justin.
Other on team Blue Lightning Alum from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.
Posted on 9/23/99 7:45 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Stadium vs. Stage seating posted by colleen on 9/23/99 9:05 AM MST:
I think that most of the people on teams in NH will agree that a Civic Center in Manchester would be great for FIRST. Unfortently most of the poloticians in the city have failed on consider FIRST when thinking about the Civic Center. Plans I’ve heard call for it 2 seat about 6000 people. Altho there is a new plan just about every week and it is being funded differently just about as offten. Sadly I think it will be a miracle if a Civic Center ever gets built in Manchester and even more of a miracle if we ever see a FIRST comp. held there. Espeically given that Bob Baines is likely to win the Mayoral race and not only does he not support the Civic Center but he isn’t a fan of FIRST either.
-Justin
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 9/23/99 8:57 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester Civic Center posted by Justin on 9/23/99 7:45 PM MST:
I thought FIRST and Manchester were thick as thieves.
Didn’t Manchester win the Founder’s Award in 1996?
Doesn’t every high school in Manchester have a FIRST team?
I wish our city had that much support for FIRST.
Joe J.
Posted by Justin.
Other on team Blue Lightning Alum from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.
Posted on 9/24/99 9:32 AM MST
In Reply to: Manchester & FIRST posted by Joe Johnson on 9/23/99 8:57 PM MST:
Joe…if Manchester did win the founder’s award a lot has changed. Considering that West High School (my former team) will probably not have a team. Trinity High School (a private school in Manchester) probably won’t have a team, Memorial (the other Public High School) probably won’t have a team, and Derryfield (another private school in Manchester) probably won’t have a team. That would leave 1 FIRST team in the city that started it all Central High School/OSRAM Sylvaninia (sp). As far as Bob Baines he was the principal of West for the four years that I was there an now he is running for Mayor. This past year we had to fight him every step of the way to get to Rumble at the Rock and it just seemed he was going out of his way to get in the way of a program as beneficial as FIRST. Which is fine but if he hopes to get votes in Manchester I think he needs to seriously revaluate the effect that FIRST has the potential to have on Manchester’s future. I mean right now it’s like our only claim to fame as it is. Unfortunetly I think that the view that we have a lot of support for FIRST in Manchester is a bit decieving. Actually that is probably ture in one respect there is a lot of support for FIRST but very little for the FIRST teams. Granted that this doesn’t me I wouldn’t like to see a Civic Center in Manchester and the FIRST competition being held there. Hopefully this sheds some light on what FIRST is going through in Manchester…it may be biased but.
-Justin
Posted by Jerry Eckert.
Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 9/24/99 11:47 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester & FIRST posted by Justin on 9/24/99 9:32 AM MST:
: Joe…if Manchester did win the founder’s award a lot has changed. Considering that West High School (my former team) will probably not have a team. Trinity High School (a private school in Manchester) probably won’t have a team, Memorial (the other Public High School) probably won’t have a team, and Derryfield (another private school in Manchester) probably won’t have a team. That would leave 1 FIRST team in the city that started it all Central High School/OSRAM Sylvaninia (sp).
Justin, do you know what so many of the Manchester schools are considering dropping their teams?
Posted by Justin.
Other on team Blue Lightning Alum from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.
Posted on 9/24/99 2:52 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester & FIRST posted by Jerry Eckert on 9/24/99 11:47 AM MST:
Well I think it has a lot to do with the sponsors. Many of the sponsors just can’t keep the financial commitment. That and it’s teacher involvment. Central is lucky in that they have Mr. Kelso who is great. But there haven’t been any teachers interested in FIRST at Memorial for quite some time and Memorial has had problems finding a sponsor for the past few years. The teachers @ West are burnt out for the most part. That’s the situation with the public schools. I think that Trinity had some sponsor problems and I know that Derryfeild had thier sponsor back out. The other thing that I believe for the most part about all these school is that there are kids at every single one of them that would love to be involved with something like FIRST. It’s kinda of a tragedy to me that they aren’t able to.
-Justin
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 9/24/99 6:22 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester & FIRST posted by Justin on 9/24/99 2:52 PM MST:
Say it ain’t so…
I will be honest with you, my first year in FIRST (1996), I had what I can only describe as a religious experience when I first set eyes on that awesomely shiny HEXCALIBER.
The polished motors, the clever mechanisms, the ENGINEERING. It made the hair on my arms stand on end!
When I saw that machine, I for the first time ‘Got it’
Oh, I was a FIRST zealot before that, but I did not understand what it mean to make a MACHINE until that moment.
To think that PSNH & Manchester West will not field a robot in '00 breaks my heart.
To lose such an inspirational team is a loss indeed.
Tell me it is all just a bad dream. Say it isn’t so.
Joe J.
Posted by Justin.
Other on team Blue Lightning Alum from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.
Posted on 9/24/99 9:38 PM MST
In Reply to: No BLUE LIGHTENING – ZOUNDS!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 9/24/99 6:22 PM MST:
Joe - On behalf of someone who likes to pretend that he can still speak for Blue Lightning I thank you for your kind words. It is not confirmed yet if they will be back this year or not…if they are back this year it is safe 2 say it will be the last. I on the other hand will be around FIRST for as long as I can tho I am currently without a team. I must confess that Hexcalibur was my favorite robot as well and probably one of the most fun years even tho I didn’t go to nationals. Take Care.
-Justin
Posted by Anthony Lapp.
Engineer on team #221, MI Roboworks, from Michigan Technological University.
Posted on 10/1/99 9:22 PM MST
In Reply to: No BLUE LIGHTENING – ZOUNDS!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 9/24/99 6:22 PM MST:
: Say it ain’t so…
: I will be honest with you, my first year in FIRST (1996), I had what I can only describe as a religious experience when I first set eyes on that awesomely shiny HEXCALIBER.
: The polished motors, the clever mechanisms, the ENGINEERING. It made the hair on my arms stand on end!
: When I saw that machine, I for the first time ‘Got it’
: Oh, I was a FIRST zealot before that, but I did not understand what it mean to make a MACHINE until that moment.
: To think that PSNH & Manchester West will not field a robot in '00 breaks my heart.
: To lose such an inspirational team is a loss indeed.
: Tell me it is all just a bad dream. Say it isn’t so.
: Joe J.
Mr. Johnson
I totally agree with you. You probably don’t remember me, we first met at a scrimmage between delphi and 3d services. I was one of the drivers. I’ve since made my way through FIRST, starting my own team in '99 and taking fourth. I’ve been striving since '96 to recreate the magic that PSNH brought with them to that very first Manchester regional, at least very first for us!
Anthony Lapp
Posted by Justin.
Other on team Blue Lightning Alum from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.
Posted on 10/5/99 10:29 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: No BLUE LIGHTENING – ZOUNDS!!! posted by Anthony Lapp on 10/1/99 9:22 PM MST:
Anthony,
I’d like to thank you on behalf of the 1996 Blue Lightning team. I had a lot of fun that year it was my first year in FIRST. There was nothing better then the thrill of being in the stands cheering Hexcalibur on and then towards the end when the whole gym was cheering almost as one collective voice…very cool. I to an hoping to start a team…tho it may not show up for a couple of years. Thanks for your kind words towards BL and good luck with your team!!
BL Alum, FIRST A holic,
-Justin
FIRST I love this game!!! 
Posted by Tom Wible. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #131, chaos, from central high school manchester and osram-sylvania.
Posted on 9/24/99 6:33 PM MST
In Reply to: Manchester & FIRST posted by Joe Johnson on 9/23/99 8:57 PM MST:
Having spoken to some of the Manchester area teams, and to some of the engineers and technicians here at Osram-Sylvania that have done FIRST in the past, I think it is safe to say that what you are seeing is the result of burn-out. Most companies will not continue to sponsor a team after 3-4 years. Schools need to actively seek out new companies to stay alive.
Having said that, I am proud to say that C.H.A.O.S. will be back in 2000! And are we ready to ROCK!
Tom Wible
Posted by Jerry Eckert.
Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 9/23/99 10:20 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester Civic Center posted by Justin on 9/23/99 7:45 PM MST:
:. Espeically given that Bob Baines is likely to win the Mayoral race and…] he isn’t a fan of FIRST either.
How so?
Posted by colleen. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Other on team #246, a FIRST-aholic, from John D. O’Byrant High School and Boston University/MassPEP.
Posted on 9/24/99 9:06 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Manchester Civic Center posted by Jerry Eckert on 9/23/99 10:20 PM MST:
yeah…how’s that? and if it’s true…is it made a point that people in Manchester know that? It seems as if NH and esp. Manchester are overly supportive of FIRST (Manchester’s its home!!) and if they knew that guy didn’t support it, it could influence the race…
Not to get FIRST on a political level, but if FIRST lost support in Manchester who knows what would happen!
Just a thought… cause I would definitely like to see the competition return to NH as I think mostpeople would…
Posted by Fran .
Other on team #166, Team Merrimack, from Merrimack High School and Unitrode/R.S. Machines.
Posted on 9/25/99 5:55 AM MST
In Reply to: FIRST in politics… posted by colleen on 9/24/99 9:06 AM MST:
I personally feel that FIRST tests its political clout with the city…a few years ago Dean wanted a demolition permit for a mill building but said he wouldn’t be destroying anything…he seemed to just want it granted in case…there were many rounds fired on this one. Now FIRST has been in the paper a lot in support of the civic center and claims it can’t find a venue locally until it is built. I can’t believe they can’t find a place and time available somewhere in our state or how about MA…the civic center will not be done before 2001 if ground ever gets broken. The current political group seems to favor FIRST and I hope it will continue…I for 1 think the current mayor will be challenged but will remain.
Our school is 1 without support within the school except for 1 or 2 teachers…we found an outside shop who let us come in for building…we do animation at our sponsors site(Unitrode) and we always raise all but the entry fees. Sometimes I feel we are on our own but I have taken the students to Rumble and River Rage and there was also no hassles from the school…we just went on our own…no engineers either so we gave many others the opportunity to help us . The spirit of FIRST always smiles on us.
Our sponsors are always changing but if students really want the program they can find a way, you just have to beg more,
Fran
: yeah…how’s that? and if it’s true…is it made a point that people in Manchester know that? It seems as if NH and esp. Manchester are overly supportive of FIRST (Manchester’s its home!!) and if they knew that guy didn’t support it, it could influence the race…
: Not to get FIRST on a political level, but if FIRST lost support in Manchester who knows what would happen!
: Just a thought… cause I would definitely like to see the competition return to NH as I think mostpeople would…