FIRST Technical Advisor. One of the hardest working people at an event when things are going badly.
I’ll be hanging out & volunteering at as many local events as I can attend, Look forward to seeing all those who are attending the NJ, NYC and SBPLI Regionals.
The Only thing I can’t figure out is 53 Teams attending the NYC Regional at Riverbank State Park. I know there were rumors going around that this particular Regional will be moved to the Javitts Center. Anyone with more information about this?
To expand on what Al said, the FTA is responsible for the field from when it comes off the truck until it’s back on the truck, for overseeing the game part of the “show” and for advising the event staff on all matters technical.
S/He directs the volunteer staff in setting up the field, makes sure the scoring system is working properly (about half the job this past year) and troubleshoots any field and scoring problems throughout the event. The FTA works with the scorers to spot and fix any scoring problems and with the IFI folks to do the same for the field/robot controls. The FTA may help the Head Ref and Robot Inspector ensure a “level playing field” and works closely with the event committee and production company to try to keep on schedule.
JVN described the job to me like this: “when things are going well you just sit back and look good, but when things go wrong you’re the one in the hot seat*”, to which I’d add “and you’re the last one out on Saturday night”.
- (actually he said something about a cyanide capsule…)
I don’t know how it will be this year, but last year at the Israeli regional they were in desperate need for volunteers. It got to the point that each team was asked to provide 2-3 students that were volunteers for the 3 days (field reset, setting up, queuing etc.) and the teams were also the ones that took apart the field after the regional. I am sure any help would be appreciated by the organizers. I would suggest speaking to Alisha Wallenstein who is the regional director (at the moment I don’t have her email.) Also, I am sure you can speak to Greg Needel or Jon Mittleman (Jon236) and they will be able to tell you about their experience with coming to the Israeli regional.
David
This person is responsible for these things:
- Field setup & debug
- Field calibration (vision values, etc.)
- Insuring that the field runs well during an event
- Managing or fixing every possible problem that a field would have during an event
- Leading the disassembly and packing of a field at the end of an event, until the crates are fully packed on the trailer
While doing these tasks, this person leads various people: setup and tear-down crews, scorekeepers, field supervisors, field reset coordinators. Last year, FIRST trained about 8 people to do this job. They are going to need more this year. If anyone is interested in being an FTA, feel free to PM me and I can forward you to the correct person at FIRST.
Andy
Correct. The event choice in VIMS will be available soon as the schedule is just now being solidified/made public. However, anyone can access or register for VIMS now to be sure all of your info is there and correct and I encourage all to do so. When the event choices become available you’ll only have one thing to do.
As for the FTA discussion, Pete and Andy are two of the best FTA’s in all of FIRST, so please take advantage and PM them with questions, etc. Even if you don’t have the time or experience necessary now, knowing what an FTA is and what an FTA does could enable you to work towards that as a goal and strengthen FIRST in future years.
(…and I’ve got dibs on Pete for Week 5 :))
Hey Andy: I think we may have stumbled onto an untapped business opportunity: enter the era of the free-agent FTA! Let the bidding begin.:rolleyes:
Pete, Andy, and all the other hard-working FTAs already know that finding and fixing problems while a few thousand impatient FIRSTers are doing the Macarena will get you plenty of respect, but it is not the easiest way to get rich as a free-agent.
Rich,
We know that Andy has a sweet music side gig (DS&K Band) he can count on, I wonder what Pete might have.
I’m assuming you’re available for the Fall Classic. Please contact “Mr. Van”. The RoboDox are actively recruiting people to help out with Announcing/Color commentary as I have mentioned earlier. Try sending a PM to him or EricRobodox, if you don’t get a response in a few days PM me and I have ways.
ChrisH
Ya got me! So let me know if you come up with something! (FYI, I can’t sing worth a darn)
I’d gladly join the emcee/announcer pool – I’ve done it a few times in off-season and absolutely love it. I hear I’m not too shabby as well 
I would like to try to volunteer at a regional or two this year.
Have to see how my vacation schedule works out though…
It looks like GLR falls on my spring break.
I would like to volunteer to do something there.
How long before the event is too late to get choice of jobs? (Do you even get a choice?)
You get to check the boxes of all the things you’d like to do, then they call or e-mail and tell you what you will be doing.
Pete,
The band is always looking for roadies but…you know the music biz, “The check’s in the mail”.
I can also help with emceeing a regional or two here on the East Coast but can also be available to travel.
2006 Monty Madness, 2005 PARC, and the 2005 Duel on the Delaware are just some of the competitons that I have emcee for.
As Kressly said, the VIMS is not set up yet to sign up for certain positions, but you can enter your information so the volunteer coordinators will know you are interested. You can then go in and add to the info when the VIMS is up and running for 2007.
If you don’t have the contact info for the volunteer coordinator assigned to the Regional you are interested in (often these links will be available through the websites for the individual regionals) , you can send an email to the Regional Director or to the Senior Mentor if there is one in your area.
(NOTE: Chesapeake Regional website is being redone so no link)
You can locate your RD here:
http://www.usfirst.org/about/regional_contacts.htm
You can find the list of Senior Mentors here:
http://www.usfirst.org/about/news/email/2006-02-24/sr_mentors.htm
Everyone has an email address at FIRST that has the first initial of first name along with last name and @usfirst.org.
If you are interested in the Chesapeake, for example, contact me at jbeatty@usfirst.org
Along with volunteers in lead positions, we need to have a lead volunteer IN TRAINING for all these positions.
I hope to be able to go help at the Bayou Regional depending on what my schedule turns out to be. I have been to/worked at/helped run many competitions in the last 7 years. I may or maynot also be able to get some grunts to come with me from lafayette to N.O. too.
The VIMS system is not set up to accept volunteers for the FVC events (nor the FLL ones if I remember correctly). Yet both programs are very much in need of assistance from FIRSTers! Our events are starting now and will run through the spring. Please check the program events pages (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/calendar.aspx?pid=16630 for FLL and www.usfirst.org/vex/events for FVC) to see the list of events near you and the event contact person.