Heads up - Tentative plans for FTC on Dec 18th

------   FIRST Tech Challenge Teams  ------

Friday, Dec 18th is the last day of school before Winter Break.   After students finish their last final that morning, we hope they will be ready to focus on some Robotics fun!    Details are being finalized and approval for the facility must be verified, but mark your calendars now.  

Tentative schedule
1:30 - 7:00  Robot building/programming & practice on the HotShot! field
7:00 - 9:00  Internal competition  (max of 9 teams if all have working bot)
9:00-10:00  Clean-up

We're looking into having food available to pre-order for lunch and dinner.  More details to follow.

Parents - Plan now to come watch the competition.  

RoboDragons Receive NASA FRC Growth Grant

This will be the first year for GSMST to compete in the "big bot" arena -- the FIRST Robotics Competition.  It takes serious money to compete at this level.   The students applied for and were awarded a grant from NASA.   The team will not receive the money directly.  Instead, NASA sends the money directly to FIRST to cover fees.   For a complete list of NASA grant recipients go to:
http://robotics.arc.nasa.gov/events/2010_sponsorship.php

To learn about NASA's Robotics Alliance Project go to:
http://robotics.nasa.gov/

As for GSMST Robotics, one grant is helpful but will not pay all of the bills.  Sponsorships, donations, grants and fundraisers are all needed to cover costs.  If you have an idea for a way to raise funds for our Robotics teams at any level, please contact a Booster Club officer.

CPA needed for Audit and Taxes

Parents- 

Do you know of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who would be willing to help the Robotics Booster Club do their 2009 Income Tax return and who might be able to help us perform an independent audit?   Of course we need these services to be donated or as they say pro bono.

If so, please contact:  Sam Lim     samlim@cisco.com

Fun Pasta Fundraiser - Only 2 weeks to sell!

Fun Pasta Fundraising packets were distributed to club members this week.  

Most products are only $6.50.   College shapes are available for $7.50 and some specialty sets are $11.00 each.   Make checks out to:  GSMST Robotics Club

We make a minimum of 40%.   Help your team buy needed parts and more!

Makes great holiday gifts!

Thanks to Belinda Allen for organizing this fundraiser! 
Contact her with questions:  allenfam4@bellsouth.net

IR example featured in FTC Blog

9 GSMST FTC teams are scrambling to get a working robot for Saturday's practice.  If your team hasn't solved (or even thought about) the IR target problem, you might want to check out the example (including code) in the FTC Blog.

http://firsttechchallenge.blogspot.com/

FTC Teams Practice & Competition at GSMT on 11/21

FIRST Tech Challenge teams - here is your chance to see how well you are doing so far. Report to GSMST on Saturday, November 21st to compete against each other.  The team leaders need to be there 11:00-11:30 to help set up and the other team members should be there by noon. We will be ending at 4 PM so club members need to be picked up no later than 4:20pm.  Parents, this is a good opportunity to see what FTC is all about.  

Calendar dates

I'm sure parents (and some students) are wondering about dates/locations of the Robotics competitions.   Only a few dates are known at this time.

The "Big Dance" aka the World Championships for FRC and FTC is set for April 15-17, 2010 at the Georgia Dome.  

Other FTC Events
GA Championship - Southern Polytechnic  Dates TBD
Other FRC Events
Atlanta Kickoff         Ferst Center for the Arts, GA Tech  Jan 9, 2010
Gwinnett Kickoff      Environmental&Heritage Center   Jan 9, 2010
Peachtree Regional   Gwinnett Center, Duluth        March 4-6, 2010

Robotics Students Help Elementary School students

One of the service aspects of FIRST Robotics is to have older students mentor younger students. 

Berkeley Lake Elementary School, in the Duluth Cluster, is hosting a Science Night on Tuesday, November 17th from 6:30 - 8pm.   GSMST Robotics students will be part of a Robotics demonstration aimed at getting the elementary students excited about a Robotics Club that will be starting up after Winter Break.   Other Robotics teams will be present as well, including Duluth HS and possibly Georgia Tech's Robojackets.

Some of the GSMST students are currently helping mentor the Lilburn Elementary School FIRST Lego League Robotics team.   More students would like to help, but transporation is needed on Tuesdays.   If you can help, please contact Julie Jones jaj31@bellsouth.net.

What question do you have about Robotics at GSMST?

In order to get communication flowing, please submit a question and I will try to provide a timely answer.  

Robotics Club and GSMST faculty team up for United Way

Movie Night on Friday, Oct 30th was a success.  Students got to enjoy some down time hanging out, watching movies and playing video games in the cafeteria.   Concession sales helped raise over $300 for United Way!!

What was your favorite part of Movie Night?

What could we do better next time?