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Hi team, parents, and friends of CRUSH.<br>
<br>
Attached email (and link to Q&A pdf file) describes a new
competition structure being piloted in Michigan. The main feature is
more competitions in a single state with lower registration fees,
allowing more schools to compete in more competitions within a limited
budget. It is a model that conforms more closely to typical high school
varsity sports. The proof is in the pudding as they say, and I'm
looking forward to see how it goes. More competition for less money
would be cool. <br>
<br>
In other news, we're about to be back at school and start a new year of
FRC - I hope you're all as excited about that as I am, and will help me
recruit some great new members for our team. In addition we'll have an
FTC team this year. FTC is what was formerly called FVC - FIRST Vex
Challenge - now FIRST Tech Challenge since they no longer use the VEX
kit. The main difference is smaller simpler kit with a simpler
challenge, and smaller scale competitions. This team will be fore 8th
and 9th grade students, and we'll help mentor that team. The new 8th
grade Physical Science teacher, Mr. Hobbins, will be the main coach for
the team. The FTC competition is in the fall, so minimal interference
to the FRC schedule. This is way cool - we need a FIRST opportunity for
younger SSA students that fits between FLL and FRC, and this is it.
Students we get on the FRC team in the future will have a much better
start than rookie FRC members have had in the past. <br>
<br>
More news in coming weeks. Hope you have all had a great summer, and
see you at school soon!<br>
<br>
Bill Bennett<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>**FIRST EMAIL**/FIRST Pilots New Event Competition Structure
in Michigan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>FRC Teams <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:frcteams@usfirst.org"><frcteams@usfirst.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<br>
<br>
Greetings Teams:<br>
<br>
There are some exciting developments for <i>FIRST </i>in the state of
Michigan this summer and we wanted to share these with you.<br>
<br>
First, we are pleased to announce that, in cooperation with the
volunteer leadership of <i>FIRST </i>in the state of Michigan, a new
pilot district event model will be launched for the 2009 <i>FIRST </i>Robotics
Competition (FRC) season to provide increased robotics competitions and
reach more students statewide in Michigan. <br>
<br>
For over 18 years, the <i>FIRST </i>Robotic Competition (FRC) has
changed the perception of thousands of high school students in the U.S.
about engineering career opportunities. It is the only varsity sport in
every state that holds the promise of great jobs down the road to all
participants. In Michigan alone, about one in three high schools have
adopted the program with the help of volunteer mentors. And, FRC
alumni make up 20 percent of the current student body at Kettering
University’s School of Engineering in Flint. <br>
<br>
The establishment of this new Michigan model follows a study undertaken
by the <i>FIRST </i>volunteer leadership in 2008 to follow the
district models used by other youth sports programs that allow teams to
play more and closer to home, thereby reducing the need for costly
travel. A pilot district event was conducted at Kettering University in
Michigan in 2008 and proved successful in potentially scaling the
infrastructure, establishing relationships with new local schools,
increasing the number of local mentors and volunteers, as well as
increasing local sponsorships for events in the state.<br>
<br>
Next, the volunteer leadership in Michigan has launched its own
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in the state, which will be known
as ‘<i>FIRST</i> in Michigan’, to implement and execute the new
district event pilot model as well as other <i>FIRST </i>programs. <i>FIRST
</i>in Michigan will be responsible for implementing FRC programs in
the state to make the most effective use of local resources and create
more opportunities in robotics for new students by allowing more
playing time for teams with lower entry fees while enabling sponsors to
receive statewide recognition. <br>
<br>
<i>FIRST </i>teams in Michigan currently number 118 FRC teams with
approximately 150 high schools involved and 310 <i>FIRST </i>LEGO<span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""></span></span><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""></span></span>
League (FLL) teams with over 3,000 students competing. <br>
<br>
Francois Castaing, a member of the <i>FIRST </i>Board of Directors,
will lead <i>FIRST </i>in Michigan. As one of the early proponents
for <i>FIRST </i>initiatives in Michigan, Francois is working with a
group of dedicated volunteers in the state who have been diligently
working towards this transition and are committed to a smooth and
seamless process for the teams.<br>
<br>
The new event model will offer the same high quality <i>FIRST </i>experience
for all students in the state of Michigan and will subdivide the state
into 16 districts to leverage local action plans for growth and make
robotics events accessible and closer to home.<br>
<br>
In 2009, <i>FIRST </i>in Michigan will include 16 districts: Western
Upper Peninsula, Eastern Upper Peninsula, Lake Huron North, Lake Huron
Central, Grand Traverse, West Michigan, Saginaw Bay, Greater Genesee,
Macomb County, Oakland County, Detroit, Western Wayne, Washtenaw
County, Greater Lansing, Greater Monroe, and Southwest Michigan.<br>
<br>
For more information regarding the FRC Pilot District Event Model in
Michigan, please visit this link to<b> </b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Media_Center/FRC_Assets/2008/FINAL_FAQ_MIRestructuring.pdf">General
Questions and Answers</a>. <br>
<br>
If you have additional questions...<b><br>
<br>
Michigan FRC Teams, please contact:</b><br>
Gail Alpert – <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gail.alpert@gmail.com">gail.alpert@gmail.com</a><br>
Or<br>
Pam Williamson – <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:paw2@Chrylser.com">paw2@Chrylser.com</a><br>
<br>
<b>All other FRC Teams, please contact:</b> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:frcteams@usfirst.org">frcteams@usfirst.org</a><br>
<br>
<i>Go Teams!<br>
<br>
</i>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
<i>FIRST </i>Robotics Competition
(p) 1-800-871-8326 x 0
(f) 603-666-3907
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:frcteams@usfirst.org">frcteams@usfirst.org</a>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.usfirst.org">www.usfirst.org</a>
^
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