If you are into technology, and have an engineering degree, this is an opportunity to see

the best and brightest of the next generation in action.

(I'm not eligible, as I'm a Mentor to one of the competing teams!)

Jonathan David

-----------------------------------------------------------------

from Elise Englehart: SVEC (Silicon Valley Engineering Council).

Hello all! I'm writing to ask for your help.

I'm working on getting together the approximately 100 volunteers we need

to put on the FIRST Robotics Competition for high school kids which is

coming up March 17-20. We need a lot of volunteers of all ages and

talents (both technical and non-technical) to run the competition. We

cannot hold the competitions without our volunteers! I need to get the

volunteers in place ASAP so we are ready. If you think you may be able

to help - whether just any one or all days (or even only online) -

please sign up now! I *really* need more volunteers, especially in

these positions. Weekdays are hardest to find people.

** Field Assembly - Wednesday afternoon

** Safety Advisors - Thurs thru Sat

** Field Repair/Reset - Thurs thru Sat

** Crowd Control - Friday and Saturday especially

** Robot Inspectors - Thursday <---- technical people needed

Please sign up online if you have some time to help and tell your

friends. It's lots of fun! Also, the competition is open to spectators

so tell your friends to come and watch! It's at San Jose State

University Event Center. Sign up to volunteer at:

https://my.usfirst.org/vims/

PLEASE NOTE: Make ***SURE*** you select the "Silicon Valley Regional" on

the Volunteer Preferences page, otherwise I won't be able to see you in

the system! Forward this to anyone interested- whatever their background

(college students, retired, anyone who can help!). Volunteers must be

at least 13 years of age.

Training will be supplied by FIRST either at the time of the event, by

conference call, or on-line. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each

day.

Volunteers will receive a **complimentary FIRST T-shirt** to be worn

on-site at all times when they are volunteering, and can worn with

casual wear such as blue jeans or khakis and comfortable closed toe

shoes. The volunteer T-shirts will be available on-site when you first

arrive to work the event.

Hope to see you there!

Elise Engelhardt

engelhardte@asme.org

408-360-0669

What is the FIRST Robotics Competition?

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind

designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting

and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be. The FIRST

Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors

to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit

of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts

and enter them in competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie

Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals. FIRST

redefines winning for these students because they are rewarded for

excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism

and maturity, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Scoring the most

points is a secondary goal. Winning means building partnerships that

last.

This competition is the largest high school event of its kind developing

critical skills in science and technology in a super-charged learning

atmosphere. FIRST competitions (all ages) involve 57,200 teachers,

mentors and engineers. The FIRST Robotics competition for high school

age has with 45,000 students and over 1800 teams across the country

competing in regional competitions.

Students work with engineer mentors to design, build and test a robot

developed as a solution to a competition problem provided by FIRST. The

robots compete in an area requiring the teams to strategize and build

offensive and defensive capabilities into their design. Students acquire

skills such as problem solving, project management, critical thinking

and teamwork: skills necessary to their future and the future of

society.

Again - if you think you may be able to volunteer for the FIRST Robotics

Competition, please sign up right away in FIRST's Volunteer Information

and Matching System (VIMS). To access VIMS go to

https://my.usfirst.org/vims/ PLEASE NOTE: Make *SURE* you select the

"Silicon Valley Regional" on the Volunteer Preferences page, otherwise I

won't be able to see you in the system! If you are a new volunteer,

click on the red star to the lower left which says "Sign me up!" Proceed

as directed. (If you experience problems registering or have additional

questions, please contact volunteer@usfirst.org ) You will then receive

a follow up from me and a confirmation email from FIRST. You may also

contact me directly at engelhardte@asme.org or call me at 408-360-0669

Please pass this email along to anyone you think may be interested in

volunteering. It is an exciting, fast-moving, rewarding event. One you

will remember for a lifetime!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

¶ Permanent Link to This Post 1:43 PM