NYCFIRST Update #5: Registration Ends Tuesday

NYCFIRST Update #5: Registration Ends Tuesday
Sept. 29, 2008

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.

ALL UPDATES POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

The NYC/NJ FIRST web site is at http://nycnjfirst.org/

Click on the links in the sidebar if you want to read back issues of these updates.

List of registered teams (188) as of Sept. 24

http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/08/list-of-registered-teams-2008.html

Check to see if you are listed.

This Update will be short and sweet. Thanks to everyone who made the Sept. 20 kickoff go so well. The teacher presenters (Eric G. Veryl G, Maureen R and Suman S) provided so much useful info.
Links to their presentations are (or will be) available on my blog and the NYCNJFIRST web site.

Registration will close Tuesday. If you haven't registered there is still time.
Having problems in NYC with PO's? Contact Bob Woods - see info on sidebar of my blog.
You can still register and work out the payment details after. You have another week or 2 to work out payment.

Free training Oct. 11 and 18 – contact me ASAP to sign up

Free Training by Vision Education at Polytechnic U Oct. 11, 18, 25 (if necessary)
9am- 3pm

Nov. 4 at Aviation HS
8:30 – 3 pm

These are all the same training for beginners so you only have to come to one.

Option for Oct. 25: We can make this an advanced training if there are requests



Climate Connections

http://firstlegoleague.org/community/HomePage.aspx

Links are also on the sidebar of my blog.

Mission videos can be downloaded or viewed directly.


Registration- Last days
You can still register, go to http://register4fll.com/.


FLL Calendar 2008/9

* Sept. 30- last day to register for FLL
* Oct. 11, 18, 25- training dates - Polytechnic U downtown B'klyn
* Nov. 4 - Election Day- Training at Aviation HS
* Nov.-Dec. - Practice tournaments in all boroughs
(December 13, 2008- Bronx Practice Tournament - PS/MS 194 -
More will be set up in other boroughs. If you want to host one let me know.)
* Dec. 13 - Staten Island Qualifying - SI Tech
* Dec. 13 - Brooklyn Qualifying - Westinghouse HS
* Dec. 20 - Bronx Qualifying - Lehman HS
* Dec. 20 Queens Qualifying- Aviation HS
* Jan. 11 (Sunday) - Manhattan Qualifying - CCNY
* Jan. 31- Citywide at Riverbank State Park - 145 St. Manhattan
March 8, 2009 – Exhibition at Javits Convention center

Bronx schedule this season

Workshop - PS/MS 194 - October 4, 2008
Workshop - PS/MS 194 - October 18, 2008
Workshop - PS/MS 194 - November 1, 2008
Workshop - PS/MS 194 - November 15, 2008
Workshop - PS/MS 194 - December 6, 2008
Practice Tournament - PS/MS 194 - December 13, 2008
FLL Bronx Qualifier - Lehman H.S. - December 20, 2008
FLL NYC Championship - Riverbank Stadium - January 31, 2008

Workshops and practice tournament will be held at

PS/MS 194
1301 Zerega Avenue
Bronx, N.Y. 10462

From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bronx Qualifying tournament will be held at

Herbert H. Lehman H.S.
3000 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, N.Y. 11001

From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


Election Day (Nov. 4) Training at Aviation HS from Mike Koumoulos
For Queens schools, but also open to other boroughs by request.

The schedule for the November 4, Election Day, training has been updated. Over the next week or two, I will send out hard copies to you and your schools (Queens). I want to wait to get as many teams registered as possible before mailing them out, but you guys can print them now.

http://groups.google.com/group/fllqueens/web/election-day-prof-dev-schedule?hl=en
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't work.


Registration in NYC as of Sept. 24 (188)

http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/08/list-of-registered-teams-2008.html

Bronx: 39
Brooklyn: 61
Manhattan: 34
Queens: 25
Staten Island: 29


Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

--
Have a good day

Norm

Some Books of Interest to FLL'ers

FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide - An all-in-one guide to the FIRST LEGO League competition, which includes information and advice on everything from forming a team to raising funds to building and programming a winning robot.

http://www.amazon.com/FIRST-LEGO-League-Unofficial-Guide/dp/1593271859

NXT Robotics Competition Workbook - This book is a resource for new and experienced robot competition teams.

http://www.cafepress.com/thenxtstep.173374563

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build - A guide to the NXT system, including chapters describing various components of the NXT, and building and programming instructions for 8 robots, 7 of which can be built from a single retail NXT kit.

http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-MINDSTORMS-NXT-Idea-Book/dp/1593271506

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT One-Kit Wonders: Ten inventions to spark your imagination - this book contains building and programming instructions for ten different robots which can each be built from a single NXT kit.

http://www.amazon.com/Lego-Mindstorms-Idea-Book-Vol/dp/1593271883

NYCFIRST Update #4: The Game is ON – Come to our kickoff on Saturday

NYCFIRST Update #4: The Game is ON – Come to our kickoff on Saturday

Sept. 14, 2008

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.

ALL UPDATES POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

The NYC/NJ FIRST web site is at http://nycnjfirst.org/

Click on the links in the sidebar if you want to read back issues of these updates. ( I won't reveal how they end.)

Welcome back to a new school year. I hope all is going well so far. Put a little robotics in your and your kids' lives.

Have any issues about ordering, registering, organizing, the meaning of life?
Will the FLL season be interrupted by a black hole swallowing the earth?
Don't hesitate to call or email. But do so before the Hadron cyclotron creates any black holes – don't worry, they planted Kudzu to swallow any black holes that might pop up.

Make sure to attend the NYCFIRST Kickoff this Saturday (details below) where the missions will be explained and you can ask questions. If there is one event you attend, this one is it – and you can bring kids. You DO NOT have to bring any LEGO's, robots or field set-up kits.


Training - Save the Dates
Free Training by Vision Education at Polytehnic U Oct. 11, 18, 25 (if necessary)
Nov. 4 at Aviation HS (See Mike K's report below.)


List of registered teams (165) as of Sept. 14
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/08/list-of-registered-teams-2008.html
(also check list below)

Please send me an update on lead coach (es) names, school listing, etc.


Climate Connections Released on Sept. 5 for FLL and JFLL

http://firstlegoleague.org/community/HomePage.aspx
Links are also on the sidebar of my blog.

Mission videos can be downloaded or viewed directly.


Registration
You can still register, go to http://register4fll.com/.

If you registered and your team number does not appear on my list that means you did not complete the process – I only get to see teams that go through checkout. So go back and finish and also update your team profile.

Even if you don't pay, complete the registration. Order what you need and put down you are paying by PO (write TBD when asked for a number) or by check. This will reserve things for you until you pay - you have until mid-October before your team is flushed from the system, but the earlier you do so the quicker you get your stuff.

Not sure if you are listed as paid? Let me know and I'll check.
Or look down the sidebar on my blog for your team number.
(This list is not totally updated).


Registration may close early - From FIRST
With just under 1,000 slots available, FLL Climate Connections is shaping up to be the biggest season yet! Team registration is set to close when all team slots are filled at 4:00 PM (EDT) on September 30, 2008, whichever comes first. Additionally, FLL Materials (Robot Set and Field Setup Kit) must be ordered by this deadline, but are also subject to product availability.

*Keep your Team Profile Updated!*
To ensure receipt of important FLL communications, please remember to review and update your team profile prior to October 15, 2008.
Go to http://www.register4fll.com. In the "/Team Login/" fields, enter your Team ID (team number) and password. When your profile is complete, be sure to click the "/Continue/" button at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions.

If you haven't registered already, we hope you hop online (http://register4fll.com) soon and join us for the 2008 Climate Connections season! Available slots are filling in quickly.



NYCFIRST Lego League Kickoff - Sat. Sept. 20
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Brooklyn, NY
(Don't get confused – this is not at NYU in Manhattan as the 2 schools have merged)

Open to all Kids/teams welcome. Bring a camera or video

Saturday September 20, 2008
9:00 AM-1:15 PM
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Brooklyn, NY

Flyer posted at http://www.nycnjfirst.org
Flyer and map also on the blog.at http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

Agenda

9:00-9:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions
(Pfizer Auditorium)

9:30-10:00 AM: Research Assignment Presentation
(Pfizer Auditorium)
Mark Scharfeshteyn does his usual magic.

10:00-10:45 AM: JFLL Overview - Keith Wynne, Coach PS 58 K
NYC FLL structure for í08 season
Q&A - where you get to throw things (questions only please) at us.
(Pfizer Auditorium) –

11:00-12:00 PM: Tips and tricks from veteran coaches for new coaches (vets invited too) (Jacobs Academic Building [JAB] - Room 475)

Featuring:

Eric Greene, Coach IS 192Q
Organizing a team

Maureen Reilly, coach at Packer Collegiate Institute
Will talk about resources online for building ideas for the kids and organizing lessons - the flow of the season, 'Now that I have the team what do I do?"

Veryl Greene, retired middle school coach, currently robotics Specialist Manhattan OIT, with an overview of the kit & the NXT software

Suman Sabastin, Girl Scouts robotics advisor
Team management and scheduling


11:00-12:00 PM: Game Overview (Veteran Teams)
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)
Led by Richard Wong and his merry men and women.

12:15-1:15 PM: Game Overview (Rookie Teams)
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)
By popular demand, an encore performance by Richard Wong and his merry men and women.


Directions: http://www.poly.edu/directions/

Parking: You can find a spot in the street if you get there early and are willing to walk a bit. South of Atlantic Ave is easier. There is a garage at the Marriott across the street.


Bronx Kickoff
Thanks to Evan Weinberg, Bernie Dicristofalo for running the Bronx kickoff this past Saturday. I posted their agenda here:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-lego-league-robotics-bronx-kick.html


Request for coach at Packer (Brooklyn)

We are looking for a Robotics teacher to work with two high school mentors and me after school at Packer in Brooklyn Heights on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
This would be either for our FLL program or to work with beginner roboticists.
Do you know anyone who may be interested?
The pay is competitive and the after school program is also looking for a computer gaming (learning to program games) teacher and a stop-motion animation teacher.

Any leads are helpful.

Thanks,
Maureen Reilly

Contact me if interested and I'll put you in touch with Maureen.


Trevor Day School looking to donate extras
I have several RCX bricks and Lego robotics kits that we'd like to donate to any FLL participating public school needing equipment.

I have several RCX bricks and Lego robotics kits that we'd like to donate to any FLL participating public school needing equipment. Do you know the best way for me to find an interested party?

Steve Schechter

Contact me if interested and I'll put you in touch with Steve.


Election Day (Nov. 4) Training at Aviation HS from Mike Koumoulos
For Queens schools, but also open to other boroughs by request.

The schedule for the November 4, Election Day, training has been updated. Over the next week or two, I will send out hard copies to you and your schools (Queens). I want to wait to get as many teams registered as possible before mailing them out, but you guys can print them now.


http://groups.google.com/group/fllqueens/web/election-day-prof-dev-schedule?hl=en
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't work.


Registration in NYC as of Sept. 14: 165 teams

See complete list at end of this Update and at
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/08/list-of-registered-teams-2008.html

Bronx: 32
Brooklyn: 58
Manhattan: 27
Queens: 19
Staten Island: 29


Team # Institution Lead Coach(es) (Please send me updated info)

Bronx (32)
0015 PS 195X Zelma Torres-Rosado
0064 PS 195X Zelma Torres-Rosado
0109 PS/IS 123 X Chris Gooding
0210 CS 66 X Christopher Blades
0523 PS/MS 194 Cynthia Khadaran
0584 Pablo Casals MS 181x Terry Buchalter
0853 PS 121 X Kathy Bormann
0895 Bronx Latin MS Eddie Branchaud
0901 MS 101X Maritime Academy Michele Sikoryak
1172 MS 302 X Sharon Shoatz
1502 CS 102X Neysa Lewis$
1636 ESMT IS 190 X Maribeth Whitehouse
1739 Kezner Academy @IS 192 X Nicole Havel
1741 Academy of Public Relations @298 Amy Andino
1943 PS 107x Adel Assal
2266 PS 76X The Bennington School Russell Heath
2544 Globe School for Environmental Research Michael Joyce
2545 Globe School for Environmental Research Michael Joyce
2656 IS 98 X Herman Ridder Harold Smith
3236 JHS 127 X Joshua Mateo
3494 The Urban Institute of Mathematics Ryan McCabe
3553 PS 106 x Philip Hamlin
3667 MS 118 X Ralph Corvino
4345 Phipps@PS 112 After school program Matthew Miller
5413 Urban Assembly Academy of Civic EngagementX366 James Love
5729 High School of World Cultures Kathy Luke
5909 PS 103 x Jarret Jackob
5910 PS 103 x Jarret Jackob
6182 Archimedes Academy for Math, Science & Technology Justin Duffy
6184 Archimedes Academy for Math, Science & Technology Justin Duffy
6368 PS 153 x Ms. Pelzar
6388 MS 144 xMichaelangelo MS Victoria Lowe


Brooklyn (58)
0490 St. Edmund Elementary School Christine Zaremba
0639 Automotive HS Bruce Rajswasser
1462 PS 372 K Rita Fasano
1463 PS 372 K Rita Fasano
1774 Packer Collegiate Inst. Maureen Reilly
1775 Packer Collegiate Inst. Maureen Reilly
1824 PS 193 The Gil Hodges School Stacy Solomon
1825 PS 193 The Gil Hodges School Cynthia McGinty
1827 PS 193 The Gil Hodges School Carol Geier
1925 IS 318 Russ Holstein
1926 IS 318 Russ Holstein
1958 MS 113 Ronald Edmonds Learning Center Jeffrey Stephens-Prince
1978 PS 58 The Carroll School Keith Wynne
1979 PS 58 The Carroll School Keith Wynne
1980 PS 58 The Carroll School Keith Wynne
2019 PS 257k Javier Reyes
2101 PS 133 William Butler Elementary Judith Hudson
2262 PS 8 K Brandeis Hayes/Tracey Pozluszny
2263 PS 8 K Brandeis Hayes/Tracey Pozluszny
2393 PS 11K Rasheda Lyons
2490 Sunset Park Prep MS 821K Franky Gutierrez
2616 Brooklyn Tech HS Gordon Williams
2707 PS 21K Crispus Attucks School Carla Arnold
3006 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3008 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3009 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3010 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3011 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3013 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3014 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3015 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3016 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3017 Friends Crown Heights @ PS 221 Greg Dublin
3076 Benjamin Banneker Academy K Imani Fischer
3077 IS 383 K Philippa Schuyler MS Lindrick Outerbridge
3161 Bedford Academy Cluny Lavache
3447 PS 636 K Young Scholars Academy for Discovery and Danika LaCroix
3473 Arthur S. Somers Middle School Clair Vassell-Williams
3474 Arthur S. Somers Middle School Clair Vassell-Williams
3475 Arthur S. Somers Middle School Clair Vassell-Williams
3476 Arthur S. Somers Middle School Clair Vassell-Williams
3563 PS 636 K Young Scholars Academy for Discovery and Danika LaCroix
3575 PS 233K Langston Hughes Dawne Jokinsky
3738 PS 261K Jennifer Lindauer-Thompson
3951 PS 399 K Stanley Eugene Clarke Sharon Holiday
3958 MS 267K Owen Daniel
3991 MS 88 K Andy Singh,
3992 MS 88 K Andy Singh,
3993 MS 88 K Andy Singh,
3994 MS 88 K Andy Singh,
4298 KECSS - IS 468 @ Lafayette HS Jessica Gould
4429 PS 81 K Everbell Bishop/Diane Moore
4485 UFT Charter Jamie Parganos
5441 MS 50 Williamsburg Middle School Reginald Wilborn/Leonora Kumagai
5447 Packer Collegiate Inst. Maureen Reilly
5449 MS 447 K The Math & Science Exploratory School Sidney Izakson
5511 UFT Charter Jamie Parganos
5762 MS 51K James Hoffman


Manhattan (27)
0363 (No School ID) Tom Hershner
0425 Columbia Secondary School Andrew Stillman
0984 MS 44 William O Shea Complex Elvetta Harris
1355 PS 189M Theresa Luger
1730 Trevor Day School Steven Schechter
1896 Friend Seminary Timothy Cooper
1905 Manhattan School for Children Andre Martell
1907 Manhattan School for Children Tatiana Hoover
1910 MS 328 M Beth Pollak
2133 MS 324 Patria Mirabal Benjamin Leviago
3057 PS/MS 108 Angelo Del Toro Alicia Sotiropoulos
3574 MS 319M Markus Baloun
3875 Manhattan Youth @IS 289 M Stephen Husiak
4452 Vision Education & Media Laura Allen/Corbett Beder
5224 NY Presbeterian Church Myraslava Znayenko
5477 Union Settlement Association Michelle Rivera
5496 The Brearley School Annie Cheung-Livhits/Luigi Cicala
5557 Manhattan Country School Christabel Pinto
5624 The Anderson School PS 334M Diane Kirksey-Floyd
5641 PS 51 M Marilyn Buehler
5797 PS 11 M Melinda Marx – parent Nick Fier
6328 PS/MS 278 Lisa Sausner
6425 Frederick Douglass Academy Danielle Nunez
6426 Frederick Douglass Academy Danielle Nunez
6528 PS 123M Mahalia Jackson Scholars Academy John William King, Jr.
6812 East Harlem Tutorial Danny Peralta
6901 HCCI Computer Clubhouse Fred Riedel/Jeremy Silver


Queens (19)
0232 MS 67Q Ruta Dave
0260 Brics-2-Bots Veryl Greene
0275 Cambria Center Sheryl Liles
0778 MS 216Q George Ryan Peter Xanthus
0997 Forest Hills Team Iffat Mai
1215 P.S. 139Q Yvonne Shortt
1315 IS 230 Q Sonya Rencher
1720D nycfirst Dummy Norm Scott
1836 IS 119 Q Chris Dudin
2491 RMS @ I. S. 192 Eric Greene
2492 RMS @ I. S. 192 Eric Greene
2723 IS 125 Q Rudy Vera
2994 Baccalaureate School For Global Education Melissa Hinson
4764 Resurrection Ascension Janna Valente
5945 PS 85Q Bob Deming
6144 Edward Bleeker JHS 185 Primal Dhillon$
6145 Edward Bleeker JHS 185 Primal Dhillon$
6805 IS 10 Q Horace Greeley IS Pat Shubitz
7019 PS 112Q Alice Gruenberg

Staten Island (29)
0199 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell/Jane Frangos
0202 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell/Jane Frangos
0206 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell/Jane Frangos
0208 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell/Jane Frangos
1335 IS 27 SI Bryan Kilgallen
1336 IS 27 SI Bryan Kilgallen
1337 IS 27 SI Prall Bryan Kilgallen
1341 Coen Patrick Coen
1667 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro/Ann Verderber
1673 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro
1674 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro
1782 St. Clare School Mary Lee
1783 St. Clare School Mary Lee
1784 St. Clare School Mary Lee
1785 St. Clare School Mary Lee
1954 IS 75 SI Donny Swanson
1955 IS 75 SI Donny Swanson
1956 IS 75 SI Donny Swanson
2179 IS 72 SI Randi Huss
2180 IS 72 SI Randi Huss
2181 IS 72 SI Randi Huss
2380 Staten Island Tech HS Mike Siegal
2386 Staten Island Tech HS Mike Siegal
2708 PS 57 SI Patricia Lockhart
5119 IS 49 SI Carol Obler/Francesco Portelos
5120 IS 49 SI Carol Obler/Francesco Portelos
5121 IS 49 SI Carol Obler/Francesco Portelos
5721 NYC Parks & Recreation Lisa Brooks
6443 Petrides School Carlos Rodriguez


Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

--
Have a good day

Norm

NYC FIRST Lego League Kickoff - Brooklyn, Sept. 20

Saturday September 20, 2008
9:00 AM-1:15 PM
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Brooklyn, NY

http://www.nycnjfirst.org

Agenda:
9:00-9:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions
(Pfizer Auditorium)

9:30-10:00 AM: Research Assignment Presentation
(Pfizer Auditorium)

10:00-10:45 AM: JFLL Overview / NYC FLL structure for '08 season / Q&A
(Pfizer Auditorium)

11:00-12:00 PM: Rookie Workshop
(Jacobs Academic Building [JAB] - Room 475)

A workshop for new and veteran coaches/teams on tips and tricks from other veteran coaches
11:00-12:00 PM: Game Overview (Veteran Teams)
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)

12:15-1:15 PM: Game Overview (Rookie Teams)
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)

FIRST LEGO League Robotics Bronx Kick-off

Saturday September 13

Agenda:

9:30-10:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions
(Auditorium)

10:30-11:00 AM: Climate Connections Challenge Overview
(Auditorium)

11:00-11:45 AM: New Team Organization Presentation
(Cafeteria)

11:00-11:45 AM: NXT Programming
(Auditorium)

11:45-12:30 PM: Climate Connections Technology Presentation
(Cafeteria)

12:30-1:00 PM: Research Assignment Presentation
(Auditorium)

The New FLL/Jr. FLL Social Site

Greetings FLL and Jr.FLL Teams!

Welcome back from your summer vacation!

This is a very exciting time for FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) and Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL)!

The 10^th Anniversary Year Kickoff for the FLL and Jr.FLL Season starts today, September 5, and we want to invite you to check out and join in on something that is very special about FLL/Jr.FLL this year … a preview of your new Social Site at www.firstlegoleague.org.

This site was built with you in mind. Our goal for you with this site was to create a fun and inviting, global, online community for anyone involved in or interested in FIRST LEGO League and Junior FIRST LEGO League.

So go ahead…and take a look at this season’s game on the Social Site – “Climate Connections.”

You will find everything you need to know about “Climate Connections” including this year’s Challenge where you can delve into questions about our current climate and explore conditions for the future through missions including: connecting research resources, minimizing climatic influences, polar experiments, sequestering greenhouse gases, studying wildlife, preparing for climatic conditions, gathering communities of people…and so much more.

Coming in the next few weeks, you will enter the new Social Site through a global landing page where you will be able to select your country. Once you are on your own country-specific site you can go in many areas and directions –from learning about FLL and Jr.FLL programs internationally to seeing season schedules and registering a Team for the challenge. You can even create a Team Site (your own actual mini FLL/Jr.FLL Team Web site) or join in on a Forum…it is all there for you.

And we want you, your parents, and your sponsors to know that the FLL/Jr.FLL site complies with all child protection standards (COPPA) for non-profits and does not permit any advertising or solicitation on the site. Child users (14 and under) must have a parental or guardian specific permission prior to becoming a member on the site.

Once on the site, Teams will be able to upload avatars, files, and photos all while communicating with others in their own Team, in their country or with other international Teams.

For the first week the new Social Site will be dedicated to the information you need for this year’s Challenge:

• · The Challenge area – where everyone can go to understand the Challenge as it relates to a significant real-world issue, see an overview of the science behind the Challenge, access a project resource tab where you can find common terms, experts and Web resources all dedicated to this year’s Challenge and much more;

• · Jr.FLL area – where schedules, Challenge overviews, and Pre-Registration for a Jr.FLL Team Access Pass are available as well as private areas that are only available to Team Access Pass Members;

• · The Game area – where the game, its mission and the game field are explained in detail and where FLL Engineer, Scott Evans, will answer all Game Q&As;

• · The Blog area – where FLL/Jr.FLL staff and guest bloggers will interact directly with the community;

• · Meet the Experts area – where Challenge Consultants are spotlighted;

• · Awards area – where all award criteria is outlined and where you will find a Judges’ Blog with official Q&As about judging, hosted by Skip Gridley, FLL Global Judge Advisor;

Future functions of the site will include:

• · Join the Community – Join the site and be able to set up a profile and begin communicating with others in the FLL Community;

• · Team Site area – where Coaches can start a Team site and FLL members can communicate with each other as well as global Teams;

• · Forum area – where all users are encouraged to post a comment, share stories or add information to a current string;

• · Events area – where the community can post and search for events around the globe;

• · Past Challenges area – where you can look at how over 10,000 Teams have competed in years past;

· Additional areas on the resource-rich site include advice on: Community Story Submissions, Coaches, How to Start a Team, How to Apply for a Grant, How to Fundraise, How to Build a Season, as well as including an expanded Search function and an explanation of the Core Values of the program.

We invite you to come take a look at the new FLL/Jr.FLL Social Site and bookmark it at (www.firstlegoleague.org). We welcome your feedback and suggestions … please send those along using the contact us form or by emailing to fllteams@usfirst.org or jrfllteams.org.

In the meantime, here are a few Questions & Answers to help you get started as you explore the site now, and as new functionality is introduced in the coming weeks! (You will also find a complete set of Q&As on the site itself).

FLL/Jr.FLL Social Site Questions and Answers:

1. How can I join the FLL Social Site? When can I join? And is there a cost to become a member?

When this feature is activated, to join the FLL Social Site, simply go to www.firstlegoleague.org and click on the Join Now button from any page and enter your information online. While the site is open to the general public, the Team Site Area does require that your coach has an officially registered team and will use a FLL Team number to gain access. There is no cost to join. Simply go to the site and click on ‘Join Now.’

2. I am on an FLL team – can I join the site on my own or do I need my Team to join?

Coaches start the Team Site for FLL Teams. For Jr.FLL Teams Sites, a Team Access Pass purchased by an adult is required to start a site. (To gain an Access Pass simply click on the register a team a team link on the Jr.FLL Home page.). Additionally, child users (14 and under) must have a parental or guardian specific permission prior to becoming a member on the site.

3. What kinds of information can a Team, or an individual, post on the site? What will not be allowed on the site?

Teams can post photos, avatars, files, success stories, tips, advice, and ideas, add an RSS feed –just about any function you will find on most other Social Sites.

However the site will not allow advertising and parental permission is required before any photos that contain children’s faces or names can be posted on the site.

4. Does the FLL Social Site accept advertising?

No. The FLL/Jr.FLL Social Site does not accept advertising.

5. Will all future official FLL/ Jr.FLL information be posted on the Social Site? Or, on the FIRST site, or both?

All official FLL/Jr. FLL information will be posted on both the social site and the FIRST Site. In addition, important messages from FIRST will appear on Team Site pages as well.

6. How do I use the Forum?

The Forum area of the FLL Social Site is a place to collaborate and learn from the knowledge that our program participants have discovered over the years. Whether you are a rookie or a veteran, the forum is the community’s resource for sharing and learning.

7. Can a team or an individual blog on the site? And if so, are there any rules for the FLL/Jr.FLL Blog?

The site has a community blog where members of the FLL/Jr.FLL staff and guest bloggers will interact with the site members. At this time there are no individual blogs. We ask all posts, whether on our blog, or forums or Team Sites use gracious professionalism at all times. In addition, posts are moderated and the site does have a profanity filter. We hope the community will embrace FLL/Jr.FLL Core Values at all times.

8. When will I be able to see what’s happening for FLL in other countries? (France, Spain, Germany, South Africa, etc.)

Operational Partners that manage the FLL program in a specific country are working to translate all the content on the site. This will take time. Please be patient and remember Operational Partners are volunteers too!

9. Can I register for an FLL/Jr.FLL team or become a coach or a sponsor through the FLL/Jr.FLL Social Site?

Yes you can. From both the FLL and Jr.FLL program specific pages; there are links to register a team, how to start a team, and how to support a team. Site Members will also find more information in the forum section, which is also accessible from the program specific pages.

NOTE: Because many schools and organizations operate on a private network, email must first go through a firewall. If your school has a firewall in place to control communications, please contact the appropriate personnel at the school to ask that the FLL/Jr.FLL Team be allowed to access www.firstlegoleague.org and also to receive emails from usfirst.org. Alternatively, you may choose to use a personal email address to access the site.