FIRST Robotics Volunteers for Bedford Tournaments!

Bedford Express currently hosts Tournaments at 3 different levels, JFLL (K - 3rd grade), FTC (6th - 8th grade) and FRC (high school).   These tournaments are volunteer driven, so we need you! :)   If you would like to volunteer at any of our tournaments here is how to sign up!

JFLL (K - 3rd grade):  Saturday, December 14, 2013  (7 AM - Noon)

• Volunteers are needed to help sign in and escort teams around.  A description of volunteer positions can be found HERE!
• Sign up as if you were volunteering for the FTC event (see below) and in the notes, please put that you would like to work the JFLL event.  

FTC (Middle School):  Friday, December 13, 2013 - Saturday, December 14, 2013

• Friday 3:00 PM - 10 PM
• Saturday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM 
• If you would like to help in our concession stand, you do not need to register in VIMS.  Concession workers should contact our concession chairs, Broderick Gin or Tanya Brothers, or sign up HERE.  
• Positions Available range from crowd control to inspections, to judging and everything in between.  Most positions require no knowledge of robotics.   Some positions do require video training.  
• A more detailed description of positions, and the training required can be found HERE. 
• Judges and inspectors cannot have any affiliation with any team competing at the event.
• Register in VIMS (Volunteer Information Management System) Tutorial
• Create an account, OR Log in to your account HERE.  
• If you just created an account, you will need to create your profile, log out, then return to the page and log in again to move to the next step. 
• Click on the "Apply for an Event" link.
• Select FTC - FIRST Tech Challenge
• Select Michigan in the drop down bar.
• Click "Find an Event" 
• Click "Select" for the MI FTC Bedford Express Qualifier
• Add up to 5 jobs you are interested in, in the order of interest, by clicking the "add" button after clicking on the job.  
• Check mark the days you are available to help.
• Type anything you want to let us know. 
• Click submit!  You are done!!! :)

FRC (High School)  April 3, 2014 - April 5, 2014

• Wednesday Set-up helpers are needed from 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM.  
• Thursday 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• Friday 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Saturday 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• If you would like to help in our concession stand, you do not need to register in VIMS.  Concession workers should contact our concession chairs, Broderick Gin or Tanya Brothers, or sign up here(coming soon).  
• A description of volunteer positions may be found HERE!
• Register in VIMS (Volunteer Information Management System)  Tutorial
• Create an account, OR Log in to your account HERE.  
• If you just created an account, you will need to create your profile, log out, then return to the page and log in again to move to the next step. 
• Click on the "Apply for an Event" link.
• Select FRC - FIRST Robotics Competition
• Select Michigan in the drop down bar.
• Click "Find an Event" 
• Click "Select" for the MI FRC Bedford District
• Add up to 5 jobs you are interested in, in the order of interest, by clicking the "add" button after clicking on the job.  
• Check mark the days you are available to help.
• Type anything you want to let us know. 
• Click submit!  You are done!!! :)
• Follow the same directions above for the FTC, however select FRC - FIRST RObotics Competition instead of FTC.  

If you have questions about volunteering, please contact event coordinator, Debbie May, or Volunteer Coordinator, Sandy Smith.  

Week of November 11, 2013

Week of November 11, 2013

Please try to check the blog on Thursday in case there are any travel updates.  

Practices:  

• Thursday:  7 - 9 pm 
• Competition Practices for Girls Drive Team and Pit Crew: 
• Monday 6:30 - 9:00 PM
• Tuesday 6:30 - 9:00 PM
• Wednesday 6:30 - 9:00 PM 

• ANYONE is welcome at ANY practice!  There has been some question about whether rookies can attend Saturday practices.  Yes, you can!  (BUT, there is no Sat. practice this week due to comp.)
• FLL/FTC Mentors still needed!!  We are moving into crunch time for our younger robotics friends.  if you have some free time, stop by the robotics center and help out with their skit, presentations, robot, or tri-boards. Their coaches would be very appreciative of it.   

Tournament Information:

• Rides (Meet at the front of BJHS at 3:00)
• May:  Taylor, Stacee & Dianna  
• Poskarbiewicz:  Erin & Courtney  
• Howell:  Kira, Kelsie, Emily & Allison
• Dobson:  Abby & Olivia
• Hotel:  
• Drury Inn, Troy
• Bring Swimsuit if you want to swim
• "Happy Hour" snacks will be at the hotel (wings, etc) 
•  We plan to check in and relax in the hotel for a little bit before we go over to the event. 
• Hot Breakfast included
• Wi-Fi included
• Competition:
• Bloomfield Hills High School,  3456 Lahser Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
• Competition Information can be found here.  Results will be posted there as well.
• Opening Ceremony 8:45 AM
• Bring money for dinner on Friday (depending on how much the snacks fill you up), Lunch on Saturday and Dinner on Saturday.   
• Friday Night Goal (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM):  Check climb on tournament pyramids, set up pit.  Wear BX shirt.
• Saturday Competition T-shirts will be provided to those who have been at competition practices.  You will get your shirt at the hotel. They will be black and pink.  Plan your bottom half accordingly. :)
• Pits Close 5:30 PM
• Dinner stop and then home.  
• FOLLOW US ON TWITTER for results!  :)   https://twitter.com/bedfordexpress
• WE NEED YOU!!!!! If you are a member of BX, you should be making every possible attempt to be at this competition on Saturday.  If you cannot be there the entire day, be there when you can.  This is a team event, and we would love to see all 52 of you there on Saturday!   We would love for you all to join us for dinner after the event!  Let's kick our 2014 competition season off on a great foot!
• Upcoming Events:
• We are hosting our FTC and JFLL events on Friday and Saturday, December 13 - 14.  We are in great need for volunteers to help with this event.  If you would like to volunteer, please email Sandy Smith at ssmithmich@gmail.com for more information.   Also, we need ALL BX team members working at the event.  It is a team function and we are planning on you all.  If you cannot be there, you need to let me know asap.