Summer 2014

Have You Applied for our 2014-2015 Team?

We  have transitioned over to our 2014 Facebook page and 2014 email list.  If you have not applied, you may be left out of important communications.  Whether you are a student, a returning mentor, or a parent who would like to become a 2014 mentor, you need to fill out your application as soon as possible.  All applications can be found at www.bedfordrobotics.com.

Practice Schedule

 Our summer practice schedule can be found here. Please check back often, as new dates will be added.  Please double check meetings before heading to the center in case there has been any change.  Things change often in the summer.  

IRI - Indiana Robotics Invitational

ALL MONEY IS DUE Tuesday, July 8, by 8:00 PM. Outstanding money is past due, and needed immediately.  

The agenda can be found here.

Hotel and Ride list can be found here. 

Talent Show Information 

Scholarship Information - Deadline July 4

IRI Rule Changes

Silent Auction Information

Backpacks - Even if you are not going to IRI, we ask that you donate some school supplies/bookbags  that we can donate to this project.  We are required to donate one packed bookbag, but would like to donate more.  There is now a box by the admin desks to collect donations.

Be sure to bring money for food.  The hotel has a hot snack in the afternoon, and a hot breakfast.  You will be responsible for all other food.

The plan is to leave the center at 12:30 PM on Thursday afternoon.   Meet at the center by 12:15 to load.  We will head directly to the hotel, check in, unload, eat and then set up our pit.   Anticipated arrival home on Saturday will be between 10:30 and midnight.  

Practices for IRI are posted on the practice schedule.

Summer Camp

Please promote our summer camp program by posting on your wall about our summer camp.  Thanks to those that have already done so.  The link is:  www.bedfordrobotics.org/summer-camp.html

Please reserve these dates so that you can help with camp.  Camp training is necessary for group leaders.  Please be sure to attend training sessions if you would like to teach a group at camp.  We will need approximately 10 teachers each week.  Practice times are listed on the practice schedule.

School Board Recognition

I've just been notified that the school board would like to recognize the team for our 2014 accomplishments.
The board meeting is this Thursday, June 5th, at 7:00 PM in the cafeteria of Monroe Road Elementary School.  We will be taking our robot for a quick demo.

To prepare for the presentation, we will need to get our robot radio working wirelessly.  I am looking for a few people that can help load the equipment Thursday at 6:00.  Everyone else can meet at MRE at 6:45.  Please wear your BX red 2014 t-shirt, and your medals!

Week of May 26

• Thursdays:
• 5/29 No Practice
• 6/5 No Practice

 Special Meetings/Events: 

• Tuesday, May 27 - Information/Registration Night for 2014-2015 teams.  5:30 set up, 7:00 - 9:00 event.  We need BX students to run sales of t-shirts, explain programs, and demonstrate robots. 
• Tuesday, June 10 - JFLL, FLL, FTC Coach Meeting, 7:00 PM   - Any of you who are COACHING at team should plan on attending this meeting.  

Bedford Public Library Presentation

For those of you that still need a 2014 presentation, for those that want to get a 2015 presentation completed, of for those of you that would just like to participate, we will be doing a presentation at the library on July 8, 2014 at 6:00 PM for their summer reading program.     Please sign up with me if you wish to present.

Promotional materials will go out from the library with the following: We will meet at the center earlier that day to pack and prepare.  Time will be determined.  We will be taking bots from all levels.

More information to come.  

Bedford Library:

"F.I.R.S.T. Robotics -"Creating a World Where Science and Technology are Celebrated"  Presented by Bedford Public Schools Robotics Team Members &Coordinator. Come see and learn about  the cool and interesting things that are going on in our community  in the field of Robotics.

Updated May Dates

Here is what is happening this month:

• Thursdays:  7 - 9 PM - Team Meetings
• 5/22 Preparation for Information/Registration Night (8:00 - Meet with the Gandee family about making a robot mobility device for Braden) 
• 5/29 Prepare Center for summer
• 6/5 No Practice
• Special Meetings/Events: 
• Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Coach/Mentor Training/Planning Session for students wanting to coach or mentor a 2014-2015 JFLL, FLL, or FTC team.
• Tuesday, May 27 - Information/Registration Night for 2014-2015 teams.  6:00 set up, 7:00 - 9:00 event.  We need BX students to run sales of t-shirts, explain programs, and demonstrate robots.  

Relay for Life - Google Express

Below is information from Mrs. Smith about our Relay Team.  Remember family, friends and relatives are all welcome on our team.  So, grab a friend and join us for a great day of raising money for a great cause! 

Relay is from 9 AM Saturday, May 17th thru 9 AM Sunday, May 18th. Set up for Relay will be at 5pm - 6pm on Friday, May 16th. The theme this year is Birthday Luau! It is the 10th year Bedford has done a Relay for Life event. Everyone is welcomed to participate in this event! If you haven't already signed up for the event, you can do so here: Google Express team page

Students that will be staying between the hours of 11pm-7am will need to turn in a permission form signed by a parent which can be found here.  Adults are considered 25 or over for this event.  Students staying over night must commit to walking and/or working the booth, and not just hanging out.  

We will need 1 chaperone 25 years or over per 5 students. To sign up to be a chaperone please add your name to the list at this link: This link also gives information of other areas we need assistance with or items we are still looking for to help this event run smoothly.

 To do list

Walking laps or working the booth have been split into half hour segments with the exception of the Team lap which will be at 4pm - 5pm.  For the team lap, we would ask all team members available to walk this lap with us.  We switch to our BX shirts for this lap.  It is a fun full team leap.  If you would like to sign up for a specific time, you can do so here:  Lap / Booth sign up sheet

Bedford Relay is trying to bring a little more fun to the event this year by having activities available for relayers to participate in. Bedford Express has volunteered to help out with a few of these. All materials will be provided, they just need assistance in running the activity. If you would like to join the fun by assisting in running one of these, you can sign up here:  Relay activity sheet

If there are any questions, please contact me atssmithmich@yahoo.com or Cheryl Sommers at casommers@bex.net
Thank you!
Sandy Smith

2014 Banquet

Our banquet will be held Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM.

Parents, family and friends are welcome to attend.

For our banquet, we offer a dessert bar.  We ask that each senior family bring one 2L of pop, and each other family bring 1 dessert to share.  Plasticwear, napkins, and plates will be provided.

A digital invitation that you can send to your family & friends is available here.

Team members should dress semi-casual.  It is requested that you wear something more formal than jeans and your team t-shirt.  If you have questions about what to wear, please speak with a veteran team member.