Bill Blogged - Packing my Bags

2/14/2012 Bill Blogged - Packing my Bags

Good Morning Teams,

I’m tying up loose ends and packing my bags in preparation for a whirlwind trip to Hawaii.  No, this isn’t a vacation tucked in the busiest time of the FRC year.  I have the honor of being invited to speak about FIRST at the Hawaii Council of Teachers of Mathematics spring conference in Honolulu and since I’m making the trip anyways, I’m doing my best to tuck as many FRC related side trips in as I can. 

Matson Navigation generously transports the FRC game specific elements of the competition field, plus the game pieces, trophies, pins, medallions and a host of other essential components of the Hawaii Regional from California to Hawaii at their own expense every year.  I’m looking forward to visiting with them and thanking them for their contribution to the Hawaiian event.

In addition, Matson Navigation graciously stores the basic FRC competition field from year to year in one of their warehouses.  Our FTA and the field set up volunteers take very good care of it, but since it isn’t returned to HQ every summer like the other FRC fields, no one on the FRC staff has had the opportunity to examine it closely in over three years.  I’m trying to schedule a visit while I am there.

There are 36 FRC teams in Hawaii, including last year’s Chairman’s Award Winning Team, Team 359 The Hawaiian Kids.  As you know, I travel to FRC competition events every season, but I’ve never been to the Hawaii Regional so I don’t get the opportunity to hear about FIRST from the point of view of our Island teams very often.  I’m hoping to be able to talk with one or more of the teams while I am there.

I have a few other visits scheduled with potential donors and sponsors, but I won’t bore you with those plans here.  I’ll be in touch with the FIRST HQ throughout my stay on the islands and have absolute faith in the FRC staff to continue moving forward while I am away.  I’ll let you know if anything of interest pops up.

Aloha!
7 days until Stop Build Day
See you soon!