The fall months ahead of the FIRST kickoff event always go by very quickly. Between August and December “The Green Machine” was busy:
· We ran more than 15 outreach events, robot demos, and workshops, from the Minnesota State Fair to the broadcast studios at Children’s Hospital. We also produced more than 700 SWIFT-FRC bracelets to bring to competitions, spreading Gracious Professionalism one friendship at a time.
· Mentored seven FIRST Tech Challenge teams in Edina, as well as 20 FIRST LEGO League teams. Several FTC teams moved on to the State Championship event; for FLL, we ran an end-of-season demo and showcase.
· We onboarded new members with our annual team retreat and then brought them to four off-season events to train in as pit crew, drive team and spirit squad. Each of the four tournaments – Gitchi Gummi (Duluth), the Minnesota Robotics Invitation (Roseville), the EMCC (Woodbury) and the Minne-Mini (Prior Lake) – were opportunities to problem-solve and figure out how to get the most out of the 2024 Crescendo robot. Each of these tournaments had its share of highs, lows and high-fives, but we ended our off-season as the third alliance captain at the Minne-Mini!
· We wrote more than 70 emails and sent them off to potential new sponsors. We welcomed new sponsors Home 4 You/Edina Realty and HarmonHaus. And we renewed sponsorships from companies including DuPont, Medtronic, the Margolis Family, Gene Haas Foundation, Legacy Mental Health Center, Donaldson Foundation, Dunn & Semington, and Edina High School.
· We ran two successful fundraisers, including a silent auction in December. Team members and mentors alike provided creative services and goods, such as creating an on demand video game and custom water bottles guests could bid on and attain. All of the proceeds from our fundraisers are used to offset travel costs, including bus transportation to /from events, robot transportation to/from events, meals at events, and other associated competition expenses.
Community outreach continues even during the robot-build period in January and February. We’re appearing in the Star Studio at Children’s Hospital, running a robot demonstration at the Edinborough Amphitheatre, and in late February, our new robot (nicknamed ZONE) will be on display during our annual workshop open house.
–By Aneesh A., Aahil G., Lydia F., Michael H., Marcos L-N, Evelyn T.