NE FIRST

Out to New England FRC teams...


NE FIRST Things FIRST

Week of June 1, 2015

 

  

Saying Goodbye with Thanks

 

Kathie Kentfield, our FIRST Senior Mentor in Connecticut, will be completing her term at the end of June. Kathie has been a member of the FIRST community since 2001, starting as a team mentor and parent for FRC team 173 and continuing on to become the co-founder of the Non-Engineering Mentor Organization (NEMO) and the FTC affiliate partner for CT. She has been the FIRST Senior Mentor for Connecticut since 2007.

 

Kathie has been integral not only to the FIRST programs in Connecticut, but to the entire FIRST community. Her dedication to supporting mentors, recruiting teams, conducting workshops, organizing events and volunteering across all four programs serves as an inspiration to us all.

 

We will miss Kathie as Senior Mentor but hope she and her husband, Jack, will have a little more time to relax, travel and be with the grandchildren. As Dean always says, there is no exit strategy from FIRST and we look forward to continuing to work with her as a key volunteer in the region.

 

As Kathie transitions, we will be filling the Senior Mentor position in CT. The position description can be found here and interested people should contact Carol Scully at [email protected].


 

 

Slingshot Documentary Start-of-School Discount

 

Through October 31st, 2015 the license fee to show the SlingShot, the feature length documentary about FIRST founder Dean Kamen and his work to solve the world's water crisis, will be reduced to $250. This offer is available exclusively to all FIRST teams (FRC, FTC, FLL and Jr.FLL). As of November 1st, the movie will be available on Netflix.

 

SlingShot spreads the word about FIRST and promotes STEAM/STEM education and can be used as an effective fundraiser for teams either on its own or as a part of a larger event. The trailer for SlingShot can be found here.

 

If your team would like to have its own screening, please contact SlingShot's impact producer, Chloe Simmons at (323)-227-9691 or by email, or visit the website and click "Host a Screening."  

 

The original blog post for this announcement can be found here.

 

 

Join the NE FIRST Alumni Network

 

FIRST alums and soon-to-be FIRST alums can sign up for the NE FIRST Alumni Network (NEFAN) here. Joining the NEFAN gives alumni access to information about alumni-specific events and volunteer opportunities.

 

Before completing the information form, please make sure you meet the membership requirements:

  • Senior in high school or a high school graduate
  • Involved with FIRST as a student before graduating
  • Some relation to New England (currently live in, work in, attend college in, or were on a New England team when you were in school)

Alumni who have previously signed up for either the CT FIRST Alumni Network or NEFAN do not need to sign up again unless they wish to update their contact information.


 

Rhode Island Mini Maker Faire

 

The Rhode Island Mini Maker Faire is Saturday, August 8 from 1-8 p.m. at the Pell Chafee Performance Center on Empire Street in Providence.

 

Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth-a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It's a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community.

 

To showcase your projects, of those of your students, company or organization, register for a space at the event.

 

Tickets for attendees will be available soon on the Rhode Island Mini Maker Faire website.

 

If you have questions, contact Mary Johnson at [email protected].

 

 

TIMS Information Update Reminder

 

TIMS is open for 2016 season pre-registration! Your team's Main or Alternate contacts can login here to update your team's profile information. Additionally, new teams that are considering competing in 2016 can start the pre-registration process in TIMS in order to pass the Youth Protection Program screening and start receiving emails from FIRST. Students and their parents/guardians can login to their Youth Team Member Registration (STIMS) accounts, as well.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Mayhem in Merrimack

Saturday, June 6

Merrimack High School

38 McElwain Street, Merrimack, NH 03054

 

Where is Wolcott Invitational

Saturday, June 13

Wolcott High School

457 Bound Line Road, Wolcott, CT 06716

 

Touch Tomorrow

Saturday, June 13

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609

 

Beantown Blitz

Saturday, June 20

Revere High School

101 School St, Revere, MA 02151

To register, email [email protected].

 


Contact Us

 

NE FIRST Executive Director

Bruce Linton ([email protected])

 

NE FIRST Advisor

Jessica Boucher ([email protected])

 

NE FIRST Regional Directors

Connecticut - Carol Scully ([email protected])

Maine - Jamee Luce ([email protected])

Massachusetts/Rhode Island - Steve Cremer ([email protected])

New Hampshire/Vermont - Scott Heaton ([email protected])

 

NE FIRST Senior Mentors

Connecticut - Kathie Kentfield ([email protected])

Massachusetts - Dana Henry ([email protected])

 

 

Archives of NE FIRST Things FIRST are available on the NE FIRST site under "News." Submissions can be sent to [email protected].

 

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