FTCNJ Tuesday Newsday - June 28 2022 ... (Sent via Google Group)
Vince Frascella
Greetings Newsletter Subscribers and FTCNJ Coaches
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Otherwise, the newsletter will coming out on Tuesdays (typically)
Remember that the updates are shown in blue bold text.
If you are a weekly reader, you can just quickly scan the BLUE to see what is NEW.
The black text is included for completeness sake and for our new readers.
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Quick Links:
Looking forward to the resumption in September.
Team Leader Caucus … (On Hiatus)
Looking forward to the resumption in September.
OFF-SEASON ACTIVITIES
In-Person Workshops
Kean University has confirmed that FTCNJ may hold the Workshop there again this year … on August 20th.
As discussed at the Coach Caucus and covered in the Survey, the 2nd Workshop will be held after the Sept 10th Kick-Off.
The date of the second In-Person Workshop has been set to September 24th. The location is TBD.
Pre-registration Information has been sent to all Coaches (of record) of the Freight Frenzy (last) season.
Collecting responses on Aug 20th and Sept 24th interest.
Also collecting input on level of interest in the eight proposed tracks.
If you are a FTCNJ coach who has not yet responded, please do so soon, or reach out to us asap.
Remote Workshops
Nearly 70% of our responding teams expressed an interest in Remote Workshops …with about ½ willing to contribute/present, if needed.
Of the non-hands-on topics, Fundraising and Outreach Planning were the most popular, followed closely by Team Organization/Communication.
Programming and OnShape also ranked very high, but those topics may be more effectively addressed at the in-person Workshops.
It has been decided to conduct these remote offerings in Sept/Oct when more teams have organized and more members are available.
This approach will help us to focus on the July Outreaches and August In-Person Workshops now.
FTCNJ-Driven Outreaches
In addition to Team-driven Outreaches, it is desirable to have events targeted at certain specific geographic areas of NJ.
Here are the dates/locations of the three Outreaches:
Sunday, July 17th Central NJ Outreach Highland Park Home of the Highland Park Owls
Saturday, July 23rd Northern NJ Outreach Randolph Home of Cruise Control
Sunday, July 24th Southern NJ Outreach Egg Harbor Twp Home of the Enforcers/Re-Enforcers
FTCNJ is reaching out to all rookie teams and to coaches who have started the new team registration process.
We are also interested in other “leads”. Is your team involved in helping a new team start? Starting a sister team?
These Outreach orient new folks to FTC … AND provide some game play experience via tailored “Freight Frenzy”
We know that many teams hold these events during the year and more frequently in the off-season.
There is interest in helping publicize and support these Outreaches, when FTCNJ resources may be available.
A successful Outreach, inspiring more teams helps our community grow. Please share any Outreach news.
Technical Volunteers
Those who were with us last year know that FTCNJ was short-handed on technical volunteers, particularly in the south.
The FTCNJ Committee is considering two initiatives to address this situation.
Adult “Team FTA” Volunteers
Under consideration is a training program to develop more FTA talent within teams.
This will help teams to be more self-sufficient if the shortage of FTA’s cannot be resolved.
Student “FTA Assistant” Volunteers
Under consideration is a training program to develop more FTA Assistant volunteers within the teams.
The goal is to develop a cadre of Student FTA Assistants to assist our FTA volunteers.
We are reaching out to the respondents in the coming week. If you are interested in participating, please advise.
Season Plan – Updated Conferences
Following our latest reminder, we now have intent-to-register feedback from the majority of our coaches.
Once again there will be 4 Leagues in FTCNJ with each comprised of 2 Conferences of 20-25 teams, organized by county.
Three NJ counties now have enough teams to be their own Conference and two of them actually spill over.
As you can see, even though Essex and Bergen spill over, all teams in those counties are in the same League.
The Conference/League update takes into account travel time and should really improve that situation for many.
Remember, all teams in a League may compete at any Meet within that League, regardless of Conference.
Only in February’s League Tournaments must teams play only at their Conferences season-ending tournament.
FTC NJ League / Conference Structure ß This information, team count, and map will be posted on the FTCNJ website this coming week.
North East Edge League
· North East Conference: Hudson, Union, North Essex (Caldwell, Livingston, Montclair, Nutley)
· South Essex Conference: Bloomfield, Maplewood, Newark, South Orange, West Orange)
Northern League
· Far North Conference: Warren, Sussex, Passaic, West Bergen (Glen Rock, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Township of Washington)
· East Bergen Conference: (Cliffside Park, Cresskill, Demarest, East Rutherford, Emerson, Englewood, Hackensack, Lodi, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Rutherford, Tenafly)
Upper Central League
· Central Conference: Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex
· Morris County Conference: Morris (All)
Southern League
· Upper South Conference: Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean
· Deep South Conference: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem
POWER Plan Season Team Registration OPEN
Nine teams are already listed for NJ.
11 of the 19 are fully registered; while eight more are pending.
10 of the 11 are returning teams … and 1 fully registered rookie, already!
Hoping to see more folks registering soon, as their situation permits.
FTCNJ is anticipating a return to in-person Kick-Off Events this year.
Livingston High School has confirmed as the site for the Northern NJ Kick-Off event on September 10th !
Per usual, the morning will include a helpful FTCNJ Orientation Program, as well as a number of breakout sessions.
The Game Reveal will be at noon, followed by Q&A, and a chance to view the physical field (and receive game element construction tips.)
A Southern NJ Kick-Off is also being planned. Our Southern host is in the final stages of sign-off by their administration.
State Championship – March 12, 2023
The FTC New Jersey State Championship will be held on Sunday, March 12th
That is one week later than the Freight Frenzy Season and will allow us to insert a snow-day weekend (which wasn’t possible last year).
In-Person Judging is anticipated at the State Championship, as well as at League Tournaments.
It is also our goal to have “Practice Judging” at four of the Period #3 Meets; one for each League.
League Tournaments
All eight of the Conference/League Tournaments will take place in February 2023.
Sunday, Feb 5th is the Northeast Conference League Tournament is at Bayonne HS
Saturday, Feb 11th is the new proposed date for the Far North Conference League Tournament at Glen Rock HS.
Saturday, Feb 18th is nearing approval for the South Essex Conference League Tournament at Payne Tech, Newark.
Sunday, Feb 25th is confirmed for the Deep South Conference League Tournament at North Burlington Middle School.
Other events pending.
Meets
Don Bosco Prep HS has confirmed as site of a Northern League Meet on Saturday, November 5th.
Liberty Science Center confirmed as site of a Northern League Meet on Saturday, January 7th.
Blair Academy has just confirmed as site of a Northern League Meet on Sunday, January 22nd.
FTCNJ is again planning six Meet choices per League (3 Saturdays, 3 Sunday). Teams can pick three plus apply for bonus Meets.
Event registration opens on the Monday after Kick Off (e.g., Sept 12th at Noon)
STEM GIRLS: Tech Talks
No additional Tech Talks are planned for during the off-season, however topic ideas are very much welcome.
We look forward to Tech Talks resuming in the Fall, as well as other remote training sessions.
For any girls interested, it’s never too late to join the STEM Girls community!
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfca5j11yjtAW6OJmRzbbwKyrSOrt8a5tty9SojZkwYLJLvCw/viewform
NY Opportunity: FIRST Tech Challenge Coach Position
FTCNJ has been approached by Edgemont Team #11205 and asked to pass along this information.
Edgemont Robotics based in Scarsdale, NY is looking for a coach to guide the team during the 2022-2023 academic year.
FTC experience required. Evening/weekend hours possible. This is a paid position.
Please email vish...@gmail.com or text 1-917-833-8715 for further information (7/30)
Members Seeking Team
FTCNJ has been contacted by the coach of a Bridgewater FLL Team.
The coach reports that a few of their members are aging out of FLL and would like to join an FTC team.
Are there any teams out there in the Bridgewater area that are interested and able to take on such new members?
FLL experience is always a nice plus when bringing on new people.
If your team can help, please respond back to vfras...@aol.com
Our next newsletter will be on July 3rd.
If you have any questions, comments, or needs as you read this newsletter, simply write back and we’ll be happy to assist.
Making that comment here, rather than embedding it throughout the long newsletter above.
Thanks again for the interest in FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey and being part of our community
Thanks much, Vince Frascella
FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey