Desh brings up an interesting point about connecting with another community and I wanted to let you all know about an opportunity that is coming up shortly.  A bit of background, first...

What many people may not be aware of is the fact that Andrew and I are temporarily living in Wales for his new job (no worries, we'll be returning by the end of the year to Richmond...I'm missing fall in Virginia already!).  If you notice emails from me at odd times or it takes me longer than you (and I!) would like to respond to questions and requests - it is tough for me to get to email sometimes - you now know why.  Anyhow, while we are here I have taken the opportunity to get in touch with the FLL partner for the United Kingdom and we have agreed to set up a "twinning" program whereby any teams in Virginia and DC who would like to connect with teams in the UK will have the opportunity to do so (so long as there are enough interested teams in the UK, that is).  More details will be coming shortly, so keep an eye on this list and on the Web site for details.

Cheers,
Brittany

--
Brittany Rose
Virginia/DC FIRST LEGO League
www.vadcfll.org

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Gajanan Deshmukh <[log in to unmask]>
> Hello Will and Phill,
> 
> Wonderful to see you both sharing your ideas. Keep doing it. Hopefully I will 
> see you both at Richmond this Saturday.
> 
> All,
> 
> Please re-read Phase 1 of the project "Research". There are two steps (1) 
> Research a CLIMATE related problem how it affects your own community (ex. 
> School), analyze and solutions then (2) CONNECT with another community (probably 
> School) somewhere in the World with the same issue and IDENTIFY any solutions 
> they are working on.  Relate this two community solutions and share.
> 
> It would be wonderful experience for all teams to reach out outside USA and 
> research in this topic and find solutions (Innovative part could be as simple as 
> small Skit) and share within your won community (ex:  School).  I believe this 
> are ethos of this years Challenge "Climate Connection", rather then pondering on 
> "Global Warming".  It will be wonderful to see how this youngsters come up with 
> their solutions. Encourage your members solutions they work on would be a 
> wonderful educational journey. 
> 
> Desh Deshmukh
> Rookie Team 4115 
> Girls in Robotics (GiRo's) 
> Former Coach NXTRocks
> 
>  
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Barry Wilbanks <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 10:41:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Project Dilemma
> 
> The point regarding the challenge specifically NOT about global warming or 
> climate change was made by FLL officials when the challenge was "unveiled" to 
> the partners.  The statement was made in order to head off the exact discussions 
> that are occuring now.
> 
> I tried to be clear earlier with the "NOT" part of the statement in my email but 
> was apparently unsuccessful.
> 
> Using a broad analogy, doing the global warming thing this year would be similar 
> to doing a presentation about the Universe during the Mission to Mars challenge.  
> Interesting perhaps, but not on topic and therefore subject to markdown from a 
> judging perspective.
> 
> I have every faith that teams who read what is there will be able to figure this 
> out and produce remarkable results if they really focus.
> 
> After all, it's called a Challenge, not a gimme...  : >
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Barry
> 
> --- On Mon, 9/22/08, Phil Smith III <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > From: Phil Smith III <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Project Dilemma
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 10:45 AM
> > I read Barry's statement to say it doesn't *need* to
> > be about Global Warming, not that it *cannot* be. If that
> > helps.
> > --
> > Phil Smith III
> > Virginia State Judge Advisor, 2007
> > Judge Advisor, Northern Virginia Regional tournaments, 2006
> > Division 1 Judge Advisor, Virginia State tournament, 2006
> > 
> > Coach, The Capital Girls, Oak Hill (retired)
> > Team 1900 (2002)
> > Team 2497 (2003)
> > Team 2355 (2004)
> > Team 1945 (2005) 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: First Lego League Discussion
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael
> > Blanpied
> > Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 10:20 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Project Dilemma
> > 
> > At 6:47 PM -0700 9/21/08, Barry Wilbanks wrote:
> > >This type question was raised at the FLL Partner
> > conference in SC 
> > >where they introduced the challenge.
> > >
> > >It was specifically stated NOT be be oriented toward
> > global warming 
> > >or climate change.
> > 
> > Barry,
> > 
> > Who was the source of this "specific statement"
> > warning teams away 
> > from climate change? That would seem most bizarre to me, if
> > it came 
> > from an official source. Climate change is a huge issue,
> > one that 
> > kids should be aware of, and part of what makes this
> > year's climate 
> > theme so compelling. While I see no requirement that the
> > project be 
> > about climate change, it very well could be, and I expect
> > that many 
> > team projects will be. After all, the instructions say,
> > "Research how 
> > climate affects your own community.  Identify a climate
> > problem in 
> > your area...," and changing climate is a key problem
> > for many 
> > communities, and one for which innovative solutions are
> > needed.
> > 
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit
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> > 
> > If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to
> > which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed -
> > visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html
> > and select "Join or leave the list".
> 
> 
>       
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit 
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> 
> If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL 
> administrative announcements will be distributed - visit 
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> the list".
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit 
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the 
> list".
> 
> If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL 
> administrative announcements will be distributed - visit 
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or leave 
> the list".
> 
> 
> 
> 



______________________________________________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".