Thanks for the clarification Mark. I thought there must some very strong reasons for current schedule although had no privy to the underlying reasons until explained. Btw, I had awesome time as Judge this year. Thanks for the mentoring by Sam and You. I wanted to send her a thank you note, unfortunately I could not locate her email ID! :( Purna On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 4:17 PM, Mark Allen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > All; > > The VA/DC FLL Championship Tournament happens only with the amazing > support of James Madison University and the student volunteers. The > tournament and activities are largely planned, organized, and staffed by a > leadership class in the fall semester and the success of this tournament > relies on this effort (VA/DC is simply too big not to have this level of > organization). We've discussed moving the tournament back one week but we > run into the end of the semester and final exams so this is simply not > possible. The timing constraints for moving this to a spring semester > class have been examined and it is not possible. The issues and > interferences with FRC after the first of the year have also been discussed > and would further complicate the issue. We have the gracious support of > JMU and TJ to work together in a way that every year has allowed students > to complete the TJ exams and participate in the VA/DC FLL Championship. As > reinforcement of this, every member (according to the team) of our Division > II Champion's Award winning team this year took the TJ test. This issue > has been reviewed thoroughly by the leadership of the VA/DC FLL > Organization on multiple occasions and the compromise worked out which > allows students to participate in both is still believed to be the best and > perhaps only option that allows us to continue to service the loyal FLLers > in the VA/DC region. > > Best regards, > Mark Allen > VA/DC Championship Head Judge > > -----Original Message----- > From: Nagesh Chintada <[log in to unmask]> > To: VADCFLL-L <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Mon, Dec 5, 2011 2:03 pm > Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Thank you! > > Desh > You bring up a great question about TJ exams. Your team's situation > regarding TJ Exam is unfortunately not unique. There is a high correlation > between teams that compete in FLL and team members that want to go to TJ, > both strong in S.T.E.M. > > My team members who will be in the 8th grade next year are already > turned off at the prospect of TJ exam coinciding with FLL Championships, > and they are not sure if they want to come back to FLL next year as a team > due to the extra pressure this scheduling conflict creates.This is a > dilemma many teams face and is not unique to one team, since I know some > other kids who had similar issues. > > *I would like to request VADCFLL to consider moving the competition a > week after the TJ Exams are done. I am sure this will help more DivII teams > show up and compete more fully.* > > If there are more parents interested in such a change, I could setup a > separate list for that discussion. Please send me an email directly > [log in to unmask] if that makes sense, instead of sending to > this list , to avoid spamming everyone else who may not be as interested in > the issue. > > Thank you > Nagesh > > On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 1:47 PM, Desh Deshmukh <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > >> Entire weekend was amazing, probably better atmosphere then the >> Nationals and seeing so many amazing displays. costumes and game >> performances under one roof. Congratulations to all and recording 207 score >> Team 3070, Vienna Robotics and to X-Bots for 201. >> >> While the kids were competing, there was another game (Scheduling) was >> played in the pit area to find next available time slot. Every ten minutes >> 12 table slots would fill within a second. Hopefully the Harrisonburg HS >> Key club volunteers in the Pita area do a small write-up. >> >> My team had good number of visitors drop in and asking questions to team >> and few wanted to know about our RFID (Radio Frequency Identification >> Device) sensor solution for keeping Milk Ud Safe - from the farm to table. >> Few individuals wanted to know the design specifics, which I can >> communicate privately. We are extending the project research for the Global >> Innovation award keeping Milk Cartons in the School cafeteria and homes >> safe from spoilage. Team had fun creating a RAP Milikway musical and >> sharing solution with many Safety experts including the Shenandoah Pride >> Dairy Plant (supplier of the Milk Cartons to the Schools in the Northern >> Virginia). >> >> Expect Unexpected. >> >> Few suggestions for the teams taking (TJ exam next year) and scheduling >> time session which may have caused my entire team to forfeit >> participating as we didn't reach till 2.45 PM on Saturday. If I would >> not have known Nick personally and giving him a heads-up and his >> graciousness saved our weekend. First TJ entrance exam started late at >> various NOVA centers (crowding) and second traffic was backed up for miles >> due to a car in flames on I-66 before Front Royal. Few team members from my >> team barely made on time for our first judging session. Our situationwas unique but a advise to communicate early with the tournament officials >> and plan. >> >> Start planning for 2012 challenge - "Senior Solutions" >> >> http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2012seniorsolutions >> >> Good Luck >> >> Desh Deshmukh >> Coach >> BGiRO Milkiway >> *From:* Nagesh Chintada <[log in to unmask]> >> *To:* [log in to unmask] >> *Sent:* Monday, December 5, 2011 10:06 AM >> *Subject:* [VADCFLL-L] Thank you! >> >> Team X-BOTS would like to thank the VADCFLL Championship tournament >> organizers as well as the judges, referees and all the volunteers who put >> in a tremendous effort to make the VADCFLL Championships such an awesome >> event every year. >> >> Congratulations to all the teams who competed so hard while being such >> gracious professionals. FLL has been a great learning experience for us, >> and I hope it's the same for all of the teams that come to the tournament. >> It was great to see so many teams from our schools in Northern Virginia at >> Rocky Run and Greenbriar West participate and win. Thanks to the judges for >> recognizing the amazing score of 201 in Robot Performance from team X-BOTS. >> >> Hi fives to everyone >> -- >> Nagesh Chintada >> Coach >> Team X-BOTS >> >> >> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >> leave the list". >> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to >> subscribe. >> >> >> > > > -- > Nagesh Chintada > > > ------------------------------ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > ------------------------------ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. -- Venkata P. Alla www.PurnaBlog.com AIM: purnarupa Gtalk: PurnaAlla Facebook: PurnaAlla Twitter: PurnaAlla LinkedIN: PurnaAlla -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.