11/30 Meeting

Today was more of a party than a meeting! We began with some announcements. We talked about the new team shirt; we actually planning on having actual mechanic shirts. We then had some ice cream and we enjoyed ourselves. I then went with Movellan and a MPLab guy to work on programming. The programming did not work because we were trying to find a reliable workstation. We chose Rupert's room and installed teh MPLab IDE on his comp.

This meeting was a testament to our sucess as a team so far. So far, we have mangaged to hold together an enormous event with the only complaint being loud music. This definitely goes to show the strenghts of teamwork, cliche yes but very true indeed. In terms of programming, I feel good that we are tackling our problems now instead of waiting later. jnoraky

11/16 Meeting

This meeting like all the other meetings so far was a Lego day because the competition is coming up this Saturday. In the beginning, Rose and I spoke to Mr. Movellan and a guy from MPLAB on starting programming early this year. We talked about what we are going to learn, our problems, and our goals. We all decided that we need to start earlier so that we can be more efficient later during the competiton. Afterwards, I mentored a bit for the remainder of the time.

I learned that even though the season has not started, we really have to start the workshops we planned. Next year, all of our veterans will be gone, and we have really big shoes to fill if we do not start now. For programming, we really have to find some prospective programmers because next year, I will be the only programmer around because Rose is a senior. As for lego, I am getting a little nervous for the kids. The group that I am mentoring, Quantum Mechanics, is constantly arguing. Hopefully they can pull themselves together on time for the competition. jnoraky

11/9 General Meeting

Today was another Lego day. We started the club with a group picture because our club received our first grant payment of $2000 from Fisher and Richardson, a law firm. We then listened to some announcements about Lego and community service. After that, we broke up into the highschool club and the FLL club. I stayed and help mentor the NXT kids for FLL.

I am extremely excited to hear that we have received our first grant money. We will need as much of it as possible because the cost for a regional tournament alone is 6000 dollars. As for the Lego competition, its all up to the kids now. I think as a mentor I have taught them all that I know, and with little less than a week to go, they have to apply what they learned. Sadly I cannot touch nor program their bot. :( jnoraky.

11/2 Meeting

Today was primarily a Lego day like the past previous meetings. We started the club with some general announcements, and the high school members moved to another room. I stayed behind to mentor the middle school students for the FLL competition. Today, I focused on helping the kids write some programs, and make some mechanical adjustments to the drive train of their robots.

I am getting somewhat nervous as the students are not realizing that they have only two weeks left to complete their robot. Most teams have only finished one task and stopping, which is completely ludicrous. But in the end, I am happy to help the middle school students despite the frustrations. In terms of preparing for the competition itself, I hear it is coming along, which is good news. jnoraky