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Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology

Build a robot in six weeks;               
inspire a youth for a lifetime

Volunteer Newsletter
Issue: #14-011
November/2014
Quick Links
  

 

Frontier Trails BEST Regionals

  5/6 December

Friday / Saturday
University of Arkansas Ft Smith
  
Colorado Gives Day Fundraiser

9 December

Tuesday 
 
Boosting BEST Fundraiser

26 February

Thursday 
Builder's Appliance Center 
Englewood

 
Steering Team

Carolyn Bauer-Hub Director, Game, Returnables


 

JoAnne Fry and Lori Lazuk-

Consumable Kits


 

Jose Lopez-School Interface


 

MSU Students-Protobot


 

Linda King-Volunteer Interface


 

Linda Scott-Secretary, Awards & Judging


 

Lois Walton-Budget


 

Patty Gaspar-Events


 

Scott McEwen-Venues


 

Board of Directors

 

Kathy Geise - President


 

Linda Scott - Vice President


 

Jose Lopez - Executive Director


 

Carolyn Bauer - Secretary &  Hub Director


 

Lois Walton - Treasurer


 

Tim Bouvia - Member at Large

 


 

 

 

Welcome to the November 2014 Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter.
  
We are wrapping up the 2014 Blade Runner Season. This newsletter covers the 5 teams preparing for Frontier Trails BEST Regional Championship in Fort Smith, Arkansas, recognizing our 2014 business sponsors, and our fundraising preparations for next year's 2015 season including an opportunity on 9 December to contribute on ColoradoGives Day.  
 
Please forward this newsletter to others who might be interested in Rocky Mountain (RM) BEST. 

2014 Rocky Mountain BEST Regional Teams     
Rocky Mountain BEST Teams Travel to Arkansas for Regionals


  

 

 

 

We wish the BEST to the 5 Rocky Mountain BEST Schools competing in the Frontier Trails BEST Regional Championship in Ft Smith, Arkansas on 5-6 December. Since Game Day these teams have been deeply involved in improving their robots, their Project Engineering Notebooks and their BEST Award marketing presentations and booths. Good luck to these Colorado teams:

  • Lakewood High School
  • Russell Middle School
  • St. Mary's Academy  
  • Standley Lake High School
  • STEM Academy
Robot
Standley Lake Robot





Looking ahead to 2015, please ask any schools that might be interested in participating in our 2015 competition to visit our website or contact Jose Lopez at jlopez@rockymountainbest.org.


Recognizing our 2014 Sponsors
Thanks For Your Continuing Support!

 

Generous support was provided by Builder's Appliance Center, Daniels Fund, Denver South and Thomas Jefferson High Schools, and Metropolitan State University of Denver for venues as well as 47 business partners and sponsors including these major business sponsors.
 

BEST Expands to Include More Schools in 2015

 

Recruiting Organizations to Start New BEST Hubs
 
Last year at this time we included a newsletter article about our initial efforts to expand BEST Robotics Competitions within Colorado. Our ultimate goal is to expand the number of schools competing in Colorado and establish a Colorado based Region. This new Denver based BEST Regional Competition would support multiple Colorado BEST Hubs and perhaps other state BEST Hubs. 
 
As part of the work towards this goal, earlier this year we applied for a grant from BEST BUY Foundation and are excited to announce we were awarded the grant. This BEST BUY Foundation grant provides us the ability to purchase new Returnable Kit parts to loan to new BEST Hubs in our region. Although we have limited resources through this grant, it is helping us give a boost to those considering starting a new BEST Hub.
 
We are working with several amazing groups in Colorado that are interested in bringing the BEST competition to their local communities - perhaps as early as 2015. Each new hub expands the number of teams and students from our area who can be involved in BEST! 

Front Range BEST is making great progress in establishing a new BEST hub in Douglas County. They are in the process of becoming a sanctioned hub of BEST Robotics, Inc. and expect to host 8-12 teams in the 2015 game. Many more details will be available later.

 

We will provide you updates as we continue to make progress in our goal of establishing a BEST Region in Colorado. If you are interested in helping expand BEST hubs in Colorado, please contact Scott McEwen(wmcewen@rockymountainbest.org).  

Colorado Gives Day Contribution Opportunity
Tuesday 9 December - 24 Hours to Give Where You Live

Support Rocky Mountain BEST on Colorado Gives Day! On Tuesday 9 December 2014, Coloradans will come together again to raise millions of dollars for nonprofits like ours. Last year, a remarkable $20.9 million was distributed to Colorado nonprofits. RM BEST received $3,841 in 2013 from our generous donors on this day.
  

Presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, Colorado Gives Day asks you to give to your favorite charities through the website ColoradoGives.org, an online giving resource featuring every nonprofit participating in Colorado Gives Day.      

  • 98 percent of your donation will come to us.
  • When you give online any time on December 9, the value of your donation will be increased by the $1M FirstBank Incentive Fund.
  • Donate online any time during the 24 hour period of December 9 to "give where you live!"
  • Since November 1, donors can "pre-schedule" a one-time donation for December 9, Colorado Gives Day. Visit their FAQ page for details.
We hope you consider donating to Rocky Mountain BEST at ColoradoGives.org on Tuesday 9 December.

Looking for another EASY way to support Rocky Mountain BEST? 
 
Everyone needs groceries and gas. Why not let 5% of the money you are already spending benefit Rocky Mountain BEST? It's really easy.
 
Purchase a $10 King Soopers gift card and continue to add money to your gift card before you use it to buy groceries or gas. King Soopers will donate 5% of EVERY gift card purchase -- including refills -- to Rocky Mountain BEST... all at no cost to you -- FOREVER!
 
Interested?  Contact Lois Walton at lwalton@rockymountainbest.org to make arrangements to purchase a card. Gift cards will also be available at the 26 February 2015 Boosting BEST Event.

 2015 Boosting BEST Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE! Thursday 26 February with Cooking Demo, Silent Auction, Wine Tasting, and more!
robot mascot purple-150

It will be a fun evening with hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, wine tasting, students and their robots, and a cooking demo.


 

We are starting now to solicit auction items and will send out additional details in the future. If you have items you'd like to donate for auction, please contact Lois Walton at lwalton@rockymountainbest.org.


 

You can register when you receive your personalized invitation. Bring your friends and family to let them get a taste of BEST!
 

Builder's Appliance Center (BAC) Showroom at Santa Fe and Oxford Avenue south of Hampden Avenue Englewood CO is the venue for this fun event.



Rocky Mountain BEST would not be successful without you!  We are looking forward to working with you again in 2015.
  
Sincerely,
  

Linda King

Volunteer Interface, Rocky Mountain BEST


 

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