A newsletter for FIRST Chesapeake volunteers

November 2020

In this issue... FTC Volunteer Open House Events Updated on the Website Power of Volunteering Volunteer Spotlight Season T-shirt FIRST Families Notes from the Field

FTC Volunteer Open House Come learn about the different volunteer roles for the 2020-21 FIRST Tech Challenge Season. Join us for a virtual open house on December 12th, 10am- 11am.  Space is limited! Reserve your space here. All registered attendees will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a limited edition volunteer t-shirt (winner to be announced during the workshop).

Events are now listed on our website along with volunteer opportunities In response to current safety guidelines, FIRST Chesapeake will be hosting hybrid events in D.C., Maryland and Virginia this season. What is a hybrid event? Hybrid events are part remote event (Judging) and part traditional (in-person matches). In order to keep the in-person part of events under 50 people, teams are divided into cohorts (consisting of 8 teams each). There are new and exciting opportunities to be a part of the season listed in the volunteer roles. To see a full listing of events, visit our Events page HERE.

Did you know volunteering can make you more attractive? It's true. Read about the study HERE

COVID-19 update- How we are keeping you safe at events Masks and safety glasses are required by all in attendance and everyone must pass a screening questionnaire before entering. There is also a new role; the Health and Safety Volunteer who will be helping monitor the event for compliance with safety regulations and actively wiping down surfaces. We also invested in a commercial fogger to sanitize in between cohorts. You can read the full COVID 19 safety manual here

Role: Commentator Ever wonder what it would be like to TV Commentator? Now is your chance. With events being streamed this year, this is a new opportunity to shine! Read more about the role on our volunteer page.

"This was so much fun!" Pat Mead, commentator for the October 24th Scrimmage

Our Connection is Strong Season Shirt Let's stay connected! FIRST Chesapeake's volunteers selected a special season shirt that will be given to this year's volunteers (remote and on-site), but it is available to everyone! We are glad to mail a shirt to you for a $20 donation. Proceeds help support FIRST Chesapeake programs. Get your shirt today with this LINK. Supplies are limited.

FIRST Families will be a recurring feature in FIRST Chesapeake in which we highlight the contributions and accomplishments of multiple members of the same family. Do you know a FIRST Family that should be featured? Let us know. The Marchand Family In our second installment of FIRST Families, we’re travelling all the way to southwest Virginia to meet the Marchand family. You might not recognize members of the Marchand family if you saw them without their signature panda hats, part of their commitment to branding FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 4924 The Tuxedo Pandas for the eight years that the team was mentored by Franky Marchand. The Pandas’ pit was always recognizable at competitions, with a stuffed panda in a hammock on a zipline above the workspace. As Chloe Marchand described it…“There were pandas everywhere.” Read more

During this month of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for this amazing community of volunteers! The upcoming 2020-21 season will be unlike any other season we have experienced before. The FIRST community has always been made up of extraordinary problem solvers, and this year they really showed their worth. A small team made up of alumni, volunteers, and staff worked tirelessly to create a hybrid event strategy including virtual audiences and the simultaneous streaming of up to three events at one time. The health and safety of our teams and volunteers remains our top priority, and we have taken steps to ensure everyone's well-being at our events. While our on-site volunteer roles are limited, there are many new roles that are remote. Please take a moment to read about them and find the perfect one for you! If you are unable to volunteer this season, please know we understand and hope to see you in when it is safe to be together again! --Sarah Gagnon Assistant Director Volunteer and Community Engagement

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