Volume 2021 -01| January 2021
Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter

Thanks to ALL our volunteers for making our first 11 years possible!
We are looking forward to working with you again in 2021!
2021 Season Preparations
Planned & Coming Soon
An early look at the season:

WHAT IS PLANNED:
  • Game in development at 3 levels: Traditional, Classroom, or Online.
  • We hope to offer a Classroom competition with teams building a physical robot.
  • Summer Teacher / Mentor Institute Training - 13-15 July
WHAT IS COMING SOON:
  • 2021 Game
  • Fall Competition Schedule
  • Denver BEST Regional Championship
HAVE A FEW EXTRA HOURS?
HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE - FROM HOME - RIGHT NOW!
BOARD OF DIRECTIORS POSITIONS
  • We are looking for 2 enthusiastic RM BEST advocates to join 5 other board members to help us fulfill and advance our mission.
  • Fellow board members will help you find the best ways to use your talents and abilities towards our goals.
  • Especially helpful if you have contacts to expand our community connections and fundraising opportunities.
  • You can support from home. Monthly meetings are currently held online. To learn more about these 2 two-year term positions, please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org. 
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING
  • Love to post on Facebook and Twitter? We have the position for you! Using our accounts, we need help posting information a few times a month about all the great things happening with RM BEST.
FUNDRAISING
It takes a lot of funds to cover our costs to have a free competition at both the local level and the Regional Championship level. Here are MORE ways you can help from home.
  1. AUCTION: Willing to contact companies or your favorite store or restaurant to see if they might be willing to donate a gift card or product for our June auction? Downsizing or just cleaning out and have an item that might be perfect for our auction? Please contact Lois.Walton@bestinc.org to learn more.
  2. GRANTS: Know a company or foundation that might want to hear about how they can help provide our inspiring STEM program free to schools?  Enjoy writing or have experience writing proposals or grant requests? Please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org to learn more.
Boosting BEST Fundraiser

ONLINE Auction 1-6 June
Please Mark your Calendar
with possible in person event on Sunday 6 June
You are invited to share with us the passion of introducing students to pursuits related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Your participation helps us bring our yearly robotics competition to over 600 middle and high school students - at no cost to schools.   

Look for more information in future Volunteer Newsletters including how to sponsor a student or a team.
2020 Competition Results
Check Out How OUR Teams Compared to Other 2020 Teams

All 2020 BEST hub team results and results for BEST Regional Championship are available on the BEST Leaderboard at the button link.
Since our 2020 hub competition was online without a Denver BEST Regional Championship, our teams do not have Head to Head nor Robot Performance nor Championship results.
Here are our teams' available results under the associated tab:

HUB RESULTS
  1. BEST Award
  2. Skills Award
NATIONAL RANKINGS (HUB TYPE)
  1. BEST Award by component
  2. Skills Award by component
WOW! 2020 DENVER BEST Simulink Design Award Winner

The BEST Simulink Design Award is presented to one team from each BEST Regional that best applies the Simulink Support Package for VEX .

As part of this award, each team submits a 3- minute video.

The Denver BEST Region Winner: DuBois Area High School (Penn State Dubois BEST Hub) submitted the impressive video at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSoG7cAuvfU or click video window.
DuBois Area High School 2020 Simulink Video
THANK YOU! Colorado Gives Day +
Our THANKS to ALL those who donated!
We received a deposit of over $10,000 from donations on Colorado Gives Day plus other generous December donations.

Many of our donors added to their donation by checking a box that allowed them to pay for the fee. 

THANK YOU ALL for helping us bring BEST Robotics to Colorado Schools!
FUN 2020 Colorado Gives Day FACTS
  • 82,988 people donated during Colorado Gives Day;
  • The top three categories by amount raised were: 1) Human Services: $11,317,131 2) Education: $7,185,493 3) Arts, Culture and Humanities: $5,214,631;
  • There were 64,460 donations of $50 or less, totaling $1,811,699..
Additional 2020 Donation Thanks

  • AMAZON SMILE FOUNDATION: $176 (Logon to Smile.Amazon.com and choose Rocky Mountain BEST as your charity)

  • DONATE YOUR VEHICLE (arc Thrift Stores): $700

  • BENEVITY: $494

  • KROGER (King Soopers/City Market): $531 (If you used to refill a King Soopers gift cards for us and now need help setting up your savings card, please email lois.walton@bestinc.org. Lois would be glad to talk you through the quick process!)

  • ReFUND COLORADO: $71

Additional details below on how to donate in 2021.
2021 Outreach Plans
From Energy Day Website in celebration of Engineers Week - February 10, 2020.
Engineers Week
Most kids love to get creative with play and build things, whether the medium is Lego, clay, or even a computer program. Whether they know it or not, all of those skills can be applied to the world of engineering!
10. You can use your creativity every day
9. Many opportunities to travel the world
8. High salaries for life
7.You can have a huge impact on the world
6. Your job is always in high demand
5. Hands-on, fun work
4.Work in different departments
3. You won’t get bored
2. Respect
1. See your work in every day use!
Other Ways to Contribute
Colorado State Tax ReFUND Donation Option
If you get a state income tax refund in 2021, you again have an opportunity to donate some or all of it to support our ongoing work with Colorado schools.
This continuing program puts you in charge of where your donation goes. It’s as simple as 1,2,3:
  1. Decide how much of your refund to donate.
  2. Enter Rocky Mountain BEST and our registration number 20123026982 in the Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund line on your state income tax return or tax software – or just give this info to your tax preparer when you share your tax documents.
  3. Smile knowing you’ve helped a cause that matters to you!
You can learn more program details at this program FAQ link.
Other Ways to Participate by Donating
Colorado Gives Donations 
You can donate ANYTIME at Rocky Mountain BEST at ColoradoGives.org.
Benevity
If your company has gift matching through Benevity, Rocky Mountain BEST is one of the eligible non-profit organizations. Please check with your company about gift matching!
King Soopers/City Market
Thanks to the 15 households who are using their King Soopers / City Market savings cards to donate to Rocky Mountain BEST.
If you used to refill a King Soopers gift cards for us and now need help setting up your savings card, please email lois.walton@bestinc.org. Lois would be glad to talk you through the quick process!
Amazon Smile
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Rocky Mountain BEST whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Amazon Smile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
Wondering what to do with your used car or truck? 
Donating your old vehicle or boat to ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST is convenient, easy, and may qualify you for a tax deduction. And best of all, your donation of a used car or truck will make a big difference in supporting ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST.
Why not donate your vehicle today? All you need to do is to complete our SIMPLE ONLINE FORM or call 1-866-628-2277 and we'll take care of the rest. We will pick up your vehicle, arrange to have your donation towed, and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt, all at no charge to you.
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Build a robot in six weeks;
inspire a youth for a lifetime
Don't miss out making it possible!