Here Ye, Here Ye...the First Robotics Kickoff for the 2014 season will be

broadcasted via the NASA TV channel this coming Saturday starting at 8am.

The Nederland Pirates (team 1584) will be setting our sails for our 10th

year in this competition. Each year, we learn something new. The challenge

is always exciting and thrilling, with many different ways to tackle all

the difficulties encountered. To watch the kickoff please go to

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/kickoff to get to the NASA TV

broadcast on your computer or tablet at home.

FIRST is an international nonprofit organization that engages high school

students (and for us 7th and 8th graders too) in the fields of science and

technology. In just 6 weeks we design, build, program, and test a fully

functional robot to compete against over 50 other robots at the DU Magness

arena in the first weekend in April. If we win, then we go on to compete

against 100's of robots from around the world in St. Louis. The competition

is tough, but we have a seasoned crew that can step up to the challenge. We

are always looking for new hands on deck. Any interested students should

look into attending the January 4th kick-off at the Nederland high school.

Additionally, anyone that would like to embark on this journey with the

crew please contact Nancy Gerecht at naneger@yahoo.com. The only

requirement is a willingness to learn. Generally, the more time the

students can dedicate to the build season, the more experience they get out

of it. This season's going to be a real blast! Arrrrrrrr!