Volume 2022 -04| April 2022
Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter
Help us celebrate 30 years of
changing student's lives!

What BEST Means - Using robots to build kids!*

BEST MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
  1. I learned essential skills that will be important for no matter what job I pursue - 7th grader
  2. I was unprepared for what being part of BEST would bring, I am a changed person - 7th grader
  3. More than learning technical skills, I have been impacted for the future - 7th grader
  4. I learned life long skills to prepare me as a person and for future careers - 8th grader
  5. It has been a defining moment for me. It inspired me to start my own business and will lead me to scholarships and jobs - 10th grader
  6. FUN way to develop skills. I learned to be a team member and a leader - 12th grader

TED MAHLER, BEST CO-FOUNDER:
BEST is picking the left hand referenced in this quote:
If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and to offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand. Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781)

* Quotes from annual BEST Meeting 30 April Highlights
30th Anniversary BEST Logo
Logo
2022 SCHEDULE - PLEASE ADD TO YOUR CALENDARS
A First Look with Planned Venues
Summer Teacher / Mentor Training
  • Tuesday - Thursday 12-14 July - Teacher / Mentor Institute – Free Summer Training, St Mary’s Church, 6853 S Prince St, Littleton, SAVE THE DATES - Coming soon, sign up link
Eight-Week Fall Hub Season
  • Saturday 17 September - Hub Kickoff Event – Game Reveal, Robot Material Distribution and Training, Englewood High School, 3800 S Logan St
  • Saturday 22 October - Online Critical Design Review Presentation - judging days TBD
  • Saturday 29 October - Engineering Notebook Delivery Due - judging days 29 Oct - 8 Nov
  • Saturday 29 October - Hub Practice Day Event – Team Practice and Optional BEST Award Marketing Presentation - TBD Location (BACK UP Plan: Saturday 22 October - Englewood High School, 3800 S Logan St
  • Saturday 12 November - Hub Game Day Event – Team Competition, Judging and Optional BEST Award Team Exhibit and Interviews, Englewood High School, 3800 S Logan St
Regional Championship
  • Saturday - Sunday 3-4 Dec - Denver BEST Regional Championship – Qualifying schools by invitation. Finalizing Colorado School of Mines venues. More details to be provided.
COMING SOON - Made 2 Order Game Teaser Video with 30th Anniversary highlights
  • bESTology - Teachers can jump start their teams with 10 Weekly web postings for the Made 2 Order game including Game Theme related topics; Class/group or individual exercises; Research, writing, thinking, learning.
  • Check out the first 7 weekly postings:
  1. Defining Automatic
  2. What Job Where?
  3. Picking Which Way
  4. Control? What Is In Control?
  5. Choosing Your ARMs
  6. It’s A Matter Of Sense(ors) 
  7. Where Are My Arms? Topics Sensors Path Orientation 
  8. Which Way What? Topics: Sensors Path Orientation - Gyroscopes 
  9. and 10. Coming in May
HAVE EXTRA HOURS TO VOLUNTEER?
HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Calling All Interested Summer Game Field Builders!

NEW BUILD CHALLENGES INCLUDE
ELECTRONICS & POSSIBLE CNC USE

  • PLEASE CONTACT Linda.King@bestinc.org
  • Build Plan LINK - includes our planned Schedule and if required, needed skills
  • Contact us to learn more
  • Provide contact information if you MIGHT be able to support and would like to receive more information in June
BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITIONS
  • We are looking for enthusiastic RM BEST advocates to join 7 other board members to help us fulfill and advance our mission.
  • 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 positions, please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org. 
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 online 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
Silent Auction Fundraiser
Preview Current Auction Items NOW!
Please Help by Sharing Link with Family, Friends & Associates

We have already received over 170 terrific auction items with amazing bargains!
And we have have fantastic sponsorship options to make even more of a difference!

YOUR participation and generosity helps us bring our yearly robotics education program to middle and high school students - at no cost to schools.   

ONLINE Auction Bidding
31 May-5 June
FANTASTIC SPONSORHIP OPPORTUNITES FOR A VARIETY OF BUDGETS
2019 RC Photo
AMAZING BARGAINS with A Variety OF OPENING BIDS
Boosting BEST Auction Items
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 ask your HR department about Benevity 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 eight weeks;
inspire a youth for a lifetime
Don't miss out making it possible!