Chesapeake Connect
Volunteer News
Volume 1 | Issue 8
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Howdy!
Welcome to the latest edition of Chesapeake Connect!
Newsletter Highlights:
- District Volunteer Coordinator Introduction
- Recruiting New Positions
- Summer Volunteer Celebrations- August 17th
- FTC Virtual Training RSVP
- 2024-2025 Season Schedule
Volunteer Tips and Reminders
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more updates! Thank you for your dedication to the FIRST Chesapeake community!
Peace, Love, and Robots,
Shelly, Isaiah, Anne, and Alex
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Meet our New District Volunteer Coordinator

Please join us in a warm welcome to Jen Scharl, our new District Volunteer Coordinator. Jen brings a breadth of experience in FIRST volunteers as an alumna, coach, mentor, and veteran volunteer.
She will be helping with our Sub District Volunteer Liaisons who will all work closely together with both the FRC and FTC Directors and event VCs to help manage, recruit, and retain volunteers throughout our District.
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NEW ROLE: Equipment Managers for 2024-2025 Season
FIRST Chesapeake is seeking Equipment Managers to join our team to support FRC and FTC events.
The role involves:
- supporting operational processes
- executing production plans
- maintaining high quality for events
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Recruiting Event Lead Volunteers Now!
FIRST Chesapeake is working hard to recruit event leads for the upcoming season. These include:
Head Refs
Lead Robot Inspectors
Lead Scorekeepers FTAs
Field Inspectors and Supervisors
Emcees
Interested in being in a leadership role this coming season? Let us know. Contact the FRC Director or FTC Director to express your interest!
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Cheers to You - RSVP and let us know you're coming!
We want to celebrate all that you do to contribute to the Chesapeake Community! We would be honored to raise a toast to you and your dedication to providing accessible STEM programs for students in Chesapeake.
Northern Celebration
- August 17, 2024 | 12pm to 4pm
- Silver Branch Brewing Co in Silver Spring, MD
South Celebration
- August 17, 2024 | 12pm to 4pm
- Högwaller Brewing in Charlottesville, VA
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FTC Volunteer Training Opportunities
We are excited to announce a round of FTC Virtual Volunteer Trainings this August. If you have ever been interested in learning more about a role, join in these interactive and engaging introductory sessions lead by our talented lead volunteers.
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Schedule
All sessions will be from 7-8pm.
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August 6 | Judge | Volunteer Coordinator | August 13 | Inspector | Event Manager | August 20 | Scorekeeper | FTA | August 27 | Referee |
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We want to meet your crew
Alright Awesome FIRST Chesapeake Community, we need your help!
In an effort to recruit volunteers in local geographic locations, please send an introduction email connecting either the FRC Director or FTC Director to your local contacts.
When your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends, the happier we'll be!
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New Volunteer Emails
In order to provide more clarity and streamline operations, we will be switching over all volunteer emails to a new volunteer specific sub-domain.
No action is required and you will receive an email detailing the change process.
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2024-2025 Season Schedule | |
FTC Schedule
November
November 23, 2024
Albemarle High School
Charlottesville, VA
November 23, 2024
DC International
Washington, DC
November 24, 2024
DC International
Washington, DC
December
December 7, 2024
Francis Scott Key High School
Union Bridge
December 8, 2024
Quince Orchard High School
Gaithersburg, MD
December 14, 2024
Glen Allen 1- Deep Run High
Glen Allen, VA
December 15, 2024
Glen Allen 2- Deep Run High
Glen Allen, VA
January
January 11, 2025
Applied Physics Lab 1
Laurel, MD
January 12, 2025
Applied Physics Lab 2
Laurel, MD
January 12, 2025
Cape Henry Collegiate
Virginia Beach, VA
January 18, 2025
Garrett College
McHenry, MD
January 18, 2025
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg, VA
January 19, 2025
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg, VA
January 19, 2025
Herndon High School
Herndon, VA
January 25, 2025
Bassett High School
Bassett, VA
January 25, 2025
Moorefield Middle School WV
Moorefield, WV
Championship
February 8, 2025
Silver Spring, MD
Wheaton High School
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FRC Schedule
Week 1
Feb 28-Mar 2, 2025
Deep Run High School
Glen Allen, VA
Week 2
March 7-9, 2025
Chesapeake HS
Pasedena, MD
Week 2
March 7-9, 2025
Churchland High School
Portsmouth, VA
Week 3
March 14-16, 2025
Walt Whitman High School
Bethesda, MD
Week 4
March 21-23, 2025
Blacksburg High School
Blacksburg, VA
Week 4
March 21-23, 2025
Hayfield Secondary
Alexandria, VA
Championship
April 3-6, 2025
Showplace Arena
Marlboro, MD
Attention ALL Volunteers:
- Save the date and mark your calendars for any events from November to April that you are available for!
- We are looking to have more cross program volunteering. Want to move into being a referee but were worried about doing it at the FRC level, start with FTC!
- All events are located on the FIRST Chesapeake website calendar as well.
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Volunteer Reminders
Update your FIRSTInspires Dashboard:
Before the season begins, please ensure your FIRST Inspires Dashboard is up-to-date with accurate contact information and preferences. This will help us communicate with you efficiently and keep you informed about the latest updates and opportunities.
Consent and Release Form:
Safety is our top priority, and in compliance with FIRST policies, we kindly request all volunteers to complete and submit the Consent and Release form. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and essential for the smooth functioning of our events.
Youth Protection Program (YPP) Training:
As mentors and volunteers, we play a crucial role in providing a safe and supportive environment for our youth. To ensure everyone's safety, please complete the required YPP training. The safety and well-being of our participants are at the heart of everything we do.
Sign Up for Events:
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Event sign up located here.
- FRC Volunteer Registration begins October 31, 2024.
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Sign up for events you know you can attend. You may be assigned to all events you sign up for.
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Sign up for the events that you really want. At most, two or three top choices are recommended.
- You don't have to sign up for 5 roles even though it prompts you to.
Check out the available resources:
Stop by the FIRST Inspires website for available resources.
Your contribution as a volunteer is immeasurable, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of these bright young minds and foster a passion for STEM that will shape their future.
Thank you,
Shelly, Isaiah, Anne, and Alex
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The Chesapeake Connection |  
 
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