Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter |
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Thanks to ALL our volunteers!
We are looking forward to working with you again in 2022!
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2021 Season - YOU Made it Successful! |
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We all accomplished so much:
- Made a measurable difference for hundreds of students
- Two levels of competition
- Dozens of schools across 7 states
- THANKS to so many volunteers, sponsors and donors.
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Classic Format Hub
Students - 213 Schools - 15
Participation Metrics:
Increased my interest in STEM careers
- Yes 85%
- No 4%
- Undecided 11%
Improved my tech, business, communication skills
- Yes 89%
- No 3%
- Undecided 8%
Influenced my education and career decisions
- Positively 85%
- Negatively 1%
- No Change 14%
Volunteers - 75
RM BEST Costs
- Cost / School $1,150
- Cost / Student $80
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Reimagined Distributed
Students - 525 Schools - 25
States - 7 BEST Hubs - 6
Participation Metrics:
Increased my interest in STEM careers
- Yes 85%
- No 6%
- Undecided 9%
Improved my tech, business, communication skills
- Yes 93%
- No 2%
- Undecided 5%
Influenced my education and career decisions
- Positively 93%
- Negatively 0%
- No Change 7%
Volunteers - 65 (Colorado Event + Judges)
RM BEST Costs
- Cost / School $790
- Cost / Student $40
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Our Thanks to all the Championship Volunteers! |
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REIMAGINED Denver BEST
Regional Championship
A HUGE SUCCESS
In response to a November Denver Metro Area large event public health order, we successfully reimagined our originally planned Arapahoe County Fairgrounds event to a live streamed event distributed across 4 locations - Colorado, Kansas, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
Our thanks to all the students and their families, teachers and mentors, and volunteers across all the locations for adjusting their plans to make the 2021 Denver BEST Regional Championship a success.
Critical partners:
- Falcon, Front Range, Golden Plains, Grove City College, Heartland, Jackrabbit BEST Hub Staff for their leadership and flexibility
- OES Management, LLC for the expertise and tools to make an online streamed event possible
- Englewood School District for the resources to make the Colorado local competition possible
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WOW! 2021 DENVER BEST
Simulink Design Award Winner
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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.
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2022 Season Preparations
An early look at the season
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WHAT IS PLANNED:
- BEST Robotics 30th Anniversary
- MADE 2 ORDER Game
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Classic Format (with teams building a physical robot) if health restrictions permit (Classic, Classroom, or Online Options).
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Denver BEST Regional Championship - working to host at Colorado School of Mines 3 & 4 December
WHAT IS COMING SOON:
- 30th Anniversary Plans
- MADE 2 ORDER Game Video Teaser
- Summer Teacher / Mentor Institute Training - July Dates
- Fall Competition Event Schedule - September, October and possible November Dates
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HAVE EXTRA HOURS TO VOLUNTEER?
HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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AWARDS AND JUDGING LEADS
We are looking for 2 volunteers to share our Competition Awards and Judging Lead position that is in charge of the hub and championship judging activities.
- Awards & Judging Lead Tasking
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Estimated effort per lead::
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February - June: 4 hours/month
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July: 10 hours/month
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August: 20 hours/month
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September: 30 hours/month
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October, November and December: 40 hours/month
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Schedule: .
- Available to volunteer as early as February and no later than September
- Available to participate at a July teacher training session, September Kickoff Event; October Practice Day Event; October or November Game Day Event; and 2-day December Championship Event.
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Mentoring: Current RM BEST Awards and Judging Leads available during the season
- Please contact Linda.King@bestinc.org to learn more.
BOARD OF DIRECTIORS 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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ONLINE Auction
31 May - 5 June
Please Save the Dates
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You are invited to participate in our annual fundraiser to help 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 Newsletters including how to donate items for the auction and how to sponsor a student or a team.
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DONATION THANKS! Colorado Gives Day + |
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Our THANKS to ALL those who Donated! |
We received a deposit of over $13,500 from donations on Colorado Gives Day plus other generous December donations.
Almost all 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!
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Additional 2021 Donation Thanks
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AMAZON SMILE FOUNDATION: $152 Logon to Smile.Amazon.com and choose Rocky Mountain BEST as your charity
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KROGER (King Soopers/City Market): $492 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!
Additional details below on how to donate in 2022.
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Celebrate National Engineers Week
20–26 February 2022
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2022 Theme - Reimagining the Possible!
- Engineers create new possibilities all the time.
- From green buildings to fuel-efficient cars to life-saving vaccines, engineers work together to develop new technologies, products and opportunities that change how we live.
- Let’s inspire the next generation by celebrating all the ways engineers turn dreams into reality by reimagining what seems impossible to become the Possible!
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Colorado State Tax ReFUND Donation Option |
If you get a state income tax refund in 2022, 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:
- Decide how much of your refund to donate.
- 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.
- Smile knowing you’ve helped a cause that matters to you!
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Other Ways to Participate by Donating |
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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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Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics |
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Build a robot in eight weeks;
inspire a youth for a lifetime
Don't miss out making it possible!
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