Board Meeting: April 21, 2012 Summary of 2011/12 and proposal for 2012/13 season

1. Board Meeting: April 21, 2012 Summary of 2011/12 and proposal for 2012/13 season

2. Today’s schedule • Welcome and Introductions • Thank you to sponsors • Summary of February4, 2012 event (highlights from Executive Report) • Report from NSCC • Team perspectives • Discussion • Proposal for 2012/13 season (review distributed proposal) • Discussion

3. An email from an excited parent My son Bliss is 9 years old and home schooled. My son’s passion is computers. When he found out that there was programming in FLL his eyes lit up and he squealed with joy. The club has given him a new arena to exercise his mind. But what he loves the most is the programming. He came out of his meeting the first day he programmed so excited to tell me all about it. He wants a career in computer software design but also wants to create his own computer electronics design and engineering firm. - Bleu Om Rae

4. Welcome and Introductions Sponsors/Volunteers (Orgs that are both are red) • Acadia • EastLink • Michelin • Lockheed Martin • Nova Scotia Community College • NSERC • Nova Scotia Business Inc • Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development • Nova Scotia Labour and Advanced Education • RBC • WISEatlantic

5. 2011/12 Season Overview • April – June 2011 – School recruiting & Robot distribution • May 2011 – Board meeting • Ongoing – Fundraising and recruiting • Nov 2011 – Qualifying competitions at 5 NSCC campuses • February 4, 2012 – Championship tournament at Acadia

6. Championship Competitions Review • Two competitions in one • FLL (FIRST Lego League) & HRC (High school Robotics) • 12 HRC teams from 9 high schools competed • 44 FLL teams registered in NS, 28 in championship • Competition split into two areas/time of day • Beveridge Arts Centre (Registration and morning judging) • Lunch at Dining room • Gym (afternoon and evening for RPC Robot challenges)

7. Challenges in 2011/12 • NSCC overall coordinator unavailable, late start for RPC assistant • Some funding support decreased or was identified late in season, thus limiting some budget decisions • Increased reporting requirements with some funding • Some funding support provided by calendar year, and not competition season • NSCC qualifying rounds at 5 campuses • Late team dropouts

8. Solutions in 2011/12 • FLL Technical Design judging in morning • Library open in morning to provide space • NSCC FLL qualifiers at 5 campuses • Robot distribution increased team registrations • Teams helped other teams • Michelin Education Support Fund

9. Innovations & highlights in 2011/12 season • Moved FLL technical judging to BAC in the morning, and supplied field setup kits in the rooms • Opened the Library in the morning – teams could practice and parents could rest • Provided lunch for teams and volunteers in the meal hall • Changed HRC challenge s and rubrics • Changed gym setup • Hosted VIP tour • Robot Lending Library – multiple teams attended championship

10. Student survey (151 respondents) -Enough time to prepare --Web page was helpful -Learned a lot about Robots -(FLL) Learned a lot about food safety -Learned a lot about teamwork -Understood schedule of events -Enjoyed the food services -More interested in science -Like to pursue science studies -Considering a science career -Participate again next year -Overall I enjoyed myself at the competition -Length of competition was right

11. Coach Survey results (17) • Competition cost appropriate • Enough time to prepare • Workshop helpful • Webpage • Team learned about robots • Team learned about food safety • Increased team interest in science • Able to understand schedule • Enjoyed food services • Participate again next year • Overall enjoyed myself

12. Team Spirit FLL

13. Volunteers pitch in Michelin support!

14. Income and Expenses (p. 10)

15. Next NSCCTeam ReportDiscussion/Feedback

16. RPC 2012/13 proposal

17. RPC Partnership – working together to enable science for youth Post Secondary Acadia University Nova ScotiaCommunity College Schools 8 school boards school teams Race relations Business Michelin EastLink Lockheed Martin NSBI RBC eLab Inc. Government Education Economic & Rural Development Labour & Advanced Education NSERC Community Volunteers Donors Spectators Groups

18. Proposal for 2012/13 Season • Increase in Province-wide involvement • NSCC coordinate 6 FLL qualifying events in November • Expand number of teams for FLL qualifiers to 60 • 36 FLL teams progress from qualifiers • 20 HRC teams • Increase championship maximum to 56 • Increase sponsorship requirements • Championship date -February 2, 2013 • Budget for NSCC coordinator • Identify a communications coordinator

19. Increased involvement • Teams • Lending Library robots assigned to 50 individuals or organizations; NSCC leading training • Halifax county has opened up • Collaborators • NSCC qualifying events planned for 6 locations • Promotion through School boards • School board sponsorship for some teams • Discovery Centre is discussing working together – they are interested in Jr.FLL

20. Key steps to moving forward (p.6) • Obtaining multi-year core funding • Funding Earlier • Handling team volume • Resource allocation • Fostering a year-round club atmosphere for teams • Key personnel replacement • Gym logistical challenges • Robot Lending Library tracking • Collaborations • Associated programs

22. Proposed Expenses 2012/13 (p. 15)

23. Total Support necessary

24. Questions and suggestions • Appropriate budget? • Major Supporter identification and planning • Fundraising suggestions • Team handling Needs your feedback!