Kickoff is almost here!  Here are some of our target issues for the remainder of 2009:

• You guys can and should come in on Saturday 12/5 to put the finishing touches on preparation for Lunacy on Earth even though I'll be proctoring the SAT from about 8:00-3:00.  Check the forum post with the email about the event for the checklist of things we need to have prepped/packed.  Seniors, you will be the responsible leaders in the cage during that time, so please get there at the beginning of the meeting, which is basically up to your decision.
• Shopping List - we absolutely want the most complete order possible of stock material, tools, etc. to be placed before Christmas break.  On the cage computer is a short list of items we need, and during December we need to develop that further and decide quantities based on price and our budget.
• Prototyping - I've heard that a cart is on your minds to design and build for December.  That needs to be brainstormed, sketched, SolidWorksed, and then fabricated.  If a sub-group of you guys want to focus on something else, talk about it and get planning.

News Headlines:

• I have obtained some yearbook photos of the 2005 robot at the Long Island Regional which had previously been lost to us, so we have a brand new section of the gallery.
• Please check the forums and leave a post about whether or not you want to go to Poly tomorrow.  I think the majority of the team plans on going to Poly, and all who have gone the last 2 weeks (including me) think that they are a very good experience and worth everybody attending.
• LUNACY ON EARTH - I signed us up for it.  December 6 in Queens.  It's free.  it's an obstacle course and a programming challenge (except we're using 2009 robots instead of identical Tetrix boxbots).  More details and files in the forum.
• Freshman Assembly - Not 11/23 as originally planned.  Mr. Wilson will keep me posted but we're looking at the first week of December.  Use the forums to plan who will say what at assembly.

Things to cover at 11/18 Meeting:

·         Website feedback/voting on issues that Kevin brings up.  Be aware that we want to have 2 separate sections of the site, for member business and what we want to portray to visitors and FIRST judges.  Both things need not be on the same page.

·         Decide whether everybody wants to go to Poly like we did last week (there are going to be different workshops, not a repeat like the awards last week) or if some want to go but some want to have a meeting at Xaverian.

·         Reminder:  We’re doing the Freshman Assembly on Monday 11/23, right?  When are we going to do final prep on the robot, are we using 2 robots, who is going to speak, who is going to say what?

·         Make sure everyone present today is registered as a user on the xhsrobotics.net/member forums.  Kevin should be able to do it right then and there.

·         Please keep working on X-Press article and the in depth sponsor info booklet.

·         Keep written record of all the fundraising/PR stuff that gets discussed today.

·         If mechanical/electrical people want to start sketching a cart or different sub-system prototypes to eventually be modeled in SolidWorks, go ahead.

·         Check this out:  http://team1322.org/ideas.htm

Our friends on team 1880 (some of whom were on our team at the Poly workshops in case you forgot)  are having a t-shirt drive.  I think it would be nice if we could get together a bunch of shirts (including a Brooklyn Blacksmiths t-shirt) to donate.