Meet the Geeks

Turn your passion and expertise into a winning robot for local kids who can learn a great deal from you.

Even if you don’t have that particular expertise you can help in many other ways.

This program could use financial support and volunteers to help with the competition being held on the Campus of AB Tech on November 3.

This is the second year for this program in our local schools, last year one of our teams went on to the state competition. It was fun and motivational.

Please contact us a info@meetthegeeks.net if you would like to help and we’ll help get you in touch with one of the team coaches or mentors.

We all know its a tough economic climate. Although you think you have good skills and experience, the reality is that for one open position there could be hundreds applying for that same job. Its said that it takes 20 seconds or less for the hiring manager to decide whether to put a résumé̒ in the possible pile.

So, what do you have to do to make your résumé̒ to the top of the pile? The answer? Its not only what you know, but how you “package” it.

Jane Falter, a certified résumé̒ writer, will share key résumé̒ “secrets” that professional writers use in their craft. There will be an opportunity to apply some of the principles yourself during class. Bring your current résumé̒ for a free critique.

Jane Falter, ACRW, SPHR, CPC, is a career coach and certified résumé writer with 30+ years experience in human resources and a background in multiple industries including manufacturing, distribution/sales, non-profit, and pharmaceutical. Jane has worked in mid-sized companies (less than 350 employees) as well as a multi-billion dollar organization. She started her career as a teacher—so she understands what it takes to change careers or re-enter the workforce.

Jane has been a regular contributor to a local (Asheville NC) magazine where she featured individuals looking for work or starting their own business. A sampling of Janes résumés can be found in “Same Day Resumes,” written by nationally recognized résumé experts Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow.

The NC State Mechatronics Program at UNCA, the Robotics Opportunity Committee, and NC A&T University Host FIRST®LEGO® League – 2012 Western North Carolina Region at UNCA on Saturday, November 3rd

24 TEAMS OF 9-14 YEAR OLDS COMPETE IN THEME BASED CHALLENGE!

In its twelfth season, First Lego League (FLL)  is a global robotics program, operating in 55 countries and inspiring approximately 200,000 kids aged 9-14. This year the Robotics Opportunity Committee of Western North Carolina invites you to the Western Region Tournament to be held in Asheville.

What to expect at the tournament: Teams spend the first half of the day in closed judging sessions presenting their research, demonstrating and discussing how the Core Values informed the work they did together, and explaining how they designed and programmed the robot.  The afternoon is filled with back to back rounds of table competition.  Teams square off at back to back tables, and compete both against their own best scores and in cooperative and competitive tasks that involve the other team. Each round last only 2.5 minutes and teams keep the best score from their three opportunities to compete.   The afternoon is a fast-paced and exciting.  The competition is free and open to the public.

The tentative tournament day schedule includes:

7:15am Team Check-in
8:00am Coaches Meeting
8:30am Judging Begins
12:45pm Parade of Teams & Opening Ceremony
1:15pm – 3:15pm Robot Runs
3:45pm Awards Ceremony

This year’s tournament at UNCA is a qualifying event, and the teams that score the best across all areas of competition will progress to regional competitions and then on to state-wide competitions.

Each year, FLL identifies a real-world problem that today’s scientists and engineers are trying to solve. For 2012 the theme is Senior Solutions, and encourages kids to think about the issues facing their grandparents, and all of the seniors who call Western North Carolina home.   Teams were challenged to identify a Senior Partner and to investigate the challenges their partner faces in terms of living “Independent, Connected, Engaged.”  Teams design, build and program an autonomous robot using LEGO© MINDSTORMS© NXT to compete in a robot game based on the theme.  They also research solutions to the specific challenge they choose and design an innovative solution.  Teams are challenged to present their research findings and solutions publicly prior to the tournament and to engage mentors from the community to help them throughout the season.  Teams operate under FLL’s Core Values, including Gracious Professionalism®, Coopertition® and having fun!

This year kids from across the region have become involved with teams through schools, through 4-H, through Girl Scouts and through groups of neighbors and friend who believe that getting hands on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs in the hands of future generations is a worthy goal.  Mentors and presenters from the local community have stepped up as well.  Mission Hospital, Simply Home, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Mountain Adaptive, Care Partners, the Buncombe-County Extension, the Health Adventure and other local companies and organizations have supported the teams along the way.

Where?  The qualifying tournament will be held at the Justice Center at UNCA.

Who to thank?  There will be 24 teams at the tournament at UNCA.  A lot of coaching, work and organizing go into an event like this.  Each team has its own list of supporters, coaches and sponsors that help make their season possible.  To that, we would like to add a special thanks to those supporting the tournament directly: UNCA, Buncombe County 4-H, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition , the Asheville Chapter of SCORE, Asheville Pizza, Carolina Farm Credit, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Meet the Geeks and the many others who have provided financial support, in kind donations and volunteers for the event.

Event admission is free. Food will be available for purchase.