I hope this communication finds our FIRST in Texas teams, mentors, and volunteers in good health and feeling positive as we continue to move forward through this pandemic. As many of you are starting the school year off in a much different way than usual, we understand and acknowledge that you may be wondering what FIRST in Texas is doing to plan out the 2020-2021 FIRST® season.
While we want nothing more than to see our students compete in an awesome hands-on experience, we understand the risks involved and know that some teams may not be ready within the normal timelines of a FIRST season.
The FIRST in Texas Field Services Team, along with our local Program Delivery Partners, are working diligently to develop different options for competition engagement based on guidelines from FIRST, reviewing and considering the timing of traditional (in-person) events, remote competitions, social distancing guidance, personal protective equipment, and technology needs, as well as volunteer and participant support and safety.
Recently, the FIRST in Texas Board of Directors made the hard decision to postpone any remote competitive advancing events until early November and to not host any traditional, in-person competitive advancing events until after January 1, 2021. The FIRST in Texas Board of Directors will review this decision in October and will make adjustments to the timelines as needed. Program Delivery Partners will communicate localized plans and timelines for events within these parameters provided by the Board of Directors.
While not our normal beginning to a new FIRST season, the FIRST in Texas staff and leadership are excited to begin the 2020-2021 school year including plans to have a year of safe GAME CHANGERSSM fun. We are continuing to plan for events this spring, but also acknowledge that timelines may vary due to many different unknown factors right now.
As we move forward over the next few weeks and months, we will keep you informed about our statewide plans and season timelines via newsletters and social media, but please feel free to reach out to your local Program Delivery Partner to learn more about plans for local remote kickoff events, workshops, and scrimmages.
Thank you for all the work that you do and the opportunity you have given us to support and organize great experiences for our students and community. We truly look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces in person again someday soon.
Patrick Felty
President & Executive Director
FIRST in Texas