SAN DIEGO FIRST TECH CHALLENGE
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RESOURCES

Resources for Relic Recovery:
​updated 2017/07/20
​
How to Receive Charitable Donations requiring a 501(c)(3) status
A number of San Diego FTC and FLL teams have worked with a local 501(c)(3) organization to obtain charitable donations. Robotics Inspiring Science & Engineering (RISE) was set-up in 2008 by FTC team #32 Einstein's Daughters to partner with groups which needed access to an organization with 501(c)(3) status. Your donors give to RISE, and your team submits receipts for reimbursement until those funds are depleted. RISE withholds a small portion of all donations to teams in order to help fund its mission of creating team broadened STEM opportunities for students in southern California, and to provide grants/scholarships to high performing teams and individuals.  This is in addition to any fees that third party organizations such as Guidestar, etc. may deduct from donations to our teams.

RISE does not have a website at this time, but the contact person is JD Morrison, and his email is  <mail4jdm@gmail.com>. The address of RISE is: 

RISE
​c/o
JD Morrison  

3027 Whittier St.
San Diego, CA 
92106

Places for questions and answers about this season's challenge and building and programming robots
  • Curious about other teams or events in your area or zipcode? Try a community search at FIRST FTC (need to change country if searching in Mexico):
    ​http://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search
  • Official FTC Forum - http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forum.php
    ​the only official answers and rulings on what's legal or illegal for the challenge
  • search official responses from FTC Forum, or locate teams in a specific map area - http://www.ftcroot.com/
    ​convenient search function for specific terms in official Forum responses; map teams in certain regions
  • ​Chief Delphi FTC forum, spin-off of the FRC forums - https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146
  • ​FTC Subreddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/FTC/ 

collaboration with other teams worldwide
  • get together with other teams for online video chat discussions on Google Hangout; they usually meet Monday afternoons Pacific time
    ​FTC TEC Network (Team Engineering Collaborative)
​sources for materials and robotics components, locally in San Diego and online
  • Industrial Metal Supply Co - map 7550 Ronson Rd, 92111
    aluminum, steel, other metals in extruded forms, sheets, etc.​
    metal remnants bin in back room for discounted prices
  • ePlastics / Ridout Plastics - map 5535 Ruffin Rd, 92123
    acrylic, polycarbonate, adhesives, etc.
    ​scrap plastic in bins out front - purchase by weight
  • Marshall's Industrial Hardware, Inc - map 8423 Production Ave, 92121
    many hard to find tools and fasteners
    ​also sells many plastic, metal sheets and other forms

  • Lindy
    ​makes On-The-Go (OTG) cables in various lengths, also available on Amazon
  • McMaster-Carr
    ​huge catalog of hardware, gears, chains, tools, fasteners
  • ServoCity - make an alternative to Tetrix called Actobotics, see blog post​
    ​- Brainstormers (FTC8644) from Lexington, MA has helpful videos on using Actobotics
    ServoCity FIRST Hub - sign up for their FTC Newsletter and get free parts
    ​FIRST Team discounts 25% off
    FTC Team Sponsorships $1000 of Actobotics parts ​
    Actobotics weekly product giveaway on Twitter ​
    ServoCity.com newsletter and get entered to win a $100 gift certificate

  • Home
  • Season Info 2022-2023
    • 2022-23 Registration
    • 2022-23 Schedule
    • 2022-23 League Assignments
    • Dean's List 2022-2023
  • Blog & News
  • About SDFTC
    • Region Committee
    • History