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Pittsburgh Robotics Society
Meeting Minutes
Sat.Feb.5.2005 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Relfections Cafe
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ATTENDEES:

Dan Roganti - present
Bob Nansel  - present
Jeff Rice       - present
Mike Timko  - couldn't make it, kids were sick-look forward to the next meeting
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Intro
    -
Club Organization
    -what members are available to participate
    >we have only a couple of people so far willing to participate
    >but we would need more help if we plan to setup a both for the SciTech show at the
    >Carnegie Science Center this Fall
    >Issue is still OPEN

    -looking for volunteers
    >Still Looking for more volunteers
    >Issue is still OPEN

Membership dues
    -determine membership dues for a new robot club
    >Issue is still OPEN

    -non-membership fees for contests
    >Issue is still OPEN

    - Benefits:
        Discount subscription to SERVO Mag
        Club T-Shirt
        discounted fee to contests and exhibits
    >Most of the ideas here are reasonable,
    >we still have to look for a dealer with a good rate on printing T-Shirts
    >The Fees are still an Open Issue from the other meeting item.


Fund raising for the club
    -T-Shirts
    -admission to events
    -other-Sponsorship
    >All Issue are still OPEN

Events for 2005
    -contests
    -demonstrations
    -guest speakers
    -group tours
    >This year would be better spent in promoting the club to attract new members.
    >The SciTech show would be a good place to exhibit our club this Fall (Sep.30—Oct.9)  
    >We can have a booth setup to showcase our club.
    >We should post some more Flyers around town
    >There is a possibility to arrange a group tour at the CMU Robot facility
    >Demonstartions can be showcased at the SciTech show this year.


Promotion
    -find ways to promote the club
    -print more Flyers
    -post club meeting,contests to online event calendars
    >The SciTech show is the first major event in pittsburgh to promote our event
    >We would need more flyers to hand out for this event
    >Several Pittsburgh websites have online calendars to let us post our meeting times online

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QUESTIONS:
    -Is there any place that we can borrow to hold workshops/demonstrations ?
    >None are ware of a place yet.
    >To hold a wrokshop, we would have to rent a facility at a local VoTech school
    >The rent is minimal, only have to reserve the room or lab in advance.

    -Anyone with software experience in Windows/Linux ? -writing interface drivers
    >Issue still OPEN

    -Anyone with Machine shop we can use ?
    >Issue still OPEN

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ACTIONS:

    -Looking for a T-Shirt place with the best deal
    >Continue looking for a place around Pittsburgh with the best deal
   
    -Need a new meeting place
    >Check into the other Libraries in the area to reserve a room to hold meetings.
    >Possible Libraries are Northland Library and Allegheny Library

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SUGGESTIONS:

    -Demonstrations during local events to promote the Robot Club,
        such as SciTech Festival, Local Festivals, etc.
    >The SciTech show is the current major event to plan for with hopes to attract new members.
    >Need to plan on what exhibits to put on display, staatic, working, etc.
    >One possibily demonstration we can display is Robot Sumo using the Mini-Class robots.
    >Their is a requirement to include an interactive exhibit at the booth.
    >One possibility is a dual Mouse Maze where kids can race a robot mouse throught a maze.

    -Invite people from the region to put on a demonstration at our Meetings
    >There might be some people(individuals or representatives) in this region who we can invite to one of our
    >meetings to display their latest robotics projects
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REPORT:
    CCAC Tech Center - all booked up for next 2yrs
    Exhibit Room - Carnegie Science Center
        $400 small room, ~100sq.ft, 60ppl, w/chairs,tables,A/V
    VoTEch School - Parkway West Technical Center / Robinson Twsp
        $25/room
        $50/Lab
        $12/hr for Coordinator
        7101 Steubenville Pike
        Oakdale, PA 15071-9111
        Phone:     (412) 923-1772
    Shaler Library
        no group uses the room more than Quarterly
        other Libraries possible to rent more often - need to check
        $15.00 rent half community room
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See you at the Next Meeting !
-Dan Roganti
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