Rhode Island Volunteer seeks to give kids "best possible experience"
Mark Seidman, a computer engineer in Rhode Island, was already familiar with FIRST and robotics clubs when he was approached to provide technical support at the state FTC Championship. Mark Seidman, center, works to setup an FTC field at a Rhode Island competition. As a member of the Newport, RI, Aquidneck Island Robotics 4-H club, Mark had already mentored Air Strike, a FIRST Robotics Competition team, since 2008 and was also familiar with FIRST LEGO League. Erin Flynn, the state FTC Affiliate Partner, was looking for someone to take the role of Field Technical Adviser and Mark agreed to take on the role. "Mark stepped in and, with his quiet way, helped me figure out how the game should be run, how teams should prepare and what needed to be done at the tournament," Erin said. While Mark was familiar with robotics, he said his first tournament was nerve racking because he had never been on the organizing side of a robotics competition. "After I realized what position I...