Events Coming Soon
- Anacortes FIRST Robotics will be at the Anacortes Waterfront Festival in the “Channel of Discovery” area Saturday June 6th and Sunday June 7th. Please stop by and say “hi!” if you are at the Festival. The Anacortes High School Robotics Club (FTC Team 7198 Mechanical Minks) will have their competition robot on display and demonstration robots for kids of all ages to try out their skill.
- The end of June is the end of the ARBC fiscal year.
Monthly/Annual Meeting highlights from May 18th. This monthly meeting was also the Anacortes Robotics Booster Club’s (ARBC’s) Annual Meeting. ARBC continues to pursue an acceptable option for sending text notifications to team parents and (where old enough) students. FTC team 7198 was invited to a Premiere competition event in June, but the timing collided with graduation and other end of the school year events and so regretfully declined. An “archive site” for FRC Team 3238 is under development by Elisabeth Jenkins to memorialize the team that really got the ball rolling for FIRST robotics in Anacortes. ARBC is eagerly looking for a volunteer to head up the “Outreach Committee” to help organize seasonal outreach events. This position is a great opportunity for a parent or other community member who isn’t available to help with coaching but wants to help keep FIRST robotics alive and well in Anacortes. Support for participating in the July 4th Parade is not solid yet – anyone interested should contact Elisabeth Jenkins ASAP. Ready to Learn Fair is mid-August – we need volunteers. 2026 Anacortes Open Streets is Sunday August 30th – we need volunteers. The existing officers/directors were ratified by the membership to continue in place for the new fiscal year starting July 1st. ARBC has joined the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce as a non-profit. The next ARBC meeting is on Monday June 15, 6 pm, AHS.
Events Just Past
- The Fidalgo Elementary STEAM night was April 24th; the organizers were great, the event was fun, and we signed up a number of interested students/parents.
- The 2026 ARBC Members Cookout and Potluck was Sunday May 17th at Washington Park; thank you to everyone who attended for the food and camaraderie.
- The Washington Vintage Motorcyclists’ vintage motorcycle show was Saturday May 30th in Lynden; we raised money for robotics by selling concessions at the show, had parents and students driving the FTC demonstration robots, and spoke to a number of people about robotics team opportunities in Washington state; attendance was over 700. This was a big effort, with fantastic support from students Kros and Jack of FTC Team 7198 Mechanical Minks; and adult ARBC members Royal Sefton (coach of FLL Challenge team 69086, Doers of Things), Elisabeth Jenkins (coach of FTC Team 7198), Noah Hieb (mentor on FTC team 7198), and Shannon Jenkins (coach of FTC Team 7198).
Help Wanted. If you see the value in having robotics programs available in Anacortes, please consider helping ARBC keep them going. Even if you can only lend your support to a single event or activity, it is of tremendous benefit. See the “Help Wanted” page on our website for more information.
The Last Word. If anyone wants clarification of any newsletter item or has a correction or suggestion, contact me. I’ll make editorial corrections to the online version of the newsletter if needed.