In 2007, we saw an opportunity to spread the word of FIRST in the Indianapolis area. We discovered that the Indianapolis Children's Museum (ICM) was preparing a fall exhibit entitled "Robots+Us." We contacted the ICM, explained our program, and offered assistance in the exhibit. Over the next several months, the ICM and Cyber Blue collaborated on a plan of action. We built four FTC robots and an obstacle course for children to navigate. We taught visiting children about FTC robots, how they work, and discussed the enjoyment of working with robots. We also taught children how to design and drive the robots. Students also trained museum personnel to operate the robots during our off-weeks so children could continue to learn and enjoy the robotics experience.

Cyber Blue is a key host of the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) and has helped this event grow from 20 teams in 2000, to 72 teams in 2009. Our entire team, including our Parent Crew, volunteer at this off-season tournament. Working closely with Team 45, the TechnoKats (founders of the IRI), and Team 1024, the Kil-a-Bytes, this event has become both an excellent Robotics Competition as well as providing a high level of community support. In 2009, over 100 teams registered for a chance at one of the 72 open positions. Teams from all over the world including Hawaii, Canada, and Israel have competed in a this tournament highlighted as "the best of the best."

The IRI is much more than just a great robotics competition. It also supports the community through programs like "Pack-to-School" - donations of 2nd grade backpacks filled with school supplies to local elementary schools, a Charity Auction ($3200 in 2008) of FIRST memorabilia and College Scholarships to graduating seniors ($8000 in 2008). The 2009 IRI also featured an "Early Career Challenge" for rookie teams and newly formed teams to allow them to gain valuable competition experience in a separate series of matches.

The 2010 IRI takes place on Friday, July 16th and Saturday, July 17th, at Lawrence North High School, 7802 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46256. Matches start at 9 a.m and run until 4 p.m. each day. Admission is free and the public is welcome! For more information visit www.indianaroboticsinvitational.org

At the end of each six week build season, Cyber Blue holds a community open house. It is usually held the day before ship date. We invite all of our parents, sponsors, and news stations in the area. At the open house we show off our VEX® and LEGO® teams, past robots, website, Inventor, and, of course, the robot before we ship it away.

Cyber Blue is involved in our school. We have welded basketball goals, cafeteria chairs, and made other school repairs. We made a ramp for a handicapped student so she could be a news anchor on morning announcements. We also support the following charitable events that our school promotes: Make-a-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, Schools-4-Schools, and holiday assistance for needy families. For the past four years, Cyber Blue has given the opportunity to foreign exchange students to become involved in FIRST. Last year, Abir, from Tunisia, is a member. We hope she inspires others in her home country with the message of FIRST.

Pack-to-School began at Rolls-Royce. It is a program that collects book bags filled with school supplies to benefit low-income second graders at a school near Indianapolis. Cyber Blue first started helping Pack to School with a few of our team members creating back packs, but we have now made it a part of every team's entry fee for the IRI.

During the third week of the build season, Cyber Blue creates care packages for new FRC teams to FIRST in Indiana. We include lots of snacks and a note of encouragement to help them make it through the build season.

We are continuing an outreach project with Abraham Lincoln Elementary School that we began last summer. In July 2008, members of Cyber Blue built and painted 27 bookshelves for approximately nine classrooms at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. We created these bookshelves to help them get started on a new literacy project aimed at promoting reading. They were so appreciative that one of the kindergarten classes invited us to come in and read to the kindergarteners on one of our half days. We bought books, read to them, and left our books for them to read during their free time. We were then invited back, but this time we helped them make patterned noodle necklaces. During our third visit, we taught the kindergarteners a simple robotics lesson and let them drive our VEX robots around in the gym. They were so excited! The class then wore "Cyber Blue Buddy" t-shirts to support us during our competition season. This summer, we made bookshelves for two more classrooms. We hope to continue our special connection with Abraham Lincoln School and possibly help other area schools, too.

Our team participated in American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on June 13 and 14, 2009 to help raise funds to fight cancer. We raised $1,100 with the help of our sponsor, Rolls-Royce. Seventeen students and 10 adults participated in this 24 hour event. While at least two Cyber Blue team members were walking during the entire event, other members were demonstrating our Lunacy robot and helping children operate smaller VEX robots. We also sold nachos and cheese to raise additional money for the ACS. Some of our members also contributed money to purchase luminaries to remember both those that have lost the battle against cancer and cancer survivors. The event provided an opportunity to contribute to a great cause, promote the message of FIRST, and reflect on the need to continue the fight against cancer.