Team Leaders, this is certainly an unprecedented time.  I have been getting many questions about FIRST and post-season competitions.  There’s nothing more I’d like to tell you than the dates and plans for the future competitions but that’s just not possible.  If the situation changes, I’ll communicate that information.  The FIRST Regional award shows (i.e., Dean’s List, Chairman’s, and Woodie Flowers Finalist Awards) are on April 29th (https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/blog/2020-frc-awards-show) and the FIRST Virtual Showcase (https://www.firstchampionship.org ) is May 2nd.

Best Bot Ever Meet Up

In addition to showcasing rookie teams, Saturday’s Virtual Minnesota FRC Best Bot Ever Meet Up #2 will include a presentation from Team 2052 and others about making face shields and how we all can help.  The Virtual Meet Up is from 1:00 – 2:30 PM this Saturday on Zoom.  RSVP at https://forms.gle/hjRUGM4E9FedFnD27.  Contact Yoji Shimizu at shimi002@umn.edu if you have questions.

There is now a Google calendar listing our upcoming Minnesota FRC virtual events on the FUM website. You can access the calendar directly at  https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=2gcaoklplonid542lidcabn5eg%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FChicago

You will notice two other upcoming events on the calendar:
•       Virtual Minnesota FRC Best Bot Ever Meet Up #3 – Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 PM.  We will have presentations from Teams 3018, 2220, 4215, and 3883.  If your team did not have a chance to compete this season and you would like to be showcased, contact Yoji Shimizu at shimi002@umn.edu.  RSVP for the Meet Up at https://forms.gle/6iZ8PDbfeV2wRUD87
•       Minnesota FRC 2020 Graduation Celebration on Zoom – Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 PM.  Details coming soon.
Team 2491, Great River School

NoMythic has started a Slack Workspace, “Minnesota Fighting Covid”, to help organize the efforts teams are putting into supporting their communities. 

In the workspace, there are several channels (and room for more)

        Introduction – tell us about your team and what you are up to
        Team Update – How are you doing? What are doing?
        In The News – stories about FIRST, locally and nationwide
        Help – Logistical – requests for materials or resources
        Help – Technical – requests of support
        PPE Requests – where we can let others know of those in need
        Resources – files, links, and advice

It would be great to get as many teams on there as we can!

https://join.slack.com/t/mnfightingcovid/shared_invite/zt-dcjt5ad3-hLUzrBbvRtvQiNyJeYs_EQ

In partnership,
Michael Flood, Mentor, Team 2491

Team 2667, Apple Valley

The Knights of the Valley need more Plastic sheets similar to Transparency sheets. Their current stock is  enough to make about 500 face shields. They are also working with a local ICU to adapt their Dolphino Full Face Snorkel Masks to PPE. The Knights are trying to 3D print 23 custom adapters from a design called the Pneumask. COVID-19 – Pneumask.( http://web.stanford.edu/group/prakash-lab/cgi-bin/labsite/covid19/covid-19-pneumask/ ). If you team is interested in helping print, contact Joey.

The Knights can help teams with file setups to speed up production as well as advice on printer upgrades so they can keep their machines in the fight longer. They have also developed a relationship with Jabil out of Chaska. Jabil is willing to donate material to teams performing PPE production. Joey can get teams in touch with their contact to get PETG printing filament. Please contact Joey if there is anything else that your team might need help with.

Joey Lake
Team 2667, Co-Lead Mentor
jdlake@frontiernet.net


Stay safe.

Regards, Mark Lawrence
Chairman, MN FIRST Regional Planning Committee