Team Leaders, its been a month since you received an update from me because the FIRST mailer was undergoing an update. A lot has happened.
The killing of Mr. George Floyd has warranted a statement from the FUM Board of Directors on the effect of that situation on our community. Please see this page (https://firstuppermidwest.org/2020/06/07/mr-george-floyd-a-message-to-the-fum-community/ ).
As you are aware, the FIRST Infinite Recharge season was officially canceled and will be replayed next year. The MSHSL State Championship was also canceled. There has been no communication on game fees for next year. At the current time, we do not have contracted dates for next years regional events or the State Championship. When we have confirmed dates, Ill let you know. As a result of replaying this years game and the need to preserve the fields. Minnesota will not receive an Infinite Recharge field. This results in the cancelation of offseason competitons.
Refund of event fees for regionals that teams did not play is following a regranting process that must be completed by June 30th. Below is a response from FIRST accounting (our major sponsors give unrestricted grants). If you have further questions, please contact Ken Rosen.
The answer will depend on the type of grant securing these refundable events. If this was a grant restricted to event registration, the refund will go back to the Sponsors account. If it was an unrestricted grant, the refund will be made available to the team to request a regrant. In terms of carryover for unrestricted grants, those requests will need to be evaluated on a Sponsor by Sponsor basis as each have different signed intent on file for what happens with unused unrestricted funds at the end of the FY (either their intent states that as of 6/30, unutilized funds go back to the Sponsors account or to the annual fund). If for some reason a team is unable to apply for a regrant, our Development team can go back to Sponsors and ask them to redefine their intent but, we would not know if the Sponsor will allow this until that conversation is had.
Additional information can be found here (https://www.firstinspires.org/covid-19?utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=87881367&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_7Xb05Zdafj12kzocT34q0VUtmkNZpxq67URBUwWJzGfchFBT5YsJtLelyykXVXW6dWdaPKgw95BAGmEwEtNMehe-y0Q&_hsmi=87881367 ).
The MN State Fair was also recently cancelled. FIRST Robotics has traditionally participated in STEM Day and exhibited in the Education Building.
Please stay healthy.
Regards, Mark Lawrence
Chairman, MN FIRST Regional Planning Committee
FUM Board Member