Team Leaders, countdown to Kickoff and the 2021 season.  As always, please pass this information on to team members and mentors.

2021 FRC Kickoff
Details for Saturday’s Kickoff (11am) can be found here:

https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/kickoff?utm_source=first-inspires&utm_medium=game-season&utm_campaign=frc-ko-020

2nd Annual FIRST Alumni Reconnect (FAR) Event
Calling all FIRST Alumni and current year high school seniors!  Please join us for this year’s virtual event – see how FAR you will go as a FIRST Alumni.  Bring your own beverage and join us for a fun zoom social event on Thursday, January 7 at 7pm.  Sign up here: https://forms.gle/hhafXo5E43bD6EnFA

Mentor Mailing List
To increase the span of regional communications, FUM is building an email list of teams’ mentors.  Currently, the only people receiving regular emails are the Main and Alternate contacts as listed in the FIRST TIMS registration system.  The FUM list will only be used for relevant FRC activities and is strictly Opt-in with unsubscribe capabilities.  Please pass this link to your mentors (not students) so they can sign up:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hWwwhdlu1UKZX91IMVhHqrvs5o3PGv1LvOcGDKa6KftUNzA4NzVKU0paREg3M0QyMVBRUVo1WldOOC4u

FEI FI FO FUM Grants
The FIRST Equity & Inclusion Financing Initiative for FIRST in Upper Midwest (FEI FI FO FUM) Grant will provide FUM FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams with funds to implement a project that will make changes to culture and increase the participation and success of underserved, underrepresented and/or vulnerable populations (https://www.firstinspires.org/about/diversityinclusion) in FIRST Robotics in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.  Grants will be available between $100 and $1000.  Further information is available at https://firstuppermidwest.org/first-in-upper-midwest/diversity-and-inclusion/fum-equity-and-inclusion-grant-december-2020/ and teams can apply at http://bit.ly/fumdeigrant.  The application deadline is January 26, 2021

FUM FRC Mentor Meet
The next FUM FRC Mentor Meet Up will be Thursday, January 14 at 7:00 PM.  More information, including the opportunity to add topics for discussion, is at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VfrNkXDUXbXFF1GLk-O03i3TvGJUiuoed3OdvxG-6ek/edit?usp=sharing
At Jumpstart a mentor asked if we could start of list of online games that could be used for team building virtual-style.  There is a Google Doc listing games – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iLgxw1C__MiXa5SU6Hnf-HNeq7oDk-AAFz0H94ptNAY/edit?usp=sharing Please add to the list or forward to others who could add to the list.

Remote Mentoring with FIRST Training
Remote Mentoring with FIRST is a brief simulation training that explores the fundamentals of remote meetings for mentors and coaches.  We’re all learning new ways to connect and collaborate.  The Remote Mentoring with FIRST training helps mentors and coaches adapt to new meeting styles by providing helpful refreshers, resources for further support through remote communications, and an opportunity to learn or practice skills around building a sense of community and providing safe and inclusive environments. The 10-minute training simulation is designed for use by all FIRST Programs. Complete the complimentary training at https://www.firstinspires.org/remote-mentoring-with-first/story.html

If your team is meeting remotely this season, complete the complimentary Remote Mentoring with FIRST training. The 10-minute training simulation is designed for use by all FIRST Programs. Through the Remote Mentoring with FIRST training coaches and mentors can:
·         Get tips and tricks to practice skills.
·         Explore strategies for practicing Youth Protection guidelines online.
·         Use training examples to help you provide better accessibility for your team.
·         Develop strategies for your team meetings that best meet your needs and goal.

SWE Career Panel
Join the Society of Women Engineers at Boston Scientific (SWE@BSC) for a virtual careers panel.  Hear from engineers in Design Assurance, Process Development, and Manufacturing about what it is like to be an engineer in the medical device industry.  Be sure to bring questions!

Date: January 26, 2021 3:30-4:30pm
Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7VQ5SWM

Questions: SWE@bsci.com

Regards, Mark Lawrence
Chairman, MN FIRST Regional Planning Committee