Hello FRC Team Leaders in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota,

FIRST is changing its mailing systems, which means we too are changing how we deliver important updates to our FRC Lead Team Mentors in the FIRST Upper Midwest (FUM) areas. Until further notice, updates will be coming from this email address in bcc format. We are hopeful that these updates will reach current season, registered “Event Ready” Teams  (identified as Lead Contact/Mentor 1 and Lead Contact/Mentor 2 on each team’s dashboard). PLEASE SHARE this information with the other mentors on your teams.

IF YOU are no longer an FRC Lead Team Contact, please forward this email to the individual(s) stepping into the role as Team Leaders. IF Your Team IS NOT YET registered for this season – or you need help – please contact Ken Rosen, the MN Regional Director, krosen@umn.edu.

This mailing list is pulled directly from FIRST Systems. The only way to ensure that you and/or your co-Team Lead is on the list is to be registered for the current season of the FIRST Robotics Competition.  All updates are handled through your Team Dashboard and/or by working directly with Ken Rosen, the Minnesota Regional Director and/or with FIRST HQ.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the FRC Blog, please do so today. It is one of the best and most direct ways to get important FRC program updates directly sent to your inbox.  You can access an archive of FRC-related materials on this web page; scroll to the bottom and there are direct links to FRC information archives.
 
Event Preferencing – Are you Ready?
Team Leads, the link above ^^^ will take you to the FRC email blast archive. In this week’s email you will see reminders of the following:
This week’s FRC email blast also has information regarding the Kickoff, Kit of Parts, and FIRST Choice.
  • Saturday, January 8 is the official FRC Kickoff Day.
  • Please select your Kickoff Location.
  • Important note: NOT all locations are holding live, in-person Kickoff broadcast viewing. Some locations are drive-through, Kit pick up only.
  • Please check your location carefully to know what each Kickoff location is offering.
  • Kit of Parts: Lead Mentors, please also check your preferences for the Kit of Parts. If you do not want the Andymark Drive Base, please indicate that preference under Kit/Kickoff preferences.
October FUM Mentor Meet-up – Thursday October 21
Have questions? Bring them to the October FIRST Upper Midwest Mentor Meet-up. This link will take you to the document with the event and online meeting information.
 
Looking for an off-season event for your team? Check out the MNRC event
The Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference is hosting an Invitational event in Upsala, MN on October 30th.  Come participate in a Central Minnesota get together by bringing your students and robots to play Infinite Recharge. This is a perfect opportunity to get your team together, network with other schools from around Minnesota, practice driving, and develop new team-members’ skills in our off-season event.  Registration fee to participate will be $400 per team, This event will have a fully functional field with an integrated FMS and automated scoring. The NMRC Takes pride in providing high quality events with as close to a “Regional Event” atmosphere as possible.  Come join the fun, and help re-energize your team!

Visit: nmrconference.org for more details

FEI FI FO FUM Grants – Nov. 1 deadline

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-october-2021/ and teams can apply at http://bit.ly/fumdeigrant2021.  The application deadline is November 1, 2021

JUMPSTART Training Sessions – Your Input is NEEDED

Attention Mentor/Coaches we want your opinion:

Regional sponsor Medtronic and The JUMPSTART Initiative are exploring 4 weeks of sessions hosted online instead a single Saturday of sessions.  These would be hosted once a week starting the week of Oct 25th and ending the week of November 15th.  Please take a minute to fill out this survey so, we can see if there is interest and best time to host these sessions.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgX2MQNrYGoUqjUsinF-MTQJ6qC9KVpKWOWszeTjKKSaDSHg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Save the Date: Jumpstart – St. Cloud will take place on Saturday, December 4 as a live, in-person event on the campus of St. Cloud State University.

Minne-Mini Regional Tournament – Registration is Open

Registration is now open for the 2021 Minne Mini-Regional Robotics Tournament at Prior Lake High School on Saturday, November 20.  The registration form can be accessed from the EVENTS page of kingtec2169.com, or directly from the link below:

Please note the following change to the registration process for MMR 2021:

Due to the abbreviated official FIRST regional competition schedule in 2020, registration priority for MMR 2021 offseason competition will be given to teams that did NOT compete at an official FIRST FRC regional competition in 2020.  The LAST DAY for priority registration is Friday, October 1.


MNAIC – Still Accepting Award Applications
Mentors, there’s still time for your female & female-identifying students to apply for the Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Awards! Please share this link with students. We have had more than a few FIRST students win these awards, and it is a tremendous boost to our future STEM leaders.

Regards,

Laurie Shimizu

FIRST Senior Mentor || ​Minnesota
Chief Volunteer Coordinator, ​FIRST Robotics Competition
Pronouns: she/her/hers