Hello FRC Team Leaders in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota,
This week’s update:
  • TONIGHT: FUM Mentor Meet-up, Thursday October 21
  • Second-Round Event Preferencing : Opens this morning, 12 Noon EASTERN time
  • Kit of Parts Opt-Out for Drive Base: Deadline is today!
  • Kickoff Site selection
  • Jumpstart Robotics, Sponsored by Medtronic
  • FUM FEI FI FO FUM Grants
  • NMRC Off-Season Event
  • Minne-Mini Off-season Event
  • MURA field surround (and carpet!) needs a new home
  • Target online career building seminars
  • 2022 Season Teaser – #1 in a series

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. This meeting is open to ALL FRC Team Mentors, please share with the mentors on your teams.

 
Second-round Event Preferencing – opens today, October 21 at 12 noon Eastern Time, and will remain open until October 27 at 12 noon Eastern Time. Please reference this list of events and look carefully at the Open Capacity. All of the events in the Upper Midwest — with the exception of Lake Superior, Duluth — have open capacity. We strongly suggest that your team consider preferencing events that list Open Capacity only. If you list an event with no open capacity, your team will be placed on a wait-list for that event. If you are having difficulties with event and/or team registration, please contact Ken Rosen, krosen@umn.edu.
 
Kit of Parts Drive Base Opt-Out: October 21 at 12 noon EASTERN time is also the deadline for Teams to “opt-out” of the AndyMark drive base that is included in the Kit of Parts. If your team decides to opt-out of the drive base in favor of receiving a voucher for $450 from AndyMark, please be sure to make this selection by October 21 (that’s today) at 12 noon Eastern Time.
 
Kickoff Site Selection: Teams also are asked to select a Kickoff Site for the January 8, 2022 Kickoff Event. Important Note: The Twin Cities Kickoff is remote this year, which means that only the Kit of Parts will be available for pickup. The Event Site is Eagan High School, Eagan, MN. Other Kickoff sites are hosting live-events. You can check for additional information on these pages on the firstinspires.org website. Be sure to register your Kickoff Site by 12 noon Eastern Time, Monday, November 15.
Jumpstart Robotics, Sponsored by Medtronic 

FRC Teams are invited to kick-off the season with the third annual Jumpstart Robotics training series sponsored by Medtronic. We are planning four, 2-hour sessions over four consecutive weeks. Each week will have at least two tracks of sessions covering both technical and non-technical topics. Agenda and participation details will be emailed to registered attendees.

 

October 28, November 4, 11, & 18, 3:00 – 5:00 PM Central Time

Individuals and teams are encouraged to submit an abstract to present on a topic of your choosing.

 

Register using this online form or scan the QR code (see attached) with your mobile device. And, Please bookmark this link for the most updated information.

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

The MNRC event – October 30

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

 

Minne-Mini Regional Tournament – November 20

 

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:

 

MURA field surround looking for new home

MURA (Minneapolis Urban Robotics Alliance) has been using a 2″ x 4” and plywood field surround for a few years now and they are now looking for a new home for it.  MURA was one of the five groups to get an aluminum AndyMark field surround using the State of MN Competitive Robotics Hubs grant.  The AndyMark field will be installed at the end of October, making the old field available to a new home (as opposed to a dumpster).  There is a full-size competition carpet to go along with it.  If your team or hub is interested, please contact Mark Lawrence (MarkL56821@aol.com).

Prepare to Launch Seminar Series from Target TWIST
Target offers students a series of free, online career building seminars to help students learn the must-have skills to launch into their careers. Registration is by each specific seminar on the Event Brite website. Seminar recordings will be sent out after the event to those who signed up.
2022 FRC Season Teaser

In case you missed it, the first episode of the 2022 FIRST Robotics Competition season teaser has been released. The next being released on October 27, 2021!

 

Regards,

 

Laurie Shimizu

FIRST Senior Mentor || ​Minnesota

Chief Volunteer Coordinator, ​FIRST Robotics Competition

Pronouns: she/her/hers