Hello FRC Team Leaders in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota,
Housekeeping reminder:  This email is sent to the lead (2) mentors listed in each team’s registration via the FIRST Dashboard. It does not go to all mentors on a team. Please share this information with your mentors and your teams as is appropriate. Thank you to everyone who is reading these emails, and sharing the information with other mentors on your teams. 😄
This week’s update:
  • COVID-19 Policies posted for Minnesota and North Dakota Events
  • Volunteer at Regional Events
  • Team Status Survey
  • Consent & Release Forms – Online Registrations
  • Thank you to our Regional Program Sponsors!
  • 2022 Season FIRST Train Music Video
  • Week Zero Events
  • Email Blast Archive
  • FRC Blog and season updates
  • FIRST in Upper Midwest Newsletter
COVID-19 Policies and Procedures for Minnesota and North Dakota Regional Events: The Regional Planning Committees for the FRC Regional Competitions in Duluth, Grand Forks, ND, and Minneapolis have released COVID-19 Policies and Procedures.  The policies are posted on the firstuppermidwest.org website, under Duluth Regional events; Minneapolis Regional events; and Grand Forks, ND events, respectively, and will be updated as needed in the coming weeks.
  • Important Note 1: The RPC COVID guidance is not the same in every regional event.  Please read the policies carefully. The RPC rules will be enforced by venue staff, event management, and volunteers at the event. This includes restricted entry into team pits and properly worn face masks, whether required or welcomed.
  • Important Note 2: At all Regional Events in Minnesota and North Dakota, there will be very limited supplies of safety glasses and masks. ALL Teams are required to outfit all members, mentors, parents associated with their teams with the proper protective gear.
  • Important Note 3: Nationwide, all the FRC events are being planned with a new lens for this season, focusing on the robotics competition and evaluating all the supplemental activities to determine what is truly needed this season as we go back to in person events. Please keep this in mind as you plan your team’s travel to events this season.
  • Important Note 4: Please also refer to FIRST’s Event Rules, which are in effect for all official FIRST events.
  • Important Note 5: All of the Minnesota and North Dakota events will conduct Dean’s List Award interviews via remote interview. These interviews will take place BEFORE team-load in day for all events. More information will be coming to teams shortly.
Volunteer! No matter where your team is competing this season, there are volunteer needs in all of our Minnesota and North Dakota events. Please share with your team mentors and parents/guardians/families! Volunteer registration is submitted via your FIRST Dashboard at firstinspires.org account. Click on Volunteer and then Event Volunteering. Available roles are noted by event (Filter for FIRST Robotics Competition, Minnesota and/or North Dakota). Thank you from your regional event Volunteer Coordinators: Lori Frisk, Rachel Jones, Candace Logeais, Michelle Maas, and Laurie Shimizu.
 
Team Status Survey: Team Leads, a request from Ken Rosen, our Minnesota Regional Director. Please email Ken (krosen@umn.edu) a season update, including how many students are on your team this year; their reaction to the game, and how things are coming along so far.
Complete your Team Rosters!
Team Leads, ALL Students should have a completed 2022 season consent and release form on file with FIRST.  Online registration ensures your team member is eligible to be nominated AND interviewed for the Dean’s List award. We’d like to HELP YOU complete this task. Please reference this blog as well as this information page.  We know that not every student/family has online access and we can help. Every student and mentor needs to be listed on your team roster and there needs to be a notation as to whether the consent for is online OR is attached to the team roster. Questions? Contact Ken Rosen, krosen@umn.edu.
Special thanks and appreciation to our Regional Program Sponsors to make our 2022 FIRST Rapid React season a success!

 

  • Medtronic
  • USBank
  • 3M
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • Boston Scientific
  • Marvin
  • Digi Key
  • Cirrus Aircraft
  • University of Minnesota
  • North Dakota State University
  • The Toro Company
  • Northern Clearing
  • John Deere
  • Emerson Solutions
  • Hartel’s
  • University of North Dakota
  • Infor
  • Komatsu
  • Newcon Co.
  • Saturn Systems
  • TKDA
  • Barr Engineering
  • North Shore Bank of Commerce
  • Visit Duluth

 

2022 Season FIRST Train Music Video: The 2022 FIRST Train project is underway, with a new song and a new music video.  We invite your team to be part of the music video!!  Click here for information on how to submit team videos and photos.  Submission deadline is Feb. 17.
Week Zero Events:
 
Email Blast Archive: These email blasts are archived! Please see this link on the firstuppermidwest.org website.
FRC Blog and Season Updates
Season-critical information is released via the FIRST Blog! Please subscribe and bookmark this page.
FIRST in Upper Midwest Newsletter
Updates for FRC teams in our region from FIRST Upper Midwest, covering off-season events, activities, and outreach opportunities. This is a separate, opt-in, weekly mailing from FUM.Sign up at FUM FIRST Robotics Competition Updates.

Regards,

 

Laurie Shimizu

FIRST Senior Mentor || ​Minnesota

Chief Volunteer Coordinator, ​FIRST Robotics Competition

Pronouns: she/her/hers