Tournament Info, Project Sharing, & Status Check

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this post you will find:

1. Where to Find Information Specific to Your Tournament
2. Space sSill Available to Share at OMSI 
3. What You Should Have DONE
4. Volunteers Needed!
5. 4H Program Looking to Purchase NXT Systems

1) Where to Find Information Specific to Your Tournament

Information about all of the tournaments, teams, and assignments are posted on the Oregon website. Here is where you find everything you need to know! *note your assignment does not appear on your Dashboard, this has to be done manually for every team we have 440 teams participating in events in Oregon.

• www.ortop.org/fll - the main page! Everything is linked from here.
• http://www.ortop.org/fll/overviewEvents.htm - All the information specific to your tournament, copies of the coach and parent letters, links to judging information, robot game information, etc.
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12bHCKY-eGxXDNVtxL7UbnbQMNq9EE3JvYIGsMcByTlk/edit?usp=sharing - the ugly link that leads to the Oregon Team Status spreadsheet; assignments, payment status, advancement status (coming in December), etc. Tabs on this sheet list teams at EACH tournament so your team can see who they will be competing with. 
• http://www.ortop.org/fll/QT-ALL_Judging.html - details about Qualifying Tournament Judging in Oregon. Also includes information about awards.
• http://www.ortop.org/Documents/OR-FLL2016_TeamIntroductionPage_QT.pdf or http://www.ortop.org/Documents/OR-FLL2016_TeamIntroductionPage_QT.docx - Team Information Pages, your team needs to bring a copy of these filled out for each judging session - they are available on your tournament website and on the judging page.
• http://www.ortop.org/fll/QT-ALL_RobotGame.html - information about how the robot game will be done at the tournaments - not season specific!
• http://www.ortop.org/Documents/QTCoachesChecklist2016.pdf - checklist of things you need for the tournament for your team!
• http://www.ortop.org/Documents/FLL_2016_CV_ObservationsPolicy.pdf - The FIRST Core Values and how observations will be reported at your tournament (good and bad)

Additionally, please watch for and respond to any communications from your tournament director. Especially weather and venue information as we approach tournament day.

2) Space sSill Available to Share at OMSI

OMSI still has one space this weekend (November 19) and two on December 3rd, for a team to share their Innovative Solution to this year's challenge. Every team MUST share their project before it is considered complete. It must be shared with people outside of the team, ideally, individuals who can use the idea or provide feedback to it's development.
Signup on Google Calendar

3) What You Should Have DONE

From today's mail bag, coaches are requesting another accomplishments list. Here is a mid-November list for your team, these items should be done or near done:

• Your team should have shared their innovative solution with someone who can provide feedback on their idea - or at least have that scheduled to do BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT
• Robot should be built and programmed for at least 1 mission.
• All parents have either paper Youth Team Member Forms to fill out, or have been invited to use the online Team Member Registration System. 
• Parents know which tournament their child is attending. 
• The team has a team identity, it could be based on the team name, a logo, or a way of doing things - the team should be more than just a bunch of kids with LEGO pieces.
• If asked each team member can give a personal definition for Gracious Professionalism and Cooperitition. BONUS: Team members can list ALL of the FIRST Core Values
• Teachers, School Administration, Scout Leaders, and Sponsors have been invited to your tournament as appropriate.

4) Volunteers Needed!

All of our tournaments are still looking for volunteers! Parents are welcome to fill in on non-judging or referee roles. These roles can be judge door queuer, scorekeeper, check-in, hospitality, pit or practice fields, runners, and other day-of logistic roles. Coaches and Mentors are invited to volunteer at events where their teams are not competing. Volunteering can be a great way for anyone who is interested in learning more about FIRST LEGO League in Oregon.

All Oregon events are using the FIRST volunteer system. Please create your account and apply for an event (If you have any FIRST account that will work with the volunteer system). Volunteers will be asked to complete a free online background check which stays in the system for 3 years. If you have any challenges with the Volunteer system please contact ORTOP, we will do our best to help you.

5) 4H Program Looking to Purchase NXT Systems
Long time FIRST LEGO League coach Brenda and the Clovernauts are looking for additional NXT robots to use for workshops. If your team has upgraded and no longer uses their NXT. The Clovernauts of Clark County 4H would be interested in purchasing your old kit. Please contact them at: 4-H Clovernauts cc.4h.robotics.club@gmail.com

Best Wishes,
Loridee