State Championship Weekend, Volunteers Needed!

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this post you will find:

1. Spectator Information for the Championships
2. Volunteers Needed for the Championships
3. Your Team's Story

1) Spectator Information for the Championships

This weekend is the Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League State Championship presented by Rockwell Collins. These 2 tournaments, one on Saturday the 14th and one on Sunday the 15th, will take place at Liberty High School in the main gymnasium. Both days are open to the public. This is a great opportunity for your team to see what is possible through FIRST LEGO League, and to see different engineering solutions to the same challenges your team worked to overcome. Even though your team may not be competing they can gain a lot by coming and supporting their peers at our state championship.

Things for a FIRST LEGO League Team to do at the Championship when they aren't competing:

• Watch for sensor use - How do competition robots know where they are on the field? What are the queues the robots use to determine their location on the field? Are teams using sensors to help with mission elements? What sensors are commonly used?  Future games are designed with the LEGO sensors in mind.
• Watch the technicians at the table - teams utilize a variety of strategies in how they put on attachments, choose who is at the tables, when they technicians switch, if they switch, and other game strategies. What does the team see? How would that process work for your team next season?
• Meet teams and coaches - Teams are busy throughout the event, but that doesn't mean you can't say hi and exchange contact information. Most teams at the state championship are eager to help other teams. Events are one of the best ways for coaches to meet each other - the other is through workshops. Good coaches have little to do at a tournament, this is one of the times where we encourage the coaches to reach out and get involved.
• Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism - Watch for examples in the arena, bring your own Gracious Professionalism by supporting the competing teams with your enthusiasm. Have Fun! The state championship is for ALL of Oregon's teams!
• Meet FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition Teams - These teams will be showing off their robots from 3-4pm each day!

2) Volunteers Needed for the Championships

It takes 175 volunteers a day to put on a FIRST LEGO League state championship tournament in Oregon. We are still looking for several more people to fill in the needed roles. Volunteers can be teens or adults, both are needed. 

This is a terrific opportunity for:

• Parents, Mentors, & Coaches who would like to learn more about FIRST LEGO League tournaments.
• Sponsors, Supporters, and Fans who are ready to become more involved and be inspired by all these kids have accomplished.
• Teachers, Administrators, Scout Leaders, 4-H Leaders, Youth Program Managers - we could especially use your help in the judging rooms! 
• Teens who have community service hour requirements for clubs and organizations, or who would just like to give back! It's a lot more fun than picking trash ;)
• Friends and Neighbors who keep asking you what FIRST LEGO League is all about - we'll help you answer that question in full!
• Anyone who wants their child to be on a team next year, or who is thinking of becoming a mentor.

Please sign up to volunteer on the FIRST website, make sure you apply for the event. If you are unsure what role you would like please select Assign as Needed. Don't forget to complete the free background screen - your social security number is optional (select I do not have a Social Security number and your screening will proceed without problems).

3) Your Team's Story

I am looking for your team or individual stories! Please help me understand what is happening in your team meetings and with your team members, so that we can both celebrate your successes and improve the program for all community members.  I want to know: What surprised you? What really worked with your team? What inspired you to get through the challenges? What challenges nearly made you want to stop?

Every team has a story to share, please share yours with me!

Best Wishes,

Loridee