Fresh Washed News for August

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update you will find:

1. New Website News and ORTOP Closed (just one day!)
2. KICKOFF - AUGST 29 - Don't Miss It!
3. Team Financial Support Awards Update
4. Available Practice Table in Hillsboro 
5. Space Available in September Workshops
6. Oregon HYDRO DYNAMICS Schedule of Events

To read this as a blog post please click here

1) New Website News and ORTOP Closed (just one day!)

After 17 years and coinciding with the total eclipse of the sun, ORTOP will launch a brand new website on Monday, August 21st.  Say goodbye to the retro (original) early 2000's look as we try on a more modern appearance. We hope everyone will benefit from a streamlined website that will allow you to access materials quicker!  Don't worry, not everything is moving! Some pages will stay just like you are used to them, like team support and the workshop resource will not be updated until this next spring!  We expect a few bad links and some 404 messages as we work out the bugs.  If there is something you'd like to see included on the FIRST LEGO League Oregon part of the new site or would like to report a bug issue, please email Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org

2) KICKOFF - AUGUST 29 - Don't Miss It!

FIRST LEGO League Kickoff is happening LIVE at the State Fair in Salem at Noon on Tuesday, August 29 on the Columbia Hall stage!

Admission to the fair on the 29th is free for teams who register to spend an hour working at the official HYDRO DYNAMICS table. This is a perfect opportunity for new and returning teams to get a mission planned with help and advice from some of FIRST LEGO League Oregon's top volunteers - like Head Referees Tom Mosher and Alison Neubauer! Don't have your robot kit yet? Not a problem, bring notepaper and have a strategy meeting! 

To get free tickets, your team must sign up by Tuesday, August 22nd (otherwise they may not be mailed in time). 

The Kickoff will be open to all fair visitors and the public. If your team decides to attend after August 22nd, we'd love to see you in Columbia Hall at the stage!

3) Team Financial Support Awards Update

The first round of ORTOP Team Financial Support Awards went out today. If you had an application into ORTOP by August 1 and you did not get an email today please email Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org The next round will be sent to their Lead Coach 1's by September 7. If you have already applied for team financial support please be ready for your letter. You can do these steps in advance:

• Create your FIRST profile, or update your profile from last year.
• Sign your Consent and Release form for 2017-2018 (this is available on your profile)
• If you are a first-time coach, please complete your youth protection program background check.
• REMEMBER ORTOP can not reimburse you for items you have already purchased, especially national registration. 

If you have not yet applied for ORTOP Team Financial Support schools, youth organizations, and neighborhood teams who have financial need are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. ORTOP will stop accepting applications for team financial support on September 11, 2017.  Remember EACH TEAM must submit it's own application to be considered for support.

4) Available Practice Table in Hillsboro 

There is a FIRST LEGO League Practice table to a team who needs one in Hillsboro. 

Please contact Jim (see email version)

5) Space Available in September Workshops

Last chance to attend the ORTOP Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops for 2017! If you have a Team Financial Support Application in, attending a workshop is a component you need to fulfill for the award (once every 3 years)!
The September workshops will be:

• Portland Community College - Southeast Campus starting on 9/7 (three-week series)
• Hood River Extension on 9/9 (OneDay Workshop!)
• Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington Office (all are welcome) starting 9/12 (three-week series)
• PROGRAMMING CLASS - Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington on 9/20 
• Umpqua Community College in Roseburg on 9/16 (OneDay Workshop!)
• Garmin in Salem on 9/23 (OneDay Workshop!)
• Hillsboro High School starting on 9/26 (Workshop I, II, and III in just 3 days!)
• Eastham Cafeteria in Oregon City is the final workshop on 9/30 (OneDay Workshop!)

Please use the direct link to register for a workshop while our website transitions this weekend.

6) Oregon HYDRO DYNAMICS Schedule of Events

Here is what the season looks like for Oregon FIRST LEGO League teams!

August 29 - KICKOFF of HYDRO DYNAMICS

September 11 - Team Financial Support Applications CLOSE!

~ October 1 - National Registration for Oregon Closes (may close sooner if challenge kits sell out)

October 4-10 - Qualifying Tournament Registration - your team should have their team name ready!

October 28 - FIRST LEGO League Team's Share their Project Solutions at OMSI

November 11 - FIRST LEGO League Team's Share their Project Solutions at OMSI & thank any veterans they see

December 2, 3, 9, 10 - Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments!

January 13 & 14 - Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournaments at Liberty High School in Hillsboro!

Best Wishes,

Loridee