CS6 - Getting the Permits in Order

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these items:

1. National Registration Closes - NEXT WEEK!
2. Am I too late to start a team?
3. What you need to apply to attend a Qualifying Tournament
4. What's in a Name? - Team Names
5. Team Led Expert Opportunity at OHSU
6. Using the Team Meeting Guide
7. Why is my mat too short? and other changes for returning teams
8. Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Tournaments from last update.

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

CS5 - Getting this Build off the Ground

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these items:

1. Qualifying Tournaments
2. National Registration Closing
3. Free Table
4. Team Workshops by Teams
5. Team Support - Extended 1 week!
6. Using the Team Meeting Guide

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

CS4 - Gathering the People and Resources

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these items:

1. How to register your FIRST LEGO League team
2. Team Financial Support Get your Application in Now!
3. Remembering Charlotte Van Valkenburg
4. Free Table / NXT items
5. Team Meeting Guide Check-in x2
6. Resources - my favorites

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

CS2 - Planning and Zoning

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these items:

1. Document Order of Official Rules
2. Free Table, Kits for Sale
3. Last Chance for Workshops 2019
4. Volunteers Needed at Maker Faire
5. FIRST LEGO League 2019 Sweepstakes
6. ORTOP Team Financial Support - Running out Fast!
7. How to register your team for CITY SHAPER

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

I04: Tournament Launch Delay

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these topics:

1. Where Did Loridee Go?
2. National Registration - CLOSING SOON!
3. Tournament Registration - DELAYED
4. Challenge Updates!
5. NASA Chats
6. Table Available
7. Looking for a Volunteer to Cater
8. Expert Nights with Astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

IO3: Forms and More!

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these topics:

1. Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops  - LAST CHANCE
2. ORTOP Team Financial Support - Ending SOON!
3. National Registration 
4. Tournament Registration
5. Challenge Updates!
6. Table Available
7. INTO ORBIT Project Resources
8. I-84 FIRST Road Show
9. Expert Nights with Astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt
10. Showcases and Scrimmages!

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

IO2: August Mission - Preparing for the Oregon Season

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these topics:

1. How to Complete your National Registration
2. Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops - time is running out!
3. ORTOP Team Financial Support - Over 60 teams awarded!
4. Oregon IMPORTANT DATES
5. The Importance Working on Inclusion and Diversity
6. FIRST LEGO League Paid Coaching Opportunity - Portland
7. Showcases and Scrimmages!

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

HD18: Staying in the Flow

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update, you will find:

1. Set Your Coordinates for INTO ORBIT^SM
2. Showcasing FIRST LEGO League in March - HELP NEEDED!
3. Congratulations Championship Teams
4. Sponsor Thank Yous
5. #HDsecretmissions
6. Oregon Featured Teams
7. Jump Start into FIRST Tech Challenge

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

HD7: Keeping the Season Flowing Along

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update, you will find:

1. REGISTRATION For Oregon Teams is CLOSED! - What to do if you missed the boat.
2. LOTS of Opportunities for FIRST LEGO League Teams!
3. Please Respect Our Oregon Water Experts
4. Share your Project at OMSI
5. Table Available in Hillsboro
6. Team Goals for October
7. Getting Everything You Need From Team Parents for the Roster part 1

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

Check Your Team's Status! National Registration and Oregon Event Registration Closes TOMORROW

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

The Oregon FIRST LEGO League region will close for the HYDRO DYNAMICS competitive season tomorrow morning! Is your team ready? Check your team's current status using our handy Google Sheet!

• If your team does not appear at all - you are NOT Nationally registered as of the time of the last update. Please login to FIRST and pay your $225 National Registration (make sure you order the HYDRO DYNAMICS Challenge Kit if you do not have acces sto one!)
• If your team does not have two green yeses you are NOT fully registered to attend a qualifying tournament. 
• Missing the first yes? Complete the application to attend an event in Oregon. 
• Missing the second yes? Submit your qualifying tournament payment.
• Please check the Google Sheet to make sure your team name and affiliation are correct WE WILL NOT UPDATE USING THE FIRST SYSTEM!  Directions to correct spelling errors will come out in this week's update! Please do NOT send them by email.

You do not need to have a complete team roster to register for your qualifying tournament! Please complete the application for each team who will be attending a tournament now.

The Team Google Sheet now lives on the Oregon Hot Topics Page, if you haven't you should probably bookmark this page.

If your team has two green yeses you are done for today. Give yourself 5 coach points (redeemable in smiles from your team at the qualifying tournament).
You can skip the rest of this email/blog.


HELP I'M LOST
If none of this makes sense and you have a team that you are working with right now. Let me help!

What is National Registration?Your team must be nationally registered with FIRST in Manchester NH to be eligible to participate in the current FIRST LEGO League season. This is done from your DASHBOARD on www.firstinspires.org

I was trying to register for an event, but I can't find it on the DASHBOARD? Understandable, Oregon does NOT use the FIRST system for tournament registration because we welcome our teams to choose their event and we use this opportunity to get the information we need to run events and talk with sponsors. To apply for an event you must use the link on the OREGON WEBSITE: https://ortop.org/fll/first-lego-league-qualifying-tournament-registration/

Didn't I already pay for this? The National Registration and the Oregon Qualifying Tournament Registration/Application Fee are not the same things. National Registration is paid to FIRST in Manchester NH and goes to the creation of the FIRST LEGO League program. That money does not cover the program costs for Oregon. ORTOP Sponsors cover many of the program's costs, and some sponsors are ready to help teams who are financially unable to pay the full registration cost. Oregon fees go to make the Oregon program and events possible.

 I received a Team Support Award, but I don't know the number.  The number can be found on the back of the award above the box where you are told what is covered in your award.  Still don't see it? It was also on the email subject line that accompanied your letter.

I'm not going to be ready today/my coach is out of town - Take a deep breath, I have some extensions (not many) that we can use. Email Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org or call ORTOP before 5:30 today. Please provide your team number (if you have one) and explain what's happening. I don't want any team to miss out!

I have other questions! Please email Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org. I'm doing my best to help as many of you as I can through this process!

HD6: The Floodgates are Open

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update, you will find:

1. Oregon Qualifying Tournament Registration is OPEN until October 10!
2. Two Upcoming Water Expert Nights!
3. Coming Soon!

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

HD5: Filtered Information to Get Your Team Pumped Up

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update, you will find:

1. National Registration Open for another ~10 days!
2. Are you ready to apply for your Qualifying Tournament?
3. Oregon Qualifying Tournament Dates
4. What You Need to Know About Qualifying Tournaments
5. Bring in the Bricks - Things to Know About the Challenge Kit
6. The Deep Dark Pit of Email

Use this link to read this update as a blog post

HD4: Distilled News You Can Tap Into

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update you will find:

1. National Registration - CLOSING SOON
2. Checklist to Register for an Oregon Qualifying Tournament
3. Last week for Adult Workshops!
4. Team Roster Reminder - Still Not Open 😞
5. Hillsboro International Air Show
6. CORRECTION from Last Week!

To read this update as a blog, please click here.

HD2: A Sprinkle of News

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

We have a couple quick, but urgent items for your attention today:

1. WORKSHOPS - Need more attendees or they will be canceled
2. TEAM FINANCIAL Support - Last Round September 11th!
3. CORE VALUES - Adult Play and Learn Session - September 11
4. Teams need 2 ADULT COACHES
5. Delays with Coach/Mentor Background Checks
6. HYDRO DYNAMICS Season could close as early as September 30

To read this update as a blog, please click here:

National Registration is Open for HYDRO DYNAMICS

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

Before today's post, here is the link to change your subscription to ORTOP mailings. If your team is moving up to FIRST Tech Challenge, please make sure you read the last few emails as a lot has happened the last two weeks!

In this post you will find:

1. National Registration Now Open
2. FIRST LEGO League Oregon Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops
3. Team Financial Support Update
4. Teacher, Principal, and Administrator workshops from LEGO Education and OMSI
5. Summer Outreach Opportunities
6. ORTOP is hiring
7. Save the Date - HYDRO DYNAMICS Kickoff

Read Below or ONLINE

Is your team nationally registered?

FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament Registration launches tomorrow, October 5. Only some of you are ready? Is your team among them?

In this update you will find:

1. The Oregon National List
2. The Still Registering List
3. What to do if you are not on one of the lists and think you should be
4. Qualifying Tournament Payment Quirks
5.  The Evergreen Space Museum Qualifying Tournament

1) The Oregon National List
If you plan on registering for a qualifying tournament please make sure your team is on this list! If it isn't you have work to do TONIGHT!

(link to sheet)

2) The Still Registering List
Don't see your name above, but you were good and put your team name on the Region Lock Exemption Form? Might need to make sure. Check this sheet!
(link to sheet)

3) What to do if you are not on one of the lists and think you should be
If you are planning on registering to participate in a Qualifying Tournament this December in Oregon and you do NOT see your team on either list you need to take ALL of the following steps.

1. Login to www.firstinspires.org (the login button is in the upper right-hand corner)
2. Select your Dashboard from the upper right-hand corner if you are not automatically redirected there.
3. Check the status of your team:
1. 2/2 Coaches Youth Protection Policy Completion
2. Balance: $0, Amount Paid: $225
4. If you do not see the above numbers for your coaches, check  Manage Team Contacts/Roster. If one or more LEAD coaches have an orange YPP checkmark, contact that coach, find out what day they submitted the YPP form to Verified Volunteers and complete this form.
5. If both of your LEAD coaches have green checkmarks, go back to the Dashboard, select Pay This Season's Team Registration. Pay the registration. If you need to pay by check, P.O. (really not a good idea at this point) or have already started a payment with one of those systems, you need to complete this form with the date you MAILED the check or P.O. to Manchester NH.
6. If you have done all of the above, but are still not on either sheet AND you did this before 3pm on October 4, 2016 - Check Edit/View Team's Account (right under your team name). Make sure the Region is set to Oregon. 
7. Everything else checks out, but you weren't on the lists? Email Loridee Wetzel.

4) Qualifying Tournament Payment Quirks

The Qualifying Tournament Payment page was showing last year's page for a couple moments yesterday, but has been fixed. We've also had a couple quirks with the credit card system. If you have paid by credit card, but are not emailed a receipt please email Loridee Wetzel.  If you downloaded check or P.O. forms yesterday please make sure they are for the 2016 Season.

5) The Evergreen Space Museum Qualifying Tournament

As returning teams may be aware, the FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments at the Evergreen Space Museum are IN the museum paid area. The team and up to 3 adult coaches will be given wristbands for the Space Museum Only when they check in at the tournament. Spectators will need to pay the Education Admittance price which last year was $10 per person or $15 for both museums. There will be an update tomorrow confirming these prices as I am checking with the museum to make sure we have the same rate.  Any teams are welcome to travel for their Qualifying Tournament if they would like, but full tournaments will have a preference for local teams.

Lead coach's on the 2 lists above - watch your email for a link to register tomorow, Wednesday, October 5 @5:00pm. The link will not be available prior to that time!

Best Wishes,
Loridee

It's Qualifying Tournament Registration Week!

In this update is completely focused on the Qualifying Tournament registration process for Oregon
You will find:

1. How Qualifying Tournament Registration Works
2. Region Lock Exemption
3. Qualifying Tournament Registration SAMPLE Form
4. Paying for your Qualifying Tournament
5. Team Registration Status

1) How Qualifying Tournament Registration Works
Qualifying Tournament registration in Oregon will OPEN on October 5th at 5pm. The lead coach from the team will receive an email at 5pm. In the email, there will be a link to a surveymonkey application. This application must be completely filled out for EVERY team that is competing at an Oregon Qualifying Tournament this year.  The lead coach or their appointed person may register the team anytime between 5pm on October 5 and 5pm on October 12.

To register the team, you need demographic information about the team, their 3 top choices for tournament, and their team name that they will use at the tournament.  All of the questions asked can be seen on the tournament registration SAMPLE form, see below for more information.

Teams are assigned to events on a first-come-first-in basis with some consideration for regional access. Your team will be able to choose whether the day of the week or the location are more important, and we will do our best to accommodate all teams. It is our goal, that with rare exception, teams will not drive more than 2 hours to reach their tournament in good weather.

2) Region Lock Exemption
If your team does not have a completed national registration because you are waiting for FIRST to approve a coach's YPP or process a payment, please use this form to tell me all about it. This is the only way your team will be able to register on Wednesday for a qualifying tournament in Oregon without a complete national registration.

Dates are important in this form. It can take 5-10 business days for YPP to clear for a coach. If it takes longer I will be contacting FIRST on your behalf. It also helps to make sure that the coach has started this process. The same is true for checks and purchase orders.

Your team MUST be nationally registered with FIRST or on this list by October 4, tomorrow!

3)  Qualifying Tournament Registration SAMPLE Form
To make sure the person who is registering your team for their qualifying tournament has all the information they need before the form goes live on Wednesday night, it is recommended to review the Qualifying Tournament Registration SAMPLE Form. This pdf looks exactly like the online application that must be filled out between October 5 and October 12 for your team to participate in a Qualifying Tournament. THIS PDF MAY NOT BE USED IN PLACE OF AN OFFICIAL ONLINE REGISTRATION. ORTOP does not accept paper versions of the application, filling this out is only for your own reference!

4) Paying for your Qualifying Tournament
Your team may start the payment process for the qualifying tournament registration fee. Your team's registration is not complete until they have paid for their qualifying tournament registration fee. Your team is welcome to use a secure online form and pay by credit card or they can send a check or purchase order by mail. All of these options are available on the Qualifying Tournament Payment page.

There has been a change to the Qualifying Tournament fees this year. This year the fee is on a sliding scale. This is to better reflect the true cost of this program. If your team needs a sponsor to cover part of your registration fee, up to $100. Please make sure you read the copy of the email from ORTOP Executive Director from July to understand all the details.

5) Team Registration Status

Later this week, the Team Registration Status will be posted on the ORTOP website. This Google Sheet will track all of the nationally registered teams (and teams on the exemption list) through the qualifying tournament registration system. By November 7, the tournament assignments will also be added to this sheet. The sheet must be manually updated because of the various systems involved, so if you just paid please a full business day before wondering why it is not showing on the Google Sheet. A link to this sheet will be posted on the ORTOP website.

National Registration Prepares to Close

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

In this update you will find:

1. National Registration will Close - don't be left out!
2. WARNING - Potential FIRST website down-time.
3. LEGO Education Teacher's Workshop
4. DATES - Tournament Registration, and SOME of the Qualifying Tournaments
5. Adding Team Members to your team online.
6. What's In a Name - What you need to know about Team Names
7. Already attended a Coach Workshop, but would like more training/advice?
8. Are you Ready for ANIMAL ALLIES? -  an inventory check for rookie teams
9. FIRST LEGO League Jr Info Night - for people with kids in K-4th grades

I apologize for putting so many updates in one post, lots happening this week!

1)  National Registration will Close - don't be left out!

National Registration for Oregon will have a soft close on October 3, 2016. What does this mean? If your team has not paid their national registration by October 3, they must have 2 coaches who have accepted the team AND email Loridee Wetzel to confirm that they have BOTH started the YPP process in order to be invited to register for an Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament on October 5th. This means, if you are planning on having a team this year, you need to make sure all your information is up to date!

Are you struggling with the new FIRST registration system? Help is available! First, please review the pdf walkthrough I created earlier this summer. It has many screen shots to help show you the way through the system, for both a new and returning team. If you can't find your answer, or you just need some personalized help. Please email Loridee, call ORTOP (503-486-7622), or call FIRST during East Coast business hours (1-800-871-8326 ext 0). 

Not sure where to start? 

All teams start at www.firstinspires.org

If you had a FIRST account last year, it has been transferred to the new system, you can start at the log in.  Your teams should be waiting for your on your Dashboard.

2) WARNING - Potential FIRST website down-time.
On Thursday, some of you were unfortunate enough to run into the www.firstinspires.org crash. This crash was partially caused by FIRST Robotics Competition Registration. FIRST Robotics Competition Registration has been moved to Thursday, September 29. FIRST will do everything they can to keep the site running and the databases accessible for updating your team Dashboard. Please be aware that the site may be extra sluggish in the morning at least.

3) LEGO Education Teacher's WorkshopLEGO Education will be in Oregon with a free workshop for teachers specifically talking about using LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. It will all be in Albany at Linn-Benton Community College on October 14th. If you are a teacher, I hope you can join us!  Please register here

4) DATES - Tournament Registration, and SOME of the Qualifying Tournaments

There are a lot of things happening this season. FIRST LEGO League will move very fast for the next couple weeks. Here are some dates you need to know!

Oct 3 - Oregon National Team Registration will close
Oct 5 - Oregon Qualifying Tournament Registration will Open (Only teams who list Oregon as their region and have a national registration complete are invited to apply)
Oct 12 - Last day to register for a Qualifying Tournament
Oct 12 - Last day to change TEAM NAME used at the Qualifying Tournament - this will be taken from your tournament application (not the FIRST system)
Oct 31 - Last day for Qualifying Tournament Checks and Purchase Orders, all payments must be received to complete tournament registration.
Nov 7 - Tournament Assignments will be posted (possibly earlier)
Dec 3, 4, 10, & 11 -  Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments - temporary dates and locations are listed on the website and are subject to change!
Jan 14 & 15 - Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournaments presented by Rockwell Collins at Liberty High School. Approximately 1/3 of all teams will advance to a state championship.

5) Adding Team Members to your team online.

At this time the FIRST system for adding team members is a hybrid of last year's system and this year's Dashboard.  As such there is not new documentation available at this time.

If you would like the parents to add their students to your team. Please have them complete the following:

1. Create a login at www.firstinspires.org (unless they have an account from last year)
2. From their Dashboard select I Want To + 
3. Select Complete Youth Registration 
4. Here they may need to complete some additional profile questions
5. They may update a child already in the system - if they had an account last year
6. They may Add Youth
7. They MUST enter the official FIRST Team Number to complete the parent steps in the team member registration process

Coaches - you will find your team member from your Dashboard. You will need to accept each child to the team.

WARNING - Do not use the coach's account to have parents add their students! The rosters will not show as legally signed.

6) What's In a Name - What you need to know about Team Names
It is best if your team has decided on a team name by the time your register for your Qualifying Tournament (October 5-12). The team name will be asked for on the Qualifying Tournament registration form. It DOES NOT need to match the team name in the FIRST system. Our tournament directors do not have access to the FIRST system and can not see any changes made there, they can only see the parts of the forms that are shared with them after a team registers for a tournament. 

Your FIRST team name, the one connected to your team on www.firstinspires.org, will be printed on your team Roster when you print it for the tournament in December. If you want to change it, login to www.firstinspires.org, make sure the correct team is selected (if you have more than one), and select Edit on the blue section under the team number and name. This allows you to change your team's name, zip code, and region - although all your regions should say Oregon if you plan to attend one of our events in December!

Oregon Guidelines on Team Names

Please be aware of these additional guidelines on team names

• Team names should not make fun of a group or demographic
• Team names should not use aggressive or violent terms (ie kill, murder, etc)
• No drug or sexual names
• No references to songs/videos/movies/anime that focus on the above
• Please Google all names to make sure that they are not in the above category as slang - even if your team thinks they made up the word.  If you skip this step, we won't!

Please do be creative in your team names!

7) Already attended a Coach Workshop, but would like more training/advice?

FIRST would like to invite rookie coaches to their online coach resource program. By filling out an invitation request coaches, teachers, and parents may enroll in a schoology class for FIRST LEGO League. This is an adult only space!  Please go to info.firstinspires.org/fllfirststeps to submit your request.

Are you an experienced coach with a heart to help those that are just starting? FIRST also would like you to join their schoology class. The class has an interactive workspace where rookies and experienced coaches from around North America can go for help. Just request access at info.firstinspires.org/fllfirststeps

8) Are you Ready for ANIMAL ALLIES? -  an inventory check for rookie teams

It is nearly the end of September, it's time for a season check sheet and our first set of goals!

At this time your team should have:

1. Two ADULT coaches who have FIRST accounts and have completed their YPP. 
2. An officially registered team number - this should be a 2-6 digit number.
3. You should have ordered your LEGO challenge kit for ANIMAL ALLIES - TRASH TREK is not going to work this year!
4. You should have ordered or prepared a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot for the exclusive use of your team through the season, this can be an EV3 or an NXT model.
5. A 4'x8' table or space to make a mock table to use your challenge kit
6. The ANIMAL ALLIES Challenge Guide!
7. The first set of ANIMAL ALLIES Updates!
8. The official Table Set Up Guide
9. A team meeting space
10. A general team meeting schedule

Goals for Next Month:

1. Finalize your Team Name
2. Register for your Qualifying Tournament between October 5 & 12
3. Select an animal or problem for your conflict
4. Identify 3 potential experts to go with your animal or problem
5. Build your challenge kit
6. Identify the first mission your team will work on achieving
7. Agree on robot base design - will it have wheels or treads, how many drive motors, wheel/tread configuration, how will attachments be added and removed.
8. Each team member knows the Core Values and can define Gracious Professionalism

9) FIRST LEGO League Jr Info Night - for people with kids in K-4th grades

I will be hosting an information session for FIRST LEGO League Jr at OMSI on October 11th from 6-8pm in Classroom 1. To sign up and for more information please see the FIRST LEGO League Jr blog.

September News, Alerts, and Announcements

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

Welcome to the new format for team messages. On the blog, you will find a long format version of the email with lots of details. This format will make past emails easier to search for and replace the clunky table of emails on the website. You will still get emails, however; when I need to go into detail you will be referred here.

Welcome new coaches! All FIRST LEGO League coaches in Oregon are automatically added to this mailing list each week. This is the primary way we will keep you up to date with what is happening in Oregon!

In this update you will find:

1. Coach, Mentor, & Parent Workshops - FINAL SERIES and ONE DAY events!
2. Last Call for Team Financial Support!
3. National Registration with FIRST
4. What does my team need to compete in FIRST LEGO League?
5. ANIMAL ALLIES Challenge Documents and Official UPDATES!
6. Tables & Supplies Available - EMAIL ONLY
7. Dates to Know!

1) Coach, Mentor, & Parent Workshops - FINAL SERIES and ONE DAY events!
The last two FIRST LEGO League Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops series begin on Thursday, September 8 at Beaverton High School (continuing on September 15, 22, 29) and on Tuesday, September 13 at Hillsboro High School (continuing on September 20, 27, October 4). We will also have a few more One Day Workshops: September 17th at Hood River OSU Extension Office, September 24th at Garmin in Salem, PCC-Southeast in Portland, and Malheur ESD in Vale, October 1st at Eastham Community Center in Oregon City, and Sherwood Elementary in Pendleton.

To attend a workshop please register online at: www.ortop.org/fll/resWorkshops.htm
To attend the VALE Oregon workshop please register online at: https://goo.gl/forms/W5ksXfA9gYUkDzWf2

Not able to attend a workshop? You can also find all of our printed materials and slides on the website: www.ortop.org/fll/resWorkshops.htm

2) Last Call for Team Financial Support!
ORTOP has been fortunate to connect with sponsors who are interested in supporting teams who would not be able to participate without financial assistance. These sponsors are willing to pay your national registration, your LEGO kit, and part or all of your team's tournament registration fee. If this is your team, or a team you know, please have them apply for last chance funds at www.ortop.org/fll/resTeamSupport.html 

If you have applied and are still waiting to hear back, please check your spam filter. Many teams have been awarded, some applications are still in process. Every application must be reviewed by two independent reviewers and taken under financial consideration. Last chance applications will go to reviewers on September 18! Teams will receive payment on their behalf or product, they will not receive a check!  Do not pay your team registration if you are waiting for team financial support!  Teams that do not make the current threshold for funding will be considered in the Last Chance.

3) National Registration with FIRST

Your team will want to finish their National Registration with FIRST by October 5! This requires both coaches to accept the team and sign this year's terms and conditions. Tournament registration opens on October 5 and if you do not have a registered team, you will not be invited to apply to a tournament in December.

If you had a team last year, please use your team number again. Not only will it be easier for you to remember when you need to get a question answered from me, it will be easier when you register, and it helps me identify rookie coaches and new teams at existing programs. It can also affect your eligibility for rookie awards if you have a lot of teams registered in the past that you do not pay for this year.

4) What does my team need to compete in FIRST LEGO League?
Every team needs specific items each year to participate in FIRST LEGO League. Here are the minimum items your team needs this year:

• 1 LEGO EV3, NXT, or RCX Robot Kit with working motors
• The only kit your team can purchase from a retailer is the EV3, but if your team has an NXT, or even an RCX they are legal robots. ORTOP highly recommends each team have 1 NXT or 1 EV3 robot to use and that they do not switch between the two, as they follow their programming in slightly different ways. 
• Teams will not be permitted to bring multiple robots into the competition arena
• Please review the rules for allowed sensors and motor restrictions!
• This kit can be reused year-to-year!
• 1 LEGO Challenge Kit - ANIMAL ALLIES
• This kit changes each season. ORTOP estimates that up to three teams may share a kit at the same time/location. If teams do not meet at the same time more may be able to share this kit.
• 1 4'x8'x2" FIRST LEGO League Table - See Challenge Manual for description
• 1 Laptop, Chromebook, or tablet to program the robot (Chromebook and Tablet only work with the EV3 robot system).
• 1 copy of the LEGO MINDSTORMS software - this is the only permissible programming language; unless your team has blind members - then contact Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org for more information.
• 1 National Registration and accompanying official team number
• 2 Adult Coaches (minimum) More adults can always help as mentors and advisors
• At least 1 topic expert - this is not a team member, but someone your team consults about their innovative solution!  The more the better.
• 3-10 team members. Teams MAY NOT have alternates. Team members may join at any time. Everyone who contributes to the robot or project is a team member! Coaches and Mentors do not contribute to these items, they facilitate.

5) ANIMAL ALLIES Challenge Documents and Official UPDATES!

Here is the link to the official document's page for the 2016 season!
http://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/fll/animal-allies-challenge-updates-and-resources
Please Note! There are already rule updates for the Project AND the Robot Game.

6) Tables & Supplies Available - EMAIL ONLY
Some teams have moved on from FIRST LEGO Leauge and have tables available. Please see the email copy of this email for details. For safety their contact information is not posted online.

One team is looking for a new home for their NXT robot. This is a complete FIRST LEGO League competition set. The NXT is still a valid system, but it is not the newest LEGO robot system.

7) Dates to Know!
Mark your Calendars! Here are dates you need to know.

• September 10 - FIRST Tech Challenge Kick-off - (locations)
• Is your team entering 7-8th grades? It may be time to look at the next level! Kick-off is a great way to meet teams and talk to coaches about what happens AFTER FIRST LEGO League.
• October 5-12 - FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament Registration
• Your team will need to register for their December Qualifying Tournament during this time. Registration is only available to nationally registered teams!
• We are hoping to host Qualifying Tournaments in Portland, Hillsboro, McMinnville, Salem, Corvallis, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Bend, Hood River, The Dalles, and LaGrande. We would love to add an event between Irrigon and Hermiston - if you would be willing to help with the search committee please email Loridee-Wetzel@ortop.org
• October 11 - FIRST LEGO League Jr Info Night
• Does your team have younger siblings not old enough for FIRST LEGO League. Does your school have K-4th grades? Come learn more about this youngest age FIRST program!
• December 3, 4, 10, &11 - Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments!
• January 14 & 15 - Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament presented by Rockwell Collins at Liberty High School, Hillsboro - 1/3rd of Oregon FIRST LEGO League teams will participate! All may attend!

This is a lot of items. Please prepare for more frequent newsletters as we continue the ANIMAL ALLIES Season!

Best Wishes,
Loridee