I can’t believe it is that time again but registration is here!We will be having an FRC Team Briefing on Tuesday, Sept 17 to go over the registration process, schedule for the season and to talk about the new bag rules (or rather the retiring of bag day) and how that will affect teams this season.If possible, please have at least one adult mentor attend.To register for the webinar, follow this link:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8822770874275535628
2.Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
FIRST Washington’s DEI Workshops this fall! With FIRST Washington’s commitment to equity and access, we are pleased to partner with three of our FIRST Robotics Competition teams to host half day workshops for all coaches, mentors and volunteers. We have a professional DEI facilitator, Tareena Joubert joining us for these days.
The goal of these workshops is to support our communities, coaches and mentors in welcoming all students. Part of the success in recruiting students is broadening our base of coaches/mentors and volunteers who look like students. Helping FIRST broaden our base of adults to include more women, persons of color, diverse professional backgrounds will help us position FIRST programs as inclusive and welcoming to all. Please join one of these workshop by signing up today to learn some tips and tools on how you can assist!
1.Saturday, September 28th: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lewis and Clark High School, Spokane. Thank you Titanium Tigers, FRC team 2944 for hosting! RSVP: (Coming)
2.Saturday, October 5th: 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Seahome High School, Bellingham. Thank you Seamonsters, FRC team 2605 for hosting! RSVP here.
3.Saturday, November 16th, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Environmental Learning Center, Point Defiance. Thank you SotBots, FRC team 2557 for hosting! RSVP here.
3.Grant opportunities
FIRST Washington has a number of competitive grant opportunities for teams and we encourage your team to apply! All of these grants are made possible by generous donors, with emphasis going toward assisting disadvantaged teams in need. With FIRST Washington’s commitment to bringing FIRST programs to more communities and schools, it is our goal to help teams to be self-sustaining within three years. If you need help in building out your team sustainability plan and fundraising training, please let us know. We want to see you be successful in not only programming and building a robot, but building strong business and team collaboration skills!
2.OSPI, iGrants: Open Now. Grant closes: October 10 for FIRST Robotics Competition. This generous grant is a building grant for Washington teams only who must compete in FIRST Washington competitions during the 2019-2020 school year. Teams must be public school-based or sponsored by the school. To complete the grant, please work with your school finance office or CTE to complete this grant and they must log in under the school, not the district for these are building level grants. FIRST LEGO League: form 605, FIRST Tech Challenge: form 606, FIRST Robotics Competition: form 424.
4. Rule changes in light of stop build day retirement:
Because we have changed the location of 2 of our venues this season, teams may not have the same home event that they have had in the past (this change will mostly affect our NW Washing teams and Oregon teams)To view your home event assignment, click here
Home event assignments are based on your zip code and cannot be changed.Remember, you are not locked into your home event, however; it simply guarantees you a spot in the event closest to you.If you select your home event as your first choice (and select to be waitlisted for that event) during first event registration only you will be given priority to be in that event.Occasionally home event teams get put on the waitlist when first events are announced but I will be watching that list and will have you placed in your home event if you end up on the wait list so don’t panic!
If you are a new team, your home event will not be listed.You are welcome to reach out to me and I will be happy to let you know what your home event would be.
