Dear FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Community:


BENSON BotFest - October 29th
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE AND Workshop Signup - Team Member and Event Volunteers.
We hope you have "Saved the Date" for the Benson BotFest 2016 - Saturday, October 29th, 546 NE 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Check in is at 9:00 AM, Workshops start at 9:30 am, the event will end at 2:30 pm.

ORTOP thanks the Benson HS Robotics teams and their mentors John DeLacy, Jeff McBride and Liz McBride for their organizational efforts to make this 8th annual event possible.

THE TEAM MEMBER AND MENTOR WORKSHOPS

• I have embedded SIGN UP Links into the Benson BotFest Schedule. CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE AND Workshop Signup.
• Workshops are COLOR CODED but this is only a suggestion. Pick the workshops that you think best fit your team members current needs.
• Please SIGN UP BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th at 4:00 PM so that I can print who is in what class. This is on a FIRST Come, FIRST Serve basis. If we get oversubscribed for some workshops, I'll let you know. I think we should be able to accommodate almost everyone.

FIRST Tech Challenge VOLUNTEER TRAINING

We are including LEAGUE volunteer training for Referees, FTAs, Scorekeepers, Inspectors, League Managers/Volunteer Coordinators.
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE AND Workshop Signup at Benson BotFest or signup for a future teleconference training.

SCARE-A-FIER SCRIMMAGE!  Rookies need to see what a match looks like and Referees need to practice.

• We are holding an 8-team Elimination Round ONLY  SCARE-A-FIER at the Benson BotFest.
  
• It's not a Qualifier, it's a SCARE-A-FIER (get it, Halloween is on Monday). 
• I am looking for FOUR more teams who have robots that can MOVE and attempt to do TWO of the Velocity Vortex game tasks.
• Cathy Swider is personally making the SCARE-A-FIER Trophies for the Winning and Finalist Alliances.
  
•  All eight teams will get something for making the effort to have a robot move and be part of this. It'll be fun. 
• INTERESTED? - email Cathy Swider

LUNCH AT Benson BotFest!
You can bring your own or ORDER delicious whole Pizzas made by Sparky's delivered directly to the event. The Benson Robotics Club is making this possible. Cheese, Cheese and Pepperoni, Hawaiian and a Meat/Veggie Combo ranging from $15 - $20 per pizza. 
Click here Place your pre-order by Friday, October 28th at 9:00 pm 

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FIRST Tech Challenge EVENT SIGN-UP Update
I think I have hounded almost all known teams to sign-up for an event. At this time we have 199 participating teams. Yes, that is 7 more teams than last season.  Next task is to get all of you to pay for your events.
CLICK HERE for PAYMENT INFORMATION.  It says League Teams due by Oct. 31, but I'd be happy if everyone paid or got their PO's into us by November 7th.
For Non-League Teams, please have payment in by November 15th.

To check LEAGUE TEAM ASSIGNMENTS - CLICK HERE
To check NON-LEAGUE TEAM ASSIGNMENTS -CLICK HERE
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ORTOP Team Social for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition
We have a date and venue secured for our first team social!
It will be FUN!!! Movies, board games, video games and karaoke

When:  December 9th
Where:  World of Speed, Wilsonville

You get to PICK the movies!
Please have each team member fill out this movie survey and I hope to have a flyer with more details for you sometime next week.