In our blog today!

• FIRST Tech Challenge national registration 
• national grant application to cover registration costs
• Software Release
• 2017-2018 Pitsco Discount for FTC Teams 
• FTC Oregon Leagues 2017-2018 
• Teacher Appreciation Week! <3
• ORTOP FIRST Robotics Oregon Alumni Association
• Summer Opportunities: PCC - Machine Shop Class, Air Force Leadership Camp, FTC Invitational in Australia 

FIRST Tech Challenge national registration  is now open!!
Cost: $275 per team for national registration

Application for FIRST Tech Challenge Rookie and Veteran Grant to cover national registration cost.
Suggestion: Start your registration early and input as much information as you can, apply for the national registration grant - notifications made on May 31st. Then complete your registration.   Information about REV Robotics choices/pricing will be posted later this week. 

SOFTWARE RELEASE 
The FIRST Tech Challenge Technology Team is released version 3.1 of the FIRST Tech Challenge software on 5/9/17.  Currently, this release is available for Android Studio (Java) users and for FIRST Tech Challenge Blocks Development Tool users.  Version 3.1 of the MIT App Inventor will be available soon.

The version 3.1 software introduces support for the recently approved REV Expansion Hub electronic module.  Version 3.1 also includes enhancements to the USB communication layer to improve system resiliency.  Version 3.1 also includes improvements for the Blocks development tool, including support for pose-related functions (Vuforia) and simplified Vuforia blocks (which offer optimized performance for commonly used Vuforia tasks).


Users who update to v3.1 should remember to update the FIRST Tech Challenge Driver Station app in addition to updating the FIRST Tech Challenge Robot Controller software.  Details on the release can be found on the release tab of the GitHub repository and on the README file for the repository:

https://github.com/ftctechnh/ftc_app/releases

https://github.com/ftctechnh/ftc_app/blob/master/README.md

Pitsco promo code and spare parts discount:
Pitsco has increased their discount to 25 % off of spare parts for FIRST Tech Challenge. To receive your FIRST Tech Challenge team discount, you will need to input a valid current season team number after entering this year’s promo code on our storefront. This year’s promo code will be sent to teams via a team email. You can access the FIRST Tech Challenge storefront through your team’s dashboard.

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Leagues 2017-2018
At this time ORTOP is establishing the status of our league sites and managers. I can report that most leagues will continue as they have in the past. There will be some changes both in locations,  team league hosts, and league managers.  Anyone that might be interested in hosting a league should hang tight and wait for my next post to see the changes. I will be posting a application for consideration of  league management. 

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TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! 
Please join ORTOP in celebrating and honoring our awesome teachers who lead so many FIRST Tech Challenge students to be inspired by and recognize science and technology as part of their lives and their future. Happy Teacher's Week 2017 and always!

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ORTOP FIRST Robotics Oregon Alumni Association


Be a #pipelinepioneer and sign up to be part of the ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program) alumni association!  Get updates from alumni in industry and academia, connect/re-connect with alumni in different parts of the robotics pipeline, learn about opportunities to volunteer and mentor, get access to resources and more! Eligibility: 
- Must be age 18+ or a graduating senior in high school
- Must have participated in any FIRST program for at least one season
- Must have EITHER lived in Oregon when participating in FIRST programs OR you lived elsewhere when doing FIRST programs but you currently live, work, or study in Oregon
Mentors - Please encourage your graduating Seniors to JOIN the  ORTOP FIRST Robotics Oregon Alumni Association - Sign-up form click here 

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SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

Portland Community College Summer Machine Shop Class for FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon and FIRST Robotics Competition Oregon team members 

• Our thanks to Pat Kraft at PCC - Sylvania Campus for running these classes. 
• There will be two  multiple-day classes to learn how to use machine shop tools. One in late June and one in early August. This is an amazing opportunity. 
• Applications are due by May 30th. 
• Please forward this information to your team members. 
• Individual team member application process. This is not a team application. 
• Take the time to read all of the information prior to applying.  For detailed information/applications - click here 

6th Annual U.S. Air Force / FIRST® Leadership Experience for FIRST Teachers & Mentors: The U.S. Air Force develops leaders of great character and vision. For the 6th year, the U.S. Air Force is offering a unique three-day leadership program providing FIRST mentors with hands on leadership training taught by Air Force personnel. This year’s event will take place from July 23 to July 27 in Colorado Springs, CO.

The event consists of lectures, team building exercises and tours of the Air Force Academy and a local Air Force Base. The Air Force will select a group of 24 mentors who are teachers from FIRST® Tech Challenge and FIRST® Robotics Competition teams who live within the continental United States and are helping inspire today’s youth to become the technical leaders of tomorrow.

For additional information about this opportunity, please visit: http://firstinspires.org/programs/air-force-leadership-training-program  or Scott Legasse at slegasse@firstinspires.org.  Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 19th. Applicants, if selected, will be notified by June 1.  

Asia Pacific FTC Invitational 
FIRST® Australia is pleased to invite teams to apply to compete at the Asia Pacific FTC Invitational (API) from the 14th – 16th of July in Sydney, Australia. 

Application/Payment Due 5/31/2017 - If interested, contact Cathy Swider for additional details.