what to bring to Atlanta??? [Archive]

Prepclub1939

13-04-2008, 22:01

Hey All :) so this year my team, 1939 managed to make our way into the roster for this years championship via the Engineering inspiration award and personally, i want to knowwhat's a good idea to bring to Atlanta???:confused: simple enough question :P any help would be appreciated. merci beacoup!

lukevanoort

13-04-2008, 22:09

It would be a good idea to bring either a native or a good map. It is very easy to get lost in Atlanta (don't rely on Google directions... one wrong turn and they are useless).

Herodotus

13-04-2008, 22:12

Dew. Atlanta is a Coke down, for obvious reasons. :p

Also, bring some spirit, energy, and excitement. It'll be the best time of your life so make the most of it. I only wish we could be there again.

Billfred

13-04-2008, 22:13

Comfy walking shoes (even if you have a badge that lets you take shortcuts, it's still a hike), comfier safety glasses, and your gracious professionalism (of course)!

I might recommend a water bottle as well; hydration is critical to staying healthy in Atlanta.

robostangs548

13-04-2008, 22:14

Dew. Atlanta is a Coke down, for obvious reasons. :p

Also, bring some spirit, energy, and excitement. It'll be the best time of your life, make the most of it. I only wish we could be there again.

I don't know i can deal with vault...

EricH

13-04-2008, 22:58

Aside from the above, you need to bring anything you ordinarily bring to regionals. Also, money for MARTA.

Nawaid Ladak

14-04-2008, 00:29

so is this going to be the... "what im packing to atlanta" thread for the 2009 year?

first and foremost, pack your TOOTHBRUSH

Danny McC

14-04-2008, 00:36

Comfertable shoes for all the walking ;)

Rick TYler

14-04-2008, 00:37

As an adult who has spent years working with youth in Boy Scouts and FIRST, and on behalf of all other adults at the event: deodorant.

George A.

14-04-2008, 01:16

My advice?

Extra room in your suitcase, because I can guarantee you'll be coming home with more than you left with.

(My FIRST t-shirt collection can attest to that, it's nearing 80-90 different FIRST shirts!)

ChristinaR

14-04-2008, 02:13

A camera! The Championship is an amazing place, especially if you've never been, so you may want to capture some of the great memories you're sure to get in pictures to show family, friends, etc.

Also, bring your enthusiasm! (though I'm sure that goes without saying) Atlanta is a terrific time to meet people from other teams, states, even countries. Get out there and talk to everyone you can- everybody has a story to tell.

Protronie

14-04-2008, 07:13

I don't know i can deal with vault...

I know I can... rather have one Vault than a six pack of Mt Dew. :cool:

Pjohn1959

14-04-2008, 07:40

Qbranch

14-04-2008, 08:06

If you're going on Wednesday evening to uncrate, be sure you put one or two charged cordless drills with driver bits in an easily accessible place in your checked suitcase.

Also, if you have any super critical tools that you have to use a lot, see if you can get a pocket-sized version and keep it with you. (i.e. I always have a hex wrench for our encoder spring couplers and arm pot spring coupler on me, as well as a tether, programming cable, and auto/disable switch (thanks Pascack PiOneers) in my laptop case.)

Some kind of easy to carry easy to learn multiplayer game, like Uno. If you're with a group of your team members and your roaming the pit area, you'll probably find a down/bored looking pit eventually. You wouldn't believe how much they'd love to play a game of uno (or whatever else) with you. :)

Money for a MARTA pass if you're staying too far away from the Dome area. Also, bring a MARTA map with you if you're planning on going many places downtown to help you plan your route before setting out.

And I have to second a camera. You won't believe how hard it is to find a street without FIRST people on one or both sides of it.

See you all there! Two days!!! :ahh:

-q

Jeff Waegelin

14-04-2008, 12:01

As the FIRST signs say, Have you brought your Gracious Professionalism?

(On a side note, I've always wanted one of those signs. The irony of wanting to take a sign about GP has always prevented me from doing so. I guess the sign's message also serves as a deterrent to all those who desire one)

JaneYoung

14-04-2008, 12:12

During travel earlier this year, we discovered that many of the students had cash cards but no cash. That made it difficult to do group orders for lunches, etc., when it came time to collect for the meal.

Bring a reasonable amount of cash to be able to cover things like that. The cash cards are great but can't always be used.

Also, if folks have meds they are taking or allergies or asthma, make sure the lead adult is aware/knows. And don't forget to bring the meds along.

Important phone numbers so that you can locate and be located.

Suspect_Deezy

14-04-2008, 12:58

BRING YOUR "A" GAME......

JAZAD1

14-04-2008, 14:17

Hopefully everyteam will bring an extra shirt for the charity quilt.:rolleyes:

XXShadowXX

14-04-2008, 14:26

Dew. Atlanta is a Coke down, for obvious reasons. :p

Whats wrong with VAULT?

Lynxy

14-04-2008, 15:52

I'll be bringing a frisbee and some whipped cream (http://lh3.ggpht.com/Lyndsey.A.Lewis/SAOt-pelW1I/AAAAAAAAAM0/N3AOFDY32pg/1346re2.jpg?imgmax=400)...

Laura 1547

14-04-2008, 16:29

I'll be bringing a frisbee and some whipped cream (http://lh3.ggpht.com/Lyndsey.A.Lewis/SAOt-pelW1I/AAAAAAAAAM0/N3AOFDY32pg/1346re2.jpg?imgmax=400)...

LYNDSEY I can't believe you did that! I'm very embarrassed right now...
Payback time in Atlanta I think ;)
We still have to play our student prank on the mentors don't forget!

thefro526

14-04-2008, 16:34

I always bring the usual travel stuff and then add in the robotics related stuff. I suggest bringing a camera, comfy shoes to walk in, hair/face paint, cards or something to do in the .3 seconds of downtime, stuff to trade (buttons, keychains, banners, shirts, members...;) ) and anything else you can use. Also I always bring my laptop just incase I need to do something important and to do scouting analysis.

Also depending on how you're getting down, I'd bring extra snacks and drinks. You can't take them into the Dome but, I think you can bring them into the GWCC (I always do) and also it's nice to have them in the hotel. My mom and I bought 1 case of water, a case of monster (like $4 a can down there), a case of Shasta soda, and a big assortment of chips for the team.

And last but not least, bring your patience and best behavior. Many of the Vets will tell you (especially drivers) that everything at the Championship will run a little faster. There is some damage to the GWCC so we will have ~1/2 the space as usual so traffic will be tough and everyone will be tight. Also be prepared to leave for your matches about 15 minutes early or more because of the walk from the GWCC to the Dome.

brentmcjunkin

14-04-2008, 16:38

your robot of course your pit, and walkin shoes and some stuff to do in your hotel room

Joe Matt

14-04-2008, 16:51

so is this going to be the... "what im packing to atlanta" thread for the 2009 year?

first and foremost, pack your TOOTHBRUSH

High high. Shower daily, I don't care if you have "geek street cred" for it, it's stupid and pathetic if you can't take 10 minutes out of your day to get undressed, hop in, soap, shampoo, rinse, get out, towel, put clean clothes on. Do it*

Here's my list of what I'm brining. Your milage might varry a little...

-Phone (email, camera, calls, internet) w/ charger!
-iPod shuffle (music) w/charger!
-toiltries (deodorant, cologne, etc etc)
-assortment of clothes (pants to shorts, long button up to short tshirt), shoes (flip flops and tennis pretty much), underwear and socks
-magazines & assorted papers to entertain me when the batteries die
-all the important money, cards, & ID's
-MAYBE a laptop, still deciding if i want to bring that or not...

*For our lady friends, this takes longer, but I don't think I've ever met one who's skipped on showering, so that paragraph was for the guys out there.

Herodotus

14-04-2008, 17:31

your robot of course your pit, and walkin shoes and some stuff to do in your hotel room

Actually, if you are bringing your robot you probaly won't be competing. It should be there already. :p

Let me second(or third, or forth, or whatever number this would be) what everyone else has said about walking shoes. You're going to be walking, a lot, especially if you happen to be on the drive team. I do believe hosting the Championship in Atlanta is FIRST's way of supporting health heart. It's probaly the most exercise you'll ever have at a robot competition.

brentmcjunkin

14-04-2008, 18:29

Actually, if you are bringing your robot you probaly won't be competing. It should be there already. :p

yah i should be there i forgot it is my rookie FRC year

Danny McC

14-04-2008, 18:32

And it looks like there is a chance of rain on Saturday last time I checked so a poncho or umbrella would be good.

brentmcjunkin

14-04-2008, 18:45

bring extra money because venue prices are outragous

Protronie

14-04-2008, 18:59

And it looks like there is a chance of rain on Saturday last time I checked so a poncho or umbrella would be good.

That and a warm jacket cause anytime a certain person from Indiana comes over to the coast (I won't point fingers but they know who the cold loving person I speak of is.) they seem to bring the cold rain with them.

You might also think of printing up some business cards with your contact info on them as your sure to meet people you want to keep in touch with and may not always have a pen and paper on you.

-p

thefro526

14-04-2008, 19:46

Also this is kinda self-explanatory but, Atlanta is a big city and some weird stuff might go down if you stray too far from the pack. I'd recommend never traveling by yourself outside of downtown and even traveling with someone while in downtown. It's not too dangerous or anything but, better to be safe than sorry. Also common sense is your best friend :D

annie1939

14-04-2008, 19:46

Don't forget your Monty Python outfit. That was great in KC!!!!
We've got King Arthur and Patsy (only the coconuts no backpack yet maybe next year :D )
We're doing our Killer Rabbit raffle again. Come by 1939's pit in Curie to fill out a ticket (my shameless plug)
We have GOT to get a trailer next year.

Ann

adman

14-04-2008, 20:49

Want to second to make sure you bring any medications.
1. Pack them in your carry on bag. Airline luggage roulette .:confused:
2. Pack a few extra meds more then you need in case your flight gets
canceled. (sort of happens a lot lately did you notice:yikes:
3. Insurance card or someway to contact the right people if you
need medical assistance. ( hope this never happens )

Traveling in packs does two things... Discourages panhandlers and
it's more fun!:)

Make sure you have your team coach or mentors phone number in your
phone. If you are in trouble call them right away so they can help you.

Atlanta is fun and take advantage of roaming the pits and meeting the
other 10000 friends you haven't met yet that have a serious common
interest of yours! ROBOTS ROBOTS ROBOTS!

ngreen

14-04-2008, 23:20

I agree with the jacket and deodorant parts. It was cool and misty today and lately the weather been known to take little nosedives. Also we all need to be photogenic (and smellegenic) in case CNN comes down from their glass (well formerly glass) tower.

Bob Steele

14-04-2008, 23:32

Definitely bring something warm to wear to the wrap party on Saturday night.
It can get very cold outside when the sun goes down.... you may also be running around a lot having fun and when you stop you should probably have something that you can put on....

have fun!!

EricH

14-04-2008, 23:35

Herodotus

15-04-2008, 21:34

I guess I'm going to have to follow all the advice now, as it turns out a small group of us from 910 are going to be coming down as spectators. Our head mentor, Mr. Crombe, our operator, one other member, and myself will be there Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Can't wait to see some of the intense action, and talk with some awesome people.