Kickoff Plans

[Woody1458]

Now that we are inside of the last week before kickoff (6d 18h 55m at time of writing) I was wondering what you guys/gals had plan for January 3rd.

Personally I am going to the Silicon Valley Regional Kickoff in one of the overflow rooms. (we decided to let newer members be in the main room) Then I am going to lock myself in a room with a graphing paper pad of paper, handful of mech pencils, a calculator, a ruler, and my laptop looping the animation+rules. Until our teams scheduled 1 pm meeting where I will do the same but in more of a group manner.

So! spill the beans CD, whats your plans.

[Billfred]

I'll be at USC for Kickoff; 2815 is watching it in the big lecture hall in the engineering building (and invited over 1618). Donn Griffith is going to Clemson (site of the FIRST-sanctioned remote kickoff, and thus our collective kits of parts) to pick up both teams' kits; figuring for the distance, the kit will arrive around 3:00. In the interim, I'll be eating lunch (maybe run up--and I do mean up--Main Street to Moe's unless food magically appears at Swearingen), reading the manual incessantly, dreaming up what a few teams would stereotypically do, calling Stephen Kowski (who will be in Manchester) for measurements and a feel for things on the field, and hopefully otherwise being productive.

[Vikesrock]

I'll be at the University of Minnesota for the MN Kickoff, then I'll be heading over to Williams Arena to watch the (currently undefeated) Golden Gophers take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State. After the game I'll join back up with my team for our brainstorming/design meeting back in Woodbury.

[ATannahill]

I'll be with my team in a room at Honeywell, watching the kickoff on their big screen and reading the manual on my labtop (it is as old as stones) and planning with my team.

[Dan2081]

2081 Will be at the Caterpillar Tech Center in Mossville, Illinois watching on a big screen in a lecture hall-looking room. Other teams Robot Casserole 1736, Argos 1756, Dert 2040 and Roboteers 2481 will all be with us.
After that, 2081 is going to our shop for brainstorming

[Joe G.]

I'll be at the WPI kickoff event, and then most likely host a rule review, strategizing, brainstorming, and design session with my team.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Teams 100, 253, 776, and 2144 and are attending the kickoff at Woodside's Performing Arts Center. There will be complimentary bagels, donuts, and drinks! We'll exchange ideas for a while and meet other teams before running down to Osh to buy parts for the field.

If you're interested in attending let me know. We've been doing a group kickoff the last few years and its been a great way to bring in new ideas.

Hopefully we'll build the field on the first day this year, instead of waiting till the last week... or as in 2007, the offseason :eek: !

[Tetraman]

I was going to RIT to watch, but since team plans had changed I'm going to stick around at home and watch the reveal with my sister who is starting robotics for her first year. Afterwards I'll be visiting good ol' 174 and helping with some inital robot designs on the annual design get together sunday.

[thefro526]

Going to the annual kickoff hosted by 357 in Upper Darby. After that I'm probably going to hang with a few friends and kick some ideas around and see if we can pick out some strategies.

Btw, I'm going to get a good nights sleep before then. It'll probably be last last one I'll get until the end of February.

[Mark Rozitis]

I hope to be at the Ontario Science center in Toronto for the kick-off, I am a news camera operator doing work for Global news and Weather Network, on the weekends I am more weather network so if any teams, coaches, etc have any green/environmental initiatives this year come prepared and I might just be able to get you on the weather network.

Global news might also be there, I can't say for sure as I am not assignment editor.

Anything green, clean energy, environmental and weather related though and if you have a story to tell and someone who can talk I can do a couple of clips and probably get you on as part of our story.

I'm just curious though as to what this year's game/mission will be, anyone know? I can't seem to find it here :)

mark

[Andrew Schreiber]

Working a booth at Kettering University's kickoff (teams coming to that come visit me please!) then watching the event and helping 397 come up w/ ideas. Then head home to harass my bro about what he thinks of the game. Also will harass him into helping me do a Solid Works model of the field.

[Kyle]

I will be in class from 0800 till 5pm, then working on a medic unit from 6p-6a. This will be my first Kick off that I have missed since I started in FIRST :( So those of you that I have cell numbers for will be receiving calls/texts and IM's all day and have the duty to keep me updated :)

[16MentalTempest]

The plan for 2046 is to split into previously assigned groups for the duration of the weekend. We're going to Interlake HS in Bellevue for the event and the breakout sessions in our groups. When we get back, we're going over the rules as a big group, then splitting up again to come up with strategy and designs for the game. This way, we end up with lots of ideas and (hopefully) one of them we will consider good enough to actually build.

I cannot wait for the season! It's like waiting for baseball season to start up; we've gone through the pre-season, now it's time for the real thing!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME ROBOTS!!!!

[Kyle Love]

Personally, I will be going to Manchester, the team will be at Purdue kickoff.

[The Farmer]

I'm going to RIT to watch the kickoff, then our team is going to a breakout rom there to brainstorm about the robot. Also, I'll be bringing my laptop to take down any ideas.

[Michael Corsetto]

I'll be the lone representative for 1678 at the Silicon Valley Kickoff. Following the broadcast I'm driving our KOP directly from SJSU to Davis so we can get to work! Less than a week left, can't wait!

By the way, can anyone tell me if there is any special identification or proof of purchase I need to bring with me in order to pick up my team's KOP. I checked on TIMS but I couldn't find anything. Thanks!

[Cory]

I'll be the lone representative for 1678 at the Silicon Valley Kickoff. Following the broadcast I'm driving our KOP directly from SJSU to Davis so we can get to work! Less than a week left, can't wait!

By the way, can anyone tell me if there is any special identification or proof of purchase I need to bring with me in order to pick up my team's KOP. I checked on TIMS but I couldn't find anything. Thanks!

I have signed for our kit in the past, without having been one of the TIMS contacts or showing any ID or anything. To confirm what the SJSU kickoff policy is, you can contact Jim Beck. If you don't have his email address, shoot me a PM and I can get you in touch with him.

[gorrilla]

im going to the Orlando kickoff at Devry, hopefully we'll have a bigger room this time, it was really cramped last year with all 30 or so teams


its gonna be a long 5 days:rolleyes:

[Bochek]

I will be at the Ontario Science Center kickoff, Because the teacher who runs the program at our school could not attend, Just team members over the age of 18, and mentors are attending from our team.

Following Kickoff we have the annual "Meet at my place" where team leaders and mentors from our team and a few of the other local teams get together and discuss idea's and such. Usually its more based around team organization then the actual robot.

Then the fun begins, We break out the K'nex and get to the idea's


- Bochek

[MrForbes]

Plan is to drive 200 miles up to Phoenix to Brophy Prep to watch the remote kickoff...I'll bring my sons and meet up with the school van that will have more students. They'll bring the KOP to our place on Ft Huachuca, where we'll have our first (post drive) brainstorming session.

The past couple years we've built a field element on Sunday...seems to help everyone get a better feel for how to play the game.

[Brandon Holley]

I have signed for our kit in the past, without having been one of the TIMS contacts or showing any ID or anything. To confirm what the SJSU kickoff policy is, you can contact Jim Beck. If you don't have his email address, shoot me a PM and I can get you in touch with him.


I have signed for the kit on 3 seperate occasions without being a TIMS contact or showing an ID of some sort as well.



I will be at Northeastern University's kickoff hosted by us (team 125)...we have something to the tune of 26 teams coming I believe to watch the kickoff with us.

[The Megan 2207]

We're going to have a Kickoff party (like a New Year's party, but better), then we're going to the U of M for the Minnesota Kickoff with six weeks of mass chaos to follow! Hooray for build season!:D

[Speeder]

The LuNaTeCs will be convening their Kick-Off at Salem County Community College beginning at 8 AM Saturday. A couple of our Mentors will head off to Upper Darby’s (Team 357) Local Kick-Off while the rest of Team 316 begins brainstorming the new Challenge.

Best of luck to all the Teams!

[Hiteak]

I'll be helping out at the RIT kickoff and then might talk to some teams about initial designs.

[Danny McC]

Yeahhh I'll be at Upper Darby still thinking about the game before they announce. Someones gotta remind me the night before so I wake up in time. ^_^

[Woody1458]

I have signed for our kit in the past, without having been one of the TIMS contacts or showing any ID or anything. To confirm what the SJSU kickoff policy is, you can contact Jim Beck. If you don't have his email address, shoot me a PM and I can get you in touch with him.

If I heard right, Jim Beck will be in LA for the kick-off so perhaps the best to contact would be second in command, Randy Lam. Maybe that was just for the competition I'm not quite sure.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Team 201 will be at Kettering University's Kickoff also, and then to a team brainstorming meeting later that afternoon :)

Does anyone know if Kettering will have Wi-fi and power outlets available for teams while watching the kickoff? I was hoping to bring my laptop :)

[IndySam]

Pat and I are going to Manchester for the first time and dragging Dr Love along with us.

It's a long drive from Indy and I wouldn't mind stopping in some place like Albany for the night and missing the first part of the workshops. Anyone have an idea of the schedule other than what's on the FIRST website now?
Will we be allowed in if we get there late? We are registered to attend.

[Brandon Holley]

Pat and I are going to Manchester for the first time and dragging Dr Love along with us.

It's a long drive from Indy and I wouldn't mind stopping in some place like Albany for the night and missing the first part of the workshops. Anyone have an idea of the schedule other than what's on the FIRST website now?
Will we be allowed in if we get there late? We are registered to attend.

You will probably be allowed in, however they do like the broadcast to look as professional as possible, so you will probably not have a very good choice of seating.

It is also quite crowded, just keep that in mind.

[IndySam]

You will probably be allowed in, however they do like the broadcast to look as professional as possible, so you will probably not have a very good choice of seating.

It is also quite crowded, just keep that in mind.

Thanks Brandon but I was referring to the workshops the day before any info on that?

[BrentJ]

Since we are having our FRC after the champoinship the kickoff is not so important.

But I haven't decided whether to watch kickoff live. I had to use a world clock to work out the time and date for me. I am still thinking if I want to get up at 4:00 AM on Sunday 4th to see it.

Is there anything in the live kickoff that isn't put on the FIRST site?

[Cory]

Since we are having our FRC after the champoinship the kickoff is not so important.

But I haven't decided whether to watch kickoff live. I had to use a world clock to work out the time and date for me. I am still thinking if I want to get up at 4:00 AM on Sunday 4th to see it.

Is there anything in the live kickoff that isn't put on the FIRST site?

I don't believe so. In past years the entire kickoff has been webcast/archived.

[ATannahill]

It usually is, but I cannot find the last part of last years kickoff.

[sayso_411]

384 is going to VCU for the kickoff and then a meeting/lunch with the team, discussing the game, 'til 4

[dpeterson3]

1178 will be at the Saint Louis kickoff in the Planetirum. Then we get to inventory parts and possibly finish getting the CRIO working.

[Libby K]

1923 will be at Montgomery High School for this year's kickoff. After the big show, we're going back to our build site (my co-captain's house!) and taking kit inventory, and get started brainstorming. We go with strategy before design, so Saturday is usually taken up going over the rules, figuring out what options can get us the most points, and then we all go home and start sketching wildly before Monday's meeting.

Can't wait til Kickoff!

[qwertyuiop[]\]

623 is going to the DC kickoff and will be there early for the "Hello to FIRST" video recording. look for burgundy shirts on top of the wall.

[Elgin Clock]

January 2nd, Friday: Drive to NH & go snowboarding all day long until about 5-6pm(ish) then check into the hotel, & party with some people later that night. (Yeah, I'm skipping the founder's reception this year. So sad.)

January 3rd, Saturday: Wake up, go to Dunkin Donuts, drive to kickoff & then find seats at SNHU & watch the kickoff (secretly hoping that Rudy Giuliani does NOT make another appearance there this year) all while trying not to look into the darn cameras when they pan across the crowd & past us a million times again. (Those are the official rules of sitting at kickoff imposed; no looking into the camera. - We all typically comply to be good little boys & girls - for the most part). ;)

[KathieK]

Pat and I are going to Manchester for the first time and dragging Dr Love along with us.

It's a long drive from Indy and I wouldn't mind stopping in some place like Albany for the night and missing the first part of the workshops. Anyone have an idea of the schedule other than what's on the FIRST website now?
Will we be allowed in if we get there late? We are registered to attend.
If you can make it to Manchester, NH for the morning, try to attend all the workshops you can... they are very helpful! But you will be allowed to attend if you arrive late. Spend a few minutes and check out the displays in FIRST Place that date back to the beginning years. And also the Supplier showcase which is held in the same area. In the afternoon there will be technical sessions occurring at the same time as a non-technical track focused on Fundraising. Be sure to look for me at the NEMO table in the showcase area, or in the fundraising workshops!

I will be arriving in NH on Thurs night; giving a rookie presentation on Friday morning and a fundraising presentation on Friday afternoon; attending the reception and another event Friday night; attending the kickoff on Saturday morning.

DON'T FORGET, if you are attending an official kickoff event, you must bring a consent and release form for each student and mentor on the team. " FIRST Consent and Release Form (http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/Asset/2008-2009%20FIRST%20Consent%20and%20Release%20Form.pdf)- All persons attending the Kickoff events will be required to complete the form. Make enough copies for all persons attending with your team and have each read the form, fill in all of the required information, and sign it. Attendees under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian's signature on the form. Turn in the forms at the registration table. Having the forms finished, collected, and stapled or clipped together ahead of time will save you time during registration."