**FIRST EMAIL**/Deadline Extended: FIRST Robotics Conference Passes

[Mark McLeod]

Greetings Teams:

Just a reminder that the sixth annual FIRST Robotics Conference, sponsored by CIA, Rolls-Royce, and WPI, will take place April 15-16, 2009 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta in conjunction with the FIRST Championship. The deadline to purchase individual and group passes at a reduced rate has been extended to April 8.

The FIRST Robotics Conference is designed for current and potential members of the FIRST Community, as well as those interested in FIRST topics, to learn more about a wide variety of technical and non-technical topics associated with FIRST, technology, engineering, outreach, education, and much more. A diverse group of speakers are lined up to share their knowledge and expertise with attendees. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend; we really hope you’ll join us!

This year’s Conference will begin on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30PM and will run all day Thursday (8AM-8PM). It will include over 35 different presentations and topics of interest for all programs.

For the full list of currently available abstracts, go to http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FIRST_Place/2009_FIRST_Robotics_Conference_Abstracts.pdf (http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FIRST_Place/2009_FIRST_Robotics_Conference_Abstracts.pdf)

A full schedule with current session times, go to http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FIRST_Place/2009_Conference_Schedule_Tentative_2252009.pdf (http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FIRST_Place/2009_Conference_Schedule_Tentative_2252009.pdf)

Advanced registration prices are as follows:
· Single Session Pass - $10 - This will allow any individual to attend any one 45-minute Conference session.
· Individual All Access Pass - $35 - This will allow the person with the pass to attend as many of the 45-minute Conference sessions as they choose. This pass may be shared among individuals but cannot be used by more than one individual at any given session time.
· Team of 5 All Access Pass - $140 - This a bundle of 5 of the individual, all access passes.

Credit card payment is preferred, but Checks and POs are accepted. A limited number of passes will be available at the door for an increased fee. Cash will not be accepted for on-site purchases. Please visit the 2009 Conferences page for links to purchase, pricing, and other important information (http://usfirst.org/community/firstplace/content.aspx?id=11300 (http://usfirst.org/community/firstplace/content.aspx?id=11300)).

Questions? Send an email to firstconferences@usfirst.org (firstconferences@usfirst.org)
We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2009 FIRST Robotics Conference!


Go Teams!

[Mark McLeod]

Good Morning –

Thank you for your purchase of a pass(es) for the 2009 FIRST Robotics Conference.

To pick up your passes, please come to the table by the Conference rooms anytime after 1PM on Wednesday. Before we will release tickets, we need the person who purchased the tickets (or a proxy with a copy of the confirmation) to stop by and get the tickets.

The Conference rooms are GWCC C203, C204, and C205. These rooms face the plaza and dome and are one floor above the pit area. The easiest way to get there is to exit the door in the back right corner of the pit and take the escalator up one floor. The rooms are immediately on your right!

During the Conference, for those of you that will be sharing the passes between multiple people, you can feel free to have your team member leave the passes on the Conference table as an easily accessible “trading post” with their teammates. This has worked well in past years.

To read the abstracts and more information about the Conference, visit http://usfirst.org/community/firstplace/content.aspx?id=11300 (http://usfirst.org/community/firstplace/content.aspx?id=11300)
An updated schedule from the one on the web, including any changes that occur on-site, will be posted on the Conference table. Note that due to last minute travel problems and conflicts, presenters must sometimes cancel or change their session time. Check in at the table so you do not miss any presentations!

Some important, recent changes to the schedule:

· Canceled – The Procedure for Incorporating as Non-Profit Organization
· Canceled – Transitioning from a Robotics Club to a HS Class
· Moved – Traction Control – Level 1, 2, 3 Concepts and Implementation (from Wednesday at 4:30 to Thursday at 4PM in room C204)
· Added – Robonauts Crab Drive Wheel Box (Thursday at 8AM in C203)

If you have any issues, please feel free to email colleen at wpi.edu (colleen@wpi.edu) as I will be able to receive those emails even while in Atlanta.

Colleen Shaver
FIRST Robotics Conference Coordinator