Just talked to the regional director over here... Realized its not worth the effort going back to Manchester again. The advantages of staying here at remote kickoff if you have been to Manchester before:

1. Save money and time traveling
2. know the local teams much better
3. remote kickoff will have competition objects anyways (at least here and few other remote kickoff like NYC's)
4. can help out at the remote kickoff

So... I guess this mark the end of me going back to Manchesters...It is a lot of money, considering 350 dollars for ticket, 100 for hotel a night, and 7 hours flight each way. Lucky for east coast people for not having to travel so far and so expensive.

Re: remote kickoffs definitely a good idea
 

It's so strange to see someone think of those as such great things. Living in a suburb of Manchester, NH, I suppose I'm lucky enough to work at FIRST Place over the summer... two floors away from where they invent the game (my first summer, I thought it was intriguing that the third floor does not have an elevator button, and is the only one with curtains. Talk about top-secret security!), and the Robot Hall of Fame is just another thing to tell the kids not to touch. Dean's mansion, though I've never been in it, to me is just the lights at the top of the hill, next to the windmill, that I drive by on my way to the mall. And the Verizon Center... well, I go there to watch minor league hockey games and concerts!

I will say, though, before FIRST, I never thought living in my small NH town was exciting... but FIRST makes me realize how lucky I am to live here, and how many experiences I've had that most FIRSTers can only dream of.


That said, I'll definitely vote for the Manchester kickoff, but I don't know a whole lot about remote kickoffs in the first place. :D

Re: remote kickoffs definitely a good idea
 

Right now, Patrick Wesonga and I are at FIRST Place. Lemme tell you, it's amazing!

Re: Qotw [11-17-02]: Manchester or remote kickoff...
 

Fortunately, I live close enough to Manchester that I can easily drive there for the kickoff... Although I almost killed myself doing a 360 on I-495 driving up to Manchester in the snowstorm kickoff of 2001. This will be my third time going to kickoff in Manchester. I definately think that regional kickoffs are a good idea, though. There is no reason to make people get on an airline to be able to get to kickoff. Sure, the kits can be mailed and it is not necessary to physically attend kickoff at all, but nothing beats going and meeting people from different teams. Talking to other teams about their methods & philosophies can be invaluable. Therefore, I think regional kickoffs are a good solution, since it still allows teams to get together, without the need for expensive travel costs. Of course, if you can get to Manchester, the Manchester kickoff is probably the best experience.

- Patrick

Re: Qotw [11-17-02]: Manchester or remote kickoff...
 

Hey, the offer still stands for you to stay at Babson before kickoff! If you can jump on a plane now...you might get into Logan before the T stops running :p

I still think remote kickoffs are the best idea ever. Get the thrill of being in a big room and watching it with tons of people going nuts the same time you are, and skip the hours and hours to drive back with serious rear ballast in the form of plastic totes. Though Manch-vegas has the bonus thrills of seeing Dean's house and hanging out at FIRST place, you don't need to go every year...but you should make the trek at least once.

And is Dean still pushing for "Eventually I want a regional in every state so teams don't have to travel far..."? If so, remote kickoffs were just a natural progression.

Finally, slightly OT, but is this the first Kickoff in a while without any major snow forecast?

-Jessica B