NOTE: More detailed version
sent to all main team contacts.
Chesapeake Regional Newsletter to the teams
Welcome to all the 64 teams!
Chesapeake Regional Lingo
• USNA: United States Naval Academy
• Halsey Field House: on the USNA, where the event is held; also home of The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center
• Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium: Shuttle pick-up and drop-off on “Blue Side” parking, near the Blue Angel. Follow FIRST signage. Not on the Academy grounds, but rather a few miles from the USNA.
• Annapolis: Home of the nation’s oldest statehouse in continuous legislative use, historic 18th century seaport “city” with winding streets, cobblestone roads, limited parking, surrounded by water. City Dock, with restaurants is a 10 minute walk from Halsey.
www.visitannapolis.org has an excellent visitor guide booklet you can request. Annapolis is 30-45 minutes from Baltimore and Washington DC. The closest airport is BWI. Some teams combined the trip with a visit to their representatives and to see the sights in Washington DC last year
• Gate 1: Entry closest to the Halsey. Not to be confused with Gate 8. Team vehicles will use Gate 8. The USNA is a big place.
Chesapeake Regional website:
http://mitc.org/first/
Access to the Academy Grounds:
http://www.usna.edu/FIRST/access
My team will be arriving by bus (school or charter) van (rental or institutional)::
1. Need to fill out a form and submit no later than March 1. Vehicles without pre-approved passes will not be granted access to the USNA, no exceptions made. A separate form is needed for each bus/van.
http://www.usna.edu/FIRST/access
2. Driver can then drive to Stadium to park, take shuttle bus back to the Halsey for the day, return to the Stadium by shuttle to pick up bus, and then return to Halsey through Gate 8 at the assigned time to pick up the students. Please do not have all the students ride the shuttle bus to return to the Stadium, as it will create the delays encountered last year.
3. Make sure each person has a photo ID. School-issued student picture ID’s are accepted. Those without picture government issued or picture school ID cannot enter the USNA unless accompanied by an adult with a government issued picture ID.
My team will be arriving by private car:
1. No private cars will be allowed access onto the USNA grounds.
2. An exception is made for private cars with handicapped tags, but be prepared to show documentation.
3. The team members can be dropped by Gate 1 and walk ½ blocks to Halsey. They can arrange to be picked up outside of Gate 1.
4. Make sure each person has a photo ID. School-issued student picture ID’s are accepted. Those without picture government issued or picture school ID cannot enter the USNA unless accompanied by an adult with a government issued picture ID.
Tool Vehicle-My team is coming by bus/van/car and we have extra tools.
1. Can assign one personal truck or van to be the team’s “Tool vehicle”.
2. Need to fill out a form and submit no later than March 1. Vehicles without pre-approved passes will not be granted access to the USNA, no exceptions made. A separate form is available for “Tool Vehicles”
http://www.usna.edu/FIRST/access
3. Tool vehicles will only be allowed on the USNA on
• Thursday March 16, 6:30-8:30 am,
• Saturday March 18, 3-5pm.
Parking:
• Parking is off-site at the Stadium.
• Halsey is near Gate 1. A free shuttle bus will be running between the Stadium and Halsey. Parking at the Stadium will be free to everyone involved in FIRST.
Singers
• Last year, we had a multi-team group of students sing the US and British National Anthems during opening ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. This was so successful I have been asked to organize again. Send me the names and team numbers of interested students.
Food:
• You can bring your own food into Halsey pits.
• There are box lunches that can be ordered
http://www.usna.edu/FIRST/, places to eat on the USNA grounds (Drydock Restaurant) and within 10 minutes walking to City Dock.
Volunteering:
• Still recruiting volunteers to help out at the event. Contact Desiree Taminelli, the Volunteer Coordinator at
Desiree.a.taminelli@nasa.gov and sign up in the FIRST VIMS.
https://my.usfirst.org/vims/
USNA Admission talks/Tours of the USNA
• Information about the USNA and admissions will be available. We are working on having briefings, with sign-up sheets for assigned times to gauge interest.
Questions?
• Explore the website and then feel free to ask.
jbeatty@usfirst.org is the best way to reach me.
• Major Mark Tingle (410-293-6183) with any questions about vehicle passes, parking and the USNA
.