[EricH]

In no particular order:

Build a crate. You have to ship the robot somehow. When Section 4 of the Manual comes out, it will have the specs for that. You'll want to add methods for securing your robot.

If you're going for any award that needs separate work (Woodie Flowers, Visualization Award, and Inventor Award), you'll need to do that before the regional.

If you're a NASA grant team, get the thank-you out before build if at all possible.

Fundraise.

Prepare a Chairman's Award submission. You might even submit it. (Note: as a rookie team, you aren't eligible for the CA. The rookie's CA, the Rookie All-Star, doesn't require a submission, but one is encouraged (bring to the event).)

Make giveaways. Not just a few, but a few hundred. These get your team name and number out at the event. This can be a decided advantage come picking time.