**IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Season Information and Updates

[Rich Wong]

Greetings Teams:

Please read the following important information below:

NASA Grant Recipients
NASA and FIRST are pleased to announce the 2004 Grant recipients. Please go to http://robotics.nasa.gov/2003_sponsorships.htm and view the list of teams!

Manchester Kickoff Information

1.) If your team is attending the Manchester Kickoff, please have your kickoff counts confirmed no later than December 12th. This is done via the Team Information Management System (TIMS) at my.usfirst.org. ** Please note: information provided after this date will not be included in Founders' party ticket counts!

2.) FIRST requires all persons attending the Manchester Kickoff to sign a "Consent and Release Form" that can be found at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2004...ease_form.pdf. Please print the form and fill in your kickoff and team information at the bottom. 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. Turn in the forms at the Registration table.

Tip! Having the forms finished, collected, and stapled or clipped together ahead of time will save you time during Registration.

3.) Information on Manchester Kickoff workshops as well as registration for the workshops will be coming soon! Please keep checking your emails and the website for the most up-to-date information.

All Teams: Please Read Carefully

Please verify by December 12th that your Kit Pickup Location is entered into the TIMS correctly. If you are having your kit shipped to "My Site" you will need to make sure that your Shipping Contact's mailing address is correct as the kit will be shipped there. Remember, if you choose the "My Site" option your team will be responsible for paying the shipping costs. You will also need to have a valid FedEX or UPS shipping account number entered in the TIMS system.

**IMPORTANT** - Teams that choose the "My Site" option can expect to start receiving their kits on January 12th (at the earliest.)

FRC Parts
By now you are well into the start of the 2004 season, and many of you have started to think about what this year's robot might look like or how your drive train might be improved from last season. You might even be trying to plan for workshops in your local areas and need to acquire parts. Unfortunately, 2003 parts are no longer available from FIRST or MMH Ventures. The 2004 Parts will be available through MMH after 1/12/04 and an order form will be made available. Thank you for your cooperation and best of luck in the coming season!

Initial Event Payment Deadline and Registration Closing:

Please remember that initial event payments are due by 5:00 pm EST on December 5th You can mail your check to: Finance Department, 200 Bedford Street, Manchester, NH 03101 or contact Finance to provide a credit card (Visa or MC) payment at 800-871-8326 ext. #415. **Please note this also means that all purchase orders for the $5,000 registration fee must be paid on or before December 5th, also via check or credit card (Visa or MC).

Please also remember that registration closes on December 5th at 5:00 pm EST!

Thank you all in advance.

Go Teams!