**FIRST EMAIL**/Important December 2nd Deadline Information

[Pat Fairbank]

Greetings Teams:

There are three (3) key deadlines coming up on December 2nd. All deadlines are for 5:00 pm EST.

* Kit and Kickoff Preferences
* Team Data for Program Books
* Registration Closes

Please read the following information carefully.

Kit and Kickoff Preferences

It has come to our attention that some teams have incorrect information listed for their Kit and Kickoff selections. In some cases there is no information at all. Please note all teams must make a Kit and Kickoff Selection in order to receive their Kit of Parts (KOP.) Due to a system bug, even if you selected the correct Kit and Kickoff information it may not have saved correctly. Please do the following:

* Go to TIMS at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/res_art2.htm
* Go to Kit and Kickoff Tab
* Verify your selections. If OK you can stop here.
* If your selections are not correct, please click on "edit details"
* Reenter your selections **IMPORTANT** As you complete each choice press the "finished" button. For instance, for Kit Pick-up/Delivery make your selection then press "finished." Proceed with next selection e.g., Manchester Kickoff. Press "finished." Continue until selections are complete.

Tip! Your team can attend more than one Kickoff. For example, if you wish to send representatives to the Manchester Kickoff but want to collect your KOP at a local Kickoff, you may do so.

Please note that if you plan to fly to the Manchester Kickoff, you will not be able to take your KOP on the plane. You should plan to have other team members attend a local Kickoff and collect the KOP on your behalf. You may also select "My Site" and your kit will be shipped directly to your location (you will be responsible for the shipping charges.) See details below regarding "My Site" selection.

Should your team not be able to attend a Kickoff, you may arrange for another team to collect your KOP via "Surrogate Pickup."

Surrogate Kit Pickup:

If your team is unable to pick-up its KOP at the Kickoff selected, an alternate team may do so. Here is what to do:

Your team must provide FIRST with an authorization letter, signed by the main or alternate contact, on school or sponsor letterhead that includes the following: 1.) Your team number and the KOP pick-up location; 2.) The name and team number of the representative picking up the KOP.

Please fax the letter to Team Support at 603-666-3907 no later than December 15, 2005, with a hard copy to follow. Please send hard copy to FIRST, Attn: Team Support, 200 Bedford Street, Manchester, NH 03101.

IMPORTANT: Provide a copy of the letter to the team representative picking up the KOP for your team. The representative must bring the letter to the appropriate Kickoff in order to collect your KOP.

"My Site" Selection:

Many teams have chosen "My Site" to receive the KOP. If you have your KOP shipped to "My Site" your team incurs the significant shipping cost. If you selected "My Site" in error you must change your preference by December 2nd.

If you do want your kit shipped to "My Site" you must have a valid FedEx, UPS or Purolator shipping account number entered in the TIMS system. If this number is not entered, inaccurate or the credit card information attached to the account is not valid, your KOP cannot get shipped.

Teams that choose the "My Site" option can expect to start receiving their kits the week following the Kickoff.

KOP ships to the Shipping Contact:
Please make sure your shipping contact's information is correct and that he/she is at an address ready to receive the KOP. Please make sure it is not shipping to a school address that may be closed for a vacation or inclement weather.

Kit and Kickoff Deadline Note:
All Kit Shipping information must be accurate by the December 2nd deadline date as the packing and palletizing process for shipment will start the next week. Once Kits are palletelized, there can be no changes. Please note there will be NO Exceptions to this deadline.


Team Data for Program Books

The 2006 Program Book development is under way, and we need you to carefully review your team's information to be sure it is accurate. All team information must be correct and up to date in TIMS no later than December 2nd in order to be included in the program book. This information includes:

1. Team Names (Team Name, Short Team Name and Team Nickname - please see the Help Screen in TIMS for a description of each)
2. Sponsor(s)* (under Partner Organization)
3. Team Motto (if you have no motto, leave blank, entries like N/A, NA or NONE will be deleted for the program books)
4. Robot Name (if you don't have a name for your robot, leave blank...see above)
5. Name of School* (under Partner Organization)
6. State/Province (in Canada or Brazil)
7. Rookie Year

*Please pay special attention that your Partner Organizations have not been listed more than once. Many teams enter duplicate and triplicate information by mistake (e.g., Jones Corporation & Smith High School, Smith High School, Smith High School.)

Registration Closes

Please be sure to make your final selections for events as soon as possible. There are regionals that still have spots available.
Regional Event registration closes on December 2nd at 5:00 pm EST.

Go Teams!