**FIRST EMAIL**/Important Manchester Kickoff Information

[Rich Wong]

Greetings Teams:

We have put together some important information for all teams attending the Manchester Kickoff. If you are attending a remote kickoff and have questions, please see details and contact information at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/remotekickoffs.htm

HOW TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING

Driving Directions: Please go to http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/directions.pdf and print a copy of this page to bring with you. It has important directions and bus transportation information such as:
Directions from the Manchester Airport to the Radisson;
Directions from the Radisson to FIRST;
Directions from the Radisson to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU);
Directions from SNHU to FIRST (for Kit handout) and the Manchester Airport;
How to get to the Founder's Reception.
There will be FIRST staff members available on January 7th at FIRST headquarters to answer any transportation questions you may have.

IMPORTANT: If you have booked hotels outside of the THS system, you will have to contact your hotel for directions and make your own transportation arrangements. To get to the Founder's Reception, you can park at McKelvie School per instructions on getting to the Founder's Reception at the url above.

KICKOFF WORKSHOPS

The Manchester Kickoff Workshops will be held at FIRST Headquarters, 200 Bedford Street in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday, January 7, 2005 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Rookie Workshop will be held in the 3rd floor north room and the Resource Workshops (open to Rookies and Veterans) will be held on the second floor at FIRST Place. Please remember that up to two (2) adult team leaders can attend the Rookie workshop and up to four (4) adult team leaders can attend the Resource Workshop. For new teams, the Rookie Workshop is a terrific way to start the season and will provide helpful advice from award-winning, experienced veteran coaches. Detailed information on the workshops will be available on our website shortly.

**Important** No pre-college students are allowed.

For those first and second year team representatives who are attending the Rookie Workshop, team members must bring their FIRST Robovation Kit to this workshop. Please see below for the list of parts you must bring with you to the workshop.

You must bring:
1.) A CHARGED battery
2.) The battery charger
3.) Your control system - the operator interface, the robot controller, the AC adapter
4.) The motors
5.) The sprockets and chain
6.) The wheels
7.) The limit switches, jumpers, and any other small parts

You do not need to bring:
1.) Joysticks
2.) Radio
3.) Plates, Bars, Shafts, Angles (the larger metal pieces)
4.) Tools

Questions:
Q: We have already built a robot from the kit, do we need to take it apart?
A: NO; assuming you can transport it, we recommend you bring the robot assembled.

Q: How should we bring it on the plane?
A: We recommend packing the parts into your checked luggage, otherwise, be prepared to turn it on to show security what it is for.

The Resources Workshops are a series of lectures highlighting important must-know topics for being successful in the upcoming FIRST Robotics Competition season. The topics may include:
1.) Basics of C Programming
2.) Automomy and Sensors
3.) Benefits of Pneumatics
4.) Team Organization

If you have any questions regarding the workshops please contact Karen Sullivan at 800-871-8326, ext. 427 or write to karen@usfirst.org

FOUNDER'S RECEPTION

The Founder's Reception will be held at WestWind, the home of FIRST Founder Dean Kamen. Common Courtesy is expected of all attendees. There will be no cameras or video recorders allowed. In addition to this, no display items should be touched and all food must remain in the designated food-service area. Please remember this is a private home. Your cooperation is appreciated.

To attend the Founder's Reception, you must have your Founder's Reception Ticket. Tickets have been mailed out to the main contact's address of teams registered for the Manchester Kickoff. If you do not receive them by the time you leave for New Hampshire, please stop up to the 4th floor on Friday and ask for Team Support - we will gladly help you then.

Important: You must have a ticket in order to attend the reception, please double check that you have it before leaving for New Hampshire!

Reminder: The reception is for mentors only and pre-college students should not attend.

KIT PICKUP

You will be given your Kit of Parts (KOP) receipt at registration on Saturday. For those of you attending the Kickoff for the first time, this receipt confirms that your team can pick up a KOP.

**IMPORTANT** Hold onto this receipt until the Kickoff ceremonies are over. We do not have duplicates of these receipts, so it will be very important you do not lose. You will bring the receipt with you to Kit Handout. Please read the important details on Kit Handout below:
Kit Handout will take place at FIRST following the Kickoff event, not SNHU. Directions to get to FIRST from SNHU are available at the url given above;
Your KOP receipt is designed with five (5) checkboxes. As you proceed through the handout line, you will check off each item you receive in the appropriate box. There are five (5) components to the KOP that match with the checkboxes on the receipt;
You will sign and print on the line provided;
You will turn in the KOP receipt to the designated collector(s) before you leave the pick up line to head home.
The KOP's will be distributed from the loading docks at the rear of the building off Commercial Street. Hopefully you will be able to get your vehicle close to the dock. In the event you can't, a luggage dolly (150 lbs minimum) can be a big help with transporting your KOP. You can then head south on Commercial Street and get on I-293 quickly!

CONSENT AND RELEASE FORMS

**IMPORTANT** - Don't forget your Consent and Release forms! Please download at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005...lease_form.pdf and bring with you to the registration desk at Kickoff on Saturday!

Additional details on the Kickoff are on our website at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/kfevents.htm If you haven't read through this information we highly urge you to do so before coming to Kickoff.

If you have any questions please contact Team Support at 800-871-8326, dial 0 or email us at frcteams@usfirst.org.

We are looking forward to meeting our new rookie team members and seeing familiar faces!

Go Teams!