The Capital Clash

[RoboMom]

July 11, 2005
Welcome to The Capital Clash teams and volunteers!

Dates: Sat. August 27: 9-5pm
Sun. August 28: 9-3pm

Venue: Washington DC Convention Center. www.dcconvention.com Includes maps of area and Metro system.

Registration: Registration fee will rise from $100 to $150 after July 15.

The Game: We may move “Triple Play” to “Double Play” depending on registration. Otherwise expect the same rules and play.

Unload/Pits: Specifics will be released in August. You will be allowed to unload on Friday, Aug. 26 or early Sat. Aug. 27.

Parking: There is plentiful parking in lots and decks within a few blocks of the convention center. Expect to pay between $20-25 per day for each vehicle. To economize, make use of the DC Metro – the Capital’s subway system.

Hotels: Hotels near the convention center are unfortunately mostly sold out for the weekend. After researching others within walking distance and some at the larger Metro stops, we found that you can get the best rates by reserving online. Here are a few that we found (rates as of 7/8/05):

DC - within walking distance of the Convention Center
Renaissance 159.00
Embassy Suites Convention Center, 1250 22nd Street NW. 202 857-3388. 159.00

Maryland
Hilton Silver Spring 99.00
Hampton Inn Bowie 129.00

Virginia
Doubletree Crystal City 99.00
Embassy Suites Tyson's Corner 169.00
National Airport/Crystal City Holiday Inn. 87.00 (online)

Teams:
• Registered to date (13): 25, 116, 339, 341, 357, 365, 422, 539, 623, 836, 888, 1111,1123
• Twelve additional teams have expressed interest, but have not registered.
• IJ Hudson, from NBC4 has asked for team stories. We will be contacting you, so be ready with your story.
• Additional Homework to come: We will be asking each team to submit a profile sheet for our announcer. These were used during the Palmetto Regional, and were a huge hit with teams and spectators. This will include general information about your team – rookie year, neat factoids, current projects. Details to follow.

Website: Digital Edge/NBC4 http://www.nbc4.com/digitaledgeexpo/4601364/detail.html
Check out all the exhibitors.

Volunteers: This is an all-volunteer effort and we are unable to offer any reimbursements.

Welcome to the following volunteers:
• Field-Mike Wade(Head)
• Scoring-John Park (Head), Reed Debaets
• Emcee –Jeff Seaton
• Announcer-
• Technical Support-George Marchant, programming and electronics
• Pit Admin-Judy Vanderpool, Anne Spence
• Team Queuing: Sammy Trumbull,
• Reset: Travis Evans
• Referees: Lisa Evans(Head Ref) Anne Bergeron, Skip Breyfogle, Terrell Burch, Chris Cook, Matthew Glennon, Karin Kloberg, Carol Perotto, Steve Shade, Keith Warman, Jeff Wetzel.
• VIPS/Media-Paul Kloberg, John Murdock , FIRST Regional Directors
• DJ-William Leverette

Volunteers still needed:

- Announcer
• Field set-up (Friday)
• Field Strike (Sunday)
• Field Reset (Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-3-at least a 4 hour shift)
• Unload (Friday & Sat. am)
• Technical support for robot mechanical issues


Robots:
We know there are probably dozens of modifications you want to make to your robots. In the spirit of fair play, we ask that for this competition, you keep within the limits set by FIRST for overall size, as well as the use of motors, batteries, electronics, controls, and pneumatics. We will allow you to add up to 5 lbs. of additional weight (125 lbs. overall without batteries in any playing configuration). This should give you the opportunity to brace or reinforce vulnerable parts.

VEX: There will be a VEX field with robots for the public to operate.

Contacts: Jenny Beatty at jbeatty@usfirst.org & Dee Tomczak at robotstoo@aol.com