Help for Atlanta

[Denis]

Hello Teams!


My name is Denis and my team is # 2247 Fb high tech of regional Brazil!

We win this regional and needed help for more informations about the next step in Atlanta.

There are some questions:

1 ° How is the competition in Atlanta?
2 ° There are travel packages? For our money is short!
3 ° When will the competition in Atlanta?
4 ° There are additional payments to participate in the trip?

Thanks for help!

[fredliu168]

1. Atlanta is an amazing experience. Every team should be able to experience it at least once.
2. I'm not aware of any travel packages. Try looking at http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.expedia.com/ for deals. Or it may be possible to negotiate a deal or sponsorship from one of the airline companies
3. As of now the competition is most likely held on april 17 - 19. This may change because of the toronado, but this is extremely unlikely.
4. I believe the registeration cost is $5000 US, someone confirm this. Also, there will be hotel and food costs as well as some miscellanous costs.

[Rick TYler]

Hi Denis, congratulations on being invited to Atlanta! Check the www.usfirst.org Website. There is a company that FIRST is using to coordinate housing at the event -- they will help you find a hotel. I believe that you will have to make your own airline reservations. We received two email messages about coming to Atlanta, which had a lot of good information. We received them right after our tournament, so you should hear tomorrow. Here is the email we received:

We are contacting you because FIRST has shared that you have been invited to the 2008 Championships in Atlanta, April 16-20, 2008. Congratulations on your achievements so far and we hope you have the opportunity to visit Atlanta.

Our company, Steele Meetings, Inc has again been selected as the housing company for the 2008 Championship. You may have already been in contact with us or have visited our website. If so, thank you for visiting and please let us know how we may make your stay in Atlanta even more enjoyable.

If you are not familiar with us or with the packages that we have available for the championship, please visit the following website: https://www.e2mevents002.com/client/...?alias=FIRST08

In addition, you may contact us at the information below. We look forward to seeing you in Atlanta and best of luck to you in the competition.

Steele Meetings, Inc

6346-65 Lantana Rd.

Suite 117

Lake Worth, FL 33463

888-5STEELE (578-3353)

561-649-5395 (P)

561-649-5396 (F)

FIRST@steelemeetings.com

www.steelemeetings.com

Good luck!

[Denis]

Today we are trying to convince our college to make this investment because it is expensive and has many problems with visas and permits for Brazil's going to the USA!

I will try some help!

Thanks! Thanks!

More informations?

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Denis

Today we are trying to convince our college to make this investment because it is expensive and has many problems with visas and permits for Brazil's going to the USA!

I will try some help!

Thanks! Thanks!

More informations?

Congratulations on your win, and best wishes on making it to Atlanta. I have some appreciation for your issues with visas and permits... even though we are a Canadian team, two of our team members who are new to Canada were denied permission to enter the USA this year... a bit disappointing for them when we are competing in Portland and Seattle, and we have spent hundreds of dollars extra on customs brokerage fees for buying parts and shipping our robot across the border.

From what I understand, however, this is a very minor inconvenience compared to the challenges facing overseas teams. I would hope that FIRST can do something special for international teams in recognition of these challenges to ensure that each country that hosts an FRC regional is represented by at least one FRC team in Atlanta. (Perhaps this is already done, and I am just unaware of it...)

In any case, Denis, thank you and all the other overseas teams for making FIRST something more than simply a North American contest. You guys overcome challenges that most of the rest of us are completely unaware of!

Jason

[LSevcik]

Denis, you should check with team #1772. This team is from Gravatai as well. Team #1772 is coming to the Houston regional this week. The team had to get a letter from me in the United States to get their visas. I had to address the letter to the American Consulate in Brazil in order for them to get their visas. Team #1772 is going to Atlanta so perhaps they can help you. There is a $5,000 entry fee to compete at the championship and you will have shipping charges as well. I suggest you get in touch with Ivan Boesing your Brazil Regional Director.

[Denis]

Originally Posted by LSevcik

Denis, you should check with team #1772. This team is from Gravatai as well. Team #1772 is coming to the Houston regional this week. The team had to get a letter from me in the United States to get their visas. I had to address the letter to the American Consulate in Brazil in order for them to get their visas. Team #1772 is going to Atlanta so perhaps they can help you. There is a $5,000 entry fee to compete at the championship and you will have shipping charges as well. I suggest you get in touch with Ivan Boesing your Brazil Regional Director.

you can help we too with visas?
____________________________________

Our school is quite complicated to get the thing.

Then we as a team have to facilitate the maximum involvement of the school. Preferably only with the money.

So you give everything to do in order to facilitate our journey, it will be good

[sloteera]

Denis


The only way that you have to get your visa, is asking it in São Paulo.
Probably, the visa will be on your hand at six/seven days.

Team #1860 and #2575 will be travel together. Since 2004 (when I play with team #1382) that we make packages travels to NJ and Atlanta.

If your team wants, you can travel together us, will be better for you.


Well, can you add me if you want talk about more: rafaouslot@hotmail.com


And, congratulations. Your team and your robot are incredible!!!

[Uberbots]

When we go, we typically have 24-30 kids going. Each of these kids pays about $750 to $1000 to go, which covers all of their costs. we use the team funds to pay for registration.

Its expensive, but you really should go! its an amazing experience!

[Denis]

Originally Posted by sloteera

Denis


The only way that you have to get your visa, is asking it in São Paulo.
Probably, the visa will be on your hand at six/seven days.

Team #1860 and #2575 will be travel together. Since 2004 (when I play with team #1382) that we make packages travels to NJ and Atlanta.

If your team wants, you can travel together us, will be better for you.


Well, can you add me if you want talk about more: rafaouslot@hotmail.com


And, congratulations. Your team and your robot are incredible!!!

Thanks!! and your team too is very good!


But the problem is that we still have many doubts!

Awards as Chairmans and Wood are disputed again?
The issue of visa is not our team that has to do it?

Need more informations for show in my school!

We are fighting against time to convince our college to accept the trip!

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Denis

But the problem is that we still have many doubts!

Awards as Chairmans and Wood are disputed again?
The issue of visa is not our team that has to do it?

Need more informations for show in my school!

We are fighting against time to convince our college to accept the trip!

Chairman's can go, unless something has changed. Woodie Flowers Award winning teams are not eligible unless they got in another way. You won the regional, though, so you don't need to worry about those.

Your team would need passports, visas, and whatever other documents needed to get you into the U.S.

By the way, I think the best team to talk to would be 383, the Brazilian Machine. They were at Connecticut Regional last weekend. They also have somewhere around 10 years of experience getting into the U.S. with a robot, including trips to the Championship. If they can't give you advice, I don't know who can. (They might also help you talk to your college.)