2009 Kickoff Attendance

[JohnBoucher]

TIMS is asking about number attending Kickoff

Manchester, NH Kick Off Manchester, NH Kick Off Attendance

Max is 3. Kickoff is not open to all this year?

[Wetzel]

As I recall, many events are limited to x number per site.

Limiting Manchester to 3 per teams seems like another cost control method in line with what FIRST has been trending towards.


Wetzel

[vivek16]

I've never been before, is it really worth it?

-Vivek

[JohnBoucher]

Teams can get 4 tickets for the Founders reception. If only three can go to kickoff, whom do you ditch?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by vivek16

I've never been before, is it really worth it?

-Vivek

I went in 2005 as a volunteer. The experience was great--picture the buzz of the crowd that amasses before the Thursday of a regional, only ramped up to eleven. There's no real competitive advantage to attending in my mind, beyond being able to touch The Actual Field Elements (hey, we can all read drawings, right?), but the Manchester Kickoff tends to draw a lot of the older-school teams that started going to Manchester before there was a choice. Tapping into the knowledge that a lot of those teams' mentors have can definitely provide some inspiration.

In short: yes.

(Just remember to pack extra warm--when they say the state motto is Live, Freeze, or Die, they're not joking.)

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by Billfred

(Just remember to pack extra warm--when they say the state motto is Live, Freeze, or Die, they're not joking.)

I've survived (barely) one New Hampshire winter and I hadn't heard it before. You evoked an audible chuckle over here.

Last year's kickoff was quite pleasant weather-wise. This was because Hawaii's governor brought the warmth with her. I hope she comes again and stays until the championship.

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I went in 2005 as a volunteer. The experience was great--picture the buzz of the crowd that amasses before the Thursday of a regional, only ramped up to eleven. There's no real competitive advantage to attending in my mind, beyond being able to touch The Actual Field Elements (hey, we can all read drawings, right?), but the Manchester Kickoff tends to draw a lot of the older-school teams that started going to Manchester before there was a choice. Tapping into the knowledge that a lot of those teams' mentors have can definitely provide some inspiration.

In short: yes.

(Just remember to pack extra warm--when they say the state motto is Live, Freeze, or Die, they're not joking.)

Haha, I'm from Minnesota, I'll live. I'll talk to my mentor about it, it certainly looks fun.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

Teams can get 4 tickets for the Founders reception. If only three can go to kickoff, whom do you ditch?

Force... err, rather... kindly request the 4th person in your party sign up in VIMS & volunteer at kickoff?
There are always ways around the seemingly improbable.

Looks like an oversight by FIRST if you can have 4 at Founder's & only 3 at the actual unveiling/Kickoff event at SNHU the next day. Oops.

Maybe not though? Who knows?

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by vivek16

I've never been before, is it really worth it?

-Vivek

The energy is amazing. It a huge crowd on the field, all brainstorming, commenting on the game. The GDC is there and and you can ask them directly about the game and the field elements.

This picture is from 2007

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

Teams can get 4 tickets for the Founders reception. If only three can go to kickoff, whom do you ditch?

Is this maybe FIRST's way of saying they're cutting down to 3 per team (for both days) this year? FIRST is getting bigger and I'm sure that they'd want to do that to give more teams a chance to go. Founder's last year was incredibly packed, as was Kickoff, and as we keep gaining teams I think FIRST may want to give some newer teams & mentors a chance to hang around with the 'older-school', knowledagble mentors that tend to gravitate to Manchester around the beginning of January.

Keep in mind, I'm new(ish) to TIMS regarding kickoff/founder's, so I might have it all wrong. Just a thought.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

Last year's kickoff was quite pleasant weather-wise. This was because Hawaii's governor brought the warmth with her. I hope she comes again and stays until the championship.

I must've been to a different kickoff in NH... it was well into the single digits or below zero on Thursday and Friday - Jane froze, being from Texas, and we enjoyed a little snowball fight while waiting for the bus to the reception...

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by KathieK

I must've been to a different kickoff in NH... it was well into the single digits or below zero on Thursday and Friday - Jane froze, being from Texas, and we enjoyed a little snowball fight while waiting for the bus to the reception...

Aye, I did, and probably whined a lot. (You and Jack were awesome, Kathie!)
But:
- the beautiful frozen waterfall
- the bus ride to Dean Kamen's house and being there with folks like Al Skierkiewicz and Mark McLeod explaining steam engines/things to me
- the excitement and energy of everyone
- the speeches given by Woodie, Dean, and Dave encouraging teams to invite/welcome engineers and professionals in the fields of science and technology to be a part of the teams/the FIRST experience
- listening to the buzz, hum, and exchange of thoughts and ideas following the reveal of the challenge
- watching Blue Alliance at work
- meeting John Burns and experiencing his warmth, humor, and brilliance
- the time spent at the NEMO table and with Wayne Penn and members of FRC 25 during travel to and from Boston
- the entire experience

was.simply.amazing. I would like to do it again sometime, if my feet ever thaw out.

[GeorgeTheEng]

Originally Posted by KathieK

I must've been to a different kickoff in NH... it was well into the single digits or below zero on Thursday and Friday - Jane froze, being from Texas, and we enjoyed a little snowball fight while waiting for the bus to the reception...

It was two years ago... close to 70 degrees out... Gov Lingle was pretty impressive. Down to earth and easy to talk to...

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Billfred

(Just remember to pack extra warm--when they say the state motto is Live, Freeze, or Die, they're not joking.)

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

I've survived (barely) one New Hampshire winter and I hadn't heard it before. You evoked an audible chuckle over here.

Last year's kickoff was quite pleasant weather-wise. This was because Hawaii's governor brought the warmth with her. I hope she comes again and stays until the championship.

No, that would have been the hot air from all the politicians up there for the primary.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng

It was two years ago... close to 70 degrees out... Gov Lingle was pretty impressive. Down to earth and easy to talk to...

Yup, I had a brain fart there. Two years ago. Oops.

I agree, Gov Lingle was quite interesting.