**FIRST EMAIL**/Safety Animation Contest Announced, Kit and Kickoff Preferences Open

[Mark McLeod]

Greetings Teams:

You are invited to participate in the 6th annual FIRST Safety Animation Contest. The winning animation will be highlighted during the FIRST Kickoff on January 9, 2010 and shown at each regional event. You can find all the details on the Safety page at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=470

This is also a reminder that the “Kit and Kickoff Preferences” section in the Team Information Management System (TIMS) will open this Thursday, October 15th at 12:00 noon EST. The deadline to make your selections is December 4th.
“Kit and Kickoff Preferences” is where you will choose both where your team wants to pickup/receive its Kit of Parts (KoP) as well as what Kickoff your team will be attend, if any. Please note the following before you making your selections:

1. By attending the Manchester or Local Kickoff your team can acquire its KoP without incurring shipping costs;
2. If your team chooses not to attend a Kickoff, the KoP will be shipped to your Shipping Contact and your team will be responsible for the shipping costs.* Teams that choose to have their KoP shipped can expect to receive it starting the week after Kickoff. However, if you are an international team your delivery will depend on customs clearance;
3. Your team has the option to attend more than one Kickoff. For example, you can send members to the Kickoff in Manchester, NH, while other members of your team attend a Local Kickoff. You can also indicate your preference to pick up your KoP at either Kickoff;
4. We highly encourage Rookie Teams to send two (2) adult team leaders to the Manchester, NH Kickoff Workshops! Workshop topics and descriptions are posted at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/firstplace/content.aspx?id=15787

*Surrogate Kit Pickup Option:
If your team is unable to pick up its KoP at a Kickoff, and you do not wish to incur shipping charges to have it mailed, an alternate team may pick up your KoP. You must provide FIRST with an authorization letter, signed by the main contact, on school or sponsor letterhead in order for us to release the kit.
Fax the letter to Team Support at 603-666-3907 no later than 5:00 PM EST on January 4, 2009, and send a hard copy to FIRST, Attn: Team Support, 200 Bedford Street, Manchester, NH 03101. The letter must include the following:
1.) Your Team Number and the Local Kickoff pick-up location;
2.) The name and team number of the representative picking up the KoP;
3.) Provide a copy of the Surrogate Kit Pickup letter to the team representative picking up the KoP for your team. This representative must bring the letter to the appropriate Kickoff.

Go Teams!