2005 Kickoff: Who's going?

[Billfred]

Well, since the deadline to get in for the 2005 Kickoff in Manchester is fast approaching (and since most people would be in the process of making travel plans at this point anyway), I figure it's time to start figuring out who's going up there.

Currently, I'm 85% sure I'll be going as a volunteer. (But that's not going to stop me from packing a few 1293 shirts...especially this nice and comfy long-sleeved one.)

And Dave...should I borrow someone's hair dryer from here in case the NASA truck needs some de-icing again this year?

[Erin Rapacki]

I'm going if I'm living in New England this January... it was a lot of fun last year!

But yea, by before Thanksgiving I'll know if I'm moving 1000 miles away to Florida or living 100 miles away to live back at home

[musicaly145]

Haha. Unfortunately I won't be going...but let's keep our fingers crossed that the van doesn't freeze up this year

[Bill Gold]

I'm thinking about going to New Hampshire, but it's hinging on whether or not the WRRF will need me to help out at a tentative January 7th workshop here in California, and whether or not Ken Leung would go back there with me.

[MikeDubreuil]

There's a very good possibility that I will be going. This is my 6th year of FIRST and I have never been to a kickoff. I'm very excited for January to come

[Jessica Boucher]

I'm game.

[Alex Golec]

Sorry guys, too far from us. We'll be going to the remote kickoff, and the rest of us get to watch the real one on NASA cable. And I'm still crossing my fingers that the weather will be a bit warmer- we sat around in a conference room for half an hour wondering why it was taking so long to get the game.
_Alex

[Wetzel]

Again I'm thinking about it, and again it will probally be too expensive for me to go.

I may endup at the VCU kickoff. Depends on my work schedule. :-/
I'll save and maybe afford Atlanta again.


Wetzel

[Kyle Love]

I'm not going to go to the real kickoff. I will be at the Kokomo remote kickoff site though.

-Kyle

[Matt Leese]

I'm considering going. I've been before but it's been a few years. I might have to definitely go if Bill and Ken show up.

Matt

[Elgin Clock]

I'm game to go. Either as a rep from my team, or just to go up and hang out errr... volunteer.
I've never been up to The Kickoff in my 4 years in FIRST and this may be the year. Maybe..

If I did want to volunteer, who would I have to contact?
Also, who else is planning on going to volunteer?
And last but not least, what is there to volunteer to do?

[Testament-Doom]

I'm not sure if we're going to the original kickoff or a remote one.......

*thinks about it*

.....yep, definatley remote. We're too far X_x. Hopefully I'll meet most of you there...... wherever we are going, lol.

[Alex Golec]

I'm just wondering (being only a 2nd-year FIRSTer)... what is it about the 'real' kickoff that makes is special and attractive for people to come from far-off places just to be there?
_Alex

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by Alex469

I'm just wondering (being only a 2nd-year FIRSTer)... what is it about the 'real' kickoff that makes is special and attractive for people to come from far-off places just to be there?
_Alex

This is part of it.

Originally Posted by Matt Leese

I'm considering going. I've been before but it's been a few years. I might have to definitely go if Bill and Ken show up.

Matt

Meeting people in person is most of the reason I went to San Jose in 2003, and will probally goto nationals again.

Wetzel

[Jessica Boucher]

Originally Posted by Alex469

I'm just wondering (being only a 2nd-year FIRSTer)... what is it about the 'real' kickoff that makes is special and attractive for people to come from far-off places just to be there?
_Alex

Kickoff is like a belated Chris-kwanz-ukah gift. The year is fresh, you get to see people you haven't seen in months (or years!), people are ready to bury the hatchet of the happenings of the year before in the immediate promise of the new opportunity, and you can cut the excitement in the air with a knife.

It's really cool to be in NH for Kickoff, knowing that the whole community is watching. In 2001 instead of staring at the field at the game I turned around and watched the people watch the field. All I could see was a mass of people from all corners of the world, eyes lit up, gears turning in their heads. That, to me, is FIRST in action.