2005 Kickoff: Who's going?

[Alaina]

There's no way in the world I'll be going this January. But I'm sure I'll make it to one or two in my lifetime. I dunno. The drastic weather change from California to New Hampshire might kill me... =P

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Alaina

There's no way in the world I'll be going this January. But I'm sure I'll make it to one or two in my lifetime. I dunno. The drastic weather change from California to New Hampshire might kill me... =P

I'm living so far

I thought about going and then realized I'll still be back in California on break during kickoff...

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Alaina

There's no way in the world I'll be going this January. But I'm sure I'll make it to one or two in my lifetime. I dunno. The drastic weather change from California to New Hampshire might kill me... =P

It was only -6 F or so last year. I enjoyed the ability to actually meet people and see the field that day. Plus we picked up our kit on the way home.

We will send 2-4 engineers to go take pictures of the field and get the kit as we do every year.

Pete

[Joe Matt]

It says on the kick-off site that the founder's party is for those 18 and over, does that include High School kids who are 18 and older?

Originally Posted by JosephM

It says on the kick-off site that the founder's party is for those 18 and over, does that include High School kids who are 18 and older?

Thats a good question, although I do know in years past they wouldn't let high school students attend kickoff....but I guess we're going to have to wait for an official answer

[Cory]

Originally Posted by JosephM

It says on the kick-off site that the founder's party is for those 18 and over, does that include High School kids who are 18 and older?

The captain of my team(He was 18) in 2001 went to Manchester for kickoff with his dad, a mentor on the team.

I'm almost 100% certain he went to Dean's house.

[Melissa Nute]

I will be going this year.

[Conor Ryan]

i'm going to NJIT

[Matt Leese]

Originally Posted by Cory

The captain of my team(He was 18) in 2001 went to Manchester for kickoff with his dad, a mentor on the team.

I'm almost 100% certain he went to Dean's house.

They don't check IDs. It's more of a "gracious professionalism" thing. I know that at least one time it came up that the official rules were no high school students at kickoff (this was in years past) and several people had said they'd been there in the past. Basically, FIRST has made a request and would like you to abide by it.

Originally Posted by Wetzel

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

I've actually met both Ken and Bill in the past. I just wouldn't mind seeing them again.

Matt

[Manoel]

Originally Posted by Cory

The captain of my team(He was 18) in 2001 went to Manchester for kickoff with his dad, a mentor on the team.

I'm almost 100% certain he went to Dean's house.

I also went to the Manchester kickoff in 2001, as a student. Back then, the rules were there but a tad loose, so you could actually take kids to Westwind. The next year they started enforcing the rules, with the "excuse" that alcohol was being served. I'm pretty sure you'd have a hard time trying to convince FIRST these days...

[patrickrd]

I'm like so totally going, man.

[Matt Leese]

Originally Posted by Manoel

I also went to the Manchester kickoff in 2001, as a student. Back then, the rules were there but a tad loose, so you could actually take kids to Westwind. The next year they started enforcing the rules, with the "excuse" that alcohol was being served. I'm pretty sure you'd have a hard time trying to convince FIRST these days...

Actually, they stopped serving alcohol in 2002. I had a number of discussions with FIRST about the fact that they encouraged college students to start teams but you (officially) had to be 21 years old to attend kickoff. The age was dropped to 18 the next year (although there were others who had some similiar discussions at other times).

Matt

[Peter Matteson]

The age rule is really a liability issue for Dean and FIRST and should be respected as such. That is why they don't want anyone under 18. I believe the rule was phrased as high school students because it was seen as unfair to let those who happened to be 18 by the time of the kick-off senior year go and not the younger students.

I think it's pretty disrespectful to Dean and the organization to just say I'm going because I want to even though I'm not old enough. He doesn't have to allow everyone into his home and with the proliferation of the program over the last few years I'm surprised there has not been a limit placed on the number of people per team, let alone dropping/changing the way the event entirely.

Pete

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Dzdconfusd

The age rule is really a liability issue for Dean and FIRST and should be respected as such. That is why they don't want anyone under 18. I believe the rule was phrased as high school students because it was seen as unfair to let those who happened to be 18 by the time of the kick-off senior year go and not the younger students.

I think it's pretty disrespectful to Dean and the organization to just say I'm going because I want to even though I'm not old enough. He doesn't have to allow everyone into his home and with the proliferation of the program over the last few years I'm surprised there has not been a limit placed on the number of people per team, let alone dropping/changing the way the event entirely.

Pete

Well, it's official, I'm going to the Manchester Kick-Off, but the reason I raised the question is that I'm 18 AND in high school, and I remember there being a rule against high school kids awhile ago, but now it's not on the website at all. I'd like to go to Dean's house, I'm 18 and responsable, but I just wanted to know.

Thanks guys!

[Matt Leese]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Well, it's official, I'm going to the Manchester Kick-Off, but the reason I raised the question is that I'm 18 AND in high school, and I remember there being a rule against high school kids awhile ago, but now it's not on the website at all. I'd like to go to Dean's house, I'm 18 and responsable, but I just wanted to know.

Thanks guys!

Your best bet is to ask FIRST about it. None of the answers you get here are in any way official. I'm going to make a guess and say that they probably don't intend for high school students to attend. I may be wrong. Your best option is to just ask.

Matt