"The Additional Team Info and Team Essays sections are used by the Judges at the Regional and Championship Events to learn about your team’s history, goals, strengths and the challenges it may have overcome. Judges take this information into consideration, along with the interviews done in the Pit, when making decisions about team awards. We encourage you all to complete this section.
The Judges ask that you include a photo of your robot here. Not only does this help the judges to remember your team during the discussions, we may use the robot photos you submit for the Awards Ceremonies."
-Quoted from FIRST’s website-
It does not sound like you HAVE to, But if your team is interested in being recognized by FIRST for what you’ve done/will be doing this year it sounds like it would be a good idea to submit one.
5.4.3.2 Additional Requirement for 2009 Season
Teams competing for the Regional Chairman’s Award must provide a video to the judges at
the event. The content of the video should explain what the team has done to be a Regional
Chairman’s Award winning team. The video may be shown to the judges during the teams 5
minute presentation time at the discretion of the teams, however the team must provide the
equipment for viewing (i.e., laptop). Although it is a requirement of submission, it is not a
requirement for the judging process for 2009. Specifications for the DVD will be found on the FIRST website at: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=440
Regarding the Judges Information -
It is an opportunity to provide “valuable information to the judges”, as stated in the link provided in the email blast. It would be worth your while to read what was written regarding the essays and how they can be of value when judges are making decisions about team awards.