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FRIDAY, MAY 4th - COOKOUT
We are having a cookout for all of the teams starting at 7:00pm at "Delco Park". We will have a lodge reserved with food and a DJ, and also there will be mini-golf available ($1 each). We will be selling IRI t-shirts at the lodge. The lodge is reserved until 11:00pm.
*** Help *** We are providing all of the food and drink... but we gotta know how many people are coming, so RSVP with a headcount for this party, please!!

Also... you are welcome to set up your pit in the Gym on Friday afternoon, from 5:00pm - 6:45pm. But, after 7:00pm, we will be at the party, and so should you!

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SATURDAY, MAY 5th - COMPETITION
**** note **** Kokomo is currently on Central Time, which is the same as Chicago. Please plan accordingly.
We will be playing at Kokomo Memorial Gymnasium.

Agenda:
8:00am      Pits; Open
8:30am      Drivers;/coaches Meeting
9:00am      Opening; Ceremonies
9:30am      Seeding; matches start
1:00pm      Seeding; matches end
1:15pm      Alliance; Picking (*** note *** only 4 teams
                  per; alliance, not 5!!!!)
2:00pm      Finals; Begin
3:30pm      Finals; End
4:00pm      Awards;
4:30pm      Pits; packed and field tear-down

PLEASE plan on eating at the competition, if you wish. We will have reasonably-priced food items available, and this is our way to help pay for the event. We will be offering grilled burgers and hotdogs, along with pizzas. If you want more details on this, just ask.

Two things that we are changing compared to how FIRST ran things:

1. Only 4 teams in the final alliances, also, we are thinking about eliminating the auto-matching (1 w/ 5, 2 w/ 6, etc) and just let the top 4 seeds pick their partners.

2. You will know what qualification matches your team will be in for the entire day. None of those groups of 8 or 12 that we had to go through with FIRST. I don't know how many seeding matches that we'll have, but we'll do as many as we can before 1:00pm.

We are somewhat open to suggestions for other changes, within reason. We will not go 2 vs. 2, nor go with 2 bridges and 4 goals (although both ideas are tempting!!). If you have a request, we will surely listen.

*******
HELP NEEDED
Our team is geared up for this and we have many of the roles for the day covered. BUT, there are some things that we need help with:
1. Publicity... we all could use more of this. If you can get any media person to Kokomo on May 5th, that would sure help. We have logos and other things if you need them for the publicity. The main reasons that we have this competition is to recruit other teams and give our teams more attention that they deserve.

2. Setting up the field... some of you local folks want to help set up the field. We will be getting into the Gym on Thursday, May 3rd. Our main mechanical setup will happen then, and then we'll fine tune stuff on Friday, May 4th.

3. Tearing down the field... anyone who wants to help tear down the field and pits are welcome to help after the awards ceremony. Let me know if you are available.

4. A few of you wish to be referees or match set-up people... we do need help in those areas, so contact me (if you haven't already) if you want to help out.

5. If there is some "big wig administrator" in a company, school, or college that may be wanting to start a team next year (or continue supporting a team)... let me know and I will ask them to be a judge for the awards... this is a good way to "set the hook" for a person who can control the purse strings of a team. I have a few judges already, but we can add more... just let me know their name and email address.

Any comments/questions, please ask Tim Railey (trailey@kokomo.k12.in.us) or myself (andrew.r.baker@delphiauto.com).

Regards,
Andy Baker, Tim Railey
TechnoKats Robotics Team