Nick & Co are probably overloaded with the incredible demands of putting on the largest FLL event in the world, largely using JMU students and volunteer labor, and so here are a couple of suggestions for teams heading to the Championship Tournament who don't have prior knowledge of schedules or practices.

This is not an official VA_DC FLL e-mail.  I am just a do-gooder, trying to add to the confusion in good-natured spirit.

A.  Registration

The so-called team-registration is mainly about payment.  You can pay the $150 registration fee online using a credit card using the link that Jeff Schoolcraft had posted (there is  $2.50 convenience fee):

https://commerce.cashnet.com/JMUVADCFLL

DO NOT click on the register button on the va-dc fll championship registration site -- this leads you to a "site maintenance message" at https://quikpayasp.com/maintenance.html?orderType=VADCFLL.

DO NOT try the first link that Nick sent out on Nov. 17.  https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneta/selfserve/BrowseCatalog.aspx. This just leads you to a three-part error message.

Online Payment
Online Payment requires just four pieces of information:
Name (this should be the coach/payor's name (ideally with the team name in parenthesis afterwards)
E-Mail (for payment confirmation)
Address (for payment authentication using the zip code)
Team Number (double check, please!)

I recommend that teams who have registered online e-mail Dustin Skelton <[log in to unmask]> when they have done so, with the following text in the subject line:

Team nnnnn <Team Name> registered online for 2014 FLL Championship Tournament
This will help him keep track of registrations without having to open the e-mail (unless it becomes necessary). 

Check/PO Payment
If you pay by check or PO, I suggest you do the following:
1.  Notify Dustin Skelton by e-mail <[log in to unmask]> of your payment plan ASAP (this means now!).  The check can reach later, but the e-mail must reach now.  I recommend that the subject line read:
Team nnnnn <Team Name> sending <PO/Check> for 2014 FLL Championship Tournament
2.  Mail the payment to VA-DC FLL (Attn:  Nick Swayne/Dustin Skelton) at
James Madison University
800 South Main, MSC 6911
Harrisonburg VA  22807

Stop following the above instructions when official instructions arrive.

B.  Hotel Reservations:
Steele Meetings handles all FIRST hotel arrangements, including the World Festival.  The big shindig that is the VA-DC FLL Championship Tournament, is listed in their system as a Regional Tournament.  If you click on Championship reservations, you will get a hotel in St. Louis in April.  Resist the temptation to plan that far ahead -- all technology management is about handling short-term crises.

C.  Activity Reservations:
New Technology is being deployed for the first time (what a year, it began a year ago with the Government Healthcare rollout!).  Be prepared for unexpected results.  Don't run red lights to be the first to sign-up.  While some kid may seem heartbroken at not having got the 3D printer choice (or whatever else proves hot this year), please console them that 4D and 5D printing are just round the corner.  The more things change, the more they remain same ...

Regardless, don't forget to have fun.  Getting to Harrisonburg is the journey we all seek.  However, what happens in Harrisonburg must stay in Harrisonburg.

----------------------------------------------------------
Anant S Narayanan
Founder & Executive Director

McLean Robotics Institute
McLean VA 22102
202-421-3826 (cell)
[log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------------------------------


On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 7:24 AM, Balaji Subramaniam <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Thanks Lloyd.  That worked.

Regards

On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 4:13 AM, Lloyd O'Hara <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I received the same message last night.

In a posting on 11/17,  Jeff Schoolcraft included a link that does work, at least it worked for me this morning.  Here's the link:

https://commerce.cashnet.com/JMUVADCFLL

To get a hotel room, you will need to use: http://www.va-dcfll.org

Lloyd O'Hara
Coach, The Crestwood Monarchs

----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Jones" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]EDU>
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 5:33 AM
Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Championship Registration Down



I just tried to register Team #3171 The Blue Dragons for the state
tournament using the link provided by email.  When I selected pay by credit
card, I received an error stating that "QuickPay is currently undergoing
maintenance".  Our team prefers to pay using credit card.  Is there an
alternative in place for using a credit card if the site is down for an
extended period of time? Thanks!  Looking forward to being a part of this
years championship tournament!

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.

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-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.



--
With Regards
Balaji
To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".
VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to subscribe.

To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".
VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to subscribe.