So what does GP mean to you? [Archive]

LauraN

18-04-2004, 14:18

To me it is nothing more than a punchline people use to win awards and to look good in the eyes of other teams.
I disagree.

Everyone is selfish. It's human nature. Every time you do something for yourself, you are being selfish. Every time you do something for someone else, you are being selfish, because being kind to others makes you feel good about yourself. That's why people make sacrifices. They may be missing out on something (be it money, fun activities, comfort), but they get a feeling of satisfaction for having helped others.

So basically, yeah, you're right- but you're also as guilty of it as anyone else. Maybe teams do things that are graciously professional just to look good- but chances are they also feel good about themselves for having helped others. Maybe it's cheap. But so is any other form of sacrifice or giving. True, it's selfish, but there's nothing that can be done about it. And there's nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself- that's a part of FIRST as well.

Besides, FIRST gives out awards based on GP. The underlying requirement for a Chairman's Award Winner is a team that is graciously professional. FIRST encourages us to be GP because of that whole vision of Dean's that has come up once or twice. Maybe it's idealistic, but regardless of our motives, we're still helping others, aren't we? So yes teams use it to get awards- but that's the point of the award in the first place!

SilenceNoMore

18-04-2004, 14:23

Besides, FIRST gives out awards based on GP. The underlying requirement for a Chairman's Award Winner is a team that is graciously professional. FIRST encourages us to be GP because of that whole vision of Dean's that has come up once or twice. Maybe it's idealistic, but regardless of our motives, we're still helping others, aren't we? So yes teams use it to get awards- but that's the point of the award in the first place!

So you do admit that GP is nothing more than something that is used to get awards? So, why even bother with GP then?

Thats why I am in favor of doing away with the Chairman's Award all together. It is quite simply a measure of who can put on biggest sham showing gracious professionalism.

Rick

18-04-2004, 14:33

All I can say is wow. All of you GP bashers have about one day before all the wonderful volunteers, teams, refs, game designers, etc come back and hopefully try to show you why GP is a great way to be and how to live it.

As far as I am concerened, Silencenomore is a person upset after not winning chairmans or being bullied by a team or losing a match or two. This is my first year as a mentor and hopefully silencenomore is a student and not a mentor. Mentors should be showing their teams good things about this program, not trying to find the bad.

I just got off a 20 hour bus ride and I need to organize my thoughts. Look out for my reflective post on this year and maybe it will show some insight.

Jessica Boucher

18-04-2004, 14:45

Everyone,

I ask that we stay on topic in this discussion. GP means different things to different people, and because of this we are all allowed to have different opinions concerning this. Thus, please respect these opinions as much as our own, so that this thread is effective.

Thanks :)

LauraN

18-04-2004, 14:59

So you do admit that GP is nothing more than something that is used to get awards? So, why even bother with GP then?

Thats why I am in favor of doing away with the Chairman's Award all together. It is quite simply a measure of who can put on biggest sham showing gracious professionalism.
*blinks*

By that logic, FIRST only asks us to build a robot to win awards for it. So let's get rid of that part. Let's all just make animation submissions, shall we?

To me, GP means exactly what it apparently means to the judges at nationals, who choose the Cheesy Poofs as the national Chairman's Award winner. I strongly encourage you to read their submission. (http://team254.bcp.org/)

If you really think GP is worthless, maybe you should tell that to the dozen or so teams that have been started and/or mentored by the Cheesy Poofs. Tell them that the efforts of the Cheesy Poofs were just a worthless sham.

FIRST wants us to Inspire people. I think, in essence, the S(cience) and T(echnology) of FIRST are irrelevant. It's the Inspiration and Recognition parts that are important. GP means inspiring others. It means making sure that everyone has an opportunity to join and continue a FIRST team. It means making sure that every team has a robot to put into competition. It means making sure that everyone involved learns something from the experience.

Having these opportunities and reaping these rewards is something we all enjoy and from which we all benefit. But FIRST can't do it all by itself. GP teams are those that make those opportunities and rewards possible. I think they all deserve a big thank-you from everyone in the FIRST organization. FIRST wouldn't be what it is without them.

sanddrag

18-04-2004, 15:21

Gracious Professionalism is about not being sad that your team lost, but being hapy that your opponent one. It is about becoming happy by making other people happy. It occurs when you have nothing to do on your team, because the younger members have taken your part. It occurs when someone has the "opportunity" of committing a malicious action but they don't because they imaging themselves on the other side of the line.

MikeDubreuil

18-04-2004, 15:27

Gracious Professionalism means a couple things to me.

1. Pouring your heart and soul into an idea, event, robot, anything and not expecting anything back other than personal satisfaction.

2. Knowing that someone wronged you, and forgiving them and continuing on without making a mess of the situation.

3. Acting in a way that is appropriate and sets an example for humanity.

4. Helping another team, even though you might end up losing against them later. Knowing that by improving their FIRST experience, you might have changed a life, and that's the greatest personal satisfaction of them all.

Ben.V.293

18-04-2004, 15:29

To me gracious professionalism is a way acting in which a person is gracious-kind, calm, and helpfull, while still being professional and getting done what has to be done. i agree entirely with what Ogre said.

It means repecting others.

To me gracious professionalism should NOT be a religion where those who show the most of it are transformed into gods and worshipped by all, and it should NOT a commodity that is coveted and wanted by all . While these people do deserve respect so does almost every other mentor, volunteer, and First member.

Ben Van Selous

Venkatesh

18-04-2004, 15:47

I believe that Gracious Professionalism the name for the general attitude of students, mentors, teams, and other organizational subunits within FIRST.

To understand what it is, split it into its two parts. The first part, "Gracious" is the more difficult to understand. To me, it means that you accept the successes of others with a genuine smile and are willing to share parts/expertise with other teams, even if they might be opponents.

The second part of GP, "Professionalism" has an important meaning. While Grace will carry you through good times and victory, Professionalism will carry you through hard times and defeat. It guides one to away from desparate acts and acts under stress and frustration.

The most amazing thing about Gracious Professionalism is how it endures the change of members of FIRST. I believe that it is not imposed or even explained from the "FIRST gods" but instead appears from below, in the pits of the regionals and in communications between teams, and a will to follow the spirit of the rules, even when it would be easier to ignore them.

SilenceNoMore

18-04-2004, 16:10

As far as I am concerened, Silencenomore is a person upset after not winning chairmans or being bullied by a team or losing a match or two. This is my first year as a mentor and hopefully silencenomore is a student and not a mentor. Mentors should be showing their teams good things about this program, not trying to find the bad.

We didn't even submit for the Chairman's award thank you very much!

I think I should clarify that in terms of awards won and competetiveness, this was our team's best year. We couldn't be happier with our team's performance. We won the Imagery and Entrepreneurial award and advanced to the semifinals in both regionals. However, these victories could not overshadow the fact that our experience was generally unpleasant.

Like I said, I still believe GP is just something teams use to win awards.

Marc P.

18-04-2004, 17:08

We didn't even submit for the Chairman's award thank you very much!

I think I should clarify that in terms of awards won and competetiveness, this was our team's best year. We couldn't be happier with our team's performance. We won the Imagery and Entrepreneurial award and advanced to the semifinals in both regionals. However, these victories could not overshadow the fact that our experience was generally unpleasant.

Like I said, I still believe GP is just something teams use to win awards.

Like Jess said before, it's important to allow everyone to express their opinion, and more importantly, respect those opinions (which oddly enough, falls under the category of gracious professionalism.) With that in mind, I'd like to see a legitimate, honest, and respectful discussion come out of this.

I believe gracious professionalism is a phrase coined in attempt to put into words the feeling and spirit of what FIRST is. It's not any particular action, thing, or person, but a concept/idea. Like any concept, it's not the word or words that are important, but the connections they imply (to paraphrase the last Matrix movie). Gracious professionalism is the feeling both sides get when a robot breaks down, and 15 other teams are waiting at the pit with various parts to get the robot up and running. It's the feeling of giving your best to benefit the community as a whole, rather than focusing on the individual. Sure, it could mean respect, helping others, being gracious in defeat and professional in victory. But above all, it's a positive feeling or influence designed to instill feelings of positive reinforcement into people for positive action. I believe it's the type of feeling FIRST wants us to bring into the real world, to change the modern corporate model of crushing competition. That's why the Chairman's award is the most prestigious award in FIRST- because the winners have undisputable hard evidence of the spirit of gracious professionalism, and the positive influences and actions which have come forth as a direct result. Granted, at some times it can be treated as more of a buzz-word than anything else. But as long as people experience it, and are able to relay it to others, it's a vital part of what FIRST's message is to the world, and a critical part of what it will take to make this world a better place.

Koko Ed

18-04-2004, 19:19

Gracious Professionalism is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And then some. And that is the way we have always done it and we don't do it just for the sake of awards. We do so because that is our way of conducting ourselves.

Rick

18-04-2004, 19:29

In a quote from the FIRST website and howstuffworks.com. I bolded what I feel GP is.

Gracious folks respect others and let that respect show in their actions. Professionals possess special knowledge and are trusted by society to use that knowledge responsibly. Thus, gracious professionals make a valued contribution in a manner pleasing to others and to themselves. In FIRST, one of the most straightforward interpretations of gracious professionalism is that we learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. We try to avoid leaving anyone feeling like they are losers. No chest thumping barbarian tough talk, but no sticky sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, pride and empathy comfortably blended.... In the long run, gracious professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. If one becomes a professional, and uses knowledge in a gracious manner, everyone wins. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you have acted with integrity and sensitivity.

ngreen

18-04-2004, 19:45

GP isn't the chairman's award. It is about how you act. And if you listened to Dean this year take these terms at face value. What does straddling mean? Straddling. What does Gracious Professionalism mean? Being gracious and professional. If you can't figure it out from here go ask Webster.

Also it just so happens that awards depend on how you act. How you present yourself. How you communicate ideas and thoughts. This is why people who act in a GP are more likely to win awards. But awards aren't given out for being GP barring I think 294 gives out an award.

I know this may be out of the thread but I need to respond to this in some way too. Teams creating spare parts list and then getting parts for team is not a sham. It is a act of GP to be the team that gives that spare parts list and not get upset when the other team get credit so to speak. My team worked on doing such a thing (we didn't get the other teams involvement this year but hope to next year). I personally helped pass out 300 fliers making sure that every team got a list of our spare parts this weekend and am proud to say that our team gave away in the range of 40+ parts. My proudest moment this year and probably most inspire moment in FIRST so far is when a team we had given some parts on Friday came back on Saturday morning. The mentor was so thankful that he gave our team some of there extra lunch coupon books. Then half an hour later a couple team members stopped by our pit to say thanks. This made everything we do worthwhile and is far greater than any award I could get.

I will post more about NRLB and plans for next year at a later time. I have several new ideas that could make this more efficient (have more parts) and let other teams be involved.

Al Skierkiewicz

19-04-2004, 10:30

I disagree.

Everyone is selfish. It's human nature. Every time you do something for yourself, you are being selfish. Every time you do something for someone else, you are being selfish, because being kind to others makes you feel good about yourself. That's why people make sacrifices. They may be missing out on something (be it money, fun activities, comfort), but they get a feeling of satisfaction for having helped others.

So basically, yeah, you're right- but you're also as guilty of it as anyone else. Maybe teams do things that are graciously professional just to look good- but chances are they also feel good about themselves for having helped others. Maybe it's cheap. But so is any other form of sacrifice or giving. True, it's selfish, but there's nothing that can be done about it. And there's nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself- that's a part of FIRST as well.

Besides, FIRST gives out awards based on GP. The underlying requirement for a Chairman's Award Winner is a team that is graciously professional. FIRST encourages us to be GP because of that whole vision of Dean's that has come up once or twice. Maybe it's idealistic, but regardless of our motives, we're still helping others, aren't we? So yes teams use it to get awards- but that's the point of the award in the first place!

I think you may be hung up on using a word that sounds like it fits but really doesn't. The word "selfish" implies you are doing something simply because it benefits you at the expense of others. When you do something that makes you feel good, it is not being selfish. When you are doing something that benefits others and makes you feel good, that may well be "gracious" but not "professional". When you do something that benefits others in a professional way (i.e. an exchange of ideas with no limits) that is "gracious professionalism" and it makes you feel good because you are doing the right thing. There are hundreds of teams that exhibit and practice gracious professionalism but do not come close to achieving chairman's status. We do it (I do it) because it is the right thing to do, period. Hang whatever name you like on it and it is still the right thing to do.
As a last note, when you think about the effect your words might have on someone, before you say them, that might also be gracious and professional. Remember that some of those who are reading your replies on this site, may be visiting for the very first time. Make an impression.

Tom Bottiglieri

19-04-2004, 10:55

Many people think FIRST is about building robots. I can't stress how much I disagree with that. When I first got into robotics, I thought this.. but now as I have been involved for 2 years, I can really start to see what FIRST is all about. Gracious Profesionalism is one thing that makes FIRST what it is, and even though you may not realize it, is probably the reason that people love FIRST as much as they do.

But, what does Gracious Profesionalism mean to me? I dont think I can answer that acurately, at least not yet. But I guess I'll take a stab at it. GP is not something you do. It's a way of life. You cannot "put on" your GP at competetions to impress judges or other teams. GP is something that is inside of you. It is that drive to help others out, even when you yourself may need help. It is respecting others, and not putting them down for anything. GP is the true spirit of a "Co-opertition". GP is that feeling you get when you see the smile on someones face after you have helped them with a problem they were having. GP is going out of your way to help the cause.

GP IS NOT sitting and moaning after your team has lost. GP IS going out there the next time, giving 110%, and giving everything you have to turn that loss into a victory. It may not be the next match. It may not be the next competetion. It may not even be the next year.. but if you practice GP, it is a guarantee that you will come out succesful.

I would like to quote one of the judges I talked to at the NJ regional (cant remember her name) "10 years from now, your not going to remember who had which robot, or who won what award. None of that will matter. But, you are going to remember what you got out of it. And, you are going to remember how much fun you had." These are words to live by. This can also tie in to what my definition of GP is. GP is something that stays with you for life. It is something that will help you get anywhere you want to go. GP is what gives FIRST the fun, friendly type of atmosphere it has.

One last thought..
Who here likes the website "www.ChiefDelphi.com"? I bet you all do! It may not occur to you that this website is the perfect example of GP. In what other sport would you see competing teams go online to a PUBLIC forum, and post all of their strategies, and secret weapons. NO WHERE ELSE but FIRST. That, in my mind, is what makes FIRST so great. No matter what, there is always someone out there willing to help you out. Thats what GP is all about people. Helping, respecting, and caring for competitors/other people/barrel of monkeys, even in the heat of battle.

Im not too good at these big long posts giving my inner thoughts, but I tried, so thank you for reading :)

Redhead Jokes

19-04-2004, 11:28

GP is not something you do. It's a way of life. You cannot "put on" your GP at competetions to impress judges or other teams. GP is something that is inside of you. It is that drive to help others out, even when you yourself may need help. It is respecting others, and not putting them down for anything. GP is the true spirit of a "Co-opertition". GP IS NOT sitting and moaning after your team has lost. GP IS going out there the next time, giving 110%, and giving everything you have to turn that loss into a victory. Who here likes the website "www.ChiefDelphi.com"? I bet you all do! )

I remember the few mentors in my working experience who lived GP and taught it to me.

When our team was rising from the ashes, I became curious the definition for GP, and as I've done with other words or phrases, started by looking in the dictionary, then we eventually discovered charactercounts.org and incorporated their stuff into our gp poster (http://www.bcrobotics.org/poster.pdf)

and it helped personalize gp for our team.

At championships we were passing out a new creation - a paper enabling you to create a hanging cube for your car, whatever, of gp characteristics...
the cube (http://www.bcrobotics.org/2004/images/box3.bmp)

BTW, I believe participation on Chief Delphi forum is a benchmark...
"A standard by which something can be measured or judged."
of chairman like teams.

I can't remember now about which award, which team, or what was said, from championships regarding chief delphi forum as one of the reasons given for the award.

When you speak about not bemoaning a loss, and going back out and giving it 110% I think about

the people who are rarely at meetings or exhibitions who want to blame a loss on those who were at meetings and exhibitions doing the work, and want to demand more work from the same people, while not putting in more time and effort themselves...

and how much I appreciate the people who are motivated by a loss to appreciate all the hard work that was done, and are now motivated to get in the ring themselves and work towards a goal they now understand better.

Mark Pettit

19-04-2004, 12:49

Teams creating spare parts list and then getting parts for team is not a sham. It is a act of GP to be the team that gives that spare parts list and not get upset when the other team get credit so to speak. My team worked on doing such a thing (we didn't get the other teams involvement this year but hope to next year). . .

You know, this thing about teams sharing their spare/extra parts is one of the main point GP was founded on. Teams used to be able to approach each other and ask for a part or parts they needed. If we had a part to offer them, then we'd gladly give it to them. We, likewise, received parts from teams by asking them for things we needed. The giving team in each circumstance wasn't bragging or touting that they were Gracious and Professional by giving their parts away. It was just an act of kindness.
Not to knock any specific team, but when you go out of your way to appear gracious and professional by becoming the middle-man in this process, I can see how it would make some other teams resent you.
Part of being GP is not getting any credit for it other than inner satisfaction. Bragging/Touting your own Gracious Professionalism goes against the very nature of GP. I agree that it has become just another contest in FIRST for teams to go out of their way to show the judges how gracious and professional they can be.
I've got a whole lot more to say about my feelings on GP and I will be back.

Al Skierkiewicz

19-04-2004, 13:47

When our team was rising from the ashes, I became curious the definition for GP, and as I've done with other words or phrases, started by looking in the dictionary, then we eventually discovered charactercounts.org and incorporated their stuff into our gp poster (http://www.bcrobotics.org/poster.pdf)

Interesting, when I looked at your poster I was reminded of...
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverant.
The original gracious professional?!?

Ben Lauer

19-04-2004, 13:57

GP...

It means congraulating a team for a award you didn't think they deserved.
It means helping out a team that you will be your opponent in the next round.
It means mentoring a team that beats you in thier first FIRST comp.
It means spreading the positive, and changing the negitive.
It means respecting the rules, and accepting the flaws in them.
It means honoring those who deserve it.
It means showing the true vision of FIRST,
-Inspiring and recognizing science and technology.

MOEmaniac

19-04-2004, 14:15

To me GP means:

you always help others when their in need of assistance even if you're facing them in the next match
you play to win but not to destroy
you're never a sore winner or loser
you respect other teams opinions, even if you dont agree with them
never bad mouth other teams because theres no need for it
always congradulate a team if they beat you in a match and if you beat them go over and tell them that they put up a hell of a fight and good luck in their next match
and most importantly, when awards are given out, stay standing and clapping until their whole team goes through the line of refs and judges

thats wat GP means to me. :D

ellenchisa

19-04-2004, 14:32

To me gracious professionalism has always differed from the chairmans award. The chairmans seemed to me a way to spread FIRST, and thus gracious professionalism to more people.

To me... "gracious professionalism" is just a phrase used to describe the overall atmosphere of the compeition. It fits nicely in your mouth, and sounds impressive when you talk to people who aren't part of FIRST. There is something satisfying about saying "team 469 graciously accepts".

The true sense of the word is trying to make sure that the best happens for everyone. The underlying factor is trying to help people when you can, and when you can't, trying to make the best of it for them. This is being happy when everything seems to be going wrong, because you're still learning. Just because you don't win, doesn't mean you can't appreciate the joy that another team is feeling because they did.

Someone once said to me "Would anyone even think that Chairman's was the most important award if they didn't tell us so every year?"

I have to say... people would think so, with time. I know I didn't last year. This is something with so many subtleties and underwritten meanings that the reason for gracious professionalism is not immediately apparent. But this year... with personal experience.. I felt better inside watching the cheesy poofs accepting their chairmans than I did watching our final matches. Simply because, with what they've done...more people can feel what I've felt about FIRST. And that's important.

Gracious professionalism is the phrase I use to describe how I feel about all of this.

Ryan Dognaux

19-04-2004, 16:05

Gracious Profressionalism means a lot of things - helping other teams out when they need something, losing gracefully and accepting defeat and recognizing every team's hard work and dedication to FIRST - and those are just a few. There's another phrase that's basically the same as GP - it's called doing the right thing, and into today's society it's becoming increasingly difficult to do this. However, I'd like to think most FIRSTers uphold these ideals because without it FIRST would not be what it is today.

Billfred

19-04-2004, 16:25

To me GP means:

never bad mouth other teams because theres no need for it

Just for my own betterment and reference, I know good and well between FIRST and my momma raising me right that this doesn't work:

Team 9999's robot is the lamest piece of scrap metal I've seen.

On the other hand, I would imagine that this would be acceptable to say (assuming the facts exist):

Team 9999's robot just ain't running well.

Or has everyone gone to this phase:

Team 9999's robot has room for improvement, given its inability to finish a match without parts strewn across the field.

I'd just like to check.

(And if in a few years there really is a team 9999, my apologies. No references in this post were meant to actually represent something I said about any robot.)

DCA Fan

19-04-2004, 19:18

To me, this is Gracious Professionalism:
- Cheering on all teams, even those in direct competition with you
- Congratulating all winners at the end of the day
- Golden Rule
- Helping everyone in competition

And finally, Gracious Professionalism is the ability to leave with a smile even when you didn't win because you know the team who won was just as qualified as you were.

Drawman

19-04-2004, 22:38

Uhh...GP? As a gamer, the first thing that comes to my mind is "gold points". :rolleyes: I am such a nerd...well anyways...

In my opinion, GP just means being the best team you can be competitively, yet being fair and kind to all other teams. If you have GP, you should help others and be a good team player. :D

ngreen

19-04-2004, 22:58

You know, this thing about teams sharing their spare/extra parts is one of the main point GP was founded on. Teams used to be able to approach each other and ask for a part or parts they needed. If we had a part to offer them, then we'd gladly give it to them. We, likewise, received parts from teams by asking them for things we needed. The giving team in each circumstance wasn't bragging or touting that they were Gracious and Professional by giving their parts away. It was just an act of kindness.
Not to knock any specific team, but when you go out of your way to appear gracious and professional by becoming the middle-man in this process, I can see how it would make some other teams resent you.
Part of being GP is not getting any credit for it other than inner satisfaction. Bragging/Touting your own Gracious Professionalism goes against the very nature of GP. I agree that it has become just another contest in FIRST for teams to go out of their way to show the judges how gracious and professional they can be.
I've got a whole lot more to say about my feelings on GP and I will be back.

Oh don't worry about my team. I doubt anyone resent us except for maybe not having enough parts to give everyone and standing and cheering for our matches.

We never took on the role of middle man. We gave our own parts and refered people to other teams we knew had certain parts.

Next year we hope to expand with the program by having a seperate booth where teams can bring spare parts they aren't using to have available to loan or give to teams. We hope to set a schedule were we involve other teams in running this booth. It could possibly be near the spare parts table and would be able to help provide some parts that they don't have and possibly tools (??). Maybe we would get a list from some mentors that know a lot about a certain topic who could help teams in need. I can help with pneumatics.

This is just a small part of a larger idea. We've got to figure out how to implement some other parts of the programs ideals.

This is just some ideas I been throwing around in my head. But I'll let you know more later. We don't expect recognition for anything we do but honestly it is human nature. People like recognition. Look up Maslow's needs. I already posted about them. I do it because I think it will help teams and I enjoy the program and problem solving. That is enough of a reason for me.