Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

Come on Indy, you've never worked with the absent-minded professor-types? In my experience most engineers fall into this category. Now forgetting ones favorite wrench or the DVM, that is truly unforgivable! ;o)

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

I helped design the navigation systems on our aircraft carriers (all built by Newport News Shipbuilding). I spent a fair amount of time onboard the ships during new construction and refitting. This is one of the largest shipyards in the US and a most hazardous work environment. And there is a facility to borrow hard-hats, safety glasses and even steel-toed boots. It is simple statistics, some person is gonna forget.

This discussion reminds me of a saying from an old boss of mine - "Put the sidewalk where the grass is worn." Teams - please make a checklist, bring and wear the glasses. But is it really such a big deal to arrange for extras/spares in the pits? And to be kind while providing the service?

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

A lot of times, teams ship their safety glasses in their crate or have them in the stuff they bring in the night before competitions. I don't think it should be a big issue for someone from the team to check out a pair so they can go grab some from their pit. They could have a system where a mentor from the team can go sign off that they checked out one pair of safety glasses for that purpose. If they don't return them in a timely manner, then you can send someone after them to get them back.

Honestly, I don't understand why this is such a big issue. Humans make mistakes and forget things or sometimes accidents happen (I've had a pair or two of safety glasses slip out of the pocket in my Hawaiian before).

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

This has been an issue for years and FIRST makes every attempt to remind teams to bring safety glasses. I remember in the past specific emails and warnings to bring atleast enough pairs for people to go into the pit and uncrate and retrieve the other pairs. this year FIRST sentemails including reminders to bring glasses for all team members on atleast the following dates 2/28,3/6,3/13,3/20,3/27,4/2. Bill also posted about it on 3/21.

You are comparing apples and oranges. A shipyard, or any other business stands to lose more money from the time lost by turning away workers (or customers, visitors, VIPs etc) than they will lose by purchasing spares. As has already been posted, FIRST used to loan glasses to every one, too many pairs dissappeared, now they have a stricter policy.

This is exactly why the safety glass table (or bucket at regionals) is such a stressful job. FIRSTs official guideline at Worlds is that spares are for visitors only. That is what the volunteers are told. Many people on CD have done this job (myself included) and I am sure they can all vouch that they don't like saying no. But that is the job, the last thing that is going to help you is lecturing the volunteer about what "FIRST wants". The person handing them out shouldn't be rude, however the people requesting them shouldn't be either.

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

I'm honestly fine with not giving out pairs to team members to use for the whole event, but, as stated in the same post you quoted, I think there should be a way to check them out short-term (give them, say, a 5-10 minute window) to go to their pit, grab a pair of their own, and return them.

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

Maybe the solution should take the lead from the pens you find at checkout counters that have plastic spoons or flowers taped to them.

FIRST can loan regular glasses to visitors, but team members get glasses that are super-glued to an ugly hat that says in big letters "I forgot my safety glasses and will return these as soon as I get a pair from my pit" Only need to have a few of those handy.

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

Oh my gosh! I know exactly who you are talking about; I had the same type of issue with the same person. We were trying to pack up and one of our students left his glasses in the hotel.

She told us that team members don't get to use the glasses and that 'you are required to provide enough for your students'. I tried to explain the situation and that we just needed to pack up for about 10 minutes.

I had to leave the student at the entrance to get to the pits to find a pair. I was not able to to, so I came back to the entrance and tried to explain one more time. After hearing enough, I just said 'I am going to ask someone else' to which she replied 'they are going to tell you the same thing because I am in charge'.

I proceeded to the other volunteer about 5 feet away who gave a pair very politely. The woman seeing this became enraged and proceeded to yell at the other volunteer.

It just really upsets me other people had the same issues with this person. It upset me even more to have someone be that rude to one of our students.

Re: Terrible Volunteer Experience
 

Another way to think of this is you pay people $50k+ to do a job that requires safety glasses and they still forget them! And you think they'll remember them for free? :yikes: The fact that the free ones make you look like a dork should be punishment enough... Perhaps they could follow the tradition of one of my middle school teachers that had small state flags attached to loaner pens and pencils to make sure they made their way back to the desk.

I do think this thread is very very long for an issue that could be solved by "Don't be a jerk."