Upcoming FIRST-a-holics
 

hey,

I was reading through the "Forgotten FIRST-a-holic" thread and that got me thinking... who do you think the new generation of FIRST-a-holics will be? (Or people you know that have recently become addicted to FIRST that we should keep an eye out for at future events)

ByE

erin

hmmm Up and coming... well theres:

-D.J Fluck
-Amanda Morrison
-Clark Gilbert
-M.Krass
-"Big Mike"
-Matt Attallah
-Erin Rapacki

Just to name a few...
:D

I'm only 'upcoming'?

Sheesh. I'll try harder.

That's the exact reason I didn't put up some of the names in here. There are the forgotten FIRST-a-holics who no longer do FIRST, there are the current FIRST-a-holics who just started recently, there are veteran FIRST-a-holics who started as early as the forgotten FIRST-a-holics who aren't as well known, and there are up-coming FIRST-a-holics.

People like M and JVN have been around for a long time, and they should be known as veteran FIRST-a-holics. Same with a lot of the bay area crew, such as Bill and Jim Gold, Mark whitehouse, Jon Lawton. They have been around for a while, just not as loud on Chief Delphi as the rest of us.

Then there are a whole bunch of FIRST-a-holics who never post on Chief Delphi, but are major participants at their local area, who everyone knows. But most of them won't know them unless you've met them or work with them before.

I guess my point is, it's so hard defining the term "FIRST-a-holic" now a days! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! I just wish there's an entry in a dictionary that clearly states what it means, and the proper way to use the term.

Wow!

It meant a lot to me to see my name on that list... but I guess it would be kind of insulting to people like M. who have (in my book) reached "-a-holic" status long ago.

But thanks :)

Yeah, fools like me and Clark have been doing this since the 2000 FIRST season, but we didnt find our way to the boards until the Summer of 2001. Heck, I think I visited this board maybe twice. I re-joined in the fall :D

Heck, Im not sure if Im honored or not to be called an Upcoming FIRST-a-holic ;)

Hey, what about me! Oh wait... I just spam the forums... It makes me the #5 all-time poster, though... hehe.

hmmmm.... definition of FIRST-a-holic?

I'd guess it's somebody who most people would recognize as capable of making a positive difference, who takes advice as much as they give it, who can outwardly show that they are not doing this program for themselves (except for the fact that helping others in FIRST makes them incredibly joyful), people who are pleasant to converse with... I dunno, but these are the traits that first come to my mind when i'm thinking of FIRST-a-holics.

ByE

erin

I nominate Katie Reynolds. ;)

She's dooooooooooooooomed....
to stay in FIRST for a long, long time.

I think people who's going to do FIRST even though they are almost finished with high school qualify as FIRST-a-holics. Yay for college FIRST-a-holics!

Wow... I'm honored to be a considered an upcoming FIRST-a-holics. I'm especially flattered to see my name by the likes of Erin, "Big," and Amanda, D.J. (i think there is something not right about that boy,) M, and Clark...

Lets just say that i'm sure that I will be in first for a while now (been in it from the year 2000!)...

I would love to have the honor to become a FIRST-a-holic. Once again, thank you for thinking of my name! :D

I think FIRST is just now starting to get really fun :D

Oh don't worry, you barely scratched the surface of how much fun you can have in FIRST.

Once you start doing things beyond your old team, there's no limit to how much power you can get :P. MUWAHAHAHA. Just kidding!

There are multiple options out there. Run off season competitions, volunteer at the regionals for volunteer food and watch the finals right next to the field, teach workshops to teams, visit different teams whenever you feel like it, do whatever you want at the competiton... Plus many many more benefits.

Membership to FIRST-a-holic is not required but recommended. Side effects include lack of sleep, having too much fun, being too famous for your own good, and drawn to too much competitions each and every season.


Do this at your own risk.


Oh yeah, just want to mention a few more West Coast FIRST-a-holics who doesn't usually post on Chief Delphi as much as the ones above...

Jason Morrella the regional director is the biggest FIRST-a-holic out here (who is in charge of all the west coast regionals), then there's Ken Krieger who's the biggest non-FIRST-staff FIRST-a-holic, Wendy Wooten who's in charge of team 22, the Roberts (Rick and Sean), plus many more. If you happens to go to any one of five west coast regionals, chances are you will meet at least a few of them at any given weekend.

FIRST-a-holic mentors
 

I think that First-a-holics should not only include high school students, but also mentors.

If there are any Canadians out there, y'all have probably met Steve W. before. He was the announcer at the Canadian Regional this year and last year, part-time announcer at the West Michigan Regional and the announcer for the Curie division at the Nats.

Though he hasn't been with FIRST for a long time, he's pretty hooked on FIRST. He even reads the CD forums at work! (Get back to work Steve!)

[P.S. Yes, he was the Canadian guy that used to have a ponytail.]

He volunteers at everything. Whenever there is a Canadian FIRST event or function, he is there. Nomination 2nded.

I vote D.J. as newbie FIRST-a-holic of the year... he's hardcore. Oh yeah.

(I don't consider M. a newbie '-a-holic' - sorry, but you're out of the running in my book, you made it there a long time ago.)

They must have much better food at the west coast regionals....

Matt

Forget the volunteer food, the VIP food rocked!

err... forget I said that....

Hahahahaha :p

:yikes:

- Katie

Hey! Am I first-a-holic?

Next year i plan on splitting my time between 461 and 1020(if they need my help),thats a hour and half drive weeee, As well as helping alot with outreach on my team. Ohh and then there is always the possibility of us getting a regional in indiana...and i'll be guaranteed to be volunteering there!

Indeed... I think Andy Baker can even tell you that the great Jtosh has been overlooked. My profound apologies. :)

Lol... I wish somebody gave me that warning a month or two ago. But I do enjoy being barraged with IMs from random FIRSTers whenever I take my away message off, and walking around nationals having people shout out at me "Hey! You're ERIN!" :D

It seems that this summer I will be attending an off-season every two or three weeks... mostely so I will be more experienced for the one i'm working on putting together... The Beantown Blitz! (it's 80% confirmed right now)

Is it a bad thing when you wake up in the middle of the night with a random robotics idea... when you haven't even tried???

Yea... I need more FIRST-a-holics to come to NEU so I'll have other people who would know what I'm talking about... haha


ByE

erin

I nominate Carolyn!

If she's not already a FIRST-a-holic, she's definately an upcoming one. She posts under Carolyn Duncan, and pops up in these forums every now and then. She volunteered at the Championships, and she will be in FIRST for some time.

Stephen

PS.I sure hope not, I'm guilty too!

Wake up with them, they are ussually the reasons i stay up all night, working out ideas for the team next year and how i could start my own team and help make first grow

After four years I guess there is no hope for me leaving :yikes:

It just gets more fun in college guys ;)

Here comes lucky number 5.

Mentoring is WAAAY more fun...
Being a coach is better than being a driver...

This is program is way to addictive.

I would have to say that "Sachiel7" Is one of those quiet FIRST-O-Holics.

He hasn't posted much after VCU, but I can tell he has FIRST on his mind alot.

The volunteer food at SVR was very good. The VIP food at LA was not.

Speaking of qualifications for FIRST-A-Holics, something Jason Morella mentioned was the interstate volunteers.

Hurry to all you FIRST-A-Holics out there.

Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beware the mayonase at LA.

For those of you who never met Ken Krieger or Jason Morrella face to face before, I got a short video clip showing what they look like. Thanks to Peter Yim for supplying this little footage.

http://wrrf.cim3.org/files/pics/FIRS...volunteers.htm

Ken K. is the guy with the crazy hair, and Jason is the one with the little speech at the beginning.

Talk to them if you ever have a chance to meet them at the competition!

Hehe, being a mentor is one of the best things I have done with FIRST... of course that probably has to do with the fact I have some really great students to work with :D

As far as the coach thing goes... I don't know. Being driver was a blast, but going from driver to coach is so hard because you constantly want to grab the controls :ahh:

Also, after 3 years of getting the robot on the field, making sure the controls are set up right, stressing over the little details... I decided it wasn't worth it, lol. I have much more fun now sitting in the stands enjoying all the hard work we put into our creation ;)

Oh... sorry for getting off topic :rolleyes:

I would have to say that Eric, Tina, Megan and Shanna are all also FIRST-a-holics because without all of us working together, this team would have never gotten off the ground. They have also been in for 4-5 years now, so I think they qualify =)

Oh, that's Ken K.??? I saw him so many times at Nationals ... I wish I would've known who he was sooner - I would have said hi! Ah, well - there's always next year!

Errr.... sorry - back on topic!

- Katie

You know, I have a couple from out here to mention too. Of course, being in a small town 200 miles from anywhere there aren't really any people that I know outside of Kingman.

But

Glenn Thoroughman, who is always doing something FIRST related, even in the off season. He's totally hyped and gets way into it. There's also George Williams, who set up the machine shop in Az. He's majorly into FIRST. You know, he's the one trying to get the Grand Challenge through FIRST (in case you're interested, look up George and IM him). And then for students, there's Krystine Thoroughman, who is constantly doing FIRST stuff. I mean, seriously. You want to talk about committed, and up for anything... wow!

--Amanda

It depends... I mean I can't wait to have my own team and hang out with all the old FIRST kids. Sigh... that would be the life! I really can't wait for me to get old to do that!

So... no... I don't think it's bad!

--Amanda

Just watch - having your 'own' team can be addictive. My school work suffered greatly, and my parents were tired of hearing about 'my kids' (like all proud parents don't do that? :) ).

If you plan on starting another team, give them all you've got. Especially if you plan on starting from scratch - i.e. no veteran FIRSTers - you're holding an entire person's future in your hands; the whole experience is enriching, enlightening, and immensely enjoyable, all at the same time.

...because that's not even worth discussing and freaking you out. :)

I think I qualify as a FIRST-a-holic. I've been involved with FIRST in one way or another since 1998. I'm pretty active on here and Tigerbolt. Okay, there was that 8 month total hiatus, and I haven't been at Nats the past 2 years. But on the plus side, by the end of the summer, I'll have started up a team based on the principles of Gracious Professionalism. Speaking of which, remember my old rants on Gracious Professionalism? I gotta do some more of those in the future. And how about the Holy Order of FIRSTism?

Ahh... those were the days.

pfft freaked out, comeone, i am the embodiment of calmness :p, okay maybe not, but i was freaked out along time ago

Thanks Amanda - now I'm scared to start a team! :D

I'll hopefully start one soon. I can't wait! (me and my 30+ kids in my apparment with my other roommates. Wow)

I can't wait till I can become a mentor!

Tonight at our team party when I had the floor to talk I said "I may be done with FIRST as a high school student, but I promise I am not done yet :p"


Appreciation is the correct spelling :D

Be afraid... be very afraid :yikes:

Just kidding, being a mentor is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in FIRST. And I totally relate to the 'my kids' thing! Every time I meet new people at U of A (especially when my hair was still blue from Nats) I tell them about how wonderful they are and for a second they always think I am a parent until I explain :rolleyes:

Stick with FIRST as long as you can because its like a never-ending gobstopper: it just becomes more and more flavorful ;)

DJ, if you come anywhere near purdue you know we'll recruit you!

My new idea is to start teams at all the IVY tech's around the state...now wouldn't THAT be a feat!

Ultimate FIRST-a-holic!
 

The ultimate "FIRST-a-holic" would definetly have to be on our team. He's a teacher at our career center and his name is Tim Railey. He is actually one of the few people around (are there many?) to actually be involved with the same team since 1992! (yep, the beginning). Although he may not be very publically known he's been through thick and thin with our team and he's probably got another 12 years left in him! :D

Tim Rocks!!

I dont know him real great but he is one of the nice guys in FIRST and i know he has done ALOT for the technokats, and been with them since the beginning.

Well, all I can say is that when I get out of High School (only two years left) FIRST will never be able to get rid of me. Already we are planning our three excused absences around volunteering at regionals. My friends and I were joking at nationals, about how they are going to give me the Founder's Award by my 80 th birthday.

Okay, so I'm obsessed...

I don't think that's an issue...

I think its a benefit!

and I also think that I'll be around for a long time... I can't WAIT until I start my own team!

Woohoo!!! Looks like another job well done by FIRST and its team!!! Welcome to the club! I am supposed to be a 3rd year in college, and I am doing FIRST stuff more than ever!!!

Give the team starting a try. If not, FIRST will always be here, waiting for you to volunteer :P. I've had more fun running the scoring table than I've had in past years.

Or, you are put your effort in more than just one team. Convince the teams over there to start their own Region Robotics Forums, teach workshops to all the teams needing them, host off season competitions and pre-ship events, run the regional kickoff! There are many possibility out there waiting for you right now.

Re: Ultimate FIRST-a-holic!
 

I totally agree... TR has been the backbone of this team since the beginning of FIRST, literarly ;) He's a great man and leader

I think Tim Railey reached FIRST-a-holic status long ago. He was the very first FIRST-a-holic in Indiana, I believe.

Has anyone really started a group called FIRST-a-holics Anonymous? If they have, could you send me their way? I'd love to get a few people into that!

FIRSTaholic forum
 

that would be sweet to have a FIRSTaholic forum that only the 'deemed' FIRSTaholics could speak in

the way it would work is: somebody could put up a nomination and write about them, others could write about them too... and then there would be a vote! (a poll that's put up for a week or so)

And because we all seem to be such nice ppl... probably anyone that's nominated would get voted in (to a certain extent, you can't nominate yourself)

but of course, because people and situations sometimes change... we must be able to vote them out

but either way... it'll be cool to have someting official! And it would be easier to narrow down everyone to the people who are the TRUE FIRSTaholics!

just an idea...


ByE

erin

Re: FIRSTaholic forum
 

Just out of curiosity, how would you define "TRUE FIRSTaholics"?

Do you think people would be offended and be angry if the poll is against them, or if they are voted out?

Just pure curiosity on my side. Doesn't mean to be critical about an idea or anything. I would love to hear what you think about these questions.

there used to be a first a holics website run by lora knepper but that has been gone for a while now, she and someone else got together and made buttons for nationals a few years ago.

Re: Re: FIRSTaholic forum
 

Hrmn. May have to set up some guidelines here, eh? :)

I think people may be offended if you go about it all the wrong ways... such as an attitude that you are more involved with FIRST if you are an -a-holic. If anything, though, I think it'll get more people even more involved (if that's humanly possible, sometimes!)

What would be a good way to set up a 'club' of sorts for this? Guidelines? etc?

Basically... if somebody puts up a name and supports their claim, I think we'd all be willing to vote them in. However if their claim is weak, we could offer advice as to what they could do to strengthen their appeal and offer to vote later on. I don't think people would take it too personally... and it would be incentive for more people to stretch their skills and attempt to give FIRST everything they have!

If that person is inactive for a while... perhaps they would be electronically kicked out after a few months of non-participation. Of which if they wanted re-entry, they'd have to be nominated again.

But then again, similar to the 'forgotten FIRSTaholics thread,' out of respect for past efforts... once your voted in you'd stay in for life. (I think I like this idea better because then the FIRSTaholics wouldn't be required to be Chief Delphi junkies.)

Little things we could do as incentive for being in this 'club' are awards, recognitions, gather knowledge and ask advice from what may be the most knowledgable section of FIRST, arrange trips... anything we can think of basically!

any more thoughts?


ByE

erin

I would say that I am a FIRST-a-holic...but I dont know if you people see me as that...meh

sure, mel is a FIRST-o-Holic

As far as having a club for FIRST-a-holic goes, I don't think many nominees won't get voted in. It is pretty hard to set up guild lines, when FIRST-a-holics really means people who dedicated their effort in their participation in this competition, not people who do this because they are told to, which is just about anyone out there.

In the moment I am still thinking through the idea of a club for College FIRST-a-holics, because that has the requirement that you are done with high school, and still continue to do FIRST not because you have a team in your high school, but because you want to do it so badly that you are willing to join a different team, start your own team, or volunteer at competitions. So, that give the club a nice parameter, as well as a pretty good group of potential members.

So, in your case, if you are open to all FIRST-a-holics, as far as having a forum goes, it just seems like it will be the same as Chief Delphi, only takes a little longer to get in. Especially when new rookie members want to be part of it, and no one else know them. All they have to do is support their case a with some claims, and most people are likely to vote them in.

As far as having a club goes, seems like a good idea! As long as you can do something fun with it!

Over all, I just don't know what kind of guide line you can set up to get the group of people you want. There are many different kind of people in the world, and it is very hard to use a set of guide lines that fit them all in, unless they are very open-ended.

I agree with the idea of only letting 'non-high school' or only college particpants into the FIRSTaholics club. (sorry guys! but in a few years you all can join too... just prove you're addicted!)

True, most college participants who started becoming addicted in high school put forth much more effort and inconvenience to continue with FIRST in college. That fact alone shows how dedicated they are. I may set that as the only guideline.

The idea has gone through me that instead of having an open poll, if the person is nominated by 3 or 5 different people or so, that's when they are in! This is along the lines that the true FIRSTaholics would have also networked well and have freinds to support their claim.

A way we could do this is when you click on somebody's profile, there would be a button that you'd click if you wish to nominate them to be a FIRSTaholic. You must also write someting about them. There will also be a link in the profile to click on to view other people's write-ups and claims about that person.

Howabout electronically, we'd be able to make it college student or above just by either using the person's description, or their 18th birthday as for when they could be nominated. That way it would be sorted automatically.

still thinking...


ByE

erin

I don't agree with the college only thing at all. I mean, I know that I am addicted to FIRST, and I plan to be starting teams for my team to mentor for next year. I do nothing but FIRST, and I don't think this club should be age discriminatory.

Just because you are in clollege doesn't automatically mean that you are more of an aholic than anybody else.

But as far as evertything else goes, I'm game! I'd even be able to draft up a set of guidelines if you want me to... I have one day of school left and we aren't doing anything...

Amanda

I have to agree with you...

Oh, please don't mistake my post for saying "it should be college only!". In case you don't know, I have the idea of "a club for college FIRST-a-holic" in this thread long ago: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=17641

I only brought it up as an example for guide lines.

By no means am I saying your idea should only limit to college students. It is an idea in ADDITION to the group of FIRST-a-holic. Well, you can understand more about my idea if you go into that thread and look at it. There are few simple things I plan to do with the group of college students that won't apply to high school students.

Other than that, I have not much opinion about a having a club for general FIRST-a-holics, other than, make sure you are doing something with the club. It will be bad to see a group forming, and died down because nothing ever become anything out of it.

Ok, cool!

Yea, perhaps we shouldn't partition it off to only college kids, or maybe the 'non-college' kids would have a slightly different type of status within the club. But how do you feel about the way of letting people in? About needing 5 or so people to put in a recommendation for you? If you think that is a fair way, I too think that would be the best way to get the FIRSTaholics in and still provide guidelines so it's not a free for all.

Keep throwing out ideas... I'm just brainstorming.


ByE

erin

Hrmn.

I have to go with the college kids on this one... I kind of like the idea of freelanceFIRST being a college thing. My main reasons:

1. High school students have their own dedicated team to work with, and that's a lot to do during build season. For some college kids, they don't have that to tie them down, thereby allowing them much flexibility when it comes to different teams in different states or areas.

2. Some college don't have a team at all, and it's really hard to just start one, especially on your own. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's just much easier lending your time and skills when you have the chance than to commit to a build period of six weeks.

3. High school students don't always have the mobility options that college kids do. I know that when I was in high school, I wasn't allowed to drive outside of neighboring cities. Once I got to college, the whole nation was my oyster (however, I mainly stick to Indiana when it comes to that). How many high school students have their own car and their parents giving them free reign to roam around the US? I never had that, and I don't know how many parents would be comfortable with that. However, on a high school basis, you could always use the Internet.

4. More often than not, college students have a lot of FIRST experience... not to say that high school kids do not, but college students, especially engineers, ... how should I say this without offending anyone... they have the ability and resources for higher learning that maybe high schoolers don't have open to them. Does that make sense? I said that kind of... funky.

5. Last but not least, college students are the type that still want to be in FIRST, but sometimes things get in the way - adjusting to a new school, state, and/or area, different living arrangements, dealing with monetary woes, etc. (The typical college life, for most.) I think freelanceFIRST is an excellent way to still get involved without dedicating long days and sleepless - though fun! - nights for six weeks.

I didn't write this to offend, so please don't take it that way. I'm simply giving reasons as to why I think the way I do.

I completely agree with your thoughts, that is why I am still thinking it through instead of dropping it.

Just take a look at the thread about a club for College FIRST-a-holics. There are a lot of people saying they are interested. It's just a matter of how. All we need, now, is a webmaster, capable of doing a simple website that works. Then people can start signing up.

As far as having freelanceFIRST being a college thing, it is for your group to decide. The college FIRST-a-holic club will do whatever it can to support you if you guys decide to do that.

Consider the club for college FIRST-a-holic a seperate and additional to the idea mentioned in this thread, and Freelance FIRST. Just do whatever you think is best for your idea. I am sure everyone interested will be willing to help out with the effort.

This is what I am thinking: since you college kids are pretty deterined to have a FIRST-a-holic thing dedicated to you, why don't we just make two different sects. You know, kinda like FLL and FRC. That way High School kids can get involved, but they are still seperated from College people. It just seems to be the easiest and least painful way to do things

That's exactly why it is so complicated - freelanceFIRST is exactly the thing that college students are looking for.

But maybe this FIRST-a-holic thing should be a club all on it's own. :)

Well, I posted a set of possible guidelines. Figured I'd give it a try. Take a look:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=20765

Yes, sorry to get off track. This thread was meant to recognize upcoming FIRST-a-holics, so please respond with any ideas regarding a FIRST-a-holic club in the thread mentioned above.

I too would like to recognize "The Lucas" from MOE as a FIRST-a-holic. I got to know him rather well the night before PARC when me, him, and another MOE guy, Kyle, all took a midnight hike to a blinking red light on top of a hill. Needless to say after braving thorn groves, thick trees, 6 inch deep mud, following riverbeds, and bear infested woods... we arrived back at the hotel around 1 am after 2.5 hours of pure insane enjoyment in the outdoors.

After I tell this story everybody asks me... What was the red blinking light? It was what we suspected, a cell phone tower or something, but the hike resembled a lot more. We picked a goal and aimed for it... and it was the journey that mattered most.

I must thank you all for recognizing me as a FIRST-a-holic. I am truely addicted, and I love it perhaps because this is a group that I feel that I can... belong to, and make a difference in. It's just something that can't be explained... but I'm sure you all know the feeling.

I'd also say that Cliff from 222, "camtunkpa," is an upcoming FIRST-a-holic as well. He is nearing 5000th robot-purpose driven mile on his car. That's a lot of gas money! He's also a great guy and puts forth a lot of effort within his team.


ByE

erin

Sorry. I kind of started thinking about freelanceFIRST, and just ended up going off on a tangent.

I had an idea - why not have CD here vote on a 'FIRST-a-holic of the year'? or maybe a couple times a year... maybe twice a year. It would be a great honor, give people something to strive for... and most of all, get more people even more actively involved in FIRST and FIRST activities.

Whaddaya think?!

Guys,
Again I ask, how can you define something like this?
There are so many people (both on and off these forums, both sung and unsung) who have given so much to this program.

To recognize some, and not others seems like a great injustice to me.

I mean, what's next "FIRSTer of the Month"?
Every month you get a new FIRSTer bio delivered to your email, as well as contact information, and their favorite color.

The list of people I've met in this competition deserving such recognition goes out the door, and around the block... and I haven't met CLOSE to everyone...

I think this is more of a " FIRST people who I know who I think are cool" type thing really. A popularity contest. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing more to it neither.
The Chiefdelphi community is great and all. I think it's the truest barometer of the FIRST community but it doesn't encompass all that is FIRST neither. Not all teams come here. not all team members come here. Does that mean they're not as into FIRST as people who do?
No.
It's just a club where people can come and talk about all things FIRST with an open-ended membership. Anyone who thinks that how much you participate at Chiefdelph justifies how loyal you are to FIRST is being just plain goofy.

Thank you Mike and Erin. I will try to uphold all the virtues associated with being a FIRST-a-holic (whatever we might define them to be by the end of this thread:)). I have to thank my mentor Dave Beers for teaching me everything I know about building robot control systems and most importantly for teaching me how not to build them. For two years, I was electrical pit crew, trained to quickly diagnose and repair any problems with any bot that needed it. Then after graduation, I came back as mentor but old habits die hard. He made sure I didn't touch the bot and interfere with the training of the young electrical team. Dave has decided to retire after 4 years as Miracle Workerz Electrical Team leader.

Now I have inherited a skilled electrical team and the ability to train more from Dave, being a college mentor is great. When I was still at UD taking a test on Thursday of our first regional, my students, with no mentor help, not only fulfilled all their pit duties but actually helped several other teams. It is amazing to see them exhibiting the spirit of FIRST. Also, I can actually take time away the pit now to enjoy the competition. Now, I think I need to teach them how to enjoy the competition more :D (like we need more cheerleaders). I will keep coming back for my 4th year and on as long as there are students to mentor.

Now as for some I believe is a FIRST-a-holic but has not been mentioned previously, I think Joe Ross from 73 ans 330 is a good candidate. Maybe he fits more into the veteran FIRST-a-holic catagory. Mike already mentioned Ashlee Snodgrass who I think definitely fits into this category. I think a new college student to watch for next year would have to be Stephen Rawls from 122. He is just graduating (and going to Carnegie Mellon University?) but has already been in FIRST for a long time.

PS: I do realize that there is no definitive way to measure the dedication of of all the FIRSTers out there. There is no real complete list. This is very much related to the changes that come from graduating a team and still being heavily involved in the program. An addiction to CD forums is one indication of this involvement. Your networking with others like you is another. However, since there is no true test, isn't it nice to recognize the dedication you see in others. That is what I think this thread is about. Recognition doesn't always go to the most deserving but it rarely goes to the least deserving.

Joe definitely fits into the veteran FIRST-a-holic category. This was just his seventh year in FIRST (as both a high school and college student). I believe the qualifications we once came up with for being a veteran in FIRST was whether or not you remember life without alliances; Joe definitely does.

Matt

I don't... does that mean I'm not a veteran? :D ;)


-JVN, Rookie FIRSTer...

No, it just means that you haven't been in FIRST for way too long (look to your left).

Matt

That is a good indicator but it will have to change sometime. As time passes we will need new indicator, but this one is fine for now. I think the next indicator should be: if you can remember when all teams had three digit team numbers. Hopefully the indicator will not become: if you can remember the championship at Epcot.

Veteran status should probably set in after 5th year. That way no student can become a veteran without at least an additional year in FIRST. I say this because it would be weird to call a student of FIRST a veteran of FIRST (a bit of an oxymoron or implied contradiction). It would also be strange to say a student has been involved longer than or the same time as a veteran. Sorry John V some graduating seniors have been in FIRST as long as you. Better luck next year.:)

Well that was my 2 cents on semantics:D

I misspoke (er, mistyped). What I meant to say was that the qualifications for being in FIRST a really long time were remembering alliances. Being in FIRST a really long time rather implies veteran.

I think I'm going to blame this mistake on the fact that it's finals week and that I've been in FIRST for a really long time (it starts to eat at your brain after awhile).

Matt

Ouch!

I'd like to believe that my activities within FIRST would brand me as a veteran. Not my time within the competition. There are some people who have been in this comp for 2 years that I would consider right up there with those "veterans" who have done it for close to a decade.

We all mature within this program at different rates.

And... I was just joking before.
Personally, I don't care who considers me a "veteran" or not.
The only opinions I value, are of those who know me. Not grand, all encompassing generalization of what a "veteran" or "FIRST-A-Holic" is.


But yes, next season will ONLY be number 5 for me. So I'm still young in comparison to some people.

Beat ya! #6 for me next year. :P

Next season will be only #4 for me... who would have guessed?

(I'm aware that I'm a toddler, but I think it's a good start eh?)



ByE

erin

If you're a toddler, I'm a newborn.

My first season was the 2002 season - although I had the option to join three years earlier. Of course, like a dummy, I thought FIRST just wasn't my thing. :rolleyes:

Mine will be #5 on a team Kenny!
Scorekeepers are people too, but they don't pull allnighters during the 6 weeks.

Heh Heh...
:D ;)

Beat all of you (well, not all of you; I know this is just going to incite Joe to post that he's already been in it 7 years). I'm going for year number 7. So there. So when do I get a break from this again?

Matt

i guess im still in the womb then, because this is my first year.

There's no shame in that. Everyone has to start somewhere. This year was only my third, so I'm not too far ahead of you.

Next year will be my 4th :D

next year ill be leaving high school after 4 years of first im going to be at ucf and working with the crew

Definitely DJ Fluck and Josh Hambright.