Team 60 is a great alliance. Team 812 was honored to have you as our alliance at the Southern California Regionals.

FIRST robotics competition at its best
 

For all the people who are new to this competition, or even this forum, This thread is the perfect example for some of the BEST part of FIRST.

I used to walk around the pit area in competition, admiring at other robots, and jealous at the same time, thinking "why why why do others have so much better looking robot, and we have to use ply wood for the base?"

Needless to say, I made a lot of mistaken first impression on a lot of teams, and wasn't too happy about a lot of things... How teams have engineers surrounding the robot at all time, how other teams' machine are so much more complicated...

But I start doing some talking with people... trying to know teams better and better, I found out exactly what people find out about team 60... There are just so many amazing teams out there working really hard to get to where they are right now.


So, my advice to you all, as I am sure all of us have told you over and over again... Talk to people at competition! Figure out their history, their experience. Get to know their names, where they build the robot, how they work so hard to get everything the way they are, how they get so many people interested in helping their team out...

Just remember, keep an open mind. People do different things are different area, because of different circumstants and such... So, learn what you can, keep a positive attitude, and always always remember, there is no point in feeling bad about yourself. We didn't enter this competition to be jealous of others' robot, or angry at what people do from time to time...

Don't let people ruin your chance of a life time to meet complete strangers from across the country who are as nerdy as you are ;).


Mean while, to keep my post in topic ;) , Team 60 is one of the best team I've ever seen!!!! And I am not just talking about their robot. Very cool to be able to stand next to them when they win Southern California regional.

While I agree with Ken Leung that team 60 is a great team, I'm forced to disagree that they are the BEST team... of course I may be a little partial to my kids... :)

But truthfully, team 60 has always been an incredibly strong and reliable partner, and the members of their team are incredible people. They're friendly, helpful, and always have a good attitude. It is always a pleasure to talk with them.

I keep reading about how some people have had a problem with team 60 in the past. While I have never personally seen any of these posts myself, I can see how some of them might have come about. While the teens on 60 are always nice, the adults sometimes have a bit to work on. I had the pleasure of meeting most of the people from 60 in L.A. over the weekend, and while the experience with the young people was great, meeting the male mentor (I think his name was Glen) left me with a very bad impression of the team as a whole. He was a bit standofish, and really very arrogant. Its too bad that one person can ruin the impression of a really great group of people.

Thank you everyone who had such nice things to say about our team. However, (though the title is deceiving,) this wasn't meant to be a thread about team 60... it was a post about YOU -- all of you -- and what you have to offer your teams and everyone else involved in FIRST. Instead of putting others down, making excuses for your mistakes, or acting negatively to others for any reason, try looking at all the POSITIVE things you can give to the program, and all the POSITIVE that FIRST does for you.

If you can take a step back from the competiton for just a little bit I think you will realize that you are a much better person for having had the opportunity to experience all that this program has to offer... and not just at regionals or in Orlando. If you happily contributed your own unique gifts and talents to better your team, then YOU are the WINNER... really!!!

It's not about winning a game. It's about winning in life. Think about that...

Daniel
This looks like a case of “open the mouth and slipensky the foot.” All though these comments might reflect your impressions, they seem a tad too personal and a bit rude for this forum. My own experience was quite different then yours. I had many conversations with Glen throughout the SV and LA Regionals and found him both engaging and personable. Perhaps if your team (#000?) goes to Orlando, you can pop over to The Bulldogs’ pit and say hello again. I am sure you will find that your first impressions were way off base.

Thanks,
RickV
Team 330

To DanielSlipensky from Seattle,
 

I don't really get this post? It has been one thing for people to try to take pot shots at quality teams like 60, 47, and others while not identifying themselves. While this practice has been recognized by most as childish, without credibility, and most likely done out of petty jealousy of the success of these teams - I find it amazing that someone would actually try to pinpoint an individual person without having the gumption to take credit for their comments. I don't know if your name really is DanielSlipensky or not, but I do know the only team from Seattle who attended LA was team 492. I know the coach from team 492 (he is a very good and dedicated coach) and I seriously doubt he would have anything to do with a post like this.

Whoever you are, I can tell you this: I have had the pleasure of getting to know MANY mentors (coaches, engineers, teachers) on MANY teams - Glenn on team 60 being one of them. I have had many conversations with Glenn, and have observed many conversations he has had with others. I can tell you this much about Glen, which I hope does not offend him (maybe I should hide my identity?): Glenn is an honest person with strong values, integrity, and honor - but he is also someone you can consider a mirror - if people are "standoffish" or "arrogant" towards him, he will normally treat them the same way. I have NEVER seen Glenn speak unfriendly to anyone who approached him in a friendly manner. I have seen him react to people who have been standoffish towards him or taken pot shots at his team/robot in the same manner those people treated him.
Be careful, this may be true and could easily apply to you and your team.

If Glenn acted the way you say, rest assured that it was a two way street and maybe you were not aware of how you initiated your discussion with him. I encourage you to approach Glenn in Orlando or next year in a friendly and positive manner, that is how you well be treated. All you need to know about Glenn can be summed up by how he and his students have responded to the people who have made false accusations and posts towards team 60. Each time they have taken the higher ground, have invited those people to come speak to them, and have made no negative comments in return. For the one or two negative posts made towards team 60, there have been countless replies by other teams stating how much they enjoy working with and knowing team 60, and how much respect for Glenn and his team they all have. That should tell you all you need to know abou them and why many teams hope to alliance with them any chance they get.

Unfortunately I feel I have to take responsibility for this. I don't think you talked to Glen I in fact think you talked to me. After team 60 victory in LA I was standing in front of team 60's pit and over heard some members of team 492 say some, how should I put this, not so gracious or professional things about team 60. As a former member of the team I did stand up for the team did become somewhat standoffish. I apologize to me old team (Team 60) along with team 492 if any of my comments we unjust. It’s just as a former member of the team, hearing some of the pot shots that were being taken at the team upset me a little.

Stop by team 60's pit in florida and ask to talk to the real Glen,he is an amazing guy.