Chief Delphi - FIRST and TSA

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Re: FIRST and TSA

Oh, yeah...TSA is a "very conservative" organization. Strict rules and formality, rigid parliamentary procedure in meetings, very bureaucratic, largely Christian, big politics (student officers), traditional...but it's still open to everyone and religion isn't actually involved in conferences. One can go to a conference get the impression that the whole thing is horrible and impractical, and I think some of it could change, but it does teach respect for an organized system, historical tradition in some ways, and in particular, professionalism.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Quote:

Originally Posted by roboticsguy1988

However, the vocational school i went to that had TSA also had quite an abundance of students involved with it, while the bylaws seem to push religion and politics i found that people who don't even believe in god, or steer away from politics were still involved. They learned just as much and had just as much fun as any of the other students.

TSA's bylaws may state one thing but from what i seen where i was at quite a few of those bylaws don't apply anymore. Myself i do not know about TSA on a national level but i can tell you what i have seen locally which i feel i have covered pretty well, maybe not with the best wording but hey i want to be an engineer not an english professor.

If those bylaws don't apply anymore, then they should be removed. When you were involved with TSA did they ask you to say you'd uphold their creed? At the formal meetings and competitions, did they start with an invocation? Some people get involved with things without reading the fine print about what they belong to. The other thing I've found is that if you join a particular group, they assume you agree with them and next thing you know, may be representing you that way to others. Standing mute is interpreted as agreement. I personally won't do that.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldbringer

Does the creed ever get read at the meetings? If so, then that makes it not open to all. Maybe they'll let you in the door. Maybe they'll let you stay if you keep your mouth shut. But I suspect that if you try to rock the boat about such things, you'll find otherwise.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Hey,

My high school has a TSA club and this year we will be working with them. Honestly I've never heard the creed read and my school has a relaxed method for going about all their rules. I know my teacher is currently trying to get them to change the dress code atleast in the Richmond, VA area. Our TSA's purpose is mainly to learn and we plan on entering competitions. Frequently, we skip all of the formailities, but I'm not sure how comon that is with other TSAs. This year, Robotics and TSA will work together because it can benefit both by sharing knowledge and helps to bring similar interests together. I am confident that we will be succesful. As far as the bylaws stated above I'll look into them and ask my teacher when he is back in town.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Don't get me wrong--I might have exaggerated--it isn't too controlling for individuals, and the bylaws aren't supposed to be hidden or fine print. The creed is sometimes recited in a meeting, but it doesn't commit you anything unreasonable by a stretch. The bylaws are mostly about how TSA should be organized and led nationally, and how delegations and voting work. A TSA member is not expected to conform to a set of beliefs, religion, or ideology, or supress disagreement.

When I said "largely Christian" I meant that many members are Christian, not that TSA is based on Christianity, although in TSA, religion should be recognized.

The bylaws are still in use.

Our chapter is also very relaxed.

My point is that TSA has a focus on morals, respect, professionalism, high standards, leadership, and organizational structure as well as technology education. It's very different from FIRST, but has very similar goals.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldbringer

The creed is sometimes recited in a meeting, but it doesn't commit you anything unreasonable by a stretch.

Maybe for you and many others, it's not unreasonable. Some, including me, think it is asking something very unreasonable.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Err i might be mistaken but this appears to be turning into a argument/ heated discussion, please calm down before this thread is locked,

if you feel the dire urge to discuss this topic like that, please contact each other somewhere else, this thread is meant to discuss FIRST and TSA not whether TSA is right in its doings or not

Just my 2 cents

Re: FIRST and TSA

Yeah it's definitely getting a bit toasty in here, plus I see a bit of 1 on 1 "IM-style" postings going on. Either way it should go elsewhere, it's not the point of this thread. Now onwards with FIRST/TSA groups at schools....

Re: FIRST and TSA

Sorry about that.

For those who might read be reading the thread in the future, if you're on a team like this--I'm interested in finding out how your team is organized, so please contact me! My email address is z@dawgma.org.

Re: FIRST and TSA

Alright as you can see by the name (tsa_nerd) you can pretty much guess that I am that. Any ways, I don’t know why the by law thing is such an issue and I don’t see why the dress code is such an issue. I have been my tsa chapter’s president for 2 years now and all together this will be my 4th year in tsa. I enjoy tsa a whole lot. I even like it better than first. Nationals is the best part. There are over 30 different competitions that you can enter and they all involve technology. I have competed in robotics, promotional graphics, web design, and problem solving. There are also completions such as co2 cars, architectural design, cad, and flight endurance. I have met lots of friends all around the nation and people form Germany. And some of the people I meet are also involved with FIRST.
Robotics has been my main competition. I have won 1st place for all 3 of the years I have been in tsa at state and I have won two 2nd place and one 3rd place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldbringer

And I don’t get where you’re coming up with this Christianity thing. Most of my members in my chapter are not Christians. And in the tsas pledge of allegiance there is no pause said in between one nation under god.

see pics here... http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...erd/scan-1.jpg

here are some tsa links... www.tsaweb.org
www.fzntsa.org
http://www.techstudentforums.com/