Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

I don't think that is part of the marching orders given to the judges, however, the RCA is about inspiring students in the field of engineering, and FLL teams do inspire students in the field of engineering. So I am sure that starting FLL teams is one way to convince the judges that teams are RCA material.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

1323 will be submitting @ the Silicon Regional.

-RC

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Nothing mandates any requirements for Chairman's. If FLL was held that high in regards for a Chairman's award then trust me, we'd have more than 1 (yes I'm insanely pompous about our FLL success)...

Its just a matter how many you inspire, how wide spread your message is, your impact on your local and non-local community, and your impact on education.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

How do arrogance and self-importance lend themselves towards inspiring others and obtaining the Chairman's Award?

I looked up the definition of pompous.
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One of our lead mentors, Danny Diaz, is on the committee that organizes the FLL qualifiers and tournaments here in the central Texas area. He runs on exhaust fumes, balancing the demands of his job, his commitment to the team, and his family. He pushes through the tiredness to reach the goal of providing outstanding venues for students, mentors, supporters, and sponsors/VIPS to become inspired and to be impacted by the FLL program and its competitions.

His actions and that of the committee and the way that they involve our team and other teams in our community in pulling these events off, makes me feel proud, happy, and very humble to be a part of and to watch.

It is true that when working on aspects of the Chairman's, teams can be tempted to become peddlers, marketing the program on a level that gets the word out. It is also true that teams can go deeper and tap into the true value of inspiration and how that impacts others in a more profound manner than merely peddling. Finding that balance can be a balancing act in itself and is one that helps teams develop and grow, keeping themselves inspired and aware of the impact of FLL on the team as well as others.

Just a thought.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

I don't think he is saying that they only do it to win the chairmans. Also he's saying that the FLL can't be that important that it is the #1 reason a team wins a charimans award, because if it was he feels 11 does SO much with FLL that they would have won more than just 1 chairmans award.

I have to say that alot of the time when the emcee is giving that little speech about the team that won the award 9 times out of 10 they talk about what an awesome team they are for all the FLL teams they started and the FLL comps they ran or sponsored. I can see where some people would see that i need to start 30 FLL teams this year and run 3 or 4 FLL comps to have any shot at a Chairmans award.

I feel that the chairmans award doesn't really mean what it did back when i first joined FIRST back in 2002. Yes its still an important award in most peoples eyes but i believe, now, that alot of teams are only doing most of the stuff they do to win the award.

Everything I do for FIRST I don't do for awards. If awards come from what I do and what my team does then that is awesome, but to only do something for recognition is by far the worst reason to do anything!

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

I have to comment on this, it is my personal opinion that it is not how WIDE you spread your message but how deep your message settles that is important. I would even venture to say that rather than start a half dozen teams with 10 students each I would prefer to start 1 team with 5 students and be sure those students get the attention they deserve and need.

:D (Do I need to say more? Sustainability is good)

I disagree that teams only do what they do to win the Chairman's I can think of a couple teams that work incredibly hard, and have for years and have never been awarded with a RCA. In other words, I agree with your sentiment but disagree with your generalization.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Thanks for clearing up my point. :)

Jane- "characterized by pomp, stately splendor, or magnificence." - Dictionary.com

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Thank you for clearing that up, Akash.

It is good to know that you are insanely magnificent. :) You're starting to make me think of Johnny Depp characters.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Sounds like something Charlotte would spin into her web :D

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

I wasn't generalizing i didn't say all i said lots. i agree there are many teams who do what they do for the right reasons and not for recognition. Im just saying that FIRST has changed since i joined in 2002, and that I believe that the chairmans award doesn't mean the same as it used to.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Lol, well only in regards to FLL :p, anything else would be a little too bold, haha. We take our LEGOs very seriously here in Jersey ;)

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

That was the jist of my original post. I have definately seen a change in the last 2 years.

The teams that had mirrored the original concepts of the RCA, are now being left behind by those that are creating and promoting FLL. Maybe this is the new wave of the future of RCA's.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I can remember most of the RCA winners that I've been exposed to having some involvement (typically fairly significant) with FLL for quite some time (at least dating back to 2004). I don't think the emphasis on FLL (and other FIRST programs in general) is really that new.

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

We will most likely submit at Palmetto again this year. The emphasis on Chairman's has gone by the wayside in recent years, but we are making a push to bring it back into the forefront. One of our goals is a FLL team in all the elementary schools in the county (4th and 5th grade), but we are not solely concentrating on that alone. I think RCA winners have to be well rounded in different areas. Sort of like a college freshman:D

Re: Where are You Submitting for Chairmans?
 

Good thought, Josh.
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I, personally, look forward to the day when we grumble and wonder if teams are being awarded the Chairman's Award because of their continual support of other FRC teams and establishing methods of stability and sustainability in their areas/regions.

There is ebb and flow to the years the teams compete in. 2009 has been big in many areas that are impacting and will continue to impact the 2010 FRC program and therefore, the teams that compete for the Chairman's.

If we try to pinpoint a specific area as to why CAs are awarded, we are narrowing our own perceptions and limiting our own possibilities. And all it is - is guessing, really. What we do know is that FLL has succeeded in making a huge impact and FRC has helped with that along the way.