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Unread 08-03-2011, 12:14
JaneYoung JaneYoung is offline
Onward through the fog.
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 5,996
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Alamo Memories And Thank Yous

It was a pleasure to spend time at the Alamo Regional this past weekend. It was a terrific inaugural event in the state of Texas.

Some thank yous:

Thank you to Jess Jankowitsch who spent this past year taking time away from her grad school commitments to help get this regional off the ground, bringing her Pittsburgh and Championship experience into play. We were very blessed to have you on the ground and running the entire time. In the short time that you have been in Texas, you have made a serious impact in our region.

Andy Baker and Mark Koors - Although I tend to think of AndyMark, Inc. when I think of each of you now, I also appreciate the expertise and experience that you brought to the Alamo Regional as FRC volunteers. I've seen that in action once before in the inaugural year of the Oklahoma Regional and I was just as awestruck at the Alamo as I was at OKC. Thank you for all that each of you do for FRC and for the robotics community, as individuals and, as a flagship company.

The volunteers - I considered myself blessed to be part of a group of volunteers that showed up each day to help the event run smoothly and efficiently. The genuine support of the teams and the event was evident in everything you did. Judges, you rocked and you made me cry with your tears of joy and pride. Inspectors, you hung in there and got it done. Thanks to the guys who held down the practice/test field. You got the schedule organized and running smoothly and it wasn't the easiest thing to do by any means.

The staff at the event -This is a great place to hold a Regional. Great great place. The staff at the event took care of our needs and welcomed us graciously.

Mark Leon and Blair Hundertmark - Thank you for teaming up to give this inaugural event a face and a sound that let folks know that this was the place to be because you are just that cool. Safe travels to the rest of the events that you will help to make shine and sparkle this special anniversary season.

Teams, veterans and rookies - Thank you. Thank you for bringing smiles of joy, pride, relief, disbelief, wonder, and satisfaction to yourselves, your mentors, the teams that worked with you, allied with you, competed with you, and celebrated with you. Thank you for your contributions to the inaugural Alamo Regional, helping to mark its place in history. Rookies, next year, as a 2nd year team - you become a role model for the new rookie teams. Get your butts, er, 'bots to the inspection area and get your robots inspected - Thursday morning. Set the bar. And, if you didn't bring a robot cart this year, bring it next year or you may have to deal with me.

A very special thank you goes out to a very special team from Rochester Hills, Michigan, FRC 245, the AdamBots. Your support of our Alamo Regional Rookie All-Star Award winners, FRC 3478, the LamBots from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, was extraordinary and set the bar for others to follow regarding how teams can mentor, support, and inspire each other. Thank you for coming all the way to San Antonio to help strengthen this rookie regional as well as the very special rookie team that made their way into all of our hearts. Loudly. Congratulations on your Website Award - a mentor from another black and yellow team, FRC 33, the Killer Bees, called it before the competition.

A few more favorite memories:

The moisture in Mark Leon's eyes after Cyberwolves broke into chants of "we love you" and his response to them.

The need for boxes of tissues among the judges when the event was over and they didn't leave the field; they just stood there absorbing the moment and feeling the beauty.

118's hanging bumper in their pit. I hope someone posts a photo. It wasn't red or blue, it was 118.

All of the Austin area teams that made it to Saturday afternoon and were competing. That was a very proud moment.

Being stopped and asked to listen to business plan and Chairman's presentations by teams. That made my day - keep working on them, teams, they're awesome.

Meeting Mark Wibbels and 2 other members from FRC 2122 who flew in from Idaho to spend the weekend at the Alamo Regional, checking it out and enjoying it. It was so great to meet all 3 of you! Thank you for coming to San Antonio and helping celebrate the inauguration of this special Alamo Regional!

On a personal note, seeing 5 of us from 418 in volunteer positions at this wonderful regional. It made my heart sing.

Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful experience at the Alamo Regional 2011.
Jane
__________________
Excellence is contagious. ~ Andy Baker, President, AndyMark, Inc. and Woodie Flowers Award 2003

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
~ Helen Keller
(1880-1968)

Last edited by JaneYoung : 08-03-2011 at 23:29.