Thread: Team Update #18
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Unread 17-03-2011, 10:42
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Re: Team Update #18

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris is me View Post
I think Cory's point is that FIRST shouldn't be let "off the hook" every time they do something at the expense of teams just because it's a volunteer organization. We do still pay to compete, after all.
...I've been chastised for championing this point for years.

So the refs, judges, and staff at the events are VOLUNTEERS. According to the people who don't see it my way, they should be forgiven any and all shortcomings, because they're VOLUNTEERS. Everyone claims that a cornerstone of the FIRST program is the tenet of GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM. To me, doing your job poorly, or worse, outright incorrectly (as in 2008 SVR Finals Match 2), is UNPROFESSIONAL. Not only that, but each and every team has mentors. All of whom are, themselves, VOLUNTEERS. The mentors are expected to know and follow the rules, because if they don't, and their teams robot doesn't comply with the rules, they don't get to play.

This isn't even what this argument is about, though. FIRST HQ is NOT run by volunteers. Many of the staff at FIRST HQ take a salary, paid for by our entry fees, and the sponsorships provided by industry. They are being paid to provide the teams with a product, a competition.

While I might be able to be convinced to forgive the shortcomings of a ref based on the "volunteer" argument, I will never be able to be convinced to forgive FIRST HQ for shamelessly doing things at the expense of their customers, the teams.
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