[JaneYoung]

This thought is only partially formed and I may come back in and edit a million times until I have it the way I'd like it to be but I'm going to give it a try now.

We can find many discussions here in CD regarding taking risks and facing challenges. We can find discussions about how those challenges are brought about by the continual advancement of technology and how it impacts our world. In this case, our world is FRC. The risks and challenges are always there but sometimes - the discussions are theoretical. Sometimes, the risks are small. Sometimes, the challenges are worked through and the teams achieve a goal.

Sometimes, the risks and the challenges become very real. Technology shows us what it can and cannot do. I think that we are looking at that right now. There is a reason that FRC has core values. There is a reason that Dr. Woodie Flowers has spent a good deal of his professional life talking about risks, challenges, ethics, core values, Gracious Professionalism, and kindness. None of those have changed. They have been challenged and we are risking losing sight of them and, in doing so - ignoring their strengths. This is as dangerous as the misuse of technology and it is creating some of the stresses and concerns that we are all feeling here in CD.

There is a reason for the Woodie Flowers Award. It is a very serious reason. There are many mentors in many FRC teams who hold the values, knowledge, and respect for core values - that qualify them to be outstanding nominees for the Woodie Flowers Award, capable of joining with our WFFAs and WFAs and their commitment, influence, and impact. This is very important.

The news is fresh and has sent a shockwave through the CD community and members of FIRST. When the time of recovery begins then a time of rebuilding will begin. Trust will be a part of the rebuilding period and I believe that FIRST is working very hard now to help all of us when we are ready to help to rebuild the trust. We can certainly undermine with worries and doubt and criticism. We can also work within our teams to deepen the respect and understanding of FRC's core values and what they mean to the team and to the community and how, when a bad situation occurs that threatens our security - we have to lean on those core values and share them with each other.

We have members of our FIRST family who are suffering terribly. They are saddened, angry, betrayed, and feeling great loss. But - those members will work through it in their own time, leaning on the core values and on their community. Their community is ... us. All of us. We'll get through this.

Jane