[Bob Steele]

First congratulations to you as a team. You are an up and coming star and with the enthusiasm that you are displaying you should be very successful.

After 10 years I have come to one conclusion.

If you base the success of your team on winning awards, you will have a tough time. If you base the success of your team on meeting your team goals (as long as the goals are not we want to win award "x") you will be far better off. Those goals should include inspiring your students and giving them pride in what they accomplish.

Our team has a 10 year history and I can honestly say that having inspired students and active and committed mentors lead to the best rewards. That is what being in FIRST is about. Blue banners and trophies are pretty cold, teamwork, camaraderie, loyalty, gracious professionalism are the marks of success and those lessons last forever.

I know this may sound corny but that is what it is really about.

We love to compete... we love to do our best... we love to celebrate each other's accomplishments.... that is why students keep coming back and that is why this endeavor will change lives.


Keep at it... you guys are already an All Star.... you don't need a trophy or anyone else's opinion when you know who you are.

Woodie Flowers once said: "I'm not going to tell you all that you all are winners. At this point you are smart enough to know whether you are or you aren't." Woodie is smart, listen to him....:0)

Good luck and we hope to see you on the field sometime.