[Madison]

Originally posted by srawls
Perhaps we would be providing unique opportunities, but the resources and services provided are not necessarily unique (indeed, many times I imagine they would be resources and services many teams have, but because of lack of funding or whatnot other teams do not). I suggest changing "unique" to "needed."

...here are my concerns about using language like, "needed," ...

What if it's not? While I firmly believe that this can be an amazingly useful resource to many teams, I've been wrong before. I'm hesitant to say this is "needed" because it's a bit more pompous and arrogant than we can afford to be at this juncture, or, so I think. Though, maybe "unique" isn't the best word, either.

First, I would take out self-sustaining. I imagine this effort will require contributions by individuals, teams, and companies. Perhaps one day it could be self-sustaining, but I don’t think that needs to be in the mission statement.

...by self-sustaining, I was trying to imply that this effort would ensure its own existence by contributing to teams, which, in turn, would donate their own resources back to the effort in some capacity. Maybe it's unclear as is, and it could be entirely unnecessary.

Second, FIRST has been around for 12 years now. I can see where you might argue even though FIRST has been around, its culture is only now emerging in a significant way. But even so, FreelanceFIRST might still be around far into the future, and its mission statement should be as applicable then as it is now--so I suggest taking “emerging” out of the statement. Also, I suggest changing the word "culture" to "community." There is a subtle difference in culture and community, and with the changes I make below, I think community is better suited.

Agreed.

One other point I have is that although it is nice to be “friends to all people,” I think the mission statement should reflect the specific goal of FreelanceFIRST, and that is enriching the FIRST community. So, I suggest changing “all people” to “everyone in FIRST.”

FIRST is only the beginning, and, in the same vein as your previous argument, I don't want the Mission Statement to be so severely limiting. This 'clause,' if you will, indicates the potential for much more varied involvement in programs in the future.

By providing needed resources, services, and opportunities to teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition, FreelanceFIRST seeks to engage in a synergistic effort to promote the goals of the FIRST Robotics Competition and to enrich the FIRST community. We seek to enrich the community by drawing upon the talents and contributions of individuals, by promoting Gracious Professionalism, and by acting as role models, mentors, and friends, to everyone in FIRST.

Aside from what I mentioned previously, the only other thing I dislike about this is the use of the word 'enrich' twice. That's easily fixed, though.