[Lora Knepper]

Joe linked me here, and I have to say, both of you, M. and Ken, raise wonderful points. And I guess as one of the founding members of RCU, I should comment on the one part of your essay that no one has yet touched upon...so here is my attempt to dust off my account, and place my opinion down for record.



quote:
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So now, in 2003, we have an organization that ensured its need by its very creation. By introducing and reinforcing the notion of gender stereotypification within FIRST by creating a group designed to combat it, and thus, by raising awareness to such stereotypes, the RCU is now a necessary element in tipping the scales of opportunity for woman and girls.
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I suppose part of the way the RCU can be seen is due to something very simple. The very mindset between men and women are something alien to each other most times. I do not see the RCU as an organization that reinforces gender stereotypes, but rather, as one that supports those girls and women who must fight them day after day. A bridge between the genders, as you will. We will have to struggle harder than a man to get the same recognition, we will have to fight the stereotypes not only in FIRST, but in life. Take it from me, I attended school for Diesel mechanics and worked as an industrial painter for TVA, I've seen the "Real World" in action, and we do the students out there a disservice if we try to isolate them in a fantasy world. That aside, frankly, it's human nature to feel comforted to know that you are not alone. That is why I support the goals of the RCU even in my absence.

That said, I share many of your views. When I stepped away from FIRST, I was myself disillusioned. I had left my home team for personal reasons that stemmed from the fact that they simply didn't see what I had grasped onto as an ideal.... the idea that we could change the culture...even if just within FIRST for itself. I jumped from team to team, learning, seeking, absorbing everything I could. I got involved with a multitude of small organizations wanting to help change the world culture and show what FIRST had to offer. I saw it all stagnating. FIRST staff changes, team structure changes... FIRST was evolving, and I wasn't quite sure I was liking what I was seeing. I stepped away.

BUT - in the time that I have taken my hiatus, I have had time to mull over everything I learned in my time in FIRST way back in 1998. We are changing, and we are having growing pains. But, like Ken said, we cannot expect to change the world overnight. It will take time, it will take effort - it will take pure strength of will. But for each student like you or me that takes the simple IDEAL of what FIRST strives for away, we are changing the culture.

One young mind at a time.

And in reality, isn't that was FIRST strives for in the end?