[Rich Wong]

Originally posted by M. Krass
It's a little disappointing that input on these subjects wasn't gathered from non-Chairman's Award winning participants. While winning that award is certainly an accomplishment, I don't think it qualifies anyone's opinion as more worthwhile or valid.

Maybe it's just that I'd like to see more public awareness of what FIRST has done and what it plans to do, and the opportunity to give more input and insight into that direction.

As a participant and someone who's sacrificed more than even I realized for FIRST, the least I can hope for is the assurance that my participation and allegiance is to an organization that still maintains the same ideals and dreams as I do.

Oneangrydwarf and other CD contributors were in the same discussion group as me (who could miss that hair!). I was glad we were assigned the topic “Elevating the Stature & Understanding of the Chairman’s Award.” I’m passionate about the Chairman’s Award because many of the teams I advise and coach in NYC has what I call the “Right Stuff” for winning but no one on the team has recognized and attempt to package it for the Chairman’s Award submission. One of the reason is the teams are too focus on the robot aspect of FIRST. I try to chance their view by participating in FIRST workshops held every Fall at Polytechnic University in NY.

M.Krass concern about "public awareness of what FIRST has done" is a high priority issue with FIRST but it must be carefully controlled. FIRST do not want to lost the Ideas of FIRST for the sake of commercial successful. Unfortunately, the average public prefer Battle Bots instead of Intelligent Bots. Adding the FIRST logo on water bottles and soft drinks in the future is a good start. Other FIRST sponsors are also planning to acknowledge their contribution to FIRST by displaying the FIRST Logo.

FIRST is gathering a lot of information from many sources on how best to improve and increase the number of teams participating in the Chairman’s Award. This event was just one source of information gathering by FIRST. From speaking with the FIRST who is compiling the feedbacks, the FIRST Forum that was held last month also resulted a huge amount of data and suggestion from non-Chairman winning participants. Feedback is still rolling in from many sources. Next week I’m participating in a FIRST Lego Committee meeting that will also generate comments, suggestions, and concerns for FIRST to digest.

FIRST relies on passionate FIRST participants like M.Krass and thousands of other volunteers that want to make a difference.