[generalbrando]

My perspective on the way this was started:

I actually knew about UFH before it came online and I was shaking my head (lightly) that there was soooo much hype. I think that there was a tiny let down, but overall, the general feeling is that this is a great improvement (and I agree).

Sitting here, thinking about how this was done and the fact that it was all very hush hush and the "judges" could have been "playing favorites" and all of that - I came to a realization. How else could they have started this? Maybe it would have worked if they had posted a thread, talked about it, got some people interested, and maybe eventually it would have gotten posted (if everyone didn't go back and forth forever). You'll have to forgive me, for I'm often pragmatic. So my opinion is that just launching this pilot all of the sudden was the best way to go. It's out there, it can be discussed based on not only what isn't, but what it is. I commend you four for getting it going and for the work you're surely putting into it now in order to appease everyone and make this thing all it can be.

I don't think we need to worry about non-CDer's. Like Andy said, there are so many that we need to recognize already. Also, this will probably bring more fame and recognition to this forum and bring in more distant members (leading to complete saturation?). If you were to try to make this a project involve all of those heros in the FIRST community from the start - you would probably have to involve the FIRST staff and/or the leaders of every team. It's not that it couldn't be done - but do we want to put more on their plate? Do we want this to become completely institutionalized from the beginning? It seems that the reason it was created was to avoid just that in the recognition of great people.

Again, good work. I hope to see this continue!