[Al Skierkiewicz]

I would like to apologize to all the rookie teams out there. We have been here a long time and tend to forget our rookie year. (I was way out on the fringe that year as a parent non-participating.) Now that I am a veteran, I feel strongly about lending my experience and technical skills to whoever asks. The Delphi forums is the best place to do that I think. I forget that rookie teams have many things working against them.
1. Never having been to competition or being exposed to "gracious professionalism" they are not aware of their ability to ask for help and to come to expect genuine, accurate help in reply.
2. Are not aware of the resources available on the web for all the parts supplied or available.
3. Have no real training for adults to jump off the beginning of a first FIRST season other than the kickoff workshops.
4. The blessing of a veteran team who knows the value of a combination of software, mechanical, and electrical professionals to guide the design and student involvement.

In spite of these problems, there are always rookie teams who manage to be very competitive in their rookie year. Hats off to those who do well.

I have to agree with Joe (not something I do regularly. LOL)on the problems with the Yahoo forums. I chalk it up to the FIRST guys having too much to do on too short a staff. Having been there I am sympathetic and patient. However, it does seem that several persons on veteran teams have shown some insight to some of the problems that have come up each year (This year is no exception) and could easily form a commitee of sorts, that FIRST could put questions to and receive informed, technically based responses.
Good Luck All