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Unread 19-04-2004, 12:49
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Mark Pettit Mark Pettit is offline
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FRC #0991 (The Dukes)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 177
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Re: So what does GP mean to you?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ngreen
Teams creating spare parts list and then getting parts for team is not a sham. It is a act of GP to be the team that gives that spare parts list and not get upset when the other team get credit so to speak. My team worked on doing such a thing (we didn't get the other teams involvement this year but hope to next year). . .
You know, this thing about teams sharing their spare/extra parts is one of the main point GP was founded on. Teams used to be able to approach each other and ask for a part or parts they needed. If we had a part to offer them, then we'd gladly give it to them. We, likewise, received parts from teams by asking them for things we needed. The giving team in each circumstance wasn't bragging or touting that they were Gracious and Professional by giving their parts away. It was just an act of kindness.
Not to knock any specific team, but when you go out of your way to appear gracious and professional by becoming the middle-man in this process, I can see how it would make some other teams resent you.
Part of being GP is not getting any credit for it other than inner satisfaction. Bragging/Touting your own Gracious Professionalism goes against the very nature of GP. I agree that it has become just another contest in FIRST for teams to go out of their way to show the judges how gracious and professional they can be.
I've got a whole lot more to say about my feelings on GP and I will be back.
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Mark Pettit
Team #991 - The Dukes
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
THE DUKES: Humans Competing In The Unlimited Class
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