[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jess,
As I remember, GP was introduced well before the alliance became part of the game. I believe the first time I heard it defined was in relation to all the vendor interaction in the space program. All of these individual companies had to share technology and ideas for a common goal. Way back when, the "space race" was seen as a stop gap on the cold war. Politicians made it Job #1, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson amoungst others. The first time I was involved in GP occurred during the MMR in 1997. We were next to a rookie team in the pits and they were feeling really depressed. Several of our mentors and students went over and told them not to worry, they had all the help they needed right there at the regional. I thought, wow! we're supposed to help out! Then in the finals, teams were helping other teams (sometimes the opposition teams) by lending parts and tools right on the playing field. Finally, when one team's timeout had finished, one of the other teams called a timeout and the additional time allowed the robot to be repaired and play. That is one aspect of the game that I miss.
My greatest challenge comes in explaining to new parents and students on the team what GP means. It becomes pretty obvious during brainstorming when a lot of newcomers want to design robots that flip intenetionally and add spears and saws to damage other robots. When they hear about GP I really get the funny looks and it takes a week or two for the concept to start to sink in. It isn't until the first regional that the GP light finally goes on full brillance though and then there is no holding back.
Good Luck on the paper. Ask any time.