http://web.archive.org/web/199611250...ws/960905.html
Simple as that. The text of it is:
"Effective immediately, we have officially changed our name from "U.S. FIRST" to "FIRST". FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology". The name was changed in order to reflect our desire to expand access to our programs to all youth around the world."
I see it as an economy issue, though. FIRST's inception in the early 90's was built in an economy that desperately needed to pull itself up by the bootstraps. Jumpstarting the US economy helps all US companies out, including Dean's own.
As time marched on, with the popularity of the Internet gaining speed as well as the gradual re-consolidation of companies, globalization became a huge aspect of US business, more than it ever had been before. This may have been part of FIRST's desire to go global - to mirror the economy.
Or maybe the opportunity came up to take on an int'l team and the thing snowballed, I don't know. I find it interesting, Steve, that you brought this discussion up, being from 188. Were you FIRST's first int'l team? I'd love some insight into this.
PS - Don't you love when you hear people call it US FIRST? I grin every time
