[Barry Bonzack]

Originally Posted by tiffany34990

i don't think this storm will hurt us...what's a little drops of rain???

This was my first time to be volunteering for a FIRST event and not just a spectator or competing in it. I knew it takes thousands of hours of planning and dedicated people willing to give up their time with nothing in return to pull events like this off, but I had no real idea before now. I give props to the people there on Thursday afternoon, Friday at 5:00am, and all Saturday. I have never seen such dedication out of any group of volunteers as the ones here. Set up the field...then being awake at 4:00am for a quick teardown, then to set it up again hours later, and tear it down again after it was finished. (FYI: FIRST needs a disclaimer that parts of the field can become flying projectiles under hurricane force winds.)

I could not be more impressed with a human being like Arefin on Saturday morning as I watched him on the field with a vacuum trying everything he can to get it dry, refusing to give up. I have no clue the stress it takes to get something like this organized, then to have the dream threatened by an unforeseeable act of God the night before after months of planning and consecutive sleepless days. That in itself was enough motivation for me to keep helping. Arefin- Mission successfully complete, returning to homebase for a nap.

Thanks to everyone to help make this event possible, what an awesome event it turned out to be!


::Switches to 1390 hat::

I would like to represent 1390 in thanking Mars and Tech Tigers for an awesome alliance and our first championship win. Heck, it was the first time we have gotten an award...or even first time to move on from qualifying rounds to the finals. I am thrilled we have something to return home with, show our administration, and display in the front office of the school. Watching 1251, 1523, and 1390 ending the day with three triple plays is one memory that will stick for a long time, lets remember each other when alliance picking comes around at UCF 2006 I truly believe this will help improve the team, it could not have been possible without these two teams. Thanks.