[RoboMom]

Chris, I've been on both sides of this issue. I was a mentor on a team feeling very frustrated, wishing the judges had given more specific feedback given all the work put into trying to explain why the team should be a strong candidate. There was only a two word comment.

I've been a judge for Chairman's and had about 5 minutes to write up the feedback form, trying to be as helpful as possible, while there were still hours of interviews and write-ups ahead.

Like Rich said, a lot of this depends on how many interviews these judges had to do in the time given. I know that last year at Chesapeake there were around 18 Chairman's interviews to be conducted. There are some regionals where they may be only a few. I believe that VCU had 8 this year (I think that is what Jeff Seaton announced.) To date, FIRST does not dictate guidelines on where a team should submit Chairman's. Both the Chairman's judges should have received your entry in advance and so should be familar with your team when your team enters the room for the presentation/follow-up interview. They also review your yearbook page.

So to summarize, these volunteer judges are doing the best they can, given the circumstances. It appears that you received an extra special bonus last year, but truthfully, this year is probably more the norm. Others can correct me if their experience is different. I agree that the goal to strive to is to make these feedback forms as detailed as possible, given all the work put into the year and the entry, but it is not always possible.

Congrats on your WFA winner! Mr. Cokely is very deserving. There is a very funny picture of him taken at the Capital Clash during the mentor-only driving round that had me laughing so hard I had to sit down. But I digress...