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Posted by colleen.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #246, Blue Light Special, from John D. O'Byrant High School/Boston Latin Academy and NSTAR/Boston University/UTC/Raytheon/MassPEP.

Posted on 9/10/2000 3:59 PM MST


In Reply to: A FIRST Giant Falls... posted by aTm on 9/9/2000 11:50 PM MST:



To say any team 'fell' maybe is not the right words...

'Graciously bowing out' is maybe the way to word it...

In any case.. as Mike said.. there are teams every year that don't come back for various reasons.. yes, Baxter will be missed and I am sorry to see them go.. but just as sorry to think of any team that isn't coming back.. just as sorry to think about any team not yet formed.. just as sorry to think about all the students, teachers, engineers, corporations, and communities lacking of the FIRST experience...

FIRST in itself is expensive and time-consuming.. it's always been worth it to me.. however, the former was never coming from my pocket..

I can understand completely why teams don't come back or why teams never make it off the ground.. 246 practically started anew this year and it was rough and often disheartening.. worth it in the end.. but not the easiest of roads to travel...

the fact is though.. a FIRST team or event, and FIRST as a whole, cannot run on will or desire alone.. money walks, talks, and makes this world spin round.. we may not like it, but it's true.. without the monetary generousity of the likes of UTC, J&J, NASA, etc, we would never see a regional.. same with Disney and Nationals.. without the donations of Delphi, we'd never see half the kit of parts.. the list goes on..

It's a tradegy that FIRST is not so well known and accepted that money, time, and support would never be an issue with any team.. that there would always been people and companies just waiting to give a hand.. we could all rotate our mentors so no one would give up years worth of time and sleep.. we'd all have multiple sponsors to ensure we had enough funds.. but FIRST isn't that big yet.. so until then.. the hello's and goodbye's of teams for those reasons will be many and each will effect this FIRST program...

I only hope that the Baxter Team and community never fails to forget that the purpose of FIRST is the inspiration of students to pursue careers in science and technology.. and achieving that goal is still completely possible even without a FIRST team.. just look at the wonderful people over in Plymouth.. sure, 23 took time off of FIRST, but not off of FIRST's mission.. and now they compete in Electric Car competitons.. just a little less time and money consuming.. but serving the same purpose... and in the end.. the kids are still being exposed to the engineering world.. a great thing..

I intently hope Baxter will return in time, but until then, best of luck to them in their continuation to inspire students.. and the same goes to any other team that may take some time off or learn that FIRST just isn't the thing for them..

Robots Rule.