It'd go a long way just to take time to stop and chat briefly with the volunteers who have to sit in the same spot all day doing the thankless jobs that go unnoticed by most passersby. Especially the volunteers we are constantly passing going back and forth from the pits to the dome. The elevator operators, queuers, those directing traffic at the crossways of FRC/FTC/FLL teams, overworked volunteer coordinators,... We may not have time rushing to make a match, but the return journey isn't too hectic to slow down and exchange a few words, hand them a button or team giveaway.
Common courtesy is always appreciated.
It helps to understand the abuse they may be exposed to and to think about countering any bad experiences they have.
We had a volunteer policing the robot team exit from the pits and she felt emotionally abused by all the people who'd ignore her polite requests. People without passes or badges of any sort who walked right past her. A teacher with a pack of young school children trailing behind her who was stopped then barged through the trundling robot traffic. Our volunteer and another young college woman just couldn't take it by the end of the first day. I noticed FIRST replaced them with larger male volunteers better able to refuse entrance to
perennial gate crashers.
Did my survey too.
