Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Arnold
What an important topic. When businesses (or mentors) go unthanked or unrecognized, their generousity often goes elsewhere even in the best of economies. In the current market, team understanding of their community's issues & needs is critical.
To create a strong partnership with sponsors (& your community) involve your team & provide help when possible. From assisting a small business with website issues, to helping at a company's employee picnic, to assisting with a business's canned food drive, to helping paint a store-front; teams have man/student power to contribute. It allows others to see the positive impact of FIRST teams & its value for your community's investment (beyond the inspiration of future technologists).
So...I guess my point is that team efforts invested in areas usually associated with the Chairman'a Award are even more critical this year! Don't just build a robot; build up your community.
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EXCELLENT Thoughts.
I would just like to expand on them a little. Students, realize that many mentors spend their personal vacation days with you instead of their families. Some of us travel hundreds or thousands of miles just to help. What I am getting at, yes sponsors who give you money are great. But FIRST is about mentors inspiring kids, thank them for their time. Even if it is just a smile.
While we are thanking people, thank the parents. I know a lot of teams have parents provide food. Thank them, but take it a step further, help them set up, help them clean up. Invite them to sit down and eat with you. I know my parents got a irritated when no one would help them. These people are donating a LOT of time and money into you guys, at least help them out.
Most importantly, I know a lot of teams want to win a Chairman's award. Awards are great, they are fun, but there are a total of about 15 Chairman's award winning teams in the WORLD. This is about 1% of the teams. Do not do something just to win an award. Do things because they make the world a better place.
I think it is time for another one of my stories, this is about the impact a small action can have.
Quote:
One day a man is walking the beach, he sees an elderly man walking alone along the shore. The elderly man stoops down and picks up something then tosses it into the water. A couple feet later he does this again. The first man asks the elderly man, "What are you doing?"
The elderly man replies, "I am tossing these starfish back in the water so they don't die."
"But what good could you possibly do? There are so many starfish and you are only one man, what difference does it make?" Replied the first man.
As the man stoops to pick up another starfish, "It made a difference to this one." And he tosses the starfish back into the ocean.
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Story is a perfect analogy for FIRST. As a mentor I realize that there is no way that even in a thousand years could I change the world, as a student I realized I couldn't make every mentor feel appreciated. But you know what, to the students I help I do change the world. And to the mentors I thanked I did change their world.
Summing it all up, you don't need to be Dean Kamen to change the world. You don't need to win, you dont need a major sponsor. You can change the world just by helping one person. So, say thank you to your mentors, to your parents, to your community, and to anyone who helps you.
This is my way of saying thanks to all the people who tossed me back into the ocean, thanks RUSH.