Quote:
Originally Posted by Libby K
... WHAT IF: FIRST gave each team the option, as they were doing their event registration in TIMS, to choose what they wanted. They could then pick their choice (medal or pin) ... The choice is marked in FIRST's system, and it's sent to their regional.
Yes, FIRST is still ordering medals, but at least they're not ordering so many extras that go to waste. From the looks of the way it's played out on ChiefDelphi and Bill's Blog, FIRST would order roughly half of what they used to (cutting costs for medals in -you guessed it- roughly half!).
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It wouldn't be half the savings, because there are fixed costs associated with production that are there whether you produce 100 medals or 100,000. In addition, there would be additional packing costs as they ensure that each team's individual package was shipped to the correct regional.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricH
...or wherever participation medals/trophies are given out. Just seems like you're giving an award for doing nothing.
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For nothing except participating. And presumably gaining something from that participation, or else why would we have FIRST at all? If we had some survey that said 80% of the kids wouldn't participate without a medal, we might be on to something. But I don't think that's the case. The award - whether it be medal, pin or certificate - is to recognize the work that it took to be a team member. If it can also be a visual item to increase awareness of FIRST and the individual teams, all the better. The question then becomes, what is better, medal or pin? Which will be used more, which will be noticed more? (I leave out certificates because no one goes around carrying their certificates, and students don't have cubicle walls to pin them on.)