Rees- A True WFA Winner

[Mike Starke]

I just thought that I should share this story.

As many of you know, Jason Rees, team leader of 340... and now 424.. won the Woodie Flowers Award at the Finger Lakes Regional in 2006. This award was well deserved!

On to the story... as we are preparing for the upcoming Rah-Cha-Cha competition, we found that since we had some weight to spare on our robot, that we could put the dualie back wheels back on that we took off prior to FLR due to the weight constraints. I took up the task of epoxying the new treads to the wheels, attaching the dual back wheels to the hubs, attaching chain, etc. This was definitely a two to three day study hall project. Today was the day to test the robot with the newly added wheels. To my surprise, the robot didn't turn very well. When Rees came to check on how things were going, I said "We might have to take off the dualies."
And Rees being Rees, he said, "Oh I know. I knew the whole time that they wouldn't work." Proceeding this statement, he gave an evil laugh.
The wheels wouldn't work due to all the side friction placed on them.

This isn't the first time that Rees has done things like this. He lets us try our ideas, test them and try again. He works with us, not for us.

Rees is an awesome mentor, leader and friend. He could have easily told me that they wouldn't have worked, but instead he let me struggle and find out for myself. This is a true example of a Woodie Flowers Award winner.

On behalf of all Team 340 and 424, Rees, thank you for all that you do for us!

[rees2001]

No, Mike. Thank you. Not for the praise but for comming in during your study halls. Staying after school just about every day. Teaching the rookies about robotics. Staring up some initiaves that are improtant to you and other FIRST'ers. Leading team 340. And most of all, being a good person & a good friend. It is kids like you that make my job fun & easy. Teaching is easy when you want to learn.

[John Gutmann]

I don't think we should bore (correct spelling?) everybody with all my striggles and failures. Rees may or may not be responsible for some but there is still alot learned. From Rees I learned the best way to learn is to fail. Weird statement, but ever hear the saying "hind sight is 20/20"? Well that applies here, if you fail then you can look back and see why. If you have never met him before atleast try to make the effort to go talk to him at a competition, or atleast shake his hand. Even though he won WFA, look at all that everybody else has won by having rees having a mentor.

[Alex Cormier]

I too say, come visit him and visit him often. he is a great mentor and a great friend. He has been there a few times when i needed something and i can't thank him enough. Great mentor in a great FIRST community.

[rees2001]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

I don't think we should bore (correct spelling?) everybody with all my striggles and failures. Rees may or may not be responsible for some but there is still alot learned. From Rees I learned the best way to learn is to fail. Weird statement, but ever hear the saying "hind sight is 20/20"? Well that applies here, if you fail then you can look back and see why. If you have never met him before atleast try to make the effort to go talk to him at a competition, or atleast shake his hand. Even though he won WFA, look at all that everybody else has won by having rees having a mentor.

I just let you make your own decisions & learn from them. If i've said it once I've said it a million times. It's not my robot, it's your robot. It's not my team, it's your team. I'll show you how to do just about anything you need to do even if I don't think it's going to work. Mainly because sometime it does work, & I love being proved wrong.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Rees,
I have to add my two cents here. I saw you in action in Atlanta (we won't relive your inspection) and I have to go along with your team. You are a great mentor and your style is one that should be envied by others. It was a pleasure meeting you and your team and being on an alliance with you. Here's to a great mentor and a great team!

[rees2001]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Rees,
I have to add my two cents here. I saw you in action in Atlanta (we won't relive your inspection) and I have to go along with your team. You are a great mentor and your style is one that should be envied by others. It was a pleasure meeting you and your team and being on an alliance with you. Here's to a great mentor and a great team!

In all of my years of FIRST, yours was the most... fun inspection I have ever had. It was also a pleasure meeting you. You are one of the people that makes FIRST what it is. And as for the mentor & team thing, right back at ya.

[Justin Montois]

I couldn't see a thread like this and not say something. Rees is without question the face of Team 340 and, as Mike said,424.
As tough as it gets at times during the build season, spending way too much time on this or way too much time on that and pulling the all nighters, Rees is always there. He is definitely a dad to a lot of people on the team and myself included. If you are looking for a great FIRST mentor, one other mentors should emulate, Rees is it for Team 340 hands down.
Here in Rochester, it seems everyone who knows FIRST, knows Rees. Thats how you get a real sense of how much good and how many people he has helped in one way or another. It was his leadership and teaching style that made me want to switch from engineering to teaching, just so after he retires, I hopefully will be able to follow his example and show my students what a good teacher is and how valuable it is. Every student on this board knows a bad teacher and they know how valuable a good one and ,sadly, how rare they are. With a mentor like Rees, I feel that I will be able to be a great teacher, and I will owe it to him. You are the man Rees, don't you forget it.

Thanks Mike for starting such a meaningful thread.

[Koko Ed]

There is no current Unsung FIRST Hero currently on the site. A suggestion to the GRR kids. Show Jason what he really means to you and put him up on the pedestal he deserves so that all of FIRST can truly see what an awesome mentor he is long after this thread has faded into the archives.

[Dylan Gramlich]

ahhh rees i havnt really got a big chance to meet and talk to you. But i am definitly hoping to, possibly Ruckus or FLR. But even the post you made on the Christian FIRSTers thread was great and much appreciated. We have all heard the stories(especially me from Mike and Gary)and are pleased and privaledged in simply hearing them. You are an inspirational man in a well needed place.

[Jeremytice]

Originally Posted by Dylan Gramlich

ahhh rees i havnt really got a big chance to meet and talk to you. But i am definitly hoping to, possibly Ruckus or FLR. But even the post you made on the Christian FIRSTers thread was great and much appreciated. We have all heard the stories(especially me from Mike and Gary)and are pleased and privaledged in simply hearing them. You are an inspirational man in a well needed place.

I agree with Dylan. You are truly a great mentor from what I have been hearing. I also do not really know you very well but I will be at the ruckus with team 1126 so hopefully I will have a chance to meet you as well. Thanks for being an awsome mentor!

[Josh Goodman]

Heeeeey it Rees! I have to agree nice job with making your second team! See ya later!