WFA recognition in Hall of Fame - brainstorming ideas

[Andy Baker]

There are various discussions regarding the implementation of putting more effort into recognizing Woodie Flowers Award winners in the Hall of Fame (HOF) area at the Championships.

Recently, this thread brought [/url]this discussion back up.

For the past two years, there has been a small effort to recognize Championship WFA winners in the HOF. For this time, FIRST has asked the Championship WFA winners to come up with a display for the HOF. In 2006 and 2007, we did some simple things. We could do more. For various reasons, minimal effort was put forth by us (the WFA winners) to make a display.

So, that brings up these questions: What should be done? What sort of display do you want to see?

Now is a good time to brainstorm about this... let's hear some ideas.

Please keep the focus on what could be done in the future, not what should have been done in the past.

Andy B.

[Billfred]

Do you have specifics, by chance, of the HoF area?

I seem to recall a wall area per team of about 10' square, with a curved panel for displays (meaning either the actual wall space is greater, or the width is actually smaller--it's been a month). The actual trophy was in front of the display, probably two or three feet out (which, I assume, is the depth we have to work with). I recall there being power drops in the area, or some of the HoF teams were powering their lights and monitors on pixie dust.

Some folks here are probably crazy enough to CAD up the whole shebang in the off-season (what else are we supposed to do 'til January?), but getting the details would definitely help firm things up for those who are either hazy on it or haven't had the chance to see it.

[Pavan Dave]

I would like to see a hall of Woodie Flower Award recipients. It would be cool if similarly to the CHOF there was a wall with large pictures of every winner and a brief bio, similar to the CD Unsung FIRST Heroes profile. Also I think it would be cool to have smaller pictures of all of the current year's Woodie Flowers Finalists, 41 *4X6 or 5X7* pictures underneath with the Woodie Flower Award criteria, and it's history. Looking something like this:

|----------------------------------------.|
|---|****|------|****|-----|*****|----|
|---|****|------|****|-----|*****|----|
|---|****|------|****|-----|*****|----|
|----------------------------------------.|
|---------|****|------|*****|----------|
|---------|****|------|*****|----------|
|---------|****|------|*****|----------|
|----------------------------------------.|
|-----------|-%%%%%%%-|------------.|
|--|&&&|---|-%%%%%%%-|---|&&&|----|
|--|&&&|---|-%%%%%%%-|---|&&&|----|
|--|&&&|---|-%%%%%%%-|---|&&&|----|
|-----------|-%%%%%%%-|------------.|
|-----------|-%%%%%%%-|------------.|
|-----------|-%%%%%%%-|------------.|
|-----------|-%%%%%%%-|------------.|
|----------------------------------------.|
|--()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-.|
|-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()--.|
|--()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-.|
|----------------------------------------.|
|----------------------------------------.|



KEY:
* = Woodie Flowers winners - Picture + profile (Which includes the winning submission)
% = Picture of Woodie with the what the award represents, requirements, history etc.
& = TV / Screens with a video including but not limited to: interviews with each winner.
() = The small picture of each Woodie Flowers Finalist FOR THE CURRENT year.

(Picture not drawn to scale. I am also aware there are more than 5 WFA Winners, it is just an example)

Pavan.

[MGoelz]

I like the profiles and finalist pictures idea. I also think that the past winners should not only have a profile displayed, but also the submission that allowed them to win the WFA.

And don't forget, the FIRST website needs a place to recognize these outstanding people too. Most people who only know the basics of FIRST, most likely have no idea about how important people such as these are to the program. I don't think it is good to be promoting a marvelous program, then have a website that doesn't give any proper recognition in regards to the ones that keep FIRST alive.

Eventually though, this is going to get very large and hard to manage. I think that it might be beneficial to start a "Woodie" HOF. That way, the individuals have more recognition, and hopefully enough space to have a little display about each winner, showing the winning submission, their profile, and a brief insight about the team they are from. Of course, this would be much later; we need to establish what goes into this first and foremost.
(getting ahead of myself again...sorry.)

[Chris Fultz]

I think someone other than the WFA's should be tasked with this -

Make it too glorious, and they are charged with self-promotion.

Make it too simple, and no one will learn their stories. Knowing most of the WFA's, this is the more likely scenario.

What if there was an area set aside for the WHOF (Woodie HAll Of Fame - we could call them WHOFFERS), and each of their teams was resonsible for creating the materials to display there?

Maybe their submision letter, a photo or two, and an update of what they have been doing since winning the award.

A simple listing of the names, by year maybe, of all Regional WFAs would be cool also.

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

I think someone other than the WFA's should be tasked with this -

Make it too glorious, and they are charged with self-promotion.

Make it too simple, and no one will learn their stories. Knowing most of the WFA's, this is the more likely scenario.

Perhaps let the teams of the winners handle the displays. Who better to show off the virtues of these WFA winners, than the people who know them the best. They would have the most access to materials, photos and most importantly, inspirational stories involving the winner.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Perhaps let the teams of the winners handle the displays. Who better to show off the virtues of these WFA winners, than the people who know them the best. They would have the most access to materials, photos and most importantly, inspirational stories involving the winner.

But a consitent design should be parmount.
Otherwise it'll look tacky and inconsistent.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

But a consitent design should be parmount.
Otherwise it'll look tacky and inconsistent.

A design contest for the overall 'look'?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

A design contest for the overall 'look'?

That is a great suggestion!

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

But a consitent design should be parmount.
Otherwise it'll look tacky and inconsistent.

Agreed. A standard template should be set, while the content is filled by the teams.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Agreed. A standard template should be set, while the content is filled by the teams.

Someone with a graphic arts background should take charge of this project (if the contest idea doesn't work out).

[Kyle]

Why not just add another wall the size of the ones given to the Chairmans HoF teams along the wall, or in the center of the wall and do a set up that way.
That way it will go along with the flow of the HoF decor and also be able to show off the WFA winners.

Then like was mentioned above have pictures of each WFA winner and under each on the essay that won them the WFA with a few extra pictures under each one and in the center of the display have a poster explaining what the WFA and who Woodie Flowers is with a picture of, or the actual award on a table or something. keeping it simple, flowing with the rest of the HoF and giving everyone the same amount of space and attention.

Just an idea.
I will do what ever I can to help get something done in the HoF for these great mentors.

[Andrew Rudolph]

I have some ideas, but i need to sketch them out

(sorry for the mostly pointless post, but since I'm in design I have to partake in this kind of project just too tired right now to put anything down)

[Brandon Martus]

A video/interview showcasing the WFA's in action, interview footage, etc.

Have some scheduled 'meet & greet' times for each WFA that is attending, so people can come talk to them, etc.

[JaneYoung]

Andy,
Thank you for creating this thread.
It would be so nice to see this effort expanded into an honored recognition.
If the WFA winners, themselves, are asked to do this, I can see how this would be a problem. It would be nice to have it done for them with input from them - by teams that are affiliated with the WFA winners or who would like to take this project on. The history of the award, itself, along with information regarding Dr. Flowers. Koko Ed's suggestion of a biography of each of the WFA winners is excellent: the impact that the WFA winner has had on FIRST and how. Inspirational photos - I'm a sucker for inspirational photos. I would also like to see a section made available for FIRSTers to leave thoughts for the recipients.

The display, itself, could be manned by volunteers/ambassadors who would enjoy presenting the WFA winners' information to the 'public'. There could be a brief specified time to meet and greet the winners at the display.

Thank you to FIRST and to our WFA winners for focusing on expanding this and giving us all an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the efforts that you have put forth.
Jane