Championship 2011 - St Louis - Your Thoughts Please?

[JaneYoung]

I've read and re-read all the threads here in CD and talked to a few people about the events leading up to the Championship event and the Championship event, itself.

We know it was the anniversary year.
We know from Kick Off that something was in the works with Will.I.Am and that Dean was going to make as much use of it as he could.
We had a brand new location/shift for the Championship event this year, along with some new regionals.

Lots of new. Lots of special (anniversary recognition). Lots of spotlight potential - also being used to full advantage.

We know that celebrities can burn white hot and then not so much. We also know that celebrities can have staying power - Morgan Freeman.

We know that FIRST pushed out of the comfort zone (whatever that is) and took all of us along for the ride.

We know that the ride is bringing in mixed reviews but they seem to be positive, overall.

We know that FIRST and CD are loaded to the gills with problems solvers and analysts.

Basically, we know that water seeks to find its own level and always does. Seasons come and go and with them, change. If we continue to remember and value the reasons that we joined and have remained in the program in the first place, we can continue to contribute in a positive way, offering constructive insight, wisdom, and knowledge to help the program continue to develop.

An area that I have seen woefully neglected in all of the current discussions is the area of sustainability. We can be made loud but will it be the noisy clash of a cymbal crashing or will it be the depth and breadth of a bell ringing loud and clear? That depends on our leadership and our leaders' leadership. In the end, the water will find its own level.

Jane