FIRST Chesapeake Districts

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Washington FIRST Robotics isn't really using its name anymore, right? We could use that.

The "DC Area District" or DCAD?

[AGPapa]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

The "DC Area District" or DCAD?

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Washington FIRST Robotics isn't really using its name anymore, right? We could use that.

I don't think the area should be renamed (I actually kind of like the name). I just think we need a convenient shorthand when writing it so it doesn't seem out of place in lists with the other districts. Something like "FC" or "CSPK". I don't know what's best. Were there any abbreviations used for the Chesapeake regional?

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

I don't think the area should be renamed (I actually kind of like the name). I just think we need a convenient shorthand when writing it so it doesn't seem out of place in lists with the other districts. Something like "FC" or "CSPK". I don't know, were there any abbreviations used for the Chesapeake regional? It's event code is "mdcp", but I don't think "CP" is clear enough.

I think you just end up going with FC, although I think FOC would have been better for "FIRST on the Chesapeake"

[PayneTrain]

I mean for what it's worth FIRST violates their branding standards and flaunts those violations at Champs. Haven't seen any official logo.

EDIT: never mind, I saw it. It's nothing I didn't expect.

[PayneTrain]

If we're posting things, here's something that wasn't considered or ever received.

The FIRST Colonial Region celebrates the heritage of the United States while looking to the future.



The eight stars represent the 8 original events the region will begin with. 7 districts, and one championship. The cannonade in the center represents one of the major technical achievements used in the Revolutionary War. The gear on the outside is... self explanatory. I picked faded shades of traditional FIRST colors because well, the crayola colors looked gross.

In addition, each of the 8 events received a variant of the logo. Here is the first one I found, the Capital District.



One thing that has always annoyed me about the district system is how names are so easily dropped and added because a district moved 5 miles east or west. The area has a very rich history and very distinguishable parts that make up the region, so these distinct districts get distinct names. As long as the district stayed in the general area, the name wouldn't change. The Old Line District (western MD) and the Harbor District (eastern MD) are in Maryland, The Capital District is in DC, and Virginia has the Metro (NoVA), Shenandoah (Western VA), Commonwealth (Central VA), and Dominion (eastern VA) Districts.

For the championship, the logo is gold because... well, because.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

The FIRST Colonial Region celebrates the heritage of the United States while looking to the future.

Cannon and gear are OK but you need more smokestack and anchor.

[Lil' Lavery]

I feel the need to clarify something. "Districts" are not individual events, but rather the entire area that is districted together into the competition structure. Michigan is a district. The Pacific Northwest is a district. DC, Maryland, and Virginia comprise the FIRST Chesapeake District.

Individual competitions are simply events. Look at the nomenclature used here. PNW has posted their schedule, with events named using this format:
"PNW District - Auburn Mountainview Event"
I can guarantee you this is consistent with at least last year's naming system as well.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I feel the need to clarify something. "Districts" are not individual events, but rather the entire area that is districted together into the competition structure. Michigan is a district. The Pacific Northwest is a district. DC, Maryland, and Virginia comprise the FIRST Chesapeake District.

Individual competitions are simply events. Look at the nomenclature used here. PNW has posted their schedule, with events named using this format:
"PNW District - Auburn Mountainview Event"
I can guarantee you this is consistent with at least last year's naming system as well.

That's not necessarily true. Formatting for these events has never been uniform. For what it's worth though, I don't really care.

[mrmummert]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

We have FIM, MAR, NE, PNW and IN as our current districts with GA, NC and "FIRST Chesapeake" coming next year. Kind of a mouthful, what acronym are we going to use for the Chesapeake district area?

We just simply call it (if Brandon doesn't mind ) CD.

You could have Ches D or CBD (Chesapeake Bay District)

One idea i told Kyle Johnson was....
You take the outline of a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack (look it up if you
don't know what that is.) put that to the left. The Skipjack is well known
to this area if you were born and raised near the water. Then have the
First logo to the right and Chesapeake just below the First logo.

Or do like MD. First did and have a robotic crab.

[mrmummert]

http://www.cambridgemainstreet.com/u..._2354_4web.jpg

http://www.jammadesigns.com/beach.me...l.boat.art.jpg

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Washington FIRST Robotics isn't really using its name anymore, right? We could use that.



The abbreviation for FIRST Chesapeake is 'CHE'.

My business card, those of the Washington FIRST Robotics staff, the building known as the Fieldhouse and all the equipment in that building disagree with the fact that WFR does not use that name any more.

Washington FIRST Robotics is the official, legal, registered name of the non profit organization that is responsible for all 4 FIRST programs in the state of Washington and for running the PNW District of WA, OR and AK.

While we are the PNW District we are not using PNW FIRST any longer. It caused some confusion with donors and sponsors.

My thought is that the official FIRST TLA for the new Chesapeake district will be CPK.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by Mr V

My business card, those of the Washington FIRST Robotics staff, the building known as the Fieldhouse and all the equipment in that building disagree with the fact that WFR does not use that name any more.

Sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect

Originally Posted by Mr V

Washington FIRST Robotics is the official, legal, registered name of the non profit organization that is responsible for all 4 FIRST programs in the state of Washington and for running the PNW District of WA, OR and AK.

While we are the PNW District we are not using PNW FIRST any longer. It caused some confusion with donors and sponsors.

That's VERY interesting to me, as VirginiaFIRST seems to be following the exact same process. Two things are striking:

1. The VirginiaFIRST administration has explained that FIRST has mandated the "FIRST + <local flavor>" naming scheme for all newly-forming districts. If you "are not using PNW FIRST any longer", then maybe you guys aren't being held to this same standard? Or you decided to reject the standard? Or maybe the naming scheme isn't really mandatory in the first place?
2. It seems to me that when an organization is attempting to represent the needs of 2 or more uniquely-named places, then the organization shouldn't be named for only 1 of those places. I don't think I would be comfortable with the arrangement, if (say) I were a MD or OR team. How does your organization make sure the Oregonians and Alaskans are appropriately represented in the decision-making processes?

I recently asked the FIRST Chesapeake admin team this question:


Is it the same story for WFR? The WFR board just didn't make a determination that an overarching PNW organization was necessary?

[wilsonmw04]

The change in name of the non-profit can be as easy as changing the "also doing business as:" portion of there tax documentation.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect
That's VERY interesting to me, as VirginiaFIRST seems to be following the exact same process. Two things are striking:

1. The VirginiaFIRST administration has explained that FIRST has mandated the "FIRST + <local flavor>" naming scheme for all newly-forming districts. If you "are not using PNW FIRST any longer", then maybe you guys aren't being held to this same standard? Or you decided to reject the standard? Or maybe the naming scheme isn't really mandatory in the first place?
2. It seems to me that when an organization is attempting to represent the needs of 2 or more uniquely-named places, then the organization shouldn't be named for only 1 of those places. I don't think I would be comfortable with the arrangement, if (say) I were a MD or OR team. How does your organization make sure the Oregonians and Alaskans are appropriately represented in the decision-making processes?

I recently asked the FIRST Chesapeake admin team this question:


Is it the same story for WFR? The WFR board just didn't make a determination that an overarching PNW organization was necessary?

It is best explained by this excerpt from PWNFIRST.org.

"Washington FIRST Robotics has a close partnership with Oregon FIRST Robotics. Our states run independent boards. Last year, we were using the moniker PNW FIRST. This created unity for our District, but is also causing some confusion with our donor community. Creating yet another entity for them to think about did lead to some issues.

Washington FIRST Robotics is the legal entity which has fiduciary responsibility for the PNW District and is signing the contracts. We are very sensitive to the fact that a third of our District is based in Oregon, and that our District Championship is in Portland in 2016. We are one big happy District. Currently there is not a 501(c)3 in Oregon who is responsible for the FRC program. That is being worked on.

Essentially WFR is caught in the political middle in respect to the name of the organization and at it is best to make the donor community happy and not confuse them since they provide the funds to make the PNW district happen.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

That's not necessarily true. Formatting for these events has never been uniform. For what it's worth though, I don't really care.

The formatting for these events on the FIRST webpage was 100% uniform last season. I can guarantee that.