FRC GRANT-DECISION DAY 2016

[alextound]

Originally Posted by matthewdenny

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Good afternoon,
Unfortunately, due to extenuating circumstances, we will have to delay announcing the recipients of the 2016 FRC Rookie Grant to next Wednesday, November 18th.
I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Regards,
Rebecca
Rebecca Falkenburg
Stewardship Manager, FIRST

FIRST is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization
V 603-666-3906 x229
F 603-222-1418
E rfalkenburg@usfirst.org
W www.usfirst.org
1

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

[Mk.32]

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

alextound, has the dozens of replies, and I am sure all the PM/red-dots you've received not told you anything.

I understand this money could make a break a team's season (my team got started because of the NASA Grants), but publicly whining here on CD isn't going to get you anything. You've been rude, and immature, and someday I hope you see the errors in your ways. But if I were you right now, I'll put down the laptop and take a few days.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

Are you volunteering to help them?

You'd be reading, evaluating, and ranking many applications, probably over a hundred (or maybe multiple hundreds). And then you'll be discussing with others how they rate the applicants. And then you'll be hashing out with the rest of the group who gets the grants and who doesn't, knowing that for some teams losing the grant may well mean losing their team.

Sound like something you want to do?



Note: All I have to go on is what Cory posted in another thread; I have no insider knowledge myself.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

I think most people would agree with you that it would be nice if NASA sticked to their deadline or atleast let people know when they knew they wouldn't make that deadline. A lot of times, however, how you say something is more important than what you say. Instead of the negative, critical comment you made, you could have said, "Thanks FIRST for taking the time to showcase your superior customer service by letting us know there will be a delay".

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

Yes, it is.

There are only so many dollars available and many more teams applying than can be supported. There's a line to be drawn where teams win the grants.

Imagine deciding whose "in" among an enthusiastic rookie rural team with sponsors who will support them if they can deliver, a second-year team that "got it" in their first year and is reaching out to support a couple of rookie teams, or a solid veteran team who just lost a long-time sponsor and needs "bridge" funding for a year?

"NASA" is probably struggling with dozens of teams on that "bubble." I put NASA in quotes because the whole agency isn't engaged, instead, it's a few people who really care and want to make good decisions.

Show some empathy and patience...please!!

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

The great NASA troll of 2015 strikes again! Oh the humanity!!! When will it ever stop?!?

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

Having known people who have reviewed the grants, yes, yes it is. A lot of time and effort is put into reading each one, even on the weekends (gasp!).

[T-Dawg]

Trolls want attention, and alextound is a troll.

I think the best and only approach here is to simply ignore him. We're fueling him by giving him attention.

[Libby K]

Sorry for jumping in here so late, but I thought I might be able to lend a perspective from a sponsor here as well. This is my second year leading a grant program for teams, and those decisions are incredibly difficult.

Originally Posted by alextound

Hey NASA....is this so difficult. . . .

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Yes, it is.

There are only so many dollars available and many more teams applying than can be supported. There's a line to be drawn where teams win the grants.

Imagine deciding whose "in" among an enthusiastic rookie rural team with sponsors who will support them if they can deliver, a second-year team that "got it" in their first year and is reaching out to support a couple of rookie teams, or a solid veteran team who just lost a long-time sponsor and needs "bridge" funding for a year?

"NASA" is probably struggling with dozens of teams on that "bubble." I put NASA in quotes because the whole agency isn't engaged, instead, it's a few people who really care and want to make good decisions.

Show some empathy and patience...please!!

I have nothing to do with NASA, but I am in charge of the United Therapeutics FIRST grant program, and what David described is exactly the struggle we're going through right now as I prepare to release our grant decisions (this week, actually!).

We had over 165 applicants for our grants, and I can only give out 40. I have had great conversations with folks asking me for a timeframe or if there's anything they could do to help us. I'm well aware that teams need their budgets in mind for the coming year as they register, but sometimes there are factors beyond the grantor's control for getting those decisions out as well.

What I can tell you, is that if I saw a poster like Alex from a team that had applied for our program? That team might be crossed off the list (or moved towards the edge of the 'bubble' David described). Why would we want to support a team who's okay with being disrespectful towards a potential sponsor?

The decision will come when it comes, and hopefully teams who are rejected accept that decision with grace & professionalism. Crossing my fingers for all of you who applied. Please know these decisions are hard!

[alextound]

I know saying anything against NASA is really bad and if I add L.K. I'm just asking to be shot, and that is not what I'm doing or what I ever did. I'm only writing so my quote "is this so difficult" can be in the correct context, as I've said and responded to a million times both publicly and privately. Meaning is it so difficult for NASA to put up a somewhat similar message to FIRST. I completely understand it needing more time and I can only imagine how difficult it is to choose the recipients.

My angst is over their (NASA) ridiculous message. I'd be shocked if they had less than 1,000,000 hits on their page this past week only to find the same disappointing message"we'll update when complete" (is that even an update????.) I have no doubt how impossible a job that is, and my gratitude is unending for NASA and for FIRST sponsors. I'm not saying I look okay for a Sponsor to pick us up, I'm not the grant writer nor do I mention my team, but I'm merely a voice to say give us a little more; perhaps, "it'll take a few more days" or something so that not everyone like me (only referring to those people like me) aren't refreshing every hour (more like 5 minutes or more for me, but I'm crazy.

[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by alextound

I know saying anything against NASA is really bad and if I add L.K. I'm just asking to be shot, and that is not what I'm doing or what I ever did. I'm only writing so my quote "is this so difficult" can be in the correct context, as I've said and responded to a million times both publicly and privately. Meaning is it so difficult for NASA to put up a somewhat similar message to FIRST. I completely understand it needing more time and I can only imagine how difficult it is to choose the recipients.

My angst is over their (NASA) ridiculous message. I'd be shocked if they had less than 1,000,000 hits on their page this past week only to find the same disappointing message"we'll update when complete" (is that even an update????.) I have no doubt how impossible a job that is, and my gratitude is unending for NASA and for FIRST sponsors. I'm not saying I look okay for a Sponsor to pick us up, I'm not the grant writer nor do I mention my team, but I'm merely a voice to say give us a little more; perhaps, "it'll take a few more days" or something so that not everyone like me (only referring to those people like me) aren't refreshing every hour (more like 5 minutes or more for me, but I'm crazy.

Would you rather NASA spend the time continuously updating their website, with messages like "The Robotics Alliance Project team needed to catch some sleep, and will continue working dilligently in the morning?" Or spending that time just working on reviewing the grants?

Additionally, in my experience, if I wouldn't want to represent my team by saying something, it's a big red flag for me to re-consider whether or not saying it is worthwhile or constructive.

[alextound]

Not even an update routinely, if they had done the first message better that'd be good (if they meant momentarily) or just something that lets people know its not forthcoming when its not. . . just curious if your team submitted, how often are you checking?

[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by alextound

Not even an update routinely, if they had done the first message better that'd be good (if they meant momentarily) or just something that lets people know its not forthcoming when its not. . . just curious if your team submitted, how often are you checking?

Zero. Works wonders for one's piece of mind. Set to a reasonable update frequency of course -- don't want to kill the NASA servers!

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by alextound

I'm not saying I look okay for a Sponsor to pick us up, I'm not the grant writer nor do I mention my team

Don't worry, the Chief Delphi moderators know not only that you aren't from Iowa, but know what team you're on. It should be noted that there are several NASA employees that are Chief Delphi moderators.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by alextound

I'm not saying I look okay for a Sponsor to pick us up, I'm not the grant writer nor do I mention my team

So, by hiding who you're affiliated with you get license to be a prick[1]?



[1] And before someone complains about language, trust me, that is tame compared to the phrase I want to use. I've seen the efforts folks put into scholarship selection, I assume this is similar. At least being a nagging pain in the [expletive] lets them remove one person from the pool.