How do I help my area move to districts?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

It's quite amazing how far the document diverges from the one published by GuamFIRST. I compared the two documents so you can see for yourself-- it's almost eerie how the two letters have the same format but vastly different messages. Not half as destructive or offensive. Great job GuamFIRST!

I'm obviously not picking up on what people are seeing as "destructive or offensive" about the document supposedly* published by MN FIRST. The two letters look to me like they have exactly the same message. The only substantial difference in style I see is that one is written in an active and instructional form, while the other is more passive and conversational. If I were just starting out as a possible volunteer, I know I would appreciate the specific guidance of the first one more.



* It was presented here as second-hand information, and I don't see a reference to it on the mnfirst web site.

[Lil' Lavery]

Considering the letter discussion has continued to dominate this thread (to my dismay), I do have a question. How was the letter published/distributed? Was it posted on a MN FIRST website for prospective volunteers? Was it e-mailed to all volunteers on the VC's list? Was it emailed to a specific group of volunteers? Was it released for public consumption at all?

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

How was the letter published/distributed?

Originally Posted by rzoeller

I was a student at the presentation at which this document was distributed. ...

As a student who attended the presentation, I was surprised for several reasons. The meeting at which the presentation occurred was part of a regular sequence of meetings in which university faculty and outside corporate employees give talks about their work. That particular meeting had been advertised as a "an inside look into life as an engineer and success after college from *speaker name redacted* who works at *company name redacted*", and was something I had genuinely looked forward to based on the extensive industry experience the speaker seemed to have and my interest in the company they work at. Unfortunately, once the meeting began it quickly changed focus to discussing FIRST volunteer feedback.

Was distributed at a presentation by a guest speaker of sorts.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

...The only substantial difference in style I see is that one is written in an active and instructional form, while the other is more passive and conversational. If I were just starting out as a possible volunteer, I know I would appreciate the specific guidance of the first one more.

If you have not done so, please read my previous post #75.

I think the biggest tone difference between the two that particularly strikes a negative cord with the college aged audience is in the following passage:

...Many of these students are motivated to pursue specific volunteer goals – they
want to be an FTA, or a Head Ref, or an LRI, or an MC or Game Announcer. When we connect
with these passionate people who desire to be a Key Volunteer, GuamFIRST works to advance
them towards their goals by helping them form into mature and experienced volunteers, often over
several years of development. GuamFIRST has provided this document as a guide for
understanding our volunteer advancement program.

...Many of these students have specific volunteer goals – they want to be an FTA, or a Head Ref, or an LRI, or an MC or Game Announcer. These Key Volunteer positions take a mature, experienced volunteer, and will take at least several years to work towards. Use this document as a guide as you work towards your volunteer goals!

GuamFIRST: We will help you get to where you want to be.
Minnesota: You're not mature enough yet, but if you work toward it, maybe you might be some day.
College kids LOVE to hear that one!

You have to be blind as a bat to miss this one.

[Dibit1010]

Sometimes districts are annoying. It's one more step to get to St. Louis

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Dibit1010

Sometimes districts are annoying. It's one more step to get to St. Louis

ok

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

ok

I don't think this post positively contributes to the discussion in this thread.

Please try and bee a bit more productive next time!

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by bkahl

I don't think this post positively contributes to the discussion in this thread.

Please try and bee a bit more productive next time!

sorry man this thread just isn't what i want it to bee about

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

sorry man this thread just isn't what i want it to bee about

That's kind of an immature way to think about it.

What is it exactly that you want this thread to be about?

[Collin Fultz]

Originally Posted by Dibit1010

Sometimes districts are annoying. It's one more step to get to St. Louis

This is a real concern for some teams. In the regional system, you can qualify for the World Championship after 1 event. With districts, it takes 3. This is a turn off for some mentors.

We try to balance that by having some events on Saturday-Sunday, helping limit the time off from work required by mentors.

It's a balance. There are positives and negatives to districts. I think that the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. I don't think that means that those negatives should be ignored.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

sorry man this thread just isn't what i want it to bee about

Decided to pop in and see what the buzz was all about.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

That's kind of an immature way to think about it.

What is it exactly that you want this thread to be about?

why im right and everyone else is wrong, obviously...

that is why we have the internet right? to tell people they are wrong and we are right

[Shrub]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Considering the letter discussion has continued to dominate this thread (to my dismay), I do have a question. How was the letter published/distributed? Was it posted on a MN FIRST website for prospective volunteers? Was it e-mailed to all volunteers on the VC's list? Was it emailed to a specific group of volunteers? Was it released for public consumption at all?

Ryan explained the context in full here. Although I know GOFIRST members and participated in GOFIRST's Ri3d, this thread was my first time seeing the letter.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

why im right and everyone else is wrong, obviously...

that is why we have the internet right? to tell people they are wrong and we are right

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.That one was a good one. I almost thought you were being serious for a moment.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Collin Fultz

This is a real concern for some teams. In the regional system, you can qualify for the World Championship after 1 event. With districts, it takes 3. This is a turn off for some mentors.

We try to balance that by having some events on Saturday-Sunday, helping limit the time off from work required by mentors.

It's a balance. There are positives and negatives to districts. I think that the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. I don't think that means that those negatives should be ignored.

I think the difference is goals that teams and organizations have. Generally, a team's prerogative is to compete and qualify for the FIRST World Championships (Admittedly, who doesn't want to qualify for that?), whereas the RPCs want to maximize the amount of matches and experience overall for teams. The disconnect, it seems, is the work it takes to be successful in a District model. (Things like time, necessary steps to qualify for Worlds, etc.)

Regionals seem better for teams because it looks "easier" to qualify for the World Championships.
Districts are better from an "experience" standpoint because it gets teams the nearly double the amount of matches (or triple if you qualify for District Championships followed by World Championships).