What does the Chairman’s Award have to do with a robot contest?

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by Sally

I most sincerely apologise for the behaviour of Denman. 759 regard the chairman's award as really prestigious as it's the one which really embodies the spirit of FIRST. I'd also like to point out that we most certainly have NOT been building up a "portfolio" for this. We've been doing work in the community because we want to and we want to spread the word of FIRST and FLL throughout the UK. That, and we've really really enjoyed all the activities we've participated in this year
I'm quite hurt that a not very active member of the team (who isn't an operator btw either..) has come on here and posted that sort of thing, I hope everybody hasn't been given a bad impression of our team, we're all very nice really

Sally, Please DO build the portfolio of your team.
Repeat: Please DO built the portfolio....... ( I agree with Redhead)
This is PERFECTLY correct and expected for all FIRST teams. It helps record all the activities your FIRST team have participated in and allow you to compiled the Chairman’s Award submission for this year and future years. With a portfolio and good records future team member will not understand the journey and progress your team have made.
Every year senior members leave and freshman join your team. Within three years a team will turnover, because of this reason, I emphasize good record keeping of ALL events team have participated in. I have met many teams that have no idea of their team history. One particular team I’m mentoring is planning to submit their first Chairman’s Award but have no idea what their team has achieved in the past. But they will do it because it is a first step.

You don’t have to apology for Denman, it’s his opinion and this is what's great about CD. I have spoken with your team for three years at NYC. I think you guys are one of the best when it comes to Gracious Professionalism and a good candidate for winning a Regional Chairman's Award.

See you all at the NYC Regional and good luck with the Chairman’s Award.

[Beth Sweet]

In one word? Me. I am not an engineer. I have never been good at science and I never will be. But being involved with FIRST has totally changed my outlook on life. I am a member of our team's Chairman's Award group. I love being a member of the HOT Team. I am around all of the science and technology and FIRST has given me the opportunity to realize how appreciative I really should be of it all. I understand that there are a lot of things that I can't do, and I have gained a whole new level of respect for those who can.

When I started on the team, GM engineers were just people who made cars. Now I realize that all engineers are people who have what it takes to make an incredible difference in this world. I watch at competitions as high school students create things that only a few years ago couldn't even be dreamed of. I watch in astonishment. The way I see it, that is what FIRST is about. Even though I can't do engineering, I can express my pride and how I've been inspired by all of this in the way that I know how to do best, by writing, by documenting my pride in an incredible thing called FIRST.

But anyways, that's my personal opinion on why the Chairman's Award is a part of FIRST.
~Bethy

[Sally]

Richard and Redhead, you misunderstand me, I just wanted to make it clear that we aren't doing things with the community just to win an award, we're doing it because we want to

Thanks for the kind words Richard, see you at NYC!