So what does GP mean to you?

[Billfred]

I keep seeing people on the board saying that GP means different things to different people.

So let's get it out here--what does GP mean to you?

The way I read it, you don't intentionally screw people over, cheer when anyone caps or hangs, and help when you can. Hopefully, some sort of FIRST karma will kick in, and you'll do well.

Anyone?

[SilenceNoMore]

To me it is nothing more than a punchline people use to win awards and to look good in the eyes of other teams.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

It means repecting others.

[ThetaDot]

Originally Posted by SilenceNoMore

To me it is nothing more than a punchline people use to win awards and to look good in the eyes of other teams.

++

[LauraN]

Originally Posted by SilenceNoMore

To me it is nothing more than a punchline people use to win awards and to look good in the eyes of other teams.

I disagree.

Everyone is selfish. It's human nature. Every time you do something for yourself, you are being selfish. Every time you do something for someone else, you are being selfish, because being kind to others makes you feel good about yourself. That's why people make sacrifices. They may be missing out on something (be it money, fun activities, comfort), but they get a feeling of satisfaction for having helped others.

So basically, yeah, you're right- but you're also as guilty of it as anyone else. Maybe teams do things that are graciously professional just to look good- but chances are they also feel good about themselves for having helped others. Maybe it's cheap. But so is any other form of sacrifice or giving. True, it's selfish, but there's nothing that can be done about it. And there's nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself- that's a part of FIRST as well.

Besides, FIRST gives out awards based on GP. The underlying requirement for a Chairman's Award Winner is a team that is graciously professional. FIRST encourages us to be GP because of that whole vision of Dean's that has come up once or twice. Maybe it's idealistic, but regardless of our motives, we're still helping others, aren't we? So yes teams use it to get awards- but that's the point of the award in the first place!

[SilenceNoMore]

Originally Posted by LauraN

Besides, FIRST gives out awards based on GP. The underlying requirement for a Chairman's Award Winner is a team that is graciously professional. FIRST encourages us to be GP because of that whole vision of Dean's that has come up once or twice. Maybe it's idealistic, but regardless of our motives, we're still helping others, aren't we? So yes teams use it to get awards- but that's the point of the award in the first place!

So you do admit that GP is nothing more than something that is used to get awards? So, why even bother with GP then?

Thats why I am in favor of doing away with the Chairman's Award all together. It is quite simply a measure of who can put on biggest sham showing gracious professionalism.

[Rick]

All I can say is wow. All of you GP bashers have about one day before all the wonderful volunteers, teams, refs, game designers, etc come back and hopefully try to show you why GP is a great way to be and how to live it.

As far as I am concerened, Silencenomore is a person upset after not winning chairmans or being bullied by a team or losing a match or two. This is my first year as a mentor and hopefully silencenomore is a student and not a mentor. Mentors should be showing their teams good things about this program, not trying to find the bad.

I just got off a 20 hour bus ride and I need to organize my thoughts. Look out for my reflective post on this year and maybe it will show some insight.

[Jessica Boucher]

Everyone,

I ask that we stay on topic in this discussion. GP means different things to different people, and because of this we are all allowed to have different opinions concerning this. Thus, please respect these opinions as much as our own, so that this thread is effective.

Thanks

[LauraN]

Originally Posted by SilenceNoMore

So you do admit that GP is nothing more than something that is used to get awards? So, why even bother with GP then?

Thats why I am in favor of doing away with the Chairman's Award all together. It is quite simply a measure of who can put on biggest sham showing gracious professionalism.

*blinks*

By that logic, FIRST only asks us to build a robot to win awards for it. So let's get rid of that part. Let's all just make animation submissions, shall we?

To me, GP means exactly what it apparently means to the judges at nationals, who choose the Cheesy Poofs as the national Chairman's Award winner. I strongly encourage you to read their submission. (http://team254.bcp.org/)

If you really think GP is worthless, maybe you should tell that to the dozen or so teams that have been started and/or mentored by the Cheesy Poofs. Tell them that the efforts of the Cheesy Poofs were just a worthless sham.

FIRST wants us to Inspire people. I think, in essence, the S(cience) and T(echnology) of FIRST are irrelevant. It's the Inspiration and Recognition parts that are important. GP means inspiring others. It means making sure that everyone has an opportunity to join and continue a FIRST team. It means making sure that every team has a robot to put into competition. It means making sure that everyone involved learns something from the experience.

Having these opportunities and reaping these rewards is something we all enjoy and from which we all benefit. But FIRST can't do it all by itself. GP teams are those that make those opportunities and rewards possible. I think they all deserve a big thank-you from everyone in the FIRST organization. FIRST wouldn't be what it is without them.

[sanddrag]

Gracious Professionalism is about not being sad that your team lost, but being hapy that your opponent one. It is about becoming happy by making other people happy. It occurs when you have nothing to do on your team, because the younger members have taken your part. It occurs when someone has the "opportunity" of committing a malicious action but they don't because they imaging themselves on the other side of the line.

[MikeDubreuil]

Gracious Professionalism means a couple things to me.

1. Pouring your heart and soul into an idea, event, robot, anything and not expecting anything back other than personal satisfaction.

2. Knowing that someone wronged you, and forgiving them and continuing on without making a mess of the situation.

3. Acting in a way that is appropriate and sets an example for humanity.

4. Helping another team, even though you might end up losing against them later. Knowing that by improving their FIRST experience, you might have changed a life, and that's the greatest personal satisfaction of them all.

[Ben.V.293]

To me gracious professionalism is a way acting in which a person is gracious-kind, calm, and helpfull, while still being professional and getting done what has to be done. i agree entirely with what Ogre said.

Originally Posted by Ogre

It means repecting others.

To me gracious professionalism should NOT be a religion where those who show the most of it are transformed into gods and worshipped by all, and it should NOT a commodity that is coveted and wanted by all . While these people do deserve respect so does almost every other mentor, volunteer, and First member.

Ben Van Selous

[Venkatesh]

I believe that Gracious Professionalism the name for the general attitude of students, mentors, teams, and other organizational subunits within FIRST.

To understand what it is, split it into its two parts. The first part, "Gracious" is the more difficult to understand. To me, it means that you accept the successes of others with a genuine smile and are willing to share parts/expertise with other teams, even if they might be opponents.

The second part of GP, "Professionalism" has an important meaning. While Grace will carry you through good times and victory, Professionalism will carry you through hard times and defeat. It guides one to away from desparate acts and acts under stress and frustration.

The most amazing thing about Gracious Professionalism is how it endures the change of members of FIRST. I believe that it is not imposed or even explained from the "FIRST gods" but instead appears from below, in the pits of the regionals and in communications between teams, and a will to follow the spirit of the rules, even when it would be easier to ignore them.

[SilenceNoMore]

Originally Posted by Ricksta121

As far as I am concerened, Silencenomore is a person upset after not winning chairmans or being bullied by a team or losing a match or two. This is my first year as a mentor and hopefully silencenomore is a student and not a mentor. Mentors should be showing their teams good things about this program, not trying to find the bad.

We didn't even submit for the Chairman's award thank you very much!

I think I should clarify that in terms of awards won and competetiveness, this was our team's best year. We couldn't be happier with our team's performance. We won the Imagery and Entrepreneurial award and advanced to the semifinals in both regionals. However, these victories could not overshadow the fact that our experience was generally unpleasant.

Like I said, I still believe GP is just something teams use to win awards.

[Marc P.]

Originally Posted by SilenceNoMore

We didn't even submit for the Chairman's award thank you very much!

I think I should clarify that in terms of awards won and competetiveness, this was our team's best year. We couldn't be happier with our team's performance. We won the Imagery and Entrepreneurial award and advanced to the semifinals in both regionals. However, these victories could not overshadow the fact that our experience was generally unpleasant.

Like I said, I still believe GP is just something teams use to win awards.

Like Jess said before, it's important to allow everyone to express their opinion, and more importantly, respect those opinions (which oddly enough, falls under the category of gracious professionalism.) With that in mind, I'd like to see a legitimate, honest, and respectful discussion come out of this.

I believe gracious professionalism is a phrase coined in attempt to put into words the feeling and spirit of what FIRST is. It's not any particular action, thing, or person, but a concept/idea. Like any concept, it's not the word or words that are important, but the connections they imply (to paraphrase the last Matrix movie). Gracious professionalism is the feeling both sides get when a robot breaks down, and 15 other teams are waiting at the pit with various parts to get the robot up and running. It's the feeling of giving your best to benefit the community as a whole, rather than focusing on the individual. Sure, it could mean respect, helping others, being gracious in defeat and professional in victory. But above all, it's a positive feeling or influence designed to instill feelings of positive reinforcement into people for positive action. I believe it's the type of feeling FIRST wants us to bring into the real world, to change the modern corporate model of crushing competition. That's why the Chairman's award is the most prestigious award in FIRST- because the winners have undisputable hard evidence of the spirit of gracious professionalism, and the positive influences and actions which have come forth as a direct result. Granted, at some times it can be treated as more of a buzz-word than anything else. But as long as people experience it, and are able to relay it to others, it's a vital part of what FIRST's message is to the world, and a critical part of what it will take to make this world a better place.