So what does GP mean to you?

[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.