What's happening to this program???

[Al Skierkiewicz]

To those disheartened on this thread. If there is one thing I have learned in the time I have participated is that there is always someone who did something, some team that isn't gracious, some school that locks out another school or some parent who doesn't like the way the program is run and wants to start their own team. I have found that these stories are usually second and third hand, blown out of proportion, taken out of context or perpetrated by a freshman. (I use the term 'freshman' to indicate anyone who is a first year student or adult even if they are on an established team)
There are so many great teams, wonderful and caring adults, smart and gifted students all working under the example of GP that minor setbacks have no chance of disrupting the program. The perfume act is unfortunate and I can only hope it has no long lasting effects either physically or emotionally. The talk of a team trying to rip off pneumatics is not even a bump in the road. We will always have someone pointing these incidents out to us but there are more effective ways to handle it then bringing it up in a public forum. Some of the issues brought up earlier in this thread did have some merit in that one or two did fly in the face of the established rules and intent. Those issues (because they upset a level playing field) do need discussion, without finger pointing, and a resolution made if necessary.
Until we reach a perfect world, we need to continue to teach freshman by example, with understanding, compassion and GP and in private when it is appropriate.