NERDS

[Greg Perkins]

****PLEASE NOTE: This thread is in no way bashing, or accusing NERD of their organization****
So do not make this a flame war, I'm merely giving my opinions (and yes they are like posteriors, we all have them and some of them stink)
<Preparing my Rep for loads of negativity on this topic>

Ok, let me first start by saying that what NERD and MAVERICK are doing is exactly what FIRST needs. However, I dislike how NERD is approaching it; with MAVERICK, anybody can join and feel obligated to represent their region. As with NERD, only about 20+ people are aknowledged as being a member, and seems as if this is some exclusive club that you must be on the A list to get into. Again, I'm not whining as to why I'm not initiated yet, but to clarify from the NERDs as to why this is?
I mean I know plenty of New Englanders' who have been in FIRST from the very roots, I myself...2000. I've been so involved that I HAD to take a year off from a team this year to get my finances in order. And I see on 230's NERD website some of these people have been on CD for less than 2 years and been in FIRST for only 2-3 years. I'm sure there is a reason that they are a member, but this just doesn't seem fair to those of us who have given our time for FIRST and are unrecognized.

Again, Yes to organization...No to exclusiveness. Let anybody who has spirit Join.

/End rant

~Greg

(PS if anybody wants to argue this, PM me, I'm more than willing to sacrifice my inbox rather than this thread)

[Ian Curtis]

Andy said it before, you don't need a shirt to be a NERD (although those shirts and hats are pretty sweet).

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

(and even if you don't have a shirt, you can be a NERD in the truest sense)

link to source

[KathieK]

I am sure that Andy will explain this better than I but let me give it a shot... n.e.r.d. has started out with a small number of people so that we could get ourselves organized. We are establishing criteria for joining, creating a website and discussing what things we would like to do in New England to support this area. I don't believe the intent was to be exclusive, just to start with a manageable number and then grow. I don't know of any "A list" that is a requirement for joining; I think Andy was looking for a diverse group of enthusiastic members who would agree to further the FIRST mission in New England.

Let me also add that there is a New England FIRST organization based in Worcester, MA, and if you are interested in learning more about that let me know. www.nefirst.org

[Jessica Boucher]

I think your answer is simple economics....nothing to get worked up over.

NERD has decided that every member must be formally given a shirt to become an official member. We have some unofficial members who have not recieved shirts yet, but not many.

We have our shirts done professionally, and you can imagine that it costs quite a pretty penny, all of which comes out of Andy's pocket. We are in the midst of a reorder in time for Atlanta, and more shirts will be handed out then.

It seems that MAVERICK has a different method of member recruitment and management, and has a lower-cost method for creating shirts (please correct me if I am wrong, guys!). This is another fine choice for group management. Both have their pros and cons, and there is no yet proven successful model for inter-team organizational efforts. Naturally, one method will have a higher growth rate over the other, and neither should be condoned until proven to be unfit to be successful within FIRST.

I am sorry you feel that you did not get a shirt in an prompt enough fashion, but in the grand scheme of FIRST, how important is the inter-team organization stuff compared to what we are all really trying to do?

Thanks for your concern, and I hope this helps shed some light on things.

[Greg Perkins]

It's not the fact that I want a shirt. It's the fact that you have to be chosen to be accepted as "one of you". What you said Jess, is contradictory to what Kathie said. Kathie said that

I don't know of any "A list" that is a requirement for joining

and then you said Jess that you must be selected.

I know the costs for the shirts must be high, so why don't you guys do a Cafe Press site for NERD gear and let us buy our own?
It seems like a popularity contest so far...not just in my eyes, but many

[K.Shaw]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

We have our shirts done professionally, and you can imagine that it costs quite a pretty penny, all of which comes out of Andy's pocket. We are in the midst of a reorder in time for Atlanta, and more shirts will be handed out then.

suggestion: Charge however much it costs to produce these shirts. Im sure many excited NERDs-to-be wouldn't mind paying $5 or $10 for a shirt.

Also i know that MAVERICK buys t-shirts and prints off iron-ons and sells them for $5.

[Jessica Boucher]

Yes, there is selection involved, but there is no "A List". I am sorry you disagree with this method, and I am glad that you are voicing your opinion on the matter.

But, that is the agreed upon method of member recruitment and management by the organization. If it does not succeed, then these are great suggestions on how to adapt to better fit the environment in the future.

This whole discussion could have been handled via PM, and in the future, I hope that you practice what you are requesting in your original post. Anyway, aren't there more important things to be discussing this close to Atlanta?

[JVN]

This whole discussion could have been handled via PM, and in the future, I hope that you practice what you are requesting in your original post. Anyway, aren't there more important things to be discussing this close to Atlanta?

Yes,
I think Greg has voiced his concern that he hasn't been selected, and the NERDs have eloquently justified their positions.

Locky locky,
JV