Are you a MAVERICK?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by punkrawker303

for me and the ECDU it was more of hanging out with my friends and having a good time along with meeting some new kids that i talk to about robotics. i found these groups of more of networking with kids to learn more about robotics or life in general.

I don't know much about the ECDU, but if thats what it is truly for then I recant what I said earlier.


I'm just tired of every X and Y group saying how they're going to unite everyone and change the face of FIRST as we know it and all this. Its redundant.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Mike

NERDs fizzled like pop rocks in pepsi...

I wouldn't bet even a dime on that remark.

NERD is still alive and well, and the core of NERDs who are able to make meetings regularly have things planned and surprises in the works for the future.

It's always tough to fight the distance issue when uniting a group, but we are working around that internally before we start to expand and help other aspects and teams/groups/people of FIRST. Right now we are focusing on long term goals, and organizations issues and enjoying the time off before the season approaches us again.

2007 will be interesting. Just you wait.

As far as MAVERICK goes, I'm a member of that as well, and even though it may have fizzled out, it's spirit remains and we talk to each other. It's more of a networking group as ECDU is currently.

But who's to say what direction all three of these will go in the future.
It shall be an interesting year none-the-less.

Think of these groups as fan clubs of artists.
FIRST being the artist.
If the fan club goes away, or isn't always right in your face doing things the public sees, does that mean the reason for the fan club is gone?

Nope.

[Lil' Lavery]

I fail to see the problem with regional rivalries in FIRST. It adds a little fun, some new friends, and a little bit more excitement to the season. Midwest, vs. East Coast, North-east vs. South-east, etc. are all going to exist anyway, why not give them names? If you've ever been to an event like IRI, you'd know it's true. During the 2005 IRI finals, the audience (mainly midwestern) rallied behind the 33, 233, 868 alliance, which included 2 midwestern teams, while the other alliance had none 2 Californians (330, 980) and a Mid-Atlantic team (56). Paul Copioli (the MC) was even saying comments along the lines of "are we gonna let the coastal teams win in the midwest?" etc. Also note the East v. [mid]West dodgeball game at IRI 2006.
There are plenty of "who is the best state in FIRST" discussion on Chief Delphi, in FIRST chat rooms, etc. The rivalry definately exists. By forming regional groupings, it's not going to be a harmful thing in any way, but rather help continue the fun trend. These rivalries arn't harming anyone. You don't see teams declining picks because they are being picked by a team from another region. Plenty of teams want to prove they can beat Beatty, but they arn't gonna decline Beatty picking them.
These groups also serve as another way for teams and individuals to unify and work with eachother. Once again, I will demonstrate with IRI, and the "NERD invasion" of IRI in 2006. While 126 and 40 were the only North-Eastern teams competing at IRI, plenty of members from other NE teams came and helped out with them.

[Mike]

Like I said, I didn't intend for my ideas to be well received. It seems to be taboo to speak out against these types of things here.

About this time last year everybody was talking about NERDs. We were trying to guess what it stood for, when the website would be released, what was a NERD? Am I a NERD? Why is he a NERD and shes not a NERD?

Then we found out what it was, a group trying to promote pride in the Northeast. Cool. Everytime you saw a new picture on the front page, you'd go over and see whos the newest NERD.

The latest NERDs were initiated over half a year ago. They were what... around #20ish? I'm not about to go look up statistics on what teams are represented by these people, or the average member count per team, or any of that so bear with me here. There are about 1100 active teams globally. Lets say a lowballing count of 110 (10%) of all teams are located in the Northeast (the area represented by NERD). Average another lowball count of 25 people per team. Thats 2,750 people! How can 20 people represent 2,750?

I'm not trying to single out NERD here, its just the latest in a long list of groups like this. Maybe i'm doing it subconsciously because of the way I also disagree with the pride shown in exactly what we are trying to get the FIRST stereotype away from (that it is for geeks, NERDs and other such social outcasts)... but thats another completely different post.



EDIT: I have no problem with rivalries and such, but why do we need to identify ourselves as group Z. Why can't I just say northeast defense is better than midwest offense?

[Lil' Lavery]

First off, it is definately NOT taboo, just look at most of this thread.
Nobody forced anyone to join any of these groups, they are merely a group of people and a name associated with regions in FIRST. They don't necissarily have to be "representative" of the region, but as of now, NERDs definately have representated the North East. The shirt is seen in dozens of photos, they have a video podcast, a website, etc etc etc. Thus is the power of publicity. You don't have to cheer for NERDs, you can certainly cheer for your Northeast defense (although the bit about it being better than Midwest offense is quite wrong, imho ), nobody would be mad at you.
Regional pride and regional rivalries are a healthy growth in FIRST, and are common in almost any competition. These groups act as another form of networking and can only help. I realise you may not like them, and that you're entitled to your opinion, but I ask you, who and how do they hurt?

And finally, you may be trying to say that robotics isn't just for nerds, but maybe they're trying to say "It's cool to be a nerd!"

[Andy Grady]

Originally Posted by Mike

Average another lowball count of 25 people per team. Thats 2,750 people! How can 20 people represent 2,750?

Mike,

You are right, how can 25 people claim to respresent everyone in a nation? We never claimed to represent, but instead we try to lead efforts and projects which would benefit the whole region. Since we have "stopped talking" here on these boards, NERD has actually grown quite a bit. We have done many things and are proud of our efforts...and we will continue to do so. We have stopped doing things, which many of your counterparts who have called NERD "eliteist" in the past said were aggitating the situation and making others feel like we were being as such. Instead of posting pictures and names of NERDS, we just focus on the task at hand and try to make progress quietly.

Have you ever attended an offseason competition? Chances are, NERD members are volunteering...most of which contacted through the NERD board.

Were you one of the teams who attended IRI from New England? If you are, chances are a NERD was there to help out in some way shape or form.

Did your team recieve a beautiful peice of crafted metal giving them credit for a job well done this year? Its a possibility that the piece of crafted metal was a beautiful NERD Award, crafted by a group of our wonderful students (Most of which were on your team Mike).

Results are there, the NERDS are still there, we just dont go around vocally about it (unless called out, as in this thread), because people just dont want to hear it.

As for Maverick, I hope that the spirit of it never dies. There is nothing wrong with showing some spirit or some motivation to make things more fun, or to make the program better.

And all you midwesterners out there...you aren't bad eggs at all. You just need to work on the defense a little.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

Mike,

You are right, how can 25 people claim to respresent everyone in a nation? We never claimed to represent, but instead we try to lead efforts and projects which would benefit the whole region. Since we have "stopped talking" here on these boards, NERD has actually grown quite a bit. We have done many things and are proud of our efforts...and we will continue to do so. We have stopped doing things, which many of your counterparts who have called NERD "eliteist" in the past said were aggitating the situation and making others feel like we were being as such. Instead of posting pictures and names of NERDS, we just focus on the task at hand and try to make progress quietly.
...<snip>...

The question is:

Are these people volunteers because they are NERDs, or are they NERDs because they volunteer?

What I'm trying to say... is that NERDs seem to be those that are active in everything in FIRST. Is this a bad thing? Yes and no. Yes, it is collecting the "best and the brightest" so to speak, however is it excluding those who do not have those hours to put in?

e‧lit‧ism  /ɪˈlitɪzəm, eɪˈli-/ [i-lee-tiz-uhm, ey-lee-]–noun

1.practice of or belief in rule by an elite.
2.consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.

[Jaine Perotti]

Originally Posted by Mike

The question is:

Are these people volunteers because they are NERDs, or are they NERDs because they volunteer?

What I'm trying to say... is that NERDs seem to be those that are active in everything in FIRST. Is this a bad thing? Yes and no. Yes, it is collecting the "best and the brightest" so to speak, however is it excluding those who do not have those hours to put in?

e‧lit‧ism  /ɪˈlitɪzəm, eɪˈli-/ [i-lee-tiz-uhm, ey-lee-]–noun

1.practice of or belief in rule by an elite.
2.consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.

Being a NERD, I can say that I feel glad to be part of the organization, but not because I feel that means I did anything better than anyone else. The happiness I feel is a result of the fact that I am part of an organization which is doing good things for a community I care about.

NERD is no more "elitist" than FIRST itself - FIRSTers don't think they are holier than anyone in the non-FIRST world; FIRSTers are just happy to be making positive changes to society. Same goes for NERD - NERDS don't feel that they are "better" than any non-NERD; they are just glad to have the opportunity to help their fellow teams.

It's not the individual people who make NERD what it is, it's the things those people do together as a team which makes the organization respectable. NERD isn't good because the individuals are "better" than everyone else in any way (I can also tell you with great assurance that the members aren't NERDS just because of some affiliation with Andy - I didn't even know Andy when he asked me to join, nor did he know my friend Dillon Greenberg when he joined).

I am happy to be a NERD only because it is an organization which does good work for the benefit of the the New England FIRST community - a community which I feel tied to because that is the community which nurtured me. The function of NERD isn't to recognize or "select" outstanding volunteers for recognition. Being inducted into NERD shouldn't be viewed as winning some sort of award, or as being a sign of showing more "dedication" than everyone else. All NERDS have an appreciable dedication to FIRST, but that doesn't mean they are the only ones dedicated to FIRST.

There are all sorts of people who are a part of NERD. The amount of time allotted by each member to NERD varies greatly from person to person. Personally, I have been unable to contribute much of my time as of late because of the fact that I have had to go to college, get adjusted, do schoolwork, work my job, etc. Others, as I have seen when reading NERD group emails or reading the transcripts of the chats, have been considerably active this year. I still support them, and I will still lend a hand when possible, but I am not Wonder Woman. Does that mean that I can't be a part of it? Of course not!

Lets focus on the good work that is being done. Andy has made many articulate posts which clearly indicate to me that no one is being put down, turned away, or considered "not good enough" to share in what the organization has to offer. Until I can find a clear example of NERD hurting someone or doing bad, I will stand behind it with all of my heart, because I believe in what it is doing.

-- Jaine

[Heretic121]

i just want the tee-shirts =(

but really... If you are IN or NOT IN a orginization like NERD, you should still uphold the same standards of being helpful and wanting to do these things that groups are doing even if its just by yourself. Any impact is better than none.