Rees- A True WFA Winner

[Mike Starke]

I just thought that I should share this story.

As many of you know, Jason Rees, team leader of 340... and now 424.. won the Woodie Flowers Award at the Finger Lakes Regional in 2006. This award was well deserved!

On to the story... as we are preparing for the upcoming Rah-Cha-Cha competition, we found that since we had some weight to spare on our robot, that we could put the dualie back wheels back on that we took off prior to FLR due to the weight constraints. I took up the task of epoxying the new treads to the wheels, attaching the dual back wheels to the hubs, attaching chain, etc. This was definitely a two to three day study hall project. Today was the day to test the robot with the newly added wheels. To my surprise, the robot didn't turn very well. When Rees came to check on how things were going, I said "We might have to take off the dualies."
And Rees being Rees, he said, "Oh I know. I knew the whole time that they wouldn't work." Proceeding this statement, he gave an evil laugh.
The wheels wouldn't work due to all the side friction placed on them.

This isn't the first time that Rees has done things like this. He lets us try our ideas, test them and try again. He works with us, not for us.

Rees is an awesome mentor, leader and friend. He could have easily told me that they wouldn't have worked, but instead he let me struggle and find out for myself. This is a true example of a Woodie Flowers Award winner.

On behalf of all Team 340 and 424, Rees, thank you for all that you do for us!