pic: 2009 FRC Medals - New Design!

[Alivia]

I volunteered at the Midwest Regional this past weekend and was one out of a select few who had the honor of unpacking the awards and getting them ready for the Awards Ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. So, a few words...

First, make sure you thank each and every volunteer you see, because A LOT goes on behind the scenes that you probably don't even know about. It took 3-4 hours to get the awards unpacked, looking nice, with their award tags on and lined up on a table to hand out. This was something I didn't know happened until I actually got to work it, and it gave me some new appreciation for ever getting to win those awards.

Secondly, I understand it's kind of disheartening that the trophies are smaller, but in this economic crisis, sometimes you just can't go big. However, I think that if FIRST wants to show that the Chairman's Award is the most prestigious award a team can receive, I think they should keep that trophy the size it was prior to the change. All the other trophy changes I can deal with.

Finally, a bit of confusion on my side. While unpacking the awards, it came to my attention that FIRST ships awards for several different regionals to one event. (i.e. I was at Midwest and there were awards there for three-four other regionals not taking place this weekend). These awards were not back-up awards, and the crates were never opened. It seems to me that this would cost a lot of money to do. Does any one know if it is actually cheaper to do this?

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Alivia

Finally, a bit of confusion on my side. While unpacking the awards, it came to my attention that FIRST ships awards for several different regionals to one event. (i.e. I was at Midwest and there were awards there for three-four other regionals not taking place this weekend). These awards were not back-up awards, and the crates were never opened. It seems to me that this would cost a lot of money to do. Does any one know if it is actually cheaper to do this?

The fields tend to make a trip around the country to a bunch of regional events before making their way back to NH - I half expect to see the red transport boxes from NJ this past weekend to show up in NYC this coming weekend.
It more than likely saves money (and lots of time) to just lump the contents of multiple regional events in the same transport boxes rather than ship separate ones from FIRST at increments throughout the season.
You may have also noticed typically that field elements (Orbit Balls in this case) are in marked boxes for their (future) events as well, and if one regional "taps into" the supply of the next one, they need to note that before they send it on it's way so the next regional can be covered in case they are short anything.

[Josh Goodman]

Are the CA and EI awards red and blue strips as well?

[flyingcrayons]

yeah the medals we got for chairman's have blue ribbon stuff... however, the medals themselves aren't that great quality, some of them are starting to fray on the bottom, and a couple of people have broken theirs because they fell off the pin holding the ribbon to the medal itself...

on the other hand, the pins attached to the ribbons look like the national CA award, the clock, and they are AWESOME!!!

[Fireworks 234]

Originally Posted by Josh Goodman

Are the CA and EI awards red and blue strips as well?

The engineering inspiration awards are red and say Regional Engineering Inspiration Award on them

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Alivia

Secondly, I understand it's kind of disheartening that the trophies are smaller, but in this economic crisis, sometimes you just can't go big.

I heard McDonalds was going to shrink the size of their hamburgers but keep the price the same. Economic crisis, after all.

[Alivia]

Originally Posted by JVN

I heard McDonalds was going to shrink the size of their hamburgers but keep the price the same. Economic crisis, after all.

Well, that's just ridiculous.

In a FIRST context though, I'm pretty sure that the new, small trophies do indeed cost less than the original trophies. Otherwise, there'd be no point for the change. (Of course, that's assuming that the change was specifically made to cut costs).

I agree with Jane, however. If you don't like the new trophies (or any other policy for that matter), make sure to inform FIRST of your opinion. They won't know if you don't speak up.

[Akash Rastogi]

Lol I'm surprised this conversation continued for so long.

For those of you who don't care about the trophy size, then please stop posting in the thread. Those of us who do care are unlikely to change our minds (I know I am).

For those of us who DID submit into the survey, what did you actually write? If you didn't submit one, then please do so.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by JVN

I heard McDonalds was going to shrink the size of their hamburgers but keep the price the same. Economic crisis, after all.

WHAT?? I'm already dishing daily $3.13 (w/tax) for a large ice coffee everyday after it just went up 40 cents.......hehe.


In seriousness on some of the other posts, I'm all for different size trophies, as the level of expectations, difficulty, and celebrations in receiving the more prestigious ones (EI and CA) should coincide with its size.

We do a lot of events, and I think size does matter. Its not even about the money part. If we had to pay for them, I would as my point is that the recognition of receiving an award that is appropriate to its size shouldnt be factored into the money portion. But yes I know, IT IS.

[IKE]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

If we wanted to compare apples to oranges, a study could be done about & the effects they have been trying to "go green" I guess.
I agree the control system change to keep them year after year will help with this, - less repeat manufacturing (in theory) but what are the effect of holding more tournaments in lieu of less (Michigan competition Structure) which means more energy used at events, more waste from teams at the sites & more supplies for making more fields.
The alternative is that teams aren't competing miles away & may be traveling less, but I hardly see the environmental impact (in a positive way - yet at least) this may bring.
I guess we may see the results of that as time goes on, but like I said, I don't see the immediate positive impact... yet.

Look at the MI structure as a environmental value impact. With the robot bagging system the robots are traveling directly to the event with the team traveling to the event in a 150 pound configuration. This is saving 250 pounds x 40 teams or about 10,000 pounds of shipping. Plus with the drayage system, there is a ton of extra run around. Yes it may be net environmental neutral since there are more events, but this is more return with neutral impact. That sounds like a good thing to me.

[usbcd36]

I noticed a few changes at the Buckeye.

- Less cameras than previous years (there were at least 3 last year, but only one this year). I don't blame them, though; renting cameras and hiring operators has to be pretty expensive, and it didn't really detract from the game.
- No sponsor banners beside the screen, but they showed sponsors on the screen every chance they could get.
- Smaller Friday trophies (both this year and last year, 1787 won Xerox Creativity, but the trophies this year are slightly smaller). Most of the size change is due to reducing the thickness of the base blocks of the trophy; the prisms/cylinder are close to the same height.

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

I know that its really just a material possession, but I was disappointed to see the small trophies at NJ. I pictured 1089 walking back up into the stands waving around a big gold topped trophy that we all know and love. Oh well though, whatever saves money in these times, I guess?

I'm with you. I don't mind the new design as much as I don't like the Solid colors on the ribbon. It appears the "New" trophies for winners are the same size as the finalist trophies from previous years. They are a lot smaller. At least they kept the banners the same.

[Akash Rastogi]

Not to mention Trenton this year wasn't even packed or as lively as it usually is. Idk, something was just different and depressing about NJ this year. =(
It didn't have that same week 1 excitement it usually does.

[Greg Needel]

I guess they don't care about our feedback....

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2008...s-in-2009.html


for my .02 I would rather see them choose a game element which doesn't cost $10 each. There are lots of ways to save money it seems funny that they would choose one that affects the teams so much.

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

I guess they don't care about our feedback....

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2008...s-in-2009.html

That's sad.

Does anyone know if the team surveys mentioned in Bill's post have a trophy question included on it? He seems to reference that as a way to legitimize the change.