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!!!

[Josh Goodman]

Originally Posted by 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...

Hey, at least it's better then in 2007, when the Motorola Quality Award.....broke.

[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.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

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).

I guess some people will never know the true meaning of Christmas. Oh well, message received. This is my last post in this thread, as long as nobody specifically asks me a question or comments directly towards me.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Molten

I guess some people will never know the true meaning of Christmas.

There's more people than just me that feel both ways. I know what a win without a trophy would represent, and what a win with a huge trophy would represent. I know its all the same thing at the end of the day.

Read my post on Bill's blog as it sums up how I felt about this.

Coming from a team that is highly successful in FIRST and is like a posterchild for FRC: (emphasis mine)

Originally Posted by Jared341

Dollars don't know intent. I guarantee you that much of the money supporting FIRST teams comes (unfortunately) in the form of tax writeoffs from otherwise apathetic corporations. And you better believe that big trophies at a demo can help direct the dollars at those particular board meetings.

(Nobody has ever accused me of not being a pragmatist)

[thefro526]

Not to step up on a pedestal here but....

This whole discussion of Awards seems little petty. At a certain point in time who cares about the size of the trophy? IMO, all a trophy should do is remind you of what you did to earn it.

I think to much emphasis is put on the Awards. I'd much rather go out and play some great matches and make some awesome friends then win awards. If you're just in it for the awards you're missing out on a lot.

(This Post is not directed towards any individual but the FIRST community as a whole)

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by thefro526

If you're just in it for the awards you're missing out on a lot.

That's quite an assumption there Dustin You know me, you know I'm not in it for the awards. That isn't the point I was trying to make.

[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.