pic: 2009 FRC Medals - New Design!

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Cory

...it sure matters to everyone not affiliated with the program (Schools, sponsors, etc).

To put it simply, I don't care about them. If my sponsor is going to care about trophy size, maybe they shouldn't be sponsoring a robotics team. My experience is that the companies that care about petty things such as trophy size, generally are going to sponsor the football team anyway. Those that sponsor robotics care more about the students then the picture opportunities.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Molten

To put it simply, I don't care about them. If my sponsor is going to care about trophy size, maybe they shouldn't be sponsoring a robotics team. My experience is that the companies that care about petty things such as trophy size, generally are going to sponsor the football team anyway. Those that sponsor robotics care more about the students then the picture opportunities.

It's not unreasonable to expect that sponsors want some demonstration of return on their investment. If you can not or choose not to provide trophies, awards or banners to them, I would expect that you are providing them with other data that demonstrates the value of their ongoing contributions. It's true that FIRST works even for teams that do not win events or awards, but it's harder to demonstrate that success to people that are not involved deeply in the program and the burden is on us to provide proof of the valuable effects of their contributions.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Madison

I would expect that you are providing them with other data that demonstrates the value of their ongoing contributions.

A professional presentation of the season usually does the trick. Besides, 1766 usually gets its funds through grants and the sort.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Molten

To put it simply, I don't care about them. If my sponsor is going to care about trophy size, maybe they shouldn't be sponsoring a robotics team. My experience is that the companies that care about petty things such as trophy size, generally are going to sponsor the football team anyway. Those that sponsor robotics care more about the students then the picture opportunities.

In my mind, the goal of FIRST is to pull as many people into the program as possible, as the only way to change the culture is to have the people that form the culture involved. To pull people into FIRST you need a "hook"; for some people the hook is we build robots, for some people the hook is we help the community and for some people the hook is that we win big trophies.

By making the trophies all the same size it tells an outside observer looking at a trophy case that we celebrate the robot awards just as much as the Chairman's award. The Chairman's and EI trophies should certainly be different and "better" (whether that be larger or "nicer") than the other trophies. This allows us to easily show to someone that these awards are more important and more celebrated in the FIRST culture than the robot awards. Personally, I also feel that the GP award should fall somewhere in size between the EI and the robot awards. GP is a core value of FIRST and is a major part of its goal to change the culture and I feel that this award is often seen as less prestigious than many of the other awards such as the robot awards.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by Molten

To put it simply, I don't care about them. If my sponsor is going to care about trophy size, maybe they shouldn't be sponsoring a robotics team. My experience is that the companies that care about petty things such as trophy size, generally are going to sponsor the football team anyway. Those that sponsor robotics care more about the students then the picture opportunities.

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)