2009 IRI THANK YOU

[Dillon Carey]

Thanks to all the people and teams that helped make IRI what it was.
Big thanks to teams 68,649, and 16.

[Molten]

Thanks to anonymous volunteer that helped me track down several CD regulars. I never even got around to watching a match, but had a great time just meeting people.

[IKE]

Thanks so much to the folks putting on the IRI. From the facility, to the talent (or lack there of) show, the concert, awards, and competition.... What a wonderful event.

To the teams, thanks for putting on a great show. There were just a ton of great matches. I hung out with a few Rookies that came in just to see the IRI, and they were really impressed with how friendly and helpful everyone was.

[martin417]

After my first experience at IRI, all I can say is WOW! A great event, wonderful experience, great people. The level of competition at this event was an order of magnitude above even championships.

Thanks to all the volunteers that made the event such a success, and thanks to 832, 2753, and 179 for inviting us to be part of this great alliance.

[Don Wright]

First and foremost, thanks to all the IRI coordinators and volunteers for putting on the best event of my life. As usual, IRI shows us how good a regional (or district...lol) could (should) be. From the planning, the facilities, and the competition, it just can't get much better.

Thanks to our partners 1625, 68, and 16... At least in my history with 469 we have never had the pleasure of playing with you after lunch on Saturday and I'm so happy we could help on this one. 68...we've watched and admired your robot all season and have always wanted to be on your side of your massive scores... 1625...you were the one we were watching in Atlanta and we looked forward to playing with and against you... And 16...even though your robot didn't have to help us, your help during our strategy sessions and your human player (Katie) was great...I wish I could be as calm as she was...

And sorry again for stepping over the line giving us the 10 pt penalty to make the 1/4's go to 4...

To my team. Thanks for the best event ever. It was a pleasure to coach for you and I couldn't be prouder of you.

I just wish we could have played with/against everyone that was there...the competition was out of this world and any alliance could have taken home the all gold trophy that falls apart easily... I think we should make IRI a week long competition...

And, thanks a million to 217 for bringing our stuff to and from the competition. It's been a pleasure practicing with you all season and I hope our relationship will continue to grow. Hopefully we can play together next year...

Finally...a huge congrats to team 830...you guys have come soooo far since I was a part of your team and I'm proud of you for your award and your performance this weekend.

Now back to that thing called work... See you at Kettering...

Don

[Nick Lawrence]

I want to thank all the volunteers that made this event possible, most of them taking a fair chunk of time out of their summer, when they could be catching up on things such as life. (Wait, what? =P)

I also would like to thank 47, 254 and 45 for being such amazing alliance parters. We had a strong alliance, and we played really well together. We had amazing teamwork. Remember when we worked together to score a supercell? That was spontaneous, and well executed. I can't say I could have asked for better partners.

It was a fun experience, and arguably one of the best IRI's yet, with many upsets. So finally, I want to thank every student, mentor, parent and robot that was in attendance, for making my last event of the year one I'll never forget.

-Nick

[JaneYoung]

I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone. There were many opportunities in the stands, the cafeteria, and the pits, to hear team stories and learn about the regions that volunteers and teams traveled from and what that's about. It was also a golden opportunity to see the host teams working their butts off with smiles on their faces - the entire time. I visited the concessions stands several times for coffee replenishment and no matter the time or the day, the volunteers were smiling, cheerful, and generous.

I also want to tip my hat to each and every team that I spoke with, visited with, observed, and enjoyed. You were - all - magnificent. On the field and off the field. Sometimes delightfully so - like when observing an upside-down styrofoam cup seemingly moving and spinning across the floor all by itself - surrounded by members of 116.

To those who participated in the Talent Show. Thank you. I enjoyed every moment either smiling, laughing, or sitting with tears in my eyes. Meredith's white board comments often expressed what I was thinking. Talent Show judges - you guys were so fun and funny. Thank you for adding the spice, the running commentary via white boards, and also, for those quiet moments.

Hope everyone is returning home safely.
Jane

P.S. oh yes, a highlight that inspired this post. Arm-waving to the song, Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond - sitting behind 234 and watching them 'teach' the visiting teams across the way - watching hands, touching hands reaching out - touching me - touching you. It was beautiful.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

P.S. oh yes, a highlight that inspired this post. Arm-waving to the song, Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond - sitting behind 234 and watching them 'teach' the visiting teams across the way - watching hands, touching hands reaching out - touching me - touching you. It was beautiful.

"Let's steal from the play book of sports..." Dean Kamen

http://www.bostonspastime.com/sweetcaroline.html


Anyway, sounds like another great year at IRI for this fantastic off-season event!

[MissInformation]

To echo everyone else, thank you to the teams who planned, hosted and worked the event, especially those who had jobs that kept them away from all of the action on the field! That's a lot of work to do to create such a wonderful event for the rest of us, not to mention the money you raised for charity!

And thanks for the organizers for letting me volunteer as one of their photographers, it was absolutely amazing, even if I'm going to be editing photos for 3 days!

Congrats to all the award and scholarship winners!

Heidi

[Carol]

I agree with all of the previous posts. This was MOE's first trip to IRI and hopefully not the last. It was a very well run and organized tournament, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. (Maybe not the 12 hour bus ride, but that had a few good moments as well).

Thanks to 341 Miss Daisy for including us on their bus and transporting our robot - I'm glad I got the chance to get to know you all better.

Special thanks to those volunteers who helped me look through the garbage for our missing bag of team shirts (long story as to why we thought it was in the garbage). We did eventually find it; someone had put it in the hopper of our robot before it was loaded back on the trailer.

Thanks to the teams, especially Exploding Bacon and Frog Force, who helped us cheer on our team in the quarters. I hope you enjoyed learning how to use our wobblies! Our drivers commented on how nice it was to see the sea of green when they walked out on the field, much bigger than our small group of 15 people could do by ourselves.

Thanks to those who participated in the bidding war at the charity auction for our MOE shirt and assorted spirit gear (including MOE Stix), which ended up selling at the remarkable price of $90! (Did you hear us chanting GO FOR IT everytime someone stopped and look?)

And thanks to Exploding Bacon for allowing us to "taste" Indiana by giving us a box of White Castle Sliders. They are rare in the Delaware area.

[DiehardCybercard]

I am lucky enough to live within driving distance of Lawrence north high school, so i have the opportunity to help setup this wonderful event.

If anyone ever has the opportunity to help be a part of the IRI, do it. Being a part of IRI is one of the most awesome things ever. Meeting outstanding people like Steve Florance, Andy Baker, Mark Coors, Chris Fultz, and even Dave Lavery graced us with his presence.

Its an amazing event and it makes me smile knowing I help with it.

So if you have a chance to even just help set up the field, I would recommend you do it, its more fun that you would realize.

And thanks again to Chris Fultz and the the planning committee for putting together this amazing off season event.

[AndyB]

Big thank you to Chris Fultz, Andy Baker, and the rest of the IRI planning committee. Once again, you put on a fantastic event which left me with fantastic memories. Thank you to the volunteers as well. There is not enough I can say to truly express my appreciation for everyone who graced an orange or yellow IRI t-shirt this past weekend.

Lastly, thanks to team 1675 who graciously allowed me to tag along on their trip to Indiana. I had a fantastic time and I am glad to have met each and every one of you.