What Happens When Dean's Homework Assignments Work?

[Rich Kressly]

Jane,

I believe your question gets to the core of something I've been thinking/feeling for a long time. Is the goal just more FIRST teams (specifically FRC) or something broader?

I do not believe we have the infrastructure to support gobs more FRC teams really, really fast, nor do I believe that it's possible to put an FRC team in every high school - ever. I believe that if we do indeed try to succeed at achieving this mission this way really quickly we will eventually crumble at our foundation. Does FIRST's founder agree with me here? Most decidedly, No. Is that a problem? That remains to be seen. I will forever be grateful for the fire Dean lit under my butt when I first heard him speak about our societal needs and how FIRST could help address those needs. Though, when he talks about the details of how to accomplish the mission, I will admit that I sometimes wince.

However, I've always seen the goal of "putting FIRST's ideals" in every school a very attainable one in broader ways and it's what I spend part of every day working at - really hard. Only a small part of what I do however is "starting" or "helping to start" new FRC teams.

There's "FIRST the organization" and then there's "FIRST the vision for the future through a set of ideals". I've grown somewhat skeptical of the former in recent years, but, after 10 years, I'd still throw myself in front of a bus for the latter.