Team Update 4

[Racer26]

I can't help but to be reminded of a post I made following Championship 2010, and Dean's speech there that offended some manual laborers (we've lost these jobs, and don't want them back).

My [spotlighted] post then, and I stand by it now, said that if we want to grow the programs so that every child has the opportunity to be involved, we have to think with a WORLD-centric mindset, and not the AMERICAN-centric mindset that still seems to dominate many FRC teams (Calling CMP Nationals, and not Championship), and even FIRST HQ itself (talking about "american" problems, and "this nation" and the like, when most of what is being talked about applies the world over.) As a long-standing mentor on a CANADIAN team, I find this america-centric mindset offensive. It flies in the face of FIRSTs stated goals of changing the culture.

FIRST continues to make abject stabs at the VEX program, and as many before me have said, this flies in the face of their stated goal of changing the culture, which FRC, FTC, FLL, JFLL, VRC, BEST, BotBall, et al are doing.

When people intimately tied to FIRST HQ such as Dave Lavery are making statements which DO follow these ideals (dont waste time on turf wars, grow the turf instead), I can't help but wonder what the motivation behind taking such (IMO) obvious stabs at VRC's success is.

The way these stabs are detracting from the program, and making SEVERAL well-known and well-respected mentors lose a great deal of faith in FIRST is a very sad thing.

One thing I haven't noticed, is IFI responding to the abject stabs at their success by pulling equally underhanded tactics. IFI remains a huge supporter of FIRST, even after the debacle surrounding FVC changing to FTC, and replacing the IFI controllers with the cRIO. If they wanted to, they could quite easily stop supporting FIRST altogether, and the quality of the FIRST program would surely suffer for it. I for one, am glad to see IFI taking the moral high ground, and not doing this.

Kudos to you IFI, for your continued support of FIRST and its stated ideals, even in spite of tactics aimed squarely at your success.

[Adam Y.]

Calling CMP Nationals, and not Championship

Seriously, that is the sort of thing you are getting angry at? Seriously????

One thing I haven't noticed, is IFI responding to the abject stabs at their success by pulling equally underhanded tactics. IFI remains a huge supporter of FIRST, even after the debacle surrounding FVC changing to FTC, and replacing the IFI controllers with the cRIO. If they wanted to, they could quite easily stop supporting FIRST altogether, and the quality of the FIRST program would surely suffer for it. I for one, am glad to see IFI taking the moral high ground, and not doing this.

I doubt the FIRST program would suffer for it at all if IFI decided to leave. Excluding FTC companies with far better abilities than IFI will ever have jumped in.

[Racer26]

I am not angry at that, I was using it as an example of how commonplace the america-centric view of FRC is.

[Racer26]

Also, all this talk of teams (particularly of TeamIFI, but teams in general as well), slapping VEX and IFI logos all over their [Mini]Bots reminds me of something I myself did in my Stock Car Racing life.

The track I race at had outlawed from the division I race in (known as mini stock in most places) all import vehicles. Only Ford, Chrysler, and GM products were allowed to compete. My Honda Civic was grandfathered in for one season, and then I would have to build a new car.

I built my new Mercury Sable (a Ford product, so it met the rule), and then promptly slathered an advertisement for my father's auto repair shop, which only works on imports, across the hood. It read:

(at the top of the windshield) Car-Du Automotive Services

(on hood)
(small)Independent
(14" logo) Honda
(6" letters) Acura and Toyota Service
<phone number>

The fans of course were confused as to why I was driving a Ford with a giant Honda logo on it, but it was our way of letting the track know we weren't impressed. It worked, people who knew what had happened giggled at our tongue-in-cheek jab at the track, and some of the track staff acknowledged what went on.

This January at the meeting for 2011's season, the track announced that they are considering welcoming import cars back to our division as a way to increase car counts, as many neighboring tracks have lots of imports running there.

I'm not advocating teams do this, as I don't feel its within the spirit of Gracious Professionalism, (unless you're a member of TeamIFI, in which case, by all means, put IFI/VEX logos on your bot), I just thought I'd share a similar story.

[Adam Y.]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

I am not angry at that, I was using it as an example of how commonplace the america-centric view of FRC is.

You do realize that it was pretty much an America centric competition until recently right?

[Chris is me]

FRC has been international since at least 2000.

[Racer26]

Being that I have personally been attending FRC events in CANADA since 2003? I think 8 years is more than "recently".

Furthermore, Woburn Robotics (Team 188, The Blizzard, based in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) with Alumni including such FIRST personalities as Karthik, and Tristan Lall have been active in FRC since 1997.

CMP has also been known as "FIRST Championship" since 2007, and "The Championship Event" since at least 2003.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

Being that I have personally been attending FRC events in CANADA since 2003? I think 8 years is more than "recently".

Furthermore, Woburn Robotics (Team 188, The Blizzard, based in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) with Alumni including such FIRST personalities as Karthik, and Tristan Lall have been active in FRC since 1997.

CMP has also been known as "FIRST Championship" since 2007, and "The Championship Event" since at least 2003.

Maybe there are some creative ways for teams to convey this message, showcasing the value and wonder of being an international program and event. Like so many things in FIRST, there is much to celebrate and recognize and we haven't even begun to explore the possibilities. Perhaps that is why this 20th anniversary FRC game is so special.

Jane

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Adam Y.

You do realize that it was pretty much an America centric competition until recently right?

Umm, sure.

The first ever Canadian team began play in the 1998 season. This year we're celebrating the 10th ever regional in Toronto. What was known as the Canadian Regional began in 2002. Canadian teams have been participating at the Championship (then called Nationals) since 1998, and a few of them have even won the whole event at both the FRC and intermediate levels. Although levels of involvement in FIRST in America obviously dwarfs what's happening here in Canada, these competitions have not been America centric in a long time. (Nor should they be.)

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Although levels of involvement in FIRST in America obviously dwarfs what's happening here in Canada, these competitions have not been America centric in a long time. (Nor should they be.)

I'd be interested in seeing actual percentage of FIRST teams that are based out of Canada(that goes for other countries as well). I'm sure I, for one, would be amazed by the percentage. Anyone have that percentage? or readily available figures to calculate it?

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by Molten

I'd be interested in seeing actual percentage of FIRST teams that are based out of Canada(that goes for other countries as well). I'm sure I, for one, would be amazed by the percentage. Anyone have that percentage? or readily available figures to calculate it?

Mark McLeod would probably be the person to ask.

[pfreivald]

Well, I know that there is sufficient Canadian attendance at FLR that we have both the Canadian and the American national anthems sung before each day's festivities...

[Akash Rastogi]

Canadaland has 80ish or so teams. IIRC.


Yes Canadaland is the proper terminology.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Canadaland has 80ish or so teams. IIRC.


Yes Canadaland is the proper terminology.

I thought the proper term was Canadia.

[JackS]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Yes Canadaland is the proper terminology.

Originally Posted by dodar

I thought the proper term was Canadia.

Actually its Canadialand, and everyone knows its a state.