Where was the GP at Championships?

[Libby K]

Kelli, I heard a lot of this too. I had to take the elevators about a trillion times a day, and I was always very nice to the Georgia Dome staff. However, I saw many instances of teams (and even volunteers) being rude to the staff. Yes, we're in the Dome all day, running around...things get crazy. Tensions can run high. But that is no excuse to stop demonstrating the gracious professionalism we have had ingrained in us from day 1.

As FIRST grows I think it is especially important to remember to teach GP by example- some teams don't get it taught to them as rookies because of inexperience, and some veteran teams don't demonstrate it as often as they should. However, most teams that I see are great. Those of us who do know what those two letters are all about should be teaching it to others. I've been lucky enough to have my grandparents at most of the events I have been to in the past, and learning GP by literally acting as if my grandmother was watching- because she was. I have always kept that in mind, and encouraged others to act the same way.

Like Dave said above me- Gracious Professionalism does not mean letting things that bother you just roll off your back. You can, by all means, be against a decision or a rule set in place. It is HOW you react to those situations that really makes the difference.

When the going gets tough, the smart keep their GP.