pic: 2009 FRC Medals - New Design!

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by A_Reed

Typically one trophy is given to a team to keep the other is to give to their major sponsor and more can be ordered at the expense of the team after the event.

...which strikes me as the first place that FIRST should have looked if they truly wanted to save money. I'll take one awesome trophy over two smaller ones. And if my primary sponsor thinks it's so important that they get a trophy as well, then they can probably afford to buy an extra from FIRST.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Any reason behind not having the sponsor banners at each regional? Buckeye was missing these banners as well and only had the FIRST logo in their places.

Keep the big awards for the Chairman's Award. Having that big trophy is just the coolest thing and the teams who receive the Chairman's Award have earned it.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Jetweb

I have to dis-agree, getting that big award after a big win is a really cool thing.

I mean just look at there faces.

Yup, I'm all for big awards, hell make them even bigger.

The guy in the pic seems to agree, "It's pretty cool winning a division, but I wish the trophy was THIIIIS tall (motions with hands"

[waialua359]

the idea of giving one trophy status quo in size vs two smaller ones now, sounds like a great idea.
Maybe FIRST could offer additional ones at a lower price compared to what they cost now. We ordered extra trophies from last season to give to student members who won awards from their division on our team, as well as mentors, and certain sponsors. They are not cheap at all!
If my memory serves me correctly, the CA last year was $500 a piece.
(I'll edit this if I'm wrong). I know that the smaller awards were about $60 and division finalists were $115.
Any links to the cost? I dished out so much last year, we forget already.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Jetweb

I have to dis-agree, getting that big award after a big win is a really cool thing.

I mean just look at there faces.

One should be excited, not for the scrap of metal(that's all it is regardless of shape or size). Not for the victory. They should be excited about the path to the victory. Sure, a winning season is more fun then a losing one. But in the end that trophy is little more then a paper weight.

Question: How much does one of these trophies costs? How many are there at each regional? Bottom line, how much is FIRST saving? If it's anything notable, I personally say it is worth it.

[AdamHeard]

Here's one thing most of FIRST is missing in my mind.


WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS.

If FIRST wants teams to change culture, at least make it easier for us.

Regardless of whether or not the GP-mongers like it, a BIG trophy makes it way easier for the team to get attention (if they use it well).

Period, you won't convince me otherwise.

If FIRST wants to save money, there are a bunch more things they can cut before the trophies.

The fact that a regional trophy is smaller than some of the trophies my brother and I got as kids playing league sports upsets me (I also sucked at most of those, so the teams weren't going real far).

[Killraine]

At least the Woodie Flowers trophy is still the coolest trophy that has ever existed.

[Protronie]

I just hope FIRSTdoesn't cheap out with the trophies at the Championship
in Atlanta. Okay so they downsized the regional ones... but there's only one Championship event each year and it should have the biggest, the brightest, and heaviest awards/trophies.

-p

[JaneYoung]

I've been following this thread as it has grown. Here's a couple of thoughts:

a. if you are unhappy with the changes - make sure that the team member responsible for submitting the 2009 feedback form to FIRST - gets your feedback and submits it for 2010 considerations.

b. size has nothing to do with the standard of excellence that is being recognized in the award and symbolized in the trophy.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

b. size has nothing to do with the standard of excellence that is being recognized in the award and symbolized in the trophy.

Sure it does. Maybe not to those of us participating, because we know what we've done, but it sure matters to everyone not affiliated with the program (Schools, sponsors, etc).

[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.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Cory

Sure it does. Maybe not to those of us participating, because we know what we've done, but it sure matters to everyone not affiliated with the program (Schools, sponsors, etc).

Agreed to an extent. The trophies can still be showcased and accompany the team to demos and outreach - but it is also up to each team to work on strengthening those partnerships. Reputation goes a long way as well. Teams who have earned the awards strengthen their reputation with them and teams who have yet to accrue a lot of hardware, can still work to build their reputation in the community and in their partnerships with sponsors and schools.

Edit: Madison posted while I was typing. That's what I was trying to say. Thanks, Mad.

[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.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Alivia

Secondly, I understand it's kind of disheartening that the trophies are smaller, but in this economic crisis, sometimes you just can't go big.

I heard McDonalds was going to shrink the size of their hamburgers but keep the price the same. Economic crisis, after all.