No its not true…but? I know its probably not very modest to bring this up, however controversial issues have not kept us quiet before, so why start now. We have championed the DREAM act for the last three years now. Our team is practically the role model for it. We know that President Obama is a busy man, but do you think in this new page in American history, there might be time to honor a team that has fought against all odds to become one of the top teams in FIRST? I guess I am taking a pole. Who out there thinks we will get invited to the White house, and who doesn’t. Again I apologize for seeming so bold, but go ahead and give us your opinion. That has nver stopped you all before.
You didn’t get invited to The White House from winning C/A (in ATL) this past year?
No, we did not feel so bad though, we really wish we would be invited now though. ( I amended my previous post, -poor choice of words and not GP-Sorry)
Go for it! See if you can get an invite…maybe talk to our (now ex?) Governor Napolitano
How do we reach the ex gov now?
Yeah, she probably has a busy schedule! Probably everyone has a busy schedule.
So which top team do you think deserves to go and why does this one deserve to go more than another? Maybe we should start a poll and see who everyone thinks deserves to go?
(No, I’m not talking about 148, not only do I think it would be extremely presumptuous to mention my own team but we’ve already gone. Someone else can get a chance.)
-John
How about all the Hall of Fame teams?
anyway, Squirrel, I got on the Gov’s website and sent her an email…maybe…we have nothing to loose.
I don’t know, I really wouldn’t agree with that. Not in the political sense, but rather in the sense that spreading and sharing the message of FIRST is sharing and spreading the message of FIRST no matter to whom it may be. I really think you looked at it wrong IMHO.
and yes, I know MOE already showed Bush all they could show, but I really thought your team could have a bigger impact on a man like that.
Well said, you might be right!
“…on a man like that?”
One thing that everyone needs to know when dealing in the politcal arena, espicially when you represent an organization, be it FIRST or Shriners Hospital or your local school district, you need to leave your personal and political views OUT of the conversation. Having dealt with politicians for several years on the local and state level, you need the office, not the person in the office.
We had a mayor once that I did not personally care for at all. But, whenever we wanted publicity, whenever we had an event and wanted press coverage, whenever I wanted to get something done for the betterment of Rosie, that involved politics, my personal feelings were put aside and I dealt with the “position”, not the person. Does that make sense? I got what I wanted, he/she got a photo op, everyone was happy!!
Totally agreed!
I think that last year was more of a transition year in the White House, so there wasn’t much time nor effort for events like this.
However, with what the new president said yesterday about science and education, I think this would be an excellent opportunity to showcase what FIRST is all about, especially with a Championship Chairman’s award team.
Fredi, I would have your team get in touch with the president’s spokesman (phone calls or emails) and try and set this up. Do it now while the stove is hot.
Paul
You ask, and state your goal publicly. I’d start with your local representative or senator (not necessarily governor, but maybe if you have an “in”) and ask them how he or she might be able to help you. You are their constituency - they owe you, your community and your parents their election. See if anyone’s parents on the team know him or her and can provide a personal introduction. Get the press involved - state your intention boldly and publicly (but not so much pridefully as with a good social goal). Nothing like a big news story titled “Robotics team sets goal on white house meeting” or something of that nature.
Be sure you have a pitch ready to the rep or senator that explains in just a few minutes why this is a great idea, what’s in it for him or her, and how this will not only benefit your community and team but also benefit President Obama and his staff. Pull some strings at FIRSTand see if you can get invited through their staff - they’re very well connected no doubt. Don’t be afraid to use quotes from his acceptance speech or other presentations he’s done. They obviously know George HW Bush, maybe he has connections that could get you a voice.
Don’t be surprised if he can’t see you. Everyone on the face of the planet has an agenda with him, and he needs to pick and choose which are the most important for the country. You and I believe THIS is important, but every other special interest foreign and domestic also thinks THEY have an important issue. It’s probably harder than getting on Oprah 
The other thing is that you should go with the right intention - spread the message of FIRST, be an example of what makes all FIRST Teams, mentors, parents and students something to be proud of and to foster or care for. Not because you’re proud of winning but because you’re proud of what you and the DREAM team represent.
You never get anywhere unless you ask though. So ask.
All:
With the apparent increased focus on science, technology, and innovation, FIRST should find it’s way onto the US National scene even more than in the past. I am sure that, at some point, FIRST teams will be shaking hands with President Obama. In another month, FIRST teams will be literally blocks away from the White House at the Washington DC Regional.
MOE 365, along with the Championship FTC and FLL teams, were extremely lucky to have the planets aligned the proper way to get a chance to visit the White House. I deeply thank everyone at FIRST who made this happen.
It is important to realize that there was a tremendous amount of effort and work that went into getting permission and organizing a visit like this. I would have been proud to represent FIRST regardless of the president or political party in office at the time.
I truly hope that other teams get this opportunity. I know much focus has been given to Chairman’s Award teams, but as the narration exclaimed in our MOE Chairman’s Award video “every single day, on every FIRST team, miracles happen - one student at a time.” Every team has hardships and challenges and struggles. Hopefully, we all recognize this and celebrate our collective success in overcoming our obstacles at every regional. That’s the true essence of Gracious Professionalism.
Personal connections will make this happen. Try to get a meeting with your local representative or senator.
a couple of thoughts,
“on a man like that…”
I think we should all view this as visiting the “President of the United States”. Period. Let us not worry about who is briefly occupying this office.
Our mission is long ranging and visionary and there is no need to dwell on the current ‘intrigues of the palace’.
I personally think all Championship Chairman’s Winners should go to the White House and it is unfortunate that Falcon didn’t get to go.
This year may be a good time for the office of the “President of the United States” to get caught up with some long overdue duties, recognizing science and engineering.
So to get caught up, the entire “Hall of Fame” should go ?
How to get this done. In my estimation this should be driven by Dean Kamen. Dean is personal friends with George H.W. Bush. Contrary to popular opinion about how Washington works, former and current presidents do talk to one another and work together when necessary. A case in point is the current transition, probably the smoothest and most disciplined in American History and undoubtedly there a measure of goodwill that exists between the Bush 41, 43, and Obama 44 administrations.
There are at most 2 degrees of separation between Dean and Obama.
It would be really cool if Obama spoke at the Championship Event in April and invited the HOF to the WH.
A little clarification. FIRST arranged the visit to the White House before the Championship event that year. And all three FIRST programs were invited, specifically the Chairman’s Award winner and the equivalent award winners from the FTC and FLL programs.
We actually had little time with the President, and it was very choreographed. First where was the photo op, then three of our students gave a 2 minute spiel about our team. The president spent a couple of minutes driving the robot, then left and repeated the same with the other two teams.
What is more important was that Dean spent time talking to the President beforehand. I don’t know for how long, but I’m sure he did his best to get the message and importance of FIRST across. And his best can be very good.
MOE did go through our state government to visit the governors and the senates of both DE and PA the next month. We were able to spend more time with the elected officials at that level.
While it would be the thrill of a lifetime to meet the president, this is more of an issue about “changing the culture”
**Recent headlines: **
*“President George W. Bush poses with members of the Arizona State University Women’s Softball Team” *
"The Mercury presented President Bush with a gift at the White House event. " (Phoenix Mercury = Phoenix pro woman’s basketball team)
“U.S. President George W. Bush (L) poses for photographs with the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion Sameer Mishra of West Lafayette, Indiana…”
How would you rank the International Chairman’s Award with the accomplishments above?
How do you think the general population of the U.S. would rank them?
Remember, ;the I and R in FIRST. Until a world class academic, engineering championship receives the coverage of an amusement team or a spelling bee, we have to keep promoting science, math, technology and engineering activities to young people, leaders and the media.
BTW, we have been lauded by our state legislature and our (ex) governor (she is now Homeland Security Czar). We have been recognized by Senator McCain’s office and several state representatives. We have testified in the U.S. Congress and U.S. Representative Pastor has visited us at school (and other events) and has read a nice piece about us on the floor of the house and it is part of the Congressional record. So we have been able to garner attention from most levels of government, just not the Federal Executive branch.
Thanks for all the advice. We will work on our end to see if we can get this happen. We know its a very steep hill!
Well said, and I agree with you 100%.