In 2013, the Green Machine launched the “be FIRST®” peer-to-peer community initiative to encourage and motivate other FIRST teams to focus on the cornerstones of FIRST core values: Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®. The “be FIRST®” movement inspires teams to spread and promote FIRST through engaging outreach events; to work together and collaborate both at competitions and in the off-season, and at competitions, should strive to ensure the success of every FIRST team present, allies and competitors alike. It is only when we decide to “be FIRST®” that we all have the best possible FIRST experience.
As much as The Green Machine would like to be in more than one event at a time, we knew it would be meaningful to reach out to other FIRST teams to join us and become part of our be FIRST®” community. Patrick Henry High School’s FRC Team 2500-HERObotics agreed immediately to join with us and help us seek out a winning team to receive the first-ever “be FIRST®” traveling trophy. At the Northern Lights Regional, Duluth, HERObotics selected Team 525-SwartDogs for its sharing of its team adults as volunteers and the team’s willingness to drop everything to help other teams. In the Lake Superior Regional, The Green Machine selected Team 2052-KnightKrawler for its demonstrated Gracious Professionalism® in helping others as well as its capabilities as an alliance partner on the field.
We joined forces again with HEROBotics for the 10,000 Lakes Regional, while 1816 deployed to interview teams in the pits at North Star. Team 2181-Robotech, Blaine, was selected in 10,000 Lakes while Team 3883-Data Bits, Cottage Grove, emerged as the clear winner in North Star for its excellent communications skills and their willingness to adjust on-field strategies. At the Midwest Regional, our “be FIRST®” Partner Team 111-WildStang helped us find another member of the “beFIRST®” community. For going above and beyond, WildStang selected Team 71- Hammond (Ind.) “The BEAST” of Hammond, IN.
At Championships, The Green Machine’s “be FIRST®” crew worked overtime to seek out and interview as many teams as possible about their outreach and community engagement. It was a tough decision but it came down to Team 16-Baxter Bomb Squad, who worked diligently and non-stop with The Green Machine to make sure rookie Team 4667-Synergy of Cuernavaca, Mexico, was able to compete at their first-ever world competition. Due to the Bomb Squad’s tactful and polite help, other FIRST teams had best-possible outcomes at competition.
Our community-wide search for “be FIRST®” teams continues into 2014. The banners and traveling trophies will be in evidence at selected regional events. Keep in touch with us @FIRSTteam1816 and on Facebook, and “be FIRST®” withThe Green Machine!