@waialua359 (waialua3:59) posted a new topic, subject "Frank Merrick gets it!". It read:

   Need I say more?
    
    Why isnt he officially the FRC Director already?

@Nuttyman54 (Nuttyman54) replied

    Seconded. Frank has been fantastic, and has completely changed my attitude towards the FRC administration. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

@JohnFogarty (John Fogarty) replied

    I swear he needs to become permanent director.  
    Like now.

After which, @dag0620 (David Givens) added

    I'll second that too! Frank has been amazing, he get's it, and I'll even say one of the best things to happen to FRC in my time here.
    
    Please to the powers that be, drop the acting from his title and make Frank THE Director of FRC.

To which @Akash_Rastogi replied

    I'll just leave this here.
    
    facebook.com
    
    ### Robotics Memes
    
    FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology I present to you a new meme: Good Guy Frank. Photo from WPI's flikr.

After which, @CENTURION (CENTURION) added

    Throw me on that list too, he's been fantastic.

So @Akash_Rastogi replied

    Check out this thread as well. It seems all the higher ups at FIRST are taking our comments to heart.
    
    Chief Delphi – 30 Apr 13
    
    ### **FIRST EMAIL**/ Good, But Should Be Better
    
    I just recieved this message and thought I'd share a snipit of it with CD. We just wrapped up a great Championship 2013; but there is still room for improvement. Other than some early FTC communications issues and a common Team Finale problem, the...

So @Bob_Steele (Bob Steele) replied

    Nuttyman54:
    
    > Seconded. Frank has been fantastic, and has completely changed my attitude towards the FRC administration. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
    
    I can't say enough good things about Frank. Having known him in his other role with FIRST before this one, he has always been helpful and all about making the experience the best for the teams. This year he has been wonderful and puts the FRC Director job in a different light…
    
    I, too, hope that he becomes permanent Director if he wants that to happen.
    
    Thanks Frank!!

To which @Basel_A (Basel Alghanem) replied

    +1. Frank's transparency and willingness to make the needs of average FRCers a priority (even going so far as taking cues from discussions here on Chief Delphi) have made him an excellent FRC Director

To which @Mr_V (Mr V) replied

    Frank is the man!!!
    
    Despite all that he does he always takes time to listen and consider suggestions as well as do everything in his power to make things right.

After which, @FrankJ (FrankJ) added

    I have enjoyed his Blogs. I like the way he can quell some of the rumors that go around & give insight on some of the decisions First makes. As well as confirming you will need pool noodles & the legality of some components without giving away major details of the game.

After which, @Tom_Line (Tom Line) added

    I believe that this sudden change has to be more than just Frank's doing. It seems like we've seen a sudden and complete culture change from FIRST. They are admitting their problems, pledging to fix them, and seem to be paying attention to our complaints.
    
    It seems that FIRST has learned something new about gracious professionalism!

@jessss (jessss) replied

    Frank is awesome! My team was lucky enough to have breakfast with him at our hotel before the Lake Superior Regional this year. He listened to our team and really treated us like we matter. He's been very helpful and I enjoy his blogs!  
    I hope he becomes the FRC Director! Thank you for all you do Frank!

@cgmv123 (Max Vrany) replied

    Me and 2 of our other team members had a great talk with atravis@example.net. We all enjoyed it and I could tell he really cared about what we had to say.
    
    +1 for Frank Merrick, FRC [strike]Acting[/strike] Director

After which, @kellymc (kellymc) added

    Frank
    
    I wanted to thank you for a great year. I look forward to more “improvements” in the future.
    
    P.S. - To FIRST, please remove the “Acting” from Frank's title and make his promotion official.
    
    Kelly M.

After which, @DonRotolo (DonRotolo) added

    The title says it all.
    
    Frank spent the weekend at the MAR CMP and I simply could not be more impressed with the guy. And I am not easily impressed.
    
    Can we all collaborate on a letter to FIRST management asking them to consider Frank for the job permanently? (i.e., remove the “acting”)

So @system (system) replied

    DonRotolo:
    
    > The title says it all.
    > 
    > Frank spent the weekend at the MAR CMP and I simply could not be more impressed with the guy. And I am not easily impressed.
    > 
    > Can we all collaborate on a letter to FIRST management asking them to consider Frank for the job permanently? (i.e., remove the “acting”)
    
    To the wonderful people at FIRST,  
    Make Frank Merrick FRC director.  
    Thank you for your time.
    
    Sincerely,  
    Everyone in FRC

So @CalTran (CalTran) replied

    Andrew Lawrence:
    
    > To the wonderful people at FIRST,  
    >  Make Frank Merrick FRC director.  
    >  Thank you for your time.
    > 
    > Sincerely,  
    >  Everyone in FRC
    
    Let's all put this on a 3x5 notecard, and just have like each team in FIRST send it to HQ.

Then @MikeE (MikeE) said

    I'm really looking forward to seeing an FRC Blog post responding to this thread

@Wendy_Holladay (Wendy Holladay) replied

    Frank has done an exceptional job during a transitional time. He is wonderful and 1912 thinks he is amazing.

To which @Richard_Wallace (Richard Wallace) replied

    The FRC community, like many volunteer-fueled organizations, is rich in talent and passion. Also like many such organizations, it embraces quite a few strong egos.
    
    Frank Merrick has a rare gift – he can harness the talent and passion, while gracefully deflecting the egos. The result is nearly invisible but highly effective leadership.
    
    Add my name to the already-long list of FRC volunteers and mentors who would like FIRST to remove the ‘acting' from Frank's title.

@Al_Skierkiewicz (Al Skierkiewicz  Learn Something New, Every Day!) replied

    Everyone,  
    Frank has led the inspection crew for many years so I can say “I worked for Frank”. He is exactly what everyone here has witnessed and more. The reason you have improvements in the inspection process and more streamlined rules go right back to Frank and the people that work for him. He has certainly made my job easier and he now has Collin taking up his former duties which is an excellent choice. So add my vote to the list. Please make Frank the director.

@Siri (Siri (she/her)) replied

    Al Skierkiewicz:
    
    > Everyone,  
    >  Frank has led the inspection crew for many years so I can say “I worked for Frank”. He is exactly what everyone here has witnessed and more. The reason you have improvements in the inspection process and more streamlined rules go right back to Frank and the people that work for him. He has certainly made my job easier and he now has Collin taking up his former duties which is an excellent choice. So add my vote to the list. Please make Frank the director.
    
    This has been fantastic. I didn't even catch that he'd been promoted from within. Definitely great. Come on FIRST!
    
    #HesNotActing

Then @Libby_K (Libby Kamen) said

    Richard Wallace:
    
    > The FRC community, like many volunteer-fueled organizations, is rich in talent and passion. Also like many such organizations, it embraces quite a few strong egos.
    > 
    > Frank Merrick has a rare gift – he can harness the talent and passion, while gracefully deflecting the egos. The result is nearly invisible but highly effective leadership.
    > 
    > Add my name to the already-long list of FRC volunteers and mentors who would like FIRST to remove the ‘acting' from Frank's title.
    
    This is said so perfectly.
    
    Another +1 for Permanent-Good-Guy-Frank.  
    He embraces community input, and solves any problems FRC encounters with a smile.  
    He listens to the students, mentors, and volunteers that make up this organization, and he articulately responds through the proper channels.
    
    Frank Merrick has my utmost respect, and I hope he doesn't plan on going anywhere for a long long while, because FRC will go far if he sticks around.

After which, @Teamcodeorange (Teamcodeorange) added

    Thanks Frank! You exemplify what FIRST should, and hopefully will continue to be.

Then @Jon_Stratis (Jon Stratis) said

    He certainly gets my vote. Everything he's done this past season to help increase visibility and show teams that FIRST is listening has been a huge improvement. With Frank at the helm, I'm optimistic that the program will only continue to improve.

So @ColleenShaver replied

    How about we just petition FIRST to make the change?
    
    Sign the Petition here: http://chn.ge/10VAcca

@ChuckDickerson (ChuckDickerson) replied

    Once again, where is the “Like” button on Chief Delphi? Add me to the long list of folks that love working with Frank and support removing “acting” from his title.
    
    Oh and hey Frank, since I know you are lurking here on CD, thanks for the atravis@example.net. Anybody that rides around in a golf cart handing out free popsicles is pretty cool in my book. Seriously though, thanks for everything you and your staff do for all of us inspectors.

After which, @bardd (bardd) added

    DonRotolo:
    
    > The title says it all.
    > 
    > Frank spent the weekend at the MAR CMP and I simply could not be more impressed with the guy. And I am not easily impressed.
    > 
    > Can we all collaborate on a letter to FIRST management asking them to consider Frank for the job permanently? (i.e., remove the “acting”)
    
    I'm in on that.

To which @David_Brinza (David Brinza) replied

    DonRotolo:
    
    > The title says it all.
    > 
    > Frank spent the weekend at the MAR CMP and I simply could not be more impressed with the guy. And I am not easily impressed.
    > 
    > Can we all collaborate on a letter to FIRST management asking them to consider Frank for the job permanently? (i.e., remove the “acting”)
    
    I fully concur! Make it official, FIRST!!

@Richard_Wallace (Richard Wallace) replied

    ChuckDickerson:
    
    > Oh and hey Frank, since I know you are lurking here on CD, thanks for the atravis@example.net. Anybody that rides around in a golf cart handing out free popsicles is pretty cool in my book.
    
    Popsicles! FREE popsicles! Personally delivered by the guy in charge!
    
    Everyone should sign Colleen's petition.

After which, @Navid_Shafa (Navid Shafa) added

    Richard Wallace:
    
    > Everyone should sign Colleen's petition.
    
    Signed!

@DonRotolo (GoneByeBye) replied

    OK, another story to support Franks position that he stands on the shoulders of his staff.
    
    At the MAR CMP, it turned out we were staying in the same hotel as Frank, and one of his staff named Rose. She was kinda new to FIRST, but she also GETS IT. We spent over an hour with Rose, and we all came away highly impressed with the expertise and passion she had for the job. She was literally very gracious, and very professional.
    
    The point is, we also need to thank the FIRST staff too, since they're the ones in the trenches making stuff happen.
    
    Ideas?

To which @system (system) replied

    


{'source': 'discourse', 'url': 'https://www.chiefdelphi.com/t/frank-merrick-gets-it/129537', 'title': 'Frank Merrick gets it!', 'views': 7595, 'has_accepted_answer': False, 'word_count': 1712, 'like_count': 0, 'reply_count': 30, 'participant_count': 30, 'posts': 34, 'tags': '', 'author': '@waialua359 (waialua3:59)', 'participants': '@waialua359 (waialua3:59), @Nuttyman54 (Nuttyman54), @JohnFogarty (John Fogarty), @dag0620 (David Givens), @Akash_Rastogi, @CENTURION (CENTURION), @Bob_Steele (Bob Steele), @Basel_A (Basel Alghanem), @Mr_V (Mr V), @FrankJ (FrankJ), @Tom_Line (Tom Line), @jessss (jessss), @cgmv123 (Max Vrany), @kellymc (kellymc), @DonRotolo (DonRotolo), @system (system), @CalTran (CalTran), @MikeE (MikeE), @Wendy_Holladay (Wendy Holladay), @Richard_Wallace (Richard Wallace), @Al_Skierkiewicz (Al Skierkiewicz  Learn Something New, Every Day!), @Siri (Siri (she/her)), @Libby_K (Libby Kamen), @Teamcodeorange (Teamcodeorange), @Jon_Stratis (Jon Stratis), @ColleenShaver, @ChuckDickerson (ChuckDickerson), @bardd (bardd), @David_Brinza (David Brinza), @Navid_Shafa (Navid Shafa), @DonRotolo (GoneByeBye)', 'image_url': [None], 'created_at': '2013-04-30T14:52:02.000Z', 'last_posted_at': '2020-01-05T06:44:09.223Z'}