First, I want to thank the community for reaching out to the REC Foundation with your concerns and for tagging me in the thread so that I was aware of the discussion. I also appreciate the honest and respectful conversation regarding LGBQT+ acceptance, specifically transgender students’ safety, both in the RECF Community and society in general.
It is heartbreaking that any group of students may feel unwelcome or unsafe at any REC Foundation event. The REC Foundation is absolutely committed to the safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion of everyone in our community, per our Code of Conduct. We hold ourselves and our community accountable for respectful, safe, and ethical conduct at all REC Foundation-hosted or sanctioned events, including the upcoming VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, TX. Students from all cultures, backgrounds, and identities across the globe are always welcome.
I have always felt that our robotics community is one group of people with a shared passion for STEM and a common language of robotics and I encourage the RECF community to treat everyone as equal.
Thank you for your feedback and the opportunity to continue to learn what the REC Foundation can do to communicate our values through our programs and events.
Dan Mantz
CEO - REC Foundation