[WEHickok]

This is very interesting, but, at a meeting that the HOT Team seniors attended last Wednesday, Dean Kamen indicated that the number of schools in the state that has access to FIRST teams is the most important metric. This year Michigan has 100 FRC teams, but more importantly 25% of the schools in Michigan have access to a FRC team. This is the highest percentage in the US (according to Dean). He challenged Governor Granholm to tell governors from other states to become a FIRST supporter. FIRST has scheduled a meeting with Governor Granholm to find a way to make FIRST accessible to more teams in Michigan. Dean said that this may become an award at the Championship. If that is true Michigan should win this year. But most importantly, it doesn't matter where a team is from just as long as there is a team where kids can be inspired. Our goal should be to keep current teams functioning and add new teams as we can. Here's to a great year!