We joined about a dozen Indiana FRC, FVC, FTC teams and PLTW schools at the Indiana Statehouse yesterday for a very nice display of what students are learning and achieving in school. It was nice to see prototypes from 461 and 45, as well as previous years' entries from 1720 and 1501. The Scorpion is always a crowd-pleaser.
There was a caucus yesterday, so we were able to snag some of the legislators as they came through the rotunda. I saw quite a bit of interest and excitement - there's just something about watching a dignified gentleman in a suit & tie, giggling while picking up tennis balls with a VEX robot. We also scored an audience with Dr. Sue Ellen Reed, the State Supt. of Schools, among other dignitaries.
We were pleased by the amount of interest in our license plate design. Andy Baker, Mike Fitzgerald, and Steve Florence each approached me to give their support, which was very appreciated. We were able to collect about 30 signatures on the petition yesterday.
There's a long road ahead of us. In order to meet the minimum requirements, we need 500 signatures of people
who intend to purchase the license plate in 2009. In addition, we're still pretty short of the $6,000 necessary, and we could use a lot of help there, too.
Even if we do meet the 500 signature minimum, there is still no guarantee that the BMV will print
FIRST plates next year. We need to show the state that we're serious about making these license plates a reality, and that they will be quite popular. I'm thinking we could use 1,000 signatures of individuals who will buy the plates in 2009.
I'm proposing a competition among the 27 Indiana teams. I challenge every team to bring 40 signatures on the petition to the BMR. In fact, there may be a special incentive to the team that generates the most. Keep in mind that if the license plates do come true next year, all funds generated will be distributed among all Indiana FIRST teams, so this is beneficial to all. Also, each signature needs to be authentic - the State takes this very seriously.
For a copy of the petition or to make a monetary donation, send me a PM or email -
mstaylor@msdpt.k12.in.us.