[Mr MOE]

All:

With the apparent increased focus on science, technology, and innovation, FIRST should find it's way onto the US National scene even more than in the past. I am sure that, at some point, FIRST teams will be shaking hands with President Obama. In another month, FIRST teams will be literally blocks away from the White House at the Washington DC Regional.

MOE 365, along with the Championship FTC and FLL teams, were extremely lucky to have the planets aligned the proper way to get a chance to visit the White House. I deeply thank everyone at FIRST who made this happen.

It is important to realize that there was a tremendous amount of effort and work that went into getting permission and organizing a visit like this. I would have been proud to represent FIRST regardless of the president or political party in office at the time.

I truly hope that other teams get this opportunity. I know much focus has been given to Chairman's Award teams, but as the narration exclaimed in our MOE Chairman's Award video "every single day, on every FIRST team, miracles happen - one student at a time." Every team has hardships and challenges and struggles. Hopefully, we all recognize this and celebrate our collective success in overcoming our obstacles at every regional. That's the true essence of Gracious Professionalism.