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[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by Kit Gerhart

The Florida regional has been used as such a showcase for Jeb Bush for the three years I've been there.

I'd have to disagree Kit.

UCF College of Engineering has a luncheon for all of it's technical community advisors/supporters each year. The college invites the local legislators and the governor and I'm sure they accept the invitation each year because the luncheon involves the most influencial people in the central Florida technical business community. My sister is one of those engineers.

The college has chosen to schedule this luncheon to coincide with the FIRST regional each year. It is a tremendous opportunity to promote FIRST with people who would otherwise have no idea what it's about - you know how anyone who has attended a competition gets hooked. Reps from each FIRST team are invited to attend the luncheon as well.

Would you expect the governor (or any politician) to come to the campus to talk to the technical community and not stop by the event and show support? It's a big thrill for students to see and/or meet the governor of their state - whoever he or she is - because of their office not because of their politics.