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The 2009 FIRST World Championship wrapped up today. Einstein’s Daughters, an all-girl team from San Diego, took the top FTC Inspire Award.  I’m sure more news, pictures and video will be forthcoming in the days to come, but it’s clear that FIRST Tech Challenge is an educationally engaging, competitive and fun team robotics program that will only grow in depth and breadth in the years to come.

According to Dean Kamen, in his opening remarks Thursday, FTC fell just a handful of teams short of its goal of 1000 teams this year — up nearly 300 from last year.  He challenged us to create more new teams, aiming for 1500 teams in the 2009-10 season.  He also encouraged all FIRST participants to sign up now for the FIRST Community, with the goal of having one million members with a common voice working together and speaking out on behalf of FIRST robotics.

If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s easy!   Register at http://firstcommunity.usfirst.org/ It will provide unparalleled personal and professional networking among FIRST Alumni, Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers, and an opportunity to tap into a enormous network of students, educators, mentors and families devoted to advancing the principles and goals of this great learning and growing opportunity for all youth.

Team Duct Tape calls upon all Florida FIRST participants, current and former,  to register now and help make Florida the number one FIRST state by participation. By getting the most FIRST current Team Members, Alumni, Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers to register on the Web site, Florida  will be featured for one month on the FIRSTCommunity home page.  Each month will bring a new challenge and new stateor country to feature.   The state or country with the most participants by April 30, 2009 will be this month’s winner.

So go help make us number one!!   Florida currently has 44 member in the FIRST community.  Michigan has 124! We’ve got some catching up to do, in a race where everyone is a winner just by virtue of running.