Well, we did it... we made it through another great season of the FIRST LEGO League here in Maine.  We started the season off with 74 teams in Maine and 72 of those made it to the event on Saturday.  That's a 97% success rate in my book.  Thanks to all the teams for continuing to make this a great event and bringing spirit and professional behavior with you and spreading it around.

We had teams from Kittery to Frenchville; from Jay to Mount Desert Isle, so I think we pretty much had the state covered.  But there is always room for more teams.

The Tesla Waffles from Kennebunk won first place Champions Award and will be invited to the US Open FLL Championship in San Diego in the spring.  Second place Champions Award, also from Kennebunk, went to team Libert, Egalite, Fraternite and Robots.  Congratulations to both of those teams for an awesome day.

The Buckfield Bots were the highest scoring team of 10 teams that were part of a LEGO Foundation grant and they have been invited to the FLL World Festival in St. Louis, along with receiving a travel grant to help the team get there.

For a full list of awards, see the PDF file posted on the left.

Thanks to all the 130 volunteers that made the day possible; to the FRC robot teams that came to show off their robots and to help out; to Jamee Luce and the Robotics Institute of Maine for all their help and for running the Central Maine VEX Competition; to Jay Collier from Project Login for running the Maine Digital Festival; and to all the great Augusta Civic Center staff that help make this possible.

We have absolutely great items that will be available on our raffle table at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday!  From a LEGO EV3 Robot Kit to a week of LEGO Camp.  We have some LEGO books and LEGO kits (including the Mark II Crane with 2,600 pieces!).

Tickets will be $2 each or 6 for $10.  Just fill out your name and phone number on the tickets and YOU get to pick which prize you'll try for.  

This raffle helps fund the FIRST LEGO League and is both important AND fun!  So come prepared to buy those tickets and have a great time on Saturday.
Check it out on line!

So, you don't want to wait until December to try out your robot?  Don't want to go hunting for anyone who will listen to you present your project?  Then sign up to compete at the MAINELY SPIRIT FLL COOPERTITION to be held November 22nd at the Messalonskee Middle School in Oakland.

FIRST Robotics Team 2468 will be hosting this informal event.  The results from this event do not impact your ability to compete at any other FIRST event, and they are NOT a qualifier.  This is a good practice event, so consider taking advantage of it.

Team 2468 is ready to take the first 24 teams that want to come and play.
   When: NOVEMBER 22nd, 2014
   Time: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm ish
   Where: 33 School Bus Drive, Oakland
   Cost: $40/team

This competition will only focus on the Robot Game (table top competition) and the Projects.  But don't forget to bring your team spirit and your coopertitiion!

We have two information meetings today for coaches and other people looking for more information about the FLL, this year's theme, and how events will be run in Maine. They will be at:

• 3:30 PM
• 7:00 PM

You don't need to attend any or more than one, these are for your information, if needed.