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URISA Digest
May 18, 2012 
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How do you use American Community Survey (ACS) Data?
You may have recently read or heard that the U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to remove all funding for two important census activities, the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Economic Survey. URISA previously announced that it had signed a letter submitted to Senate members asking that these programs be fully funded. Our work does not stop there.

Through key member contacts, we can report that URISA is now in a unique position to directly inform the Congress in general, and specifically the representatives who led the de-funding effort, about the value of the data compiled by these programs from the state and local government perspective. Our task is to write a brief informative paper telling the Congress how the affected census data are used by our members. We have very little time to prepare the document. We must act in the next week to get something useful together.

Frankly, things like this come up all the time and the usual need for a quick response does not allow a lot of broad participation. This is not an exercise where we can have meetings and public review of a carefully vetted product. However, the need for examples of how these data are used across the country motivates us to have broad participation in drafting this short informative paper. We will not be making a direct argument that all the compiled data must be collected. Our task is educational. We are to provide tangible evidence of how the data are used so that elected officials can see the value in the collection effort. We will also have a face-to-face meeting with legislative staff to provide examples of how census data have made a difference in local governments and the lives of the people we serve. If you want to be part of this process, please contact Al Butler directly at [email protected]. He will coordinate our effort.
Important Events

ULA2012 There are very few spaces left to participate in the 2012 URISA Leadership Academy (June 11-15, 2012 in Savannah, Georgia). If you wish to attend this year, don't wait any longer. Register today!   

 

addressing2012 Join us in Memphis, August 6-9 for the URISA/NENA Addressing Conference!

Take some time to review the preconference courses, breakout sessions, exhibit opportunities and special events. Early registration discounts are available until July 9. Continue to conference details.

 

   

GIS-Pro 2012: URISA's 50th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals

September 30-October 4, 2012 

  • Learn and Grow  
  • Challenge and Inspire  
  • Lead and Succeed 
Check out the pre-conference training and workshop opportunities, session descriptions, stellar luncheon presentation offerings, and Ignite presentations for GIS-Pro 2012 in Portland. We've included some helpful ideas and a letter template to assist you in securing approval to attend.

We're also pleased to announce our keynote speakers for GIS-Pro! Look forward to important ideas from Professor Michael Goodchild, Microsoft's Cloud Evangelist John Sanderson, and Jack Dangermond.

Start planning your conference today!

carib 2012
URISA's Sixth Caribbean GIS Conference
November 12-16, 2012
Join us in Montego Bay for the premier gathering of Caribbean GIS Professionals. Education, networking and solutions will be featured. Abstract submissions (many more than recent years!) are currently being organized for the committee's review with a detailed program to quickly follow. Very impressive collection of topics submitted!  Plan to participate in this important regional GIS event.

Upcoming URISA Connect Webinar Events

Have you attended a URISA Connect Webinar yet? Check out the lineup and register for one or more today! Earn Education Points toward your GISP Certification or Renewal. 

 

May 23 - LiDAR Webinar Series - Project Planning 

Presenter: Mark Stucky, GISP - Merrick & Company  

 

September 18 - Asset Management Webinar Series - Part 1 

Presenters: Allen Ibaugh, GISP and Jason Amadori of Data Transfer Solutions 

 

Archived Webinars Now Available

If you've missed one of our live webinars, you can find most of these events archived at www.urisa.org/urisaconnectarchives.

Free webinars and reduced fees are available for URISA International Members. To register for an upcoming live webinar, please visit www.urisa.org/urisaconnect.

Take Part in an Important Publication Update - Model Job Descriptions

URISA Members are invited to help create the latest edition of the URISA Publication, Model Job Descriptions for Geospatial Professionals. To learn more about this initiative, or to participate in the editing and reviewing process, please click here    

Other Events of Interest

GIS4EconomicDevelopment
8-Hr Workshop, May 24, 2012, Atlanta GA

 

Spatial Plexus '12:
"Inspecting "Wicked Problems" with Geospatial Goggles"
May 21 - 23, 2012, Atlanta GA     

 

Addressing Workshop & URISA Texas Chapter Discussion
June 5, 2012, Austin, Texas

 

NorCal URISA - Business Intelligence and Data Integration Workshop for the GIS Professional   

July 10, 2012, City of West Sacramento 

Have a Great Weekend!

 

 

Wendy Nelson
Executive Director, URISA
  

    

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