URISA Digest
March 19, 2014 
Final Notice If you still haven't renewed your 2014 membership dues, be sure to do so today.

Verlanda will be cancelling unpaid memberships on March 24. Don't let this be your last Digest... Stay connected!

ULA - May 5-9 in Calgary
Register soon for Calgary. It's nearly full!

ULA - October 13-17 in Louisville
Spring is prime time for numerous URISA chapter-sponsored conferences and events. Peruse the industry calendar and take special note of these events happening through May:

Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference
March 24-28: Fairbanks, AK

20th Annual California GIS Conference
April 14-16: Monterey, CA

GIS in Action Conference
April 16-17: Portland, OR
 
URISA Ontario's Be Spatial
April 28: University of Guelph

2014 Washington GIS Conference
May 12-14:Tacoma, WA

Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Workshop
May 13-14: New Orleans

On April 16, Georgia URISA is presenting the URISA Addressing Workshop as a fundraising effort with all proceeds going to support chapter member, Joe Bless.
Have a case study or idea you'd like to share? Write an article for THE GIS Professional. Submissions always welcome. Email your story idea today!
  
Participate in the 3rd Annual GISCI Map Contest. Click here for details and submit by March 31.

giscorps  Consider a 2014 donation plan to support GISCorps and receive acknowledgement for your tax-deductible contribution.  

Deploying Mobile Solutions: 3-Part Virtual Workshop

Register by 12 Noon Eastern time today if you would like to take advantage of this education!
 
Deploying Mobile Solutions: What to Consider 
This 8-hour URISA Certified Workshop will be presented over three days:

    Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - 1:00- 4:00 pm Eastern
    Thursday, March 20, 2014  - 1:00- 4:00 pm Eastern
    Friday, March 21, 2014 - 1:00- 3:00 pm Eastern

Certified Instructor: Tripp Corbin, GISP, MCP, CFM, eGIS Associates, Inc.

Earn GISP Education credit (8 hours of EDU-2) without leaving the office.

Cost: URISA Members: $195; Non-members: $295
If you can't make the 'live' session, the recorded webinar will be available for purchase in early April.


Coming in August: URISA's Certified "Addressing" Workshop (August 5, 7 & 12). Registration coming soon. 
Jack Dangermond to Speak Today at White House

Esri President and URISA GIS Hall of Fame inductee (2005), Jack Dangermond, will be speaking at the White House on Wednesday, March 19, at an event Highlighting Efforts to Boost Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience. 

The event will include new announcements from Federal agencies, businesses, researchers, academia, and others to deploy data-driven technologies and leverage freely available open government data to build products and services that strengthen our Nation's ability to prepare for the effects of climate change today and in the future.

The event will be live streamed at this link starting at approximately 5:15pm Eastern:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/live 

Esri launched a Climate Resilience App Challenge last week at the Esri Developer Summit. The app challenge supports the White House's Climate Action Plan as it inspires developers to focus their creative attention on making maps and analytical tools that help communities see, understand, and prepare for climate risks. It is open to everyone - independent developers and those in startups, governments, academia, and NGOs. The resulting apps will be openly shared and Esri will award prizes to the winners. In July, the best of the best will be featured at the Esri International User Conference.  
Nominate your Organization for an Exemplary Systems in Government Awards - April 11 Deadline

ESIG Awards recognize exceptional achievements in the application of geospatial information technology that have improved the delivery and quality of government services.
Submissions are due by April 11.

For details and the application form, click here.   
Call for Presentation Proposals for URISA's 7th Caribbean GIS Conference in Curacao - May 5 Deadline

The conference, the premier educational and professional development event for GIS professionals in the Caribbean, will take place at the Santa Barbara Resort in Curacao, October 27-30, 2014.

The Call for Presentation Proposals has been announced and abstract submissions are due by May 5, 2014! For details and an online submission form, click here. 

New URISA Publication

Title: GIS Technology Trends, Status, and Best Practices in Water and Wastewater Utility Organizations

Author: Peter Croswell, PMP, GISP, Croswell-Schulte IT Consultants, Frankfort, KY

Description: URISA is pleased to announce a new publication on the trends, technology and best practices of GIS implementation in Water and Wastewater Utility Organizations.  This special publication is designed to provide water and wastewater utility organizations with information to support planning for GIS implementation and operation.  This invaluable guide gives an overview of existing GIS implementations within Water and Wastewater Organizations while offering insight for Organizations who are looking to deploy GIS.  
 
URISA is pleased to offer this publication for free to members and $10 for non-members.  For more information about this exciting publication and to purchase it, click here.

GIS-Pro 2014 Conference Details Coming Soon


The GIS-Pro 2014 Conference Committee is putting the finishing touches on the program details. Watch for announcements including keynote speakers, sponsorship opportunities, workshop options, and a community project in New Orleans.

While the details are being finalized, feel free to make your hotel reservations at the Sheraton New Orleans. (A limited number of government rate rooms are available in our GIS-Pro block.) The links for reservations are online here. 
Vanguard Mentoring Committee - Needs You!!

The mentoring committee is focused on fostering relationships between individuals who have questions or needs regarding the GIS profession, and individuals who have the knowledge or skills to answer those questions. This committee will create a website that hosts the program, develop resource materials to help mentors and mentees make the most of the experience, and come up with innovative ideas to make this mentoring program a success. If you have ever wanted to mentor someone, have questions about career paths or resume development, have experience with developing or hosting a website, or simply want to be part of a group focused on connecting people, this is the place for you!
 
If you are interested in joining this mentoring committee or want to learn more, please contact Diana Maties.  
Women in GIS

This request has been making the rounds for the past couple of weeks. If you are a woman who works in GIS, consider participating.  Dr. Linda Loubert of Morgan State University is attempting a crowd sourced map of women in GIS. Click here

To add your information, click Edit, choose the appropriate symbol designation for yourself, and add your dot. Questions and comments should go to Dr. Linda Loubert.

Wendy Nelson
URISA Executive Director