Danielle Ayan, GISP Conference Program Chair
The URISA International Annual Conference & Exhibition is such a fantastic venue for networking with fellow geospatial experts!
3 days’ of immersion with URISA conference insights and connections = years worth of independent activity.
The URISA Annual Conference & Exposition is one conference I attend regularly. Over time, I’ve wanted to help with the load and the ever-evolving conference improvements, so I volunteered to be on the Conference Committee. What a great professional contribution .. and good time! URISA pays the committee members a stipend toward travel expenses so they can all get together on-site about ~8 months prior to the conference and scout the facility, compile the agenda, approve the speakers, etc. (So, yes, October will be my 2nd trip to Anaheim this year .. not bad!). The URISA staff provide a solid conference framework (i.e., they’ve already removed any organization and/or logistics barriers); you just offer your ideas and assistance. It’s casual and extremely productive.
Being engaged as a Conference Committee volunteer has resulted in my current role as Conference Program Chair. This year, the Committee is initiating new offerings for all participants, to include:
* Dynamically-facilitated, interactive track that brings continuity and collective thought to the conference
* 7-minute videographed sessions to air online after the conference
* Solutions Luncheon topics will offer real-world problem-solving to folks at differing stages of similar challenges
I hope to see you at the URISA International Annual Conference & Exhibition this year and into the future. I encourage not only your participation, but your active contributions to this organization and our industry.
Danielle Ayan, GISP
Outgoing Chair, Georgia GIS Coordinating Committee Board Member, National States Geographic Information Council
Georgia Institute of Technology | Center for GIS
