Your Monthly URISA News & Updates
Fantastic Opportunities for Young GIS Professionals & Students

Vanguard Cabinet Applications 
Apply for a seat on URISA's Vanguard Cabinet and be a part of an outstanding group of next generation leaders, influencers, and role models. Applications are due August 2. (If you have outstanding YPs on your team, encourage them to apply!)

Learn more on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30 Eastern/5:30 Central/4:30 Mountain/3:30 Pacific time during an open Q&A discussion hosted by current VC members. Set up a reminder in your calendar and join the discussion on Wednesday.

2020 University Student and Young Professional Digital Competition
Participate in the Vanguard Cabinet 2020 Digital Competition. Abstract submissions are due on or before July 31. Great way to get noticed, earn GISP contributions points, in addition to a free membership and registration to GIS-Pro 2020.  

Details and forms are online. 
While you're there, consider signing up for the URISA Mentoring Network!
Announcing the URISA Professional Development Series... After Dark
Join us on Thursday, July 30 at 5:30 in your respective time zone (beginning with Eastern time).

First up, we'll focus on Lean Coffee.
 Lean Coffee is a structured, but agenda-less meeting. Participants gather, build an agenda, and begin talking. Conversations are directed and productive because the agenda for the meeting was democratically generated. Learn how to make your in-person and virtual meetings more meaningful.

Free professional development and networking opportunities for URISA Members, Grab a spot right away: https://www.urisa.org/webinars   
Did you vote yet?

URISA members are asked each year to vote for the individuals who will lead URISA on the Board of Directors. 

This year's slate is awesome:

For President-Elect: Brent Jones, PE, PLS, Global Manager, Land Records/Cadastre, Esri, Vienna Virginia

For Board of Directors (to fill 3 positions):
  • Kathryn Brewer, GISP, Principal/GIS Project Manager, Spatial Relationships LLC, Boston Massachusetts
  • Xan Fredericks, GISP, Lidar Coordinator/Associate National Map Liaison, US Geological Survey, Saint Petersburg, Florida
  • Tari Martin, GISP, Director, National & Federal, National Alliance for Public Safety GIS (NAPSG) Foundation, Washington, DC
  • Pravin Mathur, GISP, Department Director - GIS, Clark Nexsen, Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Joseph Sloop, GISP, Geographic Information Officer, Forsyth County, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Steven J. Steinberg, PhD, GISP, Geographic Information Officer, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California
You should have received an email with voting instructions. If you cannot locate it, please send an email to Verlanda right away.  The ballot will be open through July 30. 

We thank all of the candidates for their generosity and dedication as URISA leaders! 
GIS Ethics Statement Released by URISA Board of Directors

Many GIS professionals across the globe have been following the situation surrounding the much-discussed Florida  Department of Health's COVID-19 Dashboard and how it relates to the GIS Code of Ethics.  URISA's Policy Advisory Committee discussed and debated the issue and the URISA Board weighed in with a statement. 


Take a minute to read through the Board's response and while you're there, review the Code which was approved by URISA back in 2003. Also on that page is a link to the most recent issue of The GIS Professional which includes a feature article on ethics. 
Instructor-Led Online URISA GIS Leadership Training


Last month we announced the first-ever  Virtual   URISA GIS Leadership Academy which will take place during the week of August 3-7.  Because the interaction of each cohort is so important in the Academy, limited attendance at the inaugural GLA to thirty (30) individuals. Capacity was reached within three days. 

The St. Petersburg, Florida GLA is still on the calendar and we hope that the situation will allow us to meet in-person in November ... though it is looking more and more unlikely every day. Rest assured that we'll host another Virtual GIS Leadership Training experience during the last few months of the year. Stay tuned for the dates and registration. 
GIS Management Resources

  • This report summarizes the results of a broad survey of GIS program management practices conducted by URISA in 2019. The original purpose of the survey was to support work of the URISA GIS Management Institute (GMI), a URISA Committee whose responsibilities now fall under URISA's Professional Education Committee. The original idea for the survey was proposed during business meetings at the 2018 URISA GIS-Pro Conference (October 2018). Professional literature includes useful descriptions of the management practices of individual GIS programs and some good studies comparing a small number of GIS programs. But there is no existing source of detailed information about a large sample of GIS programs. This lack of a comprehensive "knowledge base" on GIS management practices was a key reason for undertaking this survey.  Download this free resource
Connect for Support, Solutions, and Opportunities

Have you connected yet? Pose a question, discuss best practices, share a job posting, or ask for advice from your fellow members. 

Join any of the  online communities  in which you have an interest. There are
new member-suggested communities dedicated to Ethics in GIS and Equity & Social Justice . 

Your fellow members are discussing contact tracing, Ligado, and so much more. Get involved today.

URISA's GISCorps Projects

GISCorps logo
In addition to the amazing COVID-19 projects that GISCorps volunteers have been working tirelessly on, there are many other contributions being made. Check out the new and ongoing projects. 
Of course, GISCorps volunteers are also mobilized for the inevitable hurricane season.   Learn more and give back! 

GISCI News

The GIS Certification Institute is searching for a full-time Executive Director. Review the job description and requirements here.   (Our good friend, Bill Hodge, wishes to retire in the not-too-distant future!) 


GISCI also announced the Fall 2020 Test period will be December 5-12, 2020. Details are online.
Amazon Smile Donations

Doing more online shopping while social distancing? Amazon donates to URISA when you shop via Amazon Smile.  Bookmark the Link  and support us every time you shop.
URISA Logo Apparel

Long sleeve, short sleeve, cardigans, and pullover fleece, check out the URISA Logo Store! 

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