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HOT NEWS
ITEMS:
JUNE
2008 FEATURE NEWS
Imagery
Business & Best Practices Project and Phase 2 Strategic Planning
Project Final Reports are now available:
Vote
for CGIA Board: June 2-13
Voting for CGIA Board positions begins June 2nd. All current members
(and anyone who joins before June 6th) are encouraged to participate
in the election process for the 2008-09 CGIA Board. Voting will
be electronic; all members will receive a link to an e-ballot
via email.
The deadline to cast your vote is June 13.
CalGIS2008
Panel Discussion
CGIA board members Bill Budke and Chris Lewis, and CalGIS Education
Track Builder Binita Sinha, organized a panel discussion at CalGIS
2008 regarding issues currently facing the professional GIS community.
Topics discussed included enrollment challenges, advisory committees,
internships, marketing programs, and the Geographic Information
Science & Technology Body of Knowledge. Read a summary of
the Panel Discussion here.
CalGIS2008
Photo Gallery
The April CalGIS 2008 conference was a huge hit! In addition to
an exhibit hall, awards ceremony, conference social and educational
workshops, the 14th Annual conference offered plenty of opportunities
to network with GIS professionals across the state.
Check out photos from CalGIS 2008 here.
Public
Records Access Amicus Brief: CGIA Position
The California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC)
recently won the lawsuit enforcing California's Public Record
Act by requiring Santa Clara County to provide its GIS parcel
basemap at the cost of duplication, instead of its current price
of $ 158,000. The County appealed the decision, and the Court
of Appeals agreed to receive arguments on the case until April
30. Bruce Joffe, Principal of GIS Consultants Inc, composed an
Amicus Brief regarding the importance of public access to GIS
data.
As the Amicus Brief delineates, beyond issues
of copyright and national security, this case impacts the GIS
community because it involves "certain technical information
about GIS basemaps, and the benefit to the public that they enable
when they are made available as governmental public records."
In short, the Amicus Brief is important because it is about "enforcing
the public record law as it is written, as endorsed by the California
Attorney General, and as validated by the Superior Court. Santa
Clara County is exercising its right to appeal the decision, and
this judicial procedure is all part of the process by which the
public's right to keep its government accountable can be made
real."
After reviewing the Amicus Brief within the
context of an ongoing lawsuit, the Board decided that it did not
want to take a position either for or against one of the parties
in the lawsuit. Instead, the CGIA Board would prefer being in
a position of supporting a negotiated settlement that balances
the interests of both parties, with an emphasis on making data
accessible to the public.
Read the full Amicus Brief here.
CGIA
Membership Drive 2008-09: Be in the Know - Join CGIA!
Now is the time to join CGIA for 2008-09.
- Current Members: Have you renewed
your membership for 2008-09? Remember, your support makes the
California Geographic Information Association possible.
- If you are not currently a member,
please consider joining California's premier GIS leadership
association.
Our Membership Benefits Page offers details
on why CGIA membership is so great. Check it out here.
More
than a Map: Executive Forum June 19 at the Hyatt Regency, Sacramento
If you are a California state legislator, member
of the Governor's Cabinet, or a Department/Program Head for a
California state government department, join us for a California
Executive Forum, entitled, "More Than a Map: How Government
Agencies are Collaborating on Geographic Information for Better
Public Services." The forum, to be held June 19th at the
Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, represents a unique opportunity for
state leaders and policy makers to focus on the expanding potential
of geographic information technology.
The "More Than A Map" event promises
to demonstrate ways that California government can leverage technology
advancements in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support:
- A safer California
- Mobilizing California
- A growing California
- An open California
- A healthy California
- A greener California
As seating capacity is limited for the event,
special invitations will be directly mailed to invited policy
makers and legislators. If you would like more information, call
Sherilyn Hammond at 916-200-6600 or you may register by emailing
register@pspinfo.us.
For more information including an agenda
of the day's activities, click here.
CGIA
Board Position on AB1978
After careful review, the CGIA Board has taken an advisory position
to oppose AB1978.
Proposed state legislation AB1978 would amend
the State of California Public Records Act to modify the meaning
of the term software which is currently exempted by
the Public Records Act. Consequently, a state or local agency
could to sell, lease, and license the software (including
mapping systems as defined below) for commercial or noncommercial
use.
Current law requires state and local agencies
to make their records available during regular business hours
and, upon request, to provide a copy of a record upon payment
of any applicable fee, unless an exemption from disclosure applies.
Additionally, the current law allows a state or local agency to
sell, lease, and license the software for commercial or noncommercial
use.
The CGIA Board Position on AB1978 is available
for download here.
Geographic
Information Systems: Technology for a Changing Climate
CED (California Environmental Dialogue) releases report on planning
for a changing climate. CED, a collaborative effort of California
businesses, environmental groups and government agencies, believes
that an improved Geographic Information Systems (GIS) toolbox
would allow the State to more accurately assess the long-term
spatial impacts of climate change on existing infrastructure systems
and various infrastructure alternatives. For more information,
download
the report (PDF).
CGIA
Membership
Have you renewed your CGIA membership? We need your support.
Like a public radio station, CGIA cannot continue
to serve the nearly 700 people who receive the monthly NewsFlash
without the financial support of our members.
Thank you for remembering to renew
your membership for 2007-08. We are counting on your support.
Membership
Form | Membership
Flyer
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CGIA
extends a special "Thank You" to the California Resources
Agency for their hosting of our web site. This special arrangement
reflects the close working relationship that exists between our
two organizations and our mutual interests in using geospatial
technologies to improve government services.
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