NSGIC Mid-Year Reports: The Lightning Round

NSGIC traditionally closes its State Caucus sessions with a "lightning round" in which all state representatives have a chance to note a concern or an issue, lobby for an initiative, grant kudos, or otherwise vent.

Here is an overview of this year's mid-year lightning round, thanks to the flashing note-taking fingers of Georgia's Danielle Ayan and with additional scribbles from a few others. I've tried to group and aggregate them into some sort of logical structure.

• NSGIC Communications
  Several members noted the importance of communications; both among NSGIC members and with our partners and sponsors. There was a pitch for increased "in-reach" to the membership as well as outreach. There was a suggestion of a "NSGIC Channel." There was a call for more member participation in committees.
  
• Assistance to States
  There were several expressions of thanks to the Board for travel grants that helped bring attendance from almost every state and several territories. Members were pleased with recent WebEx seminars such as that on working with Congress. There was support for Return on Investment studies and other ways to show the importance and value of data coordination. There was interest in strengthening the role of GIOs in states, better linkage with CIOs, and helping those states now in transition from one form of GIS coordination to another. There was a concern about funding within some states.
  
• Conference Issues
  Long-time conference-runner Rick Memmel threw-in a plug for members to complete their conference evaluations (I have, have you?). There was a request for at least one "walking meeting" in future conferences (There is a lot of sitting and listening...). Earlier notice for some breakfast meetings was suggested. Tony Spicci said something about some sort of other conference this spring somewhere in the middle of America?
  
• Technologies
  There is interest in web services and streaming data. Members want more presentations on application delivery and open GIS services. And what about 3-D data? And geocoding too. There is also interest in geodetic control.
• Partnerships
  A member suggested that we develop federations. There was a call for a regional Transportation for the Nation proof of concept project. A member noted the importance of vertical data-sharing, data licensing and GIS surveyor issues. It was suggested that we remember to keep data sharing and other agreements simple and focused. One member called for standardized contractual federal/state agreements that include service charges and verbiage for public access to data.
• NSGIC Priorities
  A periodic update was suggested to help maintain focus on priorities. It was suggested that we keep promoting and using the GIS Inventory. There were several pitches for land parcel data. There was a mention on NAIP funding issues (did someone really suggest a bake-sale?). There was a mention of keeping our focus on state spatial data infrastructures (SSDIs).
  

It was a lively lightning round.