Northwest Indiana GIS ForumBeginnings

Established in 1997 US EPA / IDEM come to NWI Region searching for data – Request input from Local CreatorsOriginal mission was to catalog local spatial dataEncouraged to continue meetings between GIS Users

Champion and Local Partnerships Necessary

Becky McKinley-Hammond Sanitary District/EPA Region 5 initial Co-Chairs (eventually EPA steps

away and IUN assumes Co-Chair)

IDEM ParticipationPossible Meeting sites – IU Northwest and NIRPCGrant Administration, Website and Listserv capabilities through IUN

NWI GIS Forum - Who are we?Representatives from:

CountyMunicipalitiesEducation – Higher and K-12State (INDOT, IDEM)Federal (USEPA, NPS)Non-Profits (Save the Dunes, Grants, Inc.)Private Industry (GIS Vendors, NIPSCO)

GoalsBimonthly meetingsInclude all Interested Parties (especially in the region) / Encourage NewcomersNetworking through Local Updates at MeetingsEducation and Outreach

Local opportunities at meetingsProvide information about state GIS activities

Meeting Agenda

Welcome and IntroductionsLocal Project UpdatesNWI GIS Administration Items

Upcoming Educational OpportunitiesWebsite Issues

IGIC ReportOccasional Presentations/Education

SuccessesIDEM/Hammond Sanitary District/IUN sponsored Free Certified ArcGIS Training since 1998 (over 300 students trained)ListServ with over 300 ContactsGrants from US EPA region 5 and FGDC to promote Metadata locally and statewide

Partnership with the IGS -Input in the 2008 Lake Rim GIS UpgradeFunding and input on the Online Metadata Tool (2006 IGIC Award for Achievement in GIS)

Service on IGIC Board of DirectorsPromotion of IGIC projects through local Roadshows and ListServ

Continuation of meetings locally

NEW – Joint meeting with NIGIC this year

How is the NWI GIS Forum Different From NIGIC?

Origin Less Formal Organization

Co-Chairs rather than Officers

Possibly More Diverse Participants from County/Municipal/Education/Non-Profits/State/Federal

Want to Start a New Regional Group?

Find a Champion and PartnersCentrally Located Meeting SpaceProvide Educational OpportunitiesIGIC can help

WebspaceListServ

Finding the Hidden Champion Inside you

Do you: Love your job and want to share that enthusiasm? Appreciate the advantages of networking with users outside your

discipline or sector? See an unfilled need to reach out to the surrounding users base? Acknowledge the mutual benefit of sharing data and technology? Think you could convince your boss to support you?

Then YOU might be that Champion – consider organizing a Regional User group in your

part of the state!