The Esri User Conference is a much-anticipated yearly opportunity for GISCorps volunteers and partners to meet face-to-face to discuss the missions they’ve collaborated on, learn about new technology, and share ideas for future partnerships. The 2019 User Conference did not disappoint!
For the fourth year in a row, GISCorps was honored to be invited to staff a kiosk in the Sustainable World Community showcase. Volunteers Konrad Hughes, Bethany Hall, Jessica Beres, Curtis Day, German Whitley, Wincy Poon, Holly Torpey, and GISCorps founder Shoreh Elhami all dedicated time to staffing the kiosk. The volunteers shared information about GISCorps and the GIS Service Pledge with potential volunteers and partner organizations and greeted past volunteers and partners who stopped by to reminisce about their experiences joining forces with GISCorps. Having the opportunity to gather with fellow volunteers and partners we’ve worked with but never met in person is always a special treat!
GISCorps also hosted our annual meeting on Tuesday, with lunch provided in part by the generosity of GISCorps Advisory Board member Allen Ibaugh. The meeting was an opportunity to share information about volunteering and partnering with GISCorps, to discuss the projects we’ve completed in the last twelve months, and—most importantly—to hear from past and future volunteers and partner organizations. We especially loved hearing from volunteer Jeff Pires, who shared how volunteering with GISCorps quite literally changed the course of his career and and his life.
Beyond the GISCorps kiosk, Shoreh Elhami and German Whitley were invited spread the word about GISCorps in a talk in the Sustainable World Spotlight Theater. German also participated in a panel discussion about GIS Solutions for Humanitarian Response alongside representatives from GICHD, UNICEF, and Direct Relief.
