WELCOME!

PLEASE CLICK HERE
for Agenda at a Glance and Conference Participant Hub! 

This will be your home base for the conference. Navigate here to get more information on sessions, learn about the speakers, and access Zoom links if you are joining from afar.

Please note: you must be logged in to access content and Zoom links through the Participant Hub. To do this, click the Participant Hub link above and then click on the LOGIN button in the upper right corner of your screen.

DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP

To download the conference app to your mobile device, search for the MemberClicks Conference app in your app store (iPhone & Google Play). Once you have downloaded the MemberClicks Conference App, simply enter the conference code 022208 to access the full NSGIC 2021 Annual Conference details.

VIRTUAL HELP DESK

Jamie Chesser will be available throughout the week to field attendee questions and help troubleshoot any technical issues that may arise. Reach her directly by email (jamie.chesser@nsgic.org) or phone (office 720-379-4992 or cell 909-725-6176).

ON-DEMAND CONFERENCE CONTENT

In addition to all the great live sessions delivered during the conference, all conference registrants will have access to on-demand programming from the NSGIC community, as selected by the Conference Committee. The line-up includes:

• News from the Utah Potpourri of GIS
• Make Informed Decisions Using Insights Derived from Aerial Imagery
• 3D NHD: Considerations and Complexities of Elevation-Derived Hydrography
• The Operational Reality of Statewide Data Ambitions: An Exploration of Three Models
• A Critical Component of Election Modernization: An Update on the Geo-Enabled Elections Project

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The NSGIC Board of Directors, Conference Committee, and staff couldn’t be more excited to welcome many of our members and partners to meet again in person!

The 2021 NSGIC Annual Conference will be held September 20 - 24 as a hybrid event at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel and leveraging technology to provide for virtual participation, as well.

The safety and comfort of conference participants are paramount. We will be following all guidance in place at the time of the conference and working closely with venues to ensure full care is given.

We understand that not all conference attendees will be able to join us in person. Those participating virtually can expect a rich experience with interactive plenary presentations, networking opportunities, and participatory workshops and other sessions. (We’re so sure you’re going to enjoy the experience, we urge you to consider participating from home or another space where you can give it your full attention.)

Whether you attend in-person or virtually, the NSGIC Annual Conference is the hub of critical connections for state, local, tribal, and federal GIS policymakers and coordinators, private sector partners and solution-providers, and other leaders in the geospatial ecosystem. Like nowhere else, the NSGIC Annual Conference is a place where relationships are built, information is shared, and collaborations are born.

The agenda consists of:

• Roll Call of States - where state representatives sharing a snapshot of achievements, challenges, and upcoming activities

• State Caucus - a roundtable discussion with state and local government representatives to talk frankly about the most pressing issues of the day

• Annual Business Meeting - including the election of new board members and leadership transition

• GIO Academy - leadership sessions and networking for state government GIOs and equivalents (separate registration is required)

• Speed Networking - the fun and fast-paced series of events where sponsors rotate to complete the circuit of visiting with all states

• Awards Ceremony - recognizing exceptional work through the Geospatial Excellence Awards and NSGIC Service Awards

• Much, much more!

Veronica Degraffenreid, Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
will Deliver the Keynote Address in Dallas

Secretary Degraffenreid was appointed to lead the Pennsylvania Department of State on February 8, 2021. There, she heads efforts to promote the integrity of the electoral process, support economic development through corporate filings and transactions, and protect the health and safety of the public through professional licensure.

Previously, Secretary Degraffenreid served as Director of Election Operations for the North Carolina State Board of Elections where, for six years, she managed a team of election technology and election program specialists responsible for providing training, support and administrative oversight to North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections. The program areas under her supervision included voter registration, voting processes, precinct and voting site administration, election event administration and voting systems. She led efforts to modernize North Carolina’s aging statewide voter registration and election management system and developed the state’s first voting systems certification program. She also served as a Special Litigation Legal Assistant with the North Carolina Department of Justice for nearly 10 years, specializing in redistricting and election-related litigation.

Secretary Degraffenreid joined the NSGIC Geo-Enabled Elections project’s Circle of Advisors in 2018, and has contributed significantly to the success of the project. In 2019, she participated in the Geo-Enabled Elections workshop in Louisville, KY, and presented on the critical topic of spatial data audits, and in the Elections GeoSummit in Washington, DC, as part of a panel of states sharing lessons learned on integrating GIS technology in elections. 

She will join us next month in an entirely new capacity leading the modernization of elections in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she continues to champion GIS as a tool to provide transparency, accuracy, and confidence in elections.

REGISTRATION

Choose to attend the NSGIC Annual Conference in person or virtually. The registration fee includes access to live plenary sessions and other programming during “core hours,” on-demand content, conference app and networking spaces, and archive recordings, transcripts, and other materials.

NOTE: To register, you will need to log in to your NSGIC account. If you do not have a NSGIC account, we invite you to learn more about membership or sponsorship. If you work for a public sector organization and wish to register as a non-member, a NSGIC account will be created for you by choosing the “New User” login option. Please note all corporate attendees must be sponsors in order to attend NSGIC meetings.

REGISTER TODAY!

The GIO Academy will be held on Monday, September 20, from 8 am to 1 pm CT.

The event will kick off with a networking breakfast for those gathering in person. Followed by hybrid programming, bringing those in the room and folks virtual together to discuss topics like state-level coordination, cooperation, collaboration, strategic planning, and working with local governments. This is an excellent opportunity to network and connect with your peers in states across the country, learning about their successes and challenges and potentially using those nuggets to effect change in your state. 

There is no additional cost to participate, but the GIO Academy requires a separate registration. This session will be led by Dan Ross (MN) and Mike Woodford (ID). 

CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY

Cancellation of your registration must be received in writing by August 23 to qualify for a full refund of registration fees paid. Cancellations received in writing between August 23 and September 19 will result in a $50 administrative fee. Fees cannot be refunded for registrations cancelled after September 19.

SPONSORSHIP

For more information about our current sponsorship opportunities, or for current sponsors who would like to register additional colleagues, please contact Amy Holmes at amy.holmes@nsgic.org.

HOTEL

NSGIC has secured a group block room for our attendees at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel  (15201 Dallas Pkwy, Addison, TX 75001), where the conference will be held.

Room rates are the government rate of $157 (single/double occupancy) plus state and local taxes (currently 13%). These rates will be available for three days prior and three days after the meeting dates, subject to availability at the time you make your reservation. There is limited inventory at the conference rate. Once the block is full, current market room rates may apply based on room availability.

You must be registered to attend the conference in order to receive the discounted rate. Details on how to reserve a room at the conference rate will be included in your confirmation email, after you have completed your registration.

NOTE: If you have a special case and need to reserve a hotel room prior to registering for the conference, please email Amy Holmes at amy.holmes@nsgic.org.

HOTEL PARKING

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Hotel distance: 12.5 miles N

• Super Shuttle: (reservation required)
• Estimated taxi fare: $50 one way
• Estimated ride share: $20 -$25 one way
• Bus service (DART) fee: $9 one way

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Hotel distance: 20.8 miles NE

• Super Shuttle: (reservation required)
• Estimated taxi fare: $55 one way
• Estimated ride share: $40 - $45 one way

NOTE: The hotel does not provide airport shuttle service.

CONFERENCE GRANTS

For NSGIC state representatives faced with funding challenges, NSGIC offers limited conference grants to fully or partially cover reasonable travel expenses, hotel accommodations, and/or meeting registration fees. For more information, please refer to the conference grant policy and travel policy.

We are no longer accepting Grant Applications

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

NSGIC conferences benefit from the experience, expertise, discoveries, perspectives, and vision of NSGIC members and partners. Conference presenters don’t “drop in” for a session, but participate fully in the conference to ensure continued dialogue on their topics.

We are no longer accepting abstracts.

AWARD NOMINATIONS

The NSGIC Geospatial Excellence Awards celebrate 30 years of facilitating smart policy, partnership-building, innovation, and professional growth. Please consider nominating an individual or organization - they don't have to be NSGIC members! This is a perfect opportunity for you to increase the profile of GIS in your state. Geospatial Excellence Award presentations will be held at the NSGIC Business Meeting during this year's Annual Conference, September 23, 2021. 

For more information, please visit the 2021 Excellence Awards Page.

We are no longer accepting nominations.

STICKER SWAP

Now that many of us will be back in-person, don't forget about the Sticker Swap! There will be a table setup next to registration. Bring some stickers from your organization to share with members. Take a few, leave a few!

ABOUT THE AREA

The 2021 NSGIC Annual Conference will be held just north of the city of Dallas in Addison, TX. Addison is known as the restaurant capital of the world, with more than 180 eatery options, many within walking distance of the conference hotel. In and around Addison, beyond the many restaurants and bars, visitors will enjoy several large parks, museums, and lots of shopping. Hop in a car to be in downtown Dallas within about 20 minutes. More information can be found on the Visit Addison website or in the Addison Visitor & Restaurant Guide.

WEATHER

September is still fairly warm in the Dallas area, with daytime temps getting up to 88°F and dipping to 68°F on the average night.

THINGS TO DO

State Fair of Texas: September 24 - October 17, 2021. Music, car show, rides, games, livestock and more!

Addison Oktoberfest 2021: September 16-19, 2021

Dallas Taco & Margarita Festival: Saturday September 25th, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Dallas Zoo: With 106 acres to explore, thousands of animals to visit, and a huge variety of family activities, there is plenty to experience at the Dallas Zoo!

The Dallas World Aquarium: The Dallas World Aquarium and zoo is located in the West End Historic District. It aids conservation and education by housing many animals that are threatened.

Galleria Dallas: A shopping mall and mixed-use development located about 5 minutes by car from the conference hotel.

Cavanaugh Flight Museum: A non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to promoting aviation studies and to perpetuating America's aviation heritage; the museum fulfills its mission by restoring, operating, maintaining and displaying historically-significant, vintage aircraft, and by collecting materials related to the history of aviation. Located about 10 minutes by car from the conference hotel.

Six Flags Over Texas: A 212-acre theme park located in Arlington, Texas, about 30 minutes by car from the conference hotel. It is the first amusement park in the Six Flags chain.

AT&T Stadium: Formerly Cowboys Stadium, it is a retractable roof stadium in Arlington, TX, about 35 minutes by car from the conference hotel and serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

COVID SAFETY UPDATE

A message from NSGIC Executive Director Molly Schar:

The health, safety, and comfort of our conference attendees are of utmost importance to us as we continue to plan for an exciting hybrid Annual Conference. The situation is evolving, and we are closely monitoring Covid-19 recommendations and requirements.

All attendees will be required to be fully vaccinated to attend the Annual Conference in person. We are very pleased to be able to offer a virtual conference experience for those unable to join us in person. Registration is flexible and can be changed from in-person to virtual or transferred to another individual upon request with no explanation required. (Please email change requests to info@nsgic.org.)

We are also planning to provide KN-95 masks and hand sanitizer to in-person participants. As much as possible, we will set up meeting rooms to provide participants with extra space to avoid any crowding. We are exploring with the hotel options to hold social gatherings in outdoor areas.

The situation may change; we will continue to share information as we know it. We absolutely cannot wait to be together again as friends, colleagues, and fellow #mapnerds!

COVID PRECAUTIONS

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott’s focus and priority has been, and continues to be, on the health and well-being of their associations, guests, and visitors. Communities across the U.S. are faced with new challenges each day and Marriott continues to explore ways that they can do more and honor their shared responsibility to protect their associates and guests.

Marriott’s “new normal” has continued to evolve and change over time to reflect government guidance and new societal expectations. They’ve deployed 200+ cleaning protocols each step of their guests’ journey and every physical space in the hotel. They are deploying scientifically supported practices and innovations, and providing their teams with the tools, training, and resources that are necessary in this environment.

• Deeper, more frequent cleaning
• Leveraging technology innovations
• Cleanliness training
• Less contact, more connection

Based on present requirements, Renaissance Hotel employees must provide proof of vaccination or wear appropriate masks. If vaccinated, NSGIC conference participants will not be required to wear masks. Masks will be provided for any conference attendees who wish to wear them.

Extra sanitizing stations and additional, thorough cleaning and sanitizing continue throughout the hotel and conference areas. Room set-ups provide for extra space to support the clean and sanitized area for individuals.

NSGIC will continue to evaluate the situation and work with the hotel to implement safety practices recommended by local, state, and federal government agencies at the time of the conference. Conference attendees with special needs will be accommodated as best as possible; please contact Amy Holmes (amy.holmes@nsgic.org) with questions or to request accommodation.

QUESTIONS?

For all registration, sponsorship and/or membership inquiries, please contact Amy Holmes, Membership Associate, at amy.holmes@nsgic.org

THANK YOU TO OUR LEARNING LINK SPONSORS