North Central Texas
Past Events
GITA North Central
Texas Annual Conference 2001
The GITA North Central Texas Chapter
held its 2001 Annual Conference entitled "Building
Bridges to the Texas Digital Economy" on November 7th and
8th in Arlington, Texas, at the Southeast Campus of Tarrant County
College.
The conference brought together over 110 GIT professionals
from the region to focus on many of the educational, technological,
and economic challenges facing the public, private and academic
sectors as we transition to a Digital Economy.
This was the first time the Chapter has tried a two-day
event, and all on the Board feel that it was well worth the effort.
The pre-conference day featured two hands-on workshops, "ArcView
for Teachers" and "GPS". Both workshops were designed
to give the attendee information and experience to use back in the
classroom or office. The conference day followed with a full agenda
of presentations, exhibits, guest speakers, panel discussion, and
poster showcase.
Jeff Coffey, NCT Chapter President-elect, opened the
conference day proceedings with a brief speech reflecting the theme
of this year's conference. He underlined the fact that "Membership
Makes a Difference" by noting that over the last two years,
the NCT Chapter has contributed over $13,000.00 back into the local
community in the form of software, hardware, and educational grants.
This opened the perfect opportunity to present this year's NCTGITA
$3,000.00 Student Scholarship award to the President of TCC Southeast
Campus, Dr. Judith Carrier.
The audience was then treated to an informative and
entertaining program by nationally known motivational speaker Mr.
Bryan Dodge, entitled "How to Build a Better You."

Fortified with a complimentary continental breakfast
and energized by our morning speaker, attendees could choose to
attend presentations from three topic tracks, visit the exhibit
hall, or examine the fine work shown in the posters displayed.
The exhibit hall doubled as the venue for an address
from our second guest speaker, Dr. F. Andrew Schoolmaster. His presentation
was entitled, "Digitally Enhanced, Technologically Advanced,
and Geographically Challenged: Spatial Problem-Solving in the Information
Age." In addressing such questions as "Does geography
still matter in the information age?" and "How can geography
be used in bridging the digital divide?," Dr. Schoolmaster's
presentation drew comments from the attendees as "Excellent
session!," and "Very thought-provoking."
A total of twelve presentation sessions were run in
the morning and early afternoon. The topics ranged from the application
of technology such as "GASB 34 Implementation using GIS"
and "Redistricting Collin County, Texas" to training in
technology as in "Advances in GPS/GIS Technology," and
"Linking Public Schools with Technology Education."
In the late afternoon, the conference theme was explored
in a panel discussion moderated by Leann Wheeler of Geo Info, Tyler,
Texas. A panel of local, public and private leaders in the D/FW
Metroplex discussed current and future demands placed on our existing
educational and workplace systems as Texas strives towards a Digital
Economy. This forum for exploring our conference theme received
high marks from the audience.
The conference closed with a reception in the Exhibit
Hall hosted by ESRI. Drawings for gift giveaways were followed by
concluding remarks from NCT President-Elect and Conference Chairman,
Jeff Coffey. Thanks were given all around to attendees, presenters,
speakers, and exhibitors, along with a special invitation to return
next year.


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