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NACIS News: January 2024

Date posted: January 6, 2024

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The NACIS Mentor Program expands in 2024

Love sharing your passion for maps and want to contribute to NACIS? Or do you wish you could learn more about how to navigate your career in the professional mapping world? We have the program for you! In the NACIS Mentor Program, mentees and mentors are matched for a series of virtual conversations over six months (March – August 2024). Participation is free.

An image of a compass with the needle pointing to the word "career"

In 2023, the inaugural year of our Mentor Program was a success, and we heard from a lot of mid-career professionals that they wish they could have participated as mentees. This year, wishes come true: we’re opening up our Mentor Program to mentees of any experience level.

To volunteer as a mentor or participate as a mentee, log into the NACIS website, review the program details, and complete the application form (NACIS membership is required). The more detail you include on the application, the higher the likelihood that the Mentor Program coordinators will provide a good match.

Deadline to apply: February 6. Pairing announcements will be emailed by March 3.

NACIS member survey results

Last year we conducted our first member census since 2013. Our goal was to better understand the identities and experiences of our NACIS community. Over 200 members responded, and you can view the results here. This information will help the board develop initiatives and experiences that are meaningful to our members and critical to the future health of our Society. Many thanks to Daniel Huffman for putting the census together and Erin Greb for analyzing the results.

Watch Party: Building a 3D topo map

Our next Watch Party will be on Thursday, Jan 11th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST, where you can learn Professor Jen Mapes’s process for creating a beautiful 3D topographic map to illustrate the history of campus wetlands. Here’s how:

Join the NACIS Slack channel #nacis-watchparty
For the first 15 minutes, watch Professor Mapes’s talk on YouTube: Building a 3D Topo Map (you can also watch it any time before the watch party).
At 3:15 pm EST, join Professor Mapes on Slack for a vibrant Q&A and discussion about her 3D mapmaking experience and process.

Did you leave something in Pittsburgh?

A few items were left at the Pittsburgh conference. If you’re missing an item of clothing, please contact business@nacis.org with a description and we can get it back to you.

Submit your map to the Atlas of Design today

Digital or physical, 2D and 3D, the traditional and the unconventional—the Atlas is seeking maps that will inspire readers toward new understandings of design, and of the power that a well-crafted map can have. Submit yours for Volume 7. All submissions must be received by January 21, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST. For more information about the Atlas and submissions, check out our FAQ.

Seeking nominations for board members

Nominations are open for the NACIS board, and you can nominate yourself or someone else. We’re looking for nominees for three Directors at Large and for our four-year presidential track. The deadline for nominations has been extended to March 31st.

After the deadline, the Nominations Committee will reach out to all nominees to confirm their interest and request a biography and candidate statement for the ballot. The election by secret ballot will occur in September, and the candidate(s) with the largest number of votes will be elected. All candidates will be notified of the election results prior to the annual meeting.

Serving on the board is a two-year commitment. Directors participate in virtual and in-person board meetings throughout the year, serve on committees, help organize the annual conference and other NACIS events, and perform outreach. Our volunteer board is in constant need of new faces, energy, and ideas to keep the organization healthy.

Please reach out to the Nominations Committee or any current or former board member if you have questions about the Director at Large position or the nominations process.

CaGIS map design competition closes soon

Submissions are open for the CaGIS Annual Map Design Competition. The competition is open to all mapmakers in the United States and Canada for maps completed or published during the calendar year of 2023. Students are particularly encouraged to apply and are eligible for cash prizes.

The deadline is January 31st, and entry is free for all. See award categories and entry details here.

Banner image by Noel Bauza via Pixabay