Mission Statement:  The Cartography and Geographic Information Society supports research, education and practice to improve the understanding, creation, analysis, and use of maps and geographic information to support effective decision-making and improve the quality of life.

Dear CaGIS member:                                                         Download 2008 CaGIS application form

Thank you for continuing to support to the Cartography and Geographic Information Society through your membership to the Cartography and Geographic Information Society!  I am pleased to report that the Society is growing in numbers and that it continues to work on behalf of the cartographic and GIS community through its numerous projects, awards and scholarships, and activities.  Some of the highlights of the year 2007 as well as what’s coming in 2008 are listed below.

You might notice that we have changed some of our membership categories.  We have eliminated the Associate Member category and folded the eligibility for such members into the Full Member category.  We also added a new Early Career category for recent graduates – for two years following graduation, the annual membership costs are halved to help these former students as they follow their new career paths.  In addition, we added a Life Member category for those who envision a lifetime of support for and benefits from the society.

You may also notice that we increased the dues this year by a modest amount ($5.00 for Full Members). This increase will partly help to offset the Early Career member savings, and partly cover cost increases in providing other member benefits.  Here is where your membership dollars go:

• CaGIS Journal:  This is our flagship publication -- through the publication of authoritative articles and international papers, it serves as a forum for the exchange of original concepts, techniques, approaches, and experiences by those who design, implement, and use geospatial technologies.  Access it online at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/acsm/cagis.
• ACSM Bulletin:  This professional magazine offers helpful information about all the mapping sciences. Access it online at: http://www.acsmcongress.org/webmazine.htm.

• AutoCarto Conference:  In 2004, CaGIS resurrected the long-successful AutoCarto Conference to bring together from around the world researchers and scientists who are working at the interface of cartography and GIScience.  AutoCarto 2008 will be held at the beautiful National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV from September 6-10, 2008.
• U.S. National Committee to the International Cartographic Association (USNC-ICA):  CaGIS is the organization that represents the U.S. to the ICA.  The ICA meeting is held every two years -- this year it was in Moscow in August.  CaGIS helped to fund a majority of the 50+ U.S. members who attended to present papers and posters to our international colleagues.  We will do the same for the 2009 conference in Santiago, Chile.
•  Awards and Scholarships:  CaGIS sponsors a number of student awards, including the Student Map Design Competition, the CaGIS Journal Student Paper Award and the CaGIS Scholarship.  In addition we honor our more experienced colleagues through the Professional Map Design Competition (now in its 35^th year!), the Fennel Award, the ACSM Fellows Award, and our newly instituted CaGIS Lifetime Achievement Award.
• National and International Representation:  CaGIS participates in a number of activities that influence both legislation and regulations at the federal level. Through the ACSM Joint Government Affairs Committee, participation in the North American GeoForum and representation on the Geospatial Stakeholders Group, we monitor and provide input on issues of national, regional and local concern.  Your issues are our issues!

There are additional benefits as well -- check out the CaGIS web site at www.cartogis.org to learn more.  We will keep you posted about more CaGIS activities as they arise! 

Your participation in the society is what keeps it vital.  Give us your input on issues, contribute articles for our publications or offer to serve as a board or committee member – your contribution makes a difference!

Again, thank you for continuing to support your organization – it exists to serve you all.

Aileen R. Buckley

2007 CaGIS President