As a member of GAASC, we welcome you into a community of decision makers whose commitment to geospatial and informational technology (GIS & IT) drives us to think out of the box. The unique issues facing local government decision makers requires that solutions – common issues, new technology lessons learned, and other experiences – be shared among peers.

The vision for GAASC is a forum where members discuss a wide variety of topics relating to geospatial and information technologies. Not only discuss the issues, but work to develop and complete relevant projects. It is important that we move “discussions” beyond the discussion stage and develop standards, policies, templates and documents that give real world value to the organization. IT and GIS can no longer be considered separate disciplines – one drives the other. Issues that were once divided between departments are now inseparable. This is more evident as many jurisdictions take the two disciplines and combine their efforts under one department.

The success of GAASC will depend on its members. Part of the vision for the association is that you, the membership, drive the issues and topics for discussion at events, and that those same issues drive the content of the GAASC website (www.gaa-sc.org). The website will become a resource for sharing policies, documents, job descriptions, specifications, RFP’s and more. We invite you as a member not only to use these resources, but to share your knowledge, skills and lessons learned for the benefit of all.

We will also attempt to provide members with surveys throughout the year to assist in gathering information – not only for topical input for workshops and events, but to make sure that the topics discussed are relevant to your organization. Those surveys better assist the Board of Directors in determining the hot topics that are affecting the membership and add value to GAASC.

We encourage you to invite others to become a member and work together to address many of the issues confronting us as decision makers on the IT/GIS front lines.