Greetings WAML!
I’m happy to announce that planning is underway for our 2017 annual meeting! This year the Executive Board has voted to increase WAML membership dues by $10 in order to fund two travel scholarships to attend this year’s meeting in Austin. Past recipients of WAML travel scholarships have brought tremendous benefit to our organization and our hope is to continue that tradition. Many thanks to Phil, Kat, and others who are working hard at getting the meeting planned.
In geospatial news, activities on the part of of the federal government continue to raise issues of concern. Data producing organizations and grant-funding agencies are facing potentially dramatic cuts to budgets and services. Access to public information is in danger of becoming regarded as a luxury rather than a basic function of government. It is inspiring to see preservation and access efforts galvanizing within cultural heritage and scientific organizations in order to keep data sustainable and available. I hope to see these kinds of initiatives expand in the near future as a means to reinforce the enduring value of public data.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding this year’s meeting as well as the details surrounding the scholarships. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Austin!
Kim Durante
WAML President
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