<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">MapServer Users, <br><br>Below is a general announcement about the 2013 FOSS4G NA Conference. I am guessing that you have already seen it, but I want to pass it along in case you haven't. <br>
<br>In looking at the presentation abstracts that have been submitted to date, I have not seen any presentations related to MapServer. It would be great to see some MapServer representation at the conference. Some potential topics include:<br>
<br>- New features / roadmap (The state of MapServer)<br>- MapCache, not enough people know about MapCache<br>- Case Studies, cool projects, etc.<br><br>Just remember, only two weeks until the February 14th deadline for submitting presentation abstracts. <br>
<br>Also, if you work for an organization that uses MapServer and are in a position to support the conference, please consider sponsorship. <a href="http://foss4g-na.org/sponsor/">http://foss4g-na.org/sponsor/</a><br><br>
David.<br><br><br><br><br><br>
<br>The
planning committee of the 2013 Free and Open Source Software for
Geospatial North America (FOSS4G-NA) conference to be held May 22-24 in
Minneapolis, MN is pleased to make
the following announcements which were recently posted to our website
at </span>
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://foss4g-na.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">http://foss4g-na.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">REGISTRATION</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<a href="https://foss4gna.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Registration is now open!
</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <u>Register by April 1, 2013</u> to get the Early Bird rate.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KEYNOTES</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Two superb
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://foss4g-na.org/keynote-speakers/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">keynote presentations</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
have been confirmed. More keynotes to be announced soon!</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Eric Gundersen, CEO, MapBox</span></u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. With big names converting from Google Maps to MapBox (USA
Today, Foursquare, etc.), Eric will be discussing the business proposition/value of open source geo.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Erek Dyskant, Sr. Analytics Engineer, Democratic National Committee</span></u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.
Whether you were
happy or sad with the outcome of the recent election, they must have
done something right! Erek talk about how open source solutions were
used to empower tacticians with geospatial data, and describe what drove
the intentional choice of using open source.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://foss4g-na.org/call-for-presentations" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Call for Presentations</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
is open until February 15, 2013. Do you have something great to show
off? We are looking for presentations, ignite talks, and panel
suggestions.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFBocHhBMTY3TUdjZ0RHSkdlTjB0S3c6MA#gid=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Submit</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
your abstract soon to be considered for this year’s event. Know of
interesting work others have been doing that you want to hear more
about? Urge them to
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFBocHhBMTY3TUdjZ0RHSkdlTjB0S3c6MA#gid=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">submit</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
an abstract!</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">SPONSORSHIP</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Help us throw a great event! Information for sponsors is
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://foss4g-na.org/sponsor" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">now available</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.
Of note this year is the Free Sponsor Day. Platinum and Gold level
sponsors will receive a room on the third day of the conference to be
able to present their own track. Admission on this day is free!</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">GALA</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Thursday, May 23rd we will be having a Gala event at the
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://www.millcitymuseum.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mill City Museum</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
on the Mississippi River waterfront. Come to one of the original flour
mills that made Minneapolis the nation’s largest milling center for
decades. Along with dinner and drinks, the entire museum will be open
for exploring.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">DIVERSITY</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In
an effort to foster a diversity of voices the community voting will be
done in a "presenter anonymous" fashion. In other words, you will be
voting for the topic and abstract
content, not the potential presenter. FOSS4G-NA is dedicated to a </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="http://foss4g-na.org/harrassment-policy/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">harassment-free conference
experience</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">ROOM BLOCK</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A limited room block is available at the venue (</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=10414123" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Marriott
City Center</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">).</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CODE SPRINT</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There will be a code sprint concurrent with the sponsor day on May 24th.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="https://foss4gna.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Registration</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
is free but required for the code sprint.</span>