Archives
14/12
SAVE Money On Your 2009 Membership Now!
I have some good news and bad news. First the BAD NEWS: The bad news is that the down-turn in the economy is having a direct impact on Local, State, and Federal Government operational funding and grants. So taking a realistic look at IGIC's funding opportunities in 2009 we see that:
- The Indiana State Legislature in 2009 will not be able to allocate any money to the IndianaMap fund.
- The Indiana State Government Agencies, who are avid contributors and users of the IndianaMap, due to mandated 10%+ internal budget cut backs will be hard pressed to provide any financial support to the IndianaMap through their operational budgets.
- IGIC is currently funded 100% by soft-money (project grants), and all existing projects are finishing up this month.
- The budgets of our traditional government and corporate sources of grant monies are being cut back, and what monies will be available in 2009 will be competed for by more organizations.
- Our existing IGIC members (individual, corporate and institutional) are all directly impacted by this recession, and at best - money is tight.
We all recognize that for IGIC to survive we need to take action to bring in more revenue, so on Friday, December 12, 2008 the IGIC Board of Directors held a special board meeting and approved a new IGIC Membership Plan for 2009. This new plan created nine new categories of membership, while also increasing all membership rates for 2009. The approved plan is summarized below, and it will become effective on January 1, 2009. Our old IGIC membership rates will remain in effect through the end of December, so you can save money on your 2009 membership by joining before January 1, 2009.
2009 IGIC Membership Categories & Rates
1. Member (Individual) $90.00
2. Member (Corporate) $400.00
Additional Member $45.00
3. Member (Institution) $200.00
Additional Member $45.00
4. Member (Enterprise) $1,000.00
Additional Member $45.00
5. Member (Affiliate) $300.00
Additional Member $90.00
6. Member (Full-Time Student) $25.00
7. Sponsor (Institution) $1,000.00
8. Sponsor (Affiliate) $1,500.00
9. Sponsor (Corporate) $2,000.00
10. Sponsor (Enterprise) $5,000.00
11. Subscription (Library) $50.00
12. Subscription (K-12 School) $35.00
13. Subscription (Individual)* $10.00
*Note: All listserv members will receive the IGIC Newsletter at no cost, but a donation of $10 is requested.
Now for the GOOD NEWS: The good news is that IGIC from a financial perspective should survive this next year. We (all IGIC listserv members) are in control of the future of IGIC. If we all contribute through paid IGIC Membership, and support/attendance at our 2009 Annual Conference, IGIC will be able to survive 2009. That is not to say that we will not be actively pursuing new grants and funding opportunities that may be available. But, if we are able to meet our 2009 Membership and Conference revenue goals, and we do experience a worse case scenario of no new grant/project funding, with some additional help from our remaining cash reserves we will not be forced to close our doors in 2009.
Why am I optimistic? IGIC's Annual Conferences have always been a great success, and there is every reason to think that our 2009 Conference will also be a success. With our new venue in Bloomington this year we are still in central Indiana (and near Indianapolis), but our out-of-pocket venue costs are lower. We have also added a new one-day registration option for attendees to allow people who want to make the conference a day-trip. Additionally, our new venue is in the heart of a vibrant college town, and also provides access to Indiana University training resources so we can offer hands-on CEU credited GIS Workshops at two of IU's computer lab facilities.
IGIC will be conducting a Membership Drive in 2009 to help increase our overall membership to provide direct financial support for our organization. Approximately 300 of the 1,200 people who currently receive this newsletter are paying members of IGIC in 2008. We need to do better in 2009, and I have confidence that we will! We all need to recognize the value of our organization. By joining IGIC you provide the financial support to continue the advancement of GIS in Indiana and our organization.
Thanks to everyone in advance for your support, and Happy Holidays;
I have some good news and bad news. First the BAD NEWS: The bad news is that the down-turn in the economy is having a direct impact on Local, State, and Federal Government operational funding and grants. So taking a realistic look at IGIC's funding opportunities in 2009 we see that:
- The Indiana State Legislature in 2009 will not be able to allocate any money to the IndianaMap fund.
- The Indiana State Government Agencies, who are avid contributors and users of the IndianaMap, due to mandated 10%+ internal budget cut backs will be hard pressed to provide any financial support to the IndianaMap through their operational budgets.
- IGIC is currently funded 100% by soft-money (project grants), and all existing projects are finishing up this month.
- The budgets of our traditional government and corporate sources of grant monies are being cut back, and what monies will be available in 2009 will be competed for by more organizations.
- Our existing IGIC members (individual, corporate and institutional) are all directly impacted by this recession, and at best - money is tight.
We all recognize that for IGIC to survive we need to take action to bring in more revenue, so on Friday, December 12, 2008 the IGIC Board of Directors held a special board meeting and approved a new IGIC Membership Plan for 2009. This new plan created nine new categories of membership, while also increasing all membership rates for 2009. The approved plan is summarized below, and it will become effective on January 1, 2009. Our old IGIC membership rates will remain in effect through the end of December, so you can save money on your 2009 membership by joining before January 1, 2009.
2009 IGIC Membership Categories & Rates
1. Member (Individual) $90.00
2. Member (Corporate) $400.00
Additional Member $45.00
3. Member (Institution) $200.00
Additional Member $45.00
4. Member (Enterprise) $1,000.00
Additional Member $45.00
5. Member (Affiliate) $300.00
Additional Member $90.00
6. Member (Full-Time Student) $25.00
7. Sponsor (Institution) $1,000.00
8. Sponsor (Affiliate) $1,500.00
9. Sponsor (Corporate) $2,000.00
10. Sponsor (Enterprise) $5,000.00
11. Subscription (Library) $50.00
12. Subscription (K-12 School) $35.00
13. Subscription (Individual)* $10.00
*Note: All listserv members will receive the IGIC Newsletter at no cost, but a donation of $10 is requested.
Now for the GOOD NEWS: The good news is that IGIC from a financial perspective should survive this next year. We (all IGIC listserv members) are in control of the future of IGIC. If we all contribute through paid IGIC Membership, and support/attendance at our 2009 Annual Conference, IGIC will be able to survive 2009. That is not to say that we will not be actively pursuing new grants and funding opportunities that may be available. But, if we are able to meet our 2009 Membership and Conference revenue goals, and we do experience a worse case scenario of no new grant/project funding, with some additional help from our remaining cash reserves we will not be forced to close our doors in 2009.
Why am I optimistic? IGIC's Annual Conferences have always been a great success, and there is every reason to think that our 2009 Conference will also be a success. With our new venue in Bloomington this year we are still in central Indiana (and near Indianapolis), but our out-of-pocket venue costs are lower. We have also added a new one-day registration option for attendees to allow people who want to make the conference a day-trip. Additionally, our new venue is in the heart of a vibrant college town, and also provides access to Indiana University training resources so we can offer hands-on CEU credited GIS Workshops at two of IU's computer lab facilities.
IGIC will be conducting a Membership Drive in 2009 to help increase our overall membership to provide direct financial support for our organization. Approximately 300 of the 1,200 people who currently receive this newsletter are paying members of IGIC in 2008. We need to do better in 2009, and I have confidence that we will! We all need to recognize the value of our organization. By joining IGIC you provide the financial support to continue the advancement of GIS in Indiana and our organization.
Thanks to everyone in advance for your support, and Happy Holidays;
Phil Worrall