Held as part of the National Geographic Society's Geography Awareness Week and Geography Action! initiative, GIS Day is an international grassroots event to promote geographic literacy in schools, communities, and organizations.

Last year, children and adults from more than 70 countries around the globe participated in activities ranging from corporate open houses to hands-on workshops, community expos, schoolwide assemblies, mapping projects, geography games, GPS scavenger hunts, and more.

Why Participate?

As a GIS professional, you have invested a great deal of time and effort into your knowledge and understanding of GIS. You have found that GIS gives you and your organization the power to think and plan geographically, as well as the valuable tools needed to model and map your world for better decision making. Some of you may find it difficult to share these benefits and your excitement for GIS with colleagues and community members who remain unfamiliar with these new geography-inspired technologies. If this is a challenge you face, then GIS Day may be just the thing you are looking for.

GIS Day provides the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your work and a forum for teaching others about the significant contribution this exciting technology is making in their lives and communities each day.

How to Participate

Participation is easy and can be as simple as making a presentation at a local school; hosting an open house event, informational meeting, or user group; or proclaiming GIS Day in your city, town, or county. Plenty of information and useful ideas are available on the GIS Day Web site at www.gisday.com.

Mark Your Calendar Today

Wednesday, November 15, 2006, will mark GIS Day's eighth annual celebration. We invite you to join us as we celebrate how geography and GIS technology help people and communities all over the planet. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to share your knowledge!

For more information or to register your GIS Day 2006 events, visit www.gisday.com or contact Maria Jordan, Esri's GIS Day coordinator (e-mail: mjordan@esri.com).