What a year 2024 was! I had the great honor of helping organize the 2024 Young Professional Initiative, where young professionals in the GIS industry attended virtual coffee chats, informative lunch-and-learns, and gathered for both an all-day workshop and an end-of-year social. I met so many inspiring YPs at these events. One thing I find myself saying every single time is: Get involved with this organization today. And many of them have!
But what does getting involved look like? What are the benefits? How do you run for the board? Let’s dive in.
What Does Getting Involved Look Like?
First and foremost, volunteering for this organization is a "choose your own adventure"—you can be as involved as you're comfortable with. When I started way back in 2014, I was a shy introvert who only took up the task because the conference booklet committee was something I could do without talking to too many strangers, and I had a buddy to split the work with.
Becoming a Member
The first step to getting involved with WAGISA is becoming a member. Members gain access to our annual in-person meeting, our event calendar, and discounts on future events. We work hard to keep membership costs low—just $25 for professionals and $15 for students. Membership dues support our many professional development opportunities, special interest group events, scholarships, and awards. Become a member today!
Conference Planning Committee
Our conference committee is a dynamic mix of veteran volunteers and promising newcomers. There’s always something to do! If you want to help with planning, I highly recommend joining the committee. We’ll help you find a role that suits your skills—all we ask is that you reliably attend meetings and complete your action items. If you want to ease into it, ask to be paired with an experienced volunteer. If you’re eager to showcase your leadership skills, consider chairing a subcommittee. For more information and to get involved for 2025 email: cc@wagisa.org
Conference Volunteer
If you can't commit to the planning team, consider being a day-of volunteer. This means helping set up, running the registration desk, assisting the conference coordinator, or cleaning up after the event. It’s a great way to work with people in person—and having a task while networking makes talking with strangers easier!
Committee Member
Beyond the Conference Committee, we have several other regular committees that you can join and contribute to year round.
● Marketing Committee – Develops social media posts, designs logos, posts jobs to our job board, and directs WAGISA’s outward communication.
● Summit Scoop Committee – Curates and publishes blog content by writing articles, gathering stories, editing submissions, and sharing posts from members, sponsors, and WAGISA board members.
● Community Engagement Committee – Organizes educational opportunities, outreach to Washington colleges and universities, facilities the Dick Thomas Student Competition, and coordinates Young Professional Initiative events.
● Professional Development – Plan workshops, networking events for members and GIS professionals.
● Special Interest Groups – Support our members in more targeted groups. WAGISA SIGS include Washington Local Government Leaders (WGGL) and Drones.
What Are the Benefits of Getting Involved?
Personal Development
Being a volunteer in this community offers immense personal growth. I’ve enhanced my networking skills by attending events, honed my facilitation abilities by leading meetings and committees, improved my web development expertise by working on the WAGISA webpage, and strengthened my problem-solving skills by navigating challenging situations. And I’m not alone—here’s are what two board members have told me unsolicited:
“A lot of the confidence I now possess, the composure that seemingly comes from nowhere, and the project structure I can provide comes from being a part of this organization.”
“It's so exciting to be in a position where I can grow my leadership skills and be involved in a committee/initiative I truly believe in!”
GISP Points
Volunteer work is valuable, but did you know you can quantify it for your GISP certification? To meet the GISP or renewal requirements, you need at least 8 points in the “Contributions to the Profession” category. Being a WAGISA member earns you 1 point per year, so in 8 years, you’d meet the requirement. However, if you’re a regular conference committee volunteer, you earn an additional 2 points annually—meaning you could qualify in just 3 years! Serving on a committee or the board also earns you 2 points per year. Before you know it, you’ll have more points than you need! https://www.gisci.org/Portals/0/Applicants/CON_1_The_Contributions_to_the_Profession_Point_Schedule.pdf
Making Connections That Can Help Your Career
At the 2018 Washington GIS Conference, I found myself sitting next to someone I recognized. After sneaking a look, I realized it was Steve from the City of Tacoma. Steve and I had briefly worked together via email while organizing the conference. After introducing myself, we started chatting—then had an in-depth discussion about Web AppBuilder. Just months later, I found myself interviewing for a job with Steve!
One of the biggest benefits of being involved with WAGISA is the opportunity to work with some of the most talented, friendly professionals—many of whom could become your future colleagues, mentors, or hiring managers.
How Do You Run for the Board?
I was a WAGISA volunteer for about four years before deciding to run for the board. According to our bylaws, the only requirement to run is being a dues-paying member. However, the strongest candidates have engaged with the WAGISA community through volunteer work, presentations, workshops, or attending meetings.
Being a board member is a significant commitment. Members-at-Large are expected to:
● Attend monthly remote board meetings.
● Participate in at least one additional committee meeting per month (and are encouraged to chair a committee).
● Assist with conference planning and/or volunteer for four hours during the annual conference.
You can read more about the qualifications and responsibilities here:https://wagisa.org/Member-At-Large. Being a board member is also the best pathway to running for an executive position like Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, or President. So if you want to become president someday, start volunteering tomorrow!
Final Thoughts
I often talk about the importance of personal branding, and for me, it all started by showing up and working hard for this organization. It has paid off in my career in more ways than I can count, which is why I always recommend it to both young and experienced professionals alike.
If you have any questions about my experience or how to get involved, my door is always open. Email me at president@wagisa.org.
Looking forward to seeing you all in June!
Christina Chelf, Current President
