“Celebrate Your Place in the World on GIS Day!”

The Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, North Carolina, celebrated the "GIS Day 2008" by organizing a day-long "Map Gallery and Open House" event in the Central Services Office Building, Growth and Planning Department, Demographics Office, 3600 Wake Forest Road, Suite 1321, on November 19th, 2008.

The "GIS DAY 2008" event was a great success. The map gallery and multi-media presentation was visited by parents, students, and staff from WCPSS departments. A display of about 30 maps demonstrated a variety of GIS techniques used for planning and demographic studies, and for student assignment. The guest speaker was Mr. Bill Shroyer, GISP, Wake County Planning, who gave an inspirational presentation on how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help address local and global issues every day. Several staff members expressed interest in access to GIS software, and in GIS courses so that they could start using this magnificent tool as soon as possible.

About 50 people voted on their favorite map, and a drawing was held to select five prize winners (see the map and prize winners list). (SEE the map exhibition).

Our GIS Day event success story (and photos) have been processed and are now live on the Web site; you can view it at: http://gis.esri.com/gisday/successstory_search1.cfm?eventID=10365.

Thanks again to all participants in the "GIS DAY 2008" celebration that helped raise awareness of Geographic Information Systems!