December 8th, 2006 MRGAC Meeting Minutes

• The December 2006 MRGAC meeting was held December 8th by the National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center on campus at UNC-Asheville, from 10:00am until 12:00pm.

• The 31 Attendees included:
- Tom Tribble – NC CGIA
- Art Rex – Appalachian State University
- Jon Beck – LORSC
- Glen Locascio – NCDA
- Michael Cole – City of Asheville
- Nick Harvey – City of Asheville
- David Abernathy – Warren Wilson College
- Bruce Burleson – Air Force Combat Climatology Center
- Jack Drost – Henderson County
- Greg Christo – IPDC
- David Weisgerber – Polk County
- Ann Witt – NCGS
- Angela Brown – NC Arboretum
- Pam Silvers – ABTech
- Chris Miller – Town of Boone
- Scott Huffman – Region D COG
- Pete Kennedy – Haywood Community College
- Josh O’Conner – Haywood Community College
- Holly Hixson – US Forest Service
- Jamie Adrignola – Town of Mills River
- Katie Brewer – Henderson County
- Laura Pickens – US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Janet Lowe – Buncombe County
- Karen Brown – Buncombe County
- Vicki Magnis – Buncombe County
- Gene Hume – Buncombe County
- Frank Obusek – NC CGIA
- Steve Ansari – NCDC
- Bart Voskuil – Western Carolina University
- Greg Dobson – NEMAC
- Jim Fox – NEMAC

• Greg Dobson and Jim Fox, from NEMAC, gave a presentation on GIS at NEMAC: Converting Local GIS Data into 3D Visualizations and the new RENCI Asheville Engagement Site

• Representatives from six Western North Carolina Colleges and Universities talked about GIS in their respected programs, and specifically what training and education options exist.
- Art Rex – ASU, Pam Silvers – ABTech, Pete Kennedy – HCC, Greg Dobson – UNCA, David Abernathy – WWC, Bart Voskuil – WCU

• Tom Tribble (NC CGIA) updated the group on the 2007 NC GIS Conference. He then facilitated a discussion on the history and current state of MRGAC, and fielded questions from the group as to how satisfied the members are with MRGAC, what changes could be made, etc. Time ran short, and Tom stated that he would get back with the group with a write up of what was discussed so that the members could make additional comments and suggestions.