Survey Comments and Responses. 48 members replied to the survey

Question 1. How could MAUG best serve it’s members? What would you like to see from MAUG?

Annual conference,
Response: MAUG will continue to host an annual conference, currently the next conference is scheduled for August 2010.

More specialized training courses, training opportunities, Training, More training classes throughout the year
Response: MAUG will continue to have training sessions; our next set of training will be this August.  We are also considering having training classes throughout the year when we have space available for us to use and we can continue to get a good turnout for the classes. As far as specialized training is concerned it is difficult to get to specific on certain topics, although we understand that each of our members would like specific training for their exact job and/or field.  MAUG needs to keep the classes general in order to generate good attendance. 

Warehouse for sharing scripts and ideas
Response:  Although we would love to be able to supply this for our members, we feel that ESRI is doing a terrific job at this right now.   With their greater resources to bring this type of information together we feel it best for our members to use what’s currently available.  For information regarding scripts visit: http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.gateway 

Doing great!
Response: Thank you! Your MAUG board puts a lot of personal time into organizing conferences, events and training. Please take advantage of these opportunities. 

Provide venues for networking and sharing experience, More frequent meetings and opportunities to network. There area already quite a few monthly & regional GIS meetings in the Metroplex.
Response: We understand there are many different views on the frequency of meetings.  Some of our members would like more meetings, while others feel that the current frequency of GIS related meetings is adequate.  Still others feel there are too many meetings as it is. MAUG is trying to find a balance in the number of meetings and events that we host. MAUG has started a Google group on our website which we hope will facilitate networking and sharing experiences. We encourage all of our members to use each resource available to them for networking.  We also encourage our members to attend the monthly GIS Socials which are a great way to get to know your fellow area GIS users.
 

I basically try to keep up with trends in GIS but do not actively work in a GIS role. I am in civil engineering and am looking for opportunities to return to my degree field in GIS as licensing become more difficult with rule changes requiring more education and eventually a graduate degree from a certificated engineering program.
Response: There are several publications available for keeping up with GIS trends.  A quick internet search will reveal many options, including free ones delivered to your door.  ESRI also has a great website that is often updated with news: http://www.esri.com/news/index.html 

It is good to stay informed on what all GIS is being used for in the Metroplex for private, government, and academic interests in order to seek out collaborative win-win opportunities. Real life examples of projects and the data, methodology, and references they used to solve their issues.
Response: MAUG agrees and encourages all our members to keep up-to-date on the latest projects in our region. We feel that our meetings and conferences are great places to share your projects, and we encourage everyone to present their projects at these forums.  We also believe that the latest addition of a MAUG Google group will facilitate sharing of ideas and projects.  We strongly encourage everyone to use this application. 

How to videos created with camtasia.
Response: MAUG is committed to provide as many opportunities to our members as possible.  We have our new Live Learning Series coming on-line this month (May). Currently MAUG does not have the capabilities or the staff to provide a service that makes how -to videos, but MAUG feels that with the expanded ESRI online help this type of service is provided with greater depth and more up-to-date information.
 

More advanced ESRI training courses would be nice.
Response: We can help by forwarding all requests for specific ESRI Training to John Hunt, but please be aware that MAUG does not schedule or request ESRI training. The North Central Texas Council of Governments is an organization that regularly holds ESRI certified training.   Find out more about it here: http://gis.nctcog.org/classes.asp

As many information seminars that can be arranged would be helpful, especially things concerning ArcGIS Server and delivery of web-based GIS services.
Response: See number 2 in this list.

Well advertised Forum. Job postings Just brainstorming here
Response:  MAUG has created a classified section on our website which we hope will be useful to our members. But without our members input with job openings and advertising services we do not have the information to add to the page.  To contribute to this classified section please email MAUG. 

Provide Basic and Intermediate GIS training.
Response:  MAUG would like to be able to provide basic and Intermediate GIS training but at this time we feel that ESRI, and the local colleges and Universities can provide a much more structured program.  We do encourage our members to use the Live Learning Series to advance their knowledge and help them with new processes.
 

Continue to host meetings/workshops---allowing GISP's to get their points. Possibly create some interest groups within MAUG, maybe utilizing Facebook/Myspace/Twitter/Whatever to facilitate communication.
Response: MAUG will continue to host meetings and set up training opportunities for our members.  We are not currently looking at setting up any interest groups at this time, but we encourage our members to do so and will gladly help when we can - whether that is publishing interest group information on our website or making special announcements to our members. MAUG has set up a Google groups account to help facilitate communication between members, please visit the web site for more information: www.dfwmaug.com 

how to do projects
Response:  MAUG is committed to provide as much general training as possible, but unfortunately we are limited to the time we have available and our resources.  Project management is an extremely in-depth topic and currently we are not prepared or staffed to facilitate this type of training.  We are looking at several options in the future were we might be able to set up this type of training for our members.  The URISA Workshops are one such possibility.
 

News sharing forum, and more GIS events attracted to DFW. Have an events or news section on the website of up coming GIS related events. MAUG blog.
Response:  The newly created MAUG Google Group page will help with communication and sharing.  MAUG will also post any events and/or news on the website.  Please keep in mind that without our members help we will not know about all of the GIS events in the area or GIS news that comes out.  

More social gatherings. More social gatherings. Socials
Response: We heard you!  We have a MAUG social planned just about every month at different locations throughout the Metroplex.   MAUG GIS Socials are a great way to meet fellow GIS members. Please see the website for a list of upcoming Socials.  If you’ve never been to one come to the next one and find out what you’ve been missing.   And remember that it’s fine to bring non-GIS folks with you.  The more the merrier!
 

I feel like MAUG is providing for my needs.
Response: MAUG is delighted to hear it! Please let us know what we can do for you. The board members are always available and open to your suggestions. 

More region specific topics at conferences
Response:  We do not assign topics for presentations at our conferences. Although we feel that everyone would like to see this we are limited to what our members submit. Please encourage your fellow GIS’ers to present at the next conference.

Arcobjects, Adobe Flex programming for AGS

Web programming; getting your GIS to the web (outside of ESRI products),
geodatabase training.