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Maps Matter

(http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.net/uploaded_images/IA-copy-795563 NULL.jpg)For those of us working with maps and GIS on a day to day basis, we know this statement to be true….”maps matter”.  But I’ll be the first to admit that there are times when it can be a challenge to communicate how much maps really do matter.

To assist in starting this conversation, the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) (http://www NULL.nsgic NULL.org/) has produced a series of marketing materials templates that they have provided to States to use.  For Iowa, there are a total of  11 of these sheets that are available to IGIC members to use in their marketing and outreach efforts:

  • Maps Matter Agriculture (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Agriculture-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Economic Development (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-EconomicDevelopment-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Education (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Education-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Emergency Response (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-EmergencyResponse-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Energy (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Energy-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Environment (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Environment-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Health (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Health-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Homeland Security (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-HomelandSecurity-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Law Enforcement (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-LawEnforcement-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Planning (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Planning-IA NULL.pdf) 
  • Maps Matter Transportation (http://www NULL.iowagic NULL.org/about/committee/outreach/marketing-materials/NSGIC-MapsMatter-Transportation-IA NULL.pdf) 
The templates that are posted to the IGIC website all are in pdf format and have been customized with IGIC contact information.  Here is the great thing about this effort from NSGIC, they don’t have to stay that way!  If you would like to customize them, just let IGIC (info null@null iowagic NULL.net) know and we’ll get you a copy of a Microsoft Word document that you can customize with your own contact information, examples, text, bullets, images, etc.  
Obviously a big thank you goes out to NSGIC for making these available.  Now, here is the key, don’t let them sit on the shelf and gather dust.  Customize, print, distribute and repeat.
There have already been several instances where these items have been distributed to assist newly elected officials get up to speed on how geospatial technologies are utilized.  With 11 ‘flavors’ to choose from it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that fits your needs.

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