History of SWIG

The Southwest Idaho GIS users group (affectionately known as SWIG) was envisioned by Sheldon Bluestein, former GIS Manager for the Assessor’s Office at Ada County. In about 2003, Anne Kawalec, then a GIS Analyst working with Sheldon, was tasked with getting the group going. With help from friends and colleagues, several “stand alone” meetings were held during those early years while the concept was being worked out and additional long-term organizers were enlisted. The user group meetings were an immediate success.

In 2006, the core SWIG organizers recognized the need for structure and documentation to help ensure the stability and survival of the users group. The core group responded by drafting the SWIG mission statement and chartering the SWIG steering committee, whose primary purpose is to ensure the continuity of the user group meetings. In addition, a step-by-step handbook was written to help guide volunteers in coordinating and delivering the SWIG general meetings.

The SWIG has been meeting regularly since early 2005. The general meetings and the steering committee are operated on a purely volunteer basis. The general SWIG meetings are held three times a year, typically on the first Tuesday of February and June, and a combined meeting, held in conjunction with the Idaho State GIS Users Meeting (IGUM), sometime in October. A step-by-step Organizers' Guide, compiled from the experiences of previous organizers, has been developed to provide detailed instructions and guidance for SWIG meeting organizers. In addition, steering committee members often serve on the organizers team for SWIG meetings. Volunteers are always welcome, if you are interested in volunteering to organize a SWIG general meeting, making a presentation at a SWIG general meeting, serving on the steering committee, or just want to contact one of the steering committee members, click here for contact information.

Information About the Steering Committee

The SWIG steering committee serves as a core for the Southwest Idaho GIS Users Group (SWIG), providing continuity from meeting to meeting. The members of the steering committee also provide some essential long-term administrative functions and offer overall guidance for the larger group when needed. The primary tasks of the Steering Committee are:

  • Manage (update, store, and distribute) the email contact list
  • Assist volunteers, as needed, with organizing the user group meetings
  • Help keep the SWIG going, as needed
  • Provide some long-range vision and organization, as needed

The steering committee meets as often as needed, typically about 5 times a year; the chair is responsible for calling Steering Committee meetings, setting agendas and goals, and ensuring that the Steering Committee is fulfilling its duties and responsibilities.