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<p class=MsoNormal>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Many of you are probably aware of the immanent closing of
21degree programs at Florida State University. These closings have
some very troubling implications for the GIS community in our region, as well
as the whole state of Florida and potentially other areas of the country. Among
the programs slated for closing are Geography (School of Social Sciences) and
Geology (School of Arts and Sciences), and possible reduction in other programs
such as Urban Planning. These programs have been an important source of
university graduates trained in GIS and related fields of geography, demographics,
remote sensing, air photo interpretation and the environmental sciences. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Loss of these programs could produce a major regional
shortage in professionals in fields that utilize GIS/GPS and other geospatial
technologies. Florida’s legislators and the FSU Board of Trustees
have to make some very hard decisions regarding expenditures within the state
University budgets. In making their decisions they need to be informed
about how their decisions may have a critical effect on the state’s future
productivity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>It is crucial that we continue to prepare the next
generation of geoscience professionals to meet the challenges we face in the
near future. I think it is important that the GIS community impress upon
our government and education leaders the vital role that geospatial sciences
and technologies now play in nearly all areas of a functioning society. I
would like to suggest that we as a community develop a white paper to educate
our leaders about how the knowledge and use of geospatial technologies operate
in responding to the challenges of climate change, public health threats,
disaster and emergency response and management, transportation, environmental
management, and safe food and water supply. I think a white paper would
be especially effective if it were to be presented to the legislature and
trustees by the private professional community, thus reflecting an advocacy
beyond the University (i.e., the ones losing their jobs). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>If you are interested in helping craft and deliver a white
paper on behalf of the geosciences community, please reply to this email.
As an individual, you can voice your concern by contacting the legislative
budget negotiators using the e-mail and phone information, which can be found
at:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://govrel.fsu.edu/legisletter2009/LegisLetter_090420.pdf">http://govrel.fsu.edu/legisletter2009/LegisLetter_090420.pdf</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>If you are employed by a governmental agency you must use a
personal phone or personal e-mail account. Individuals working in the
private sector are not under this restriction. What would really help is
to be able to relate to legislators and trustees the importance of GIS and
geospatial training to the productivity of all levels of government and the
private sector, particularly in the issues that you are familiar with or deal
with on a regular basis. If you know any legislator on a personal
basis your help would be especially important. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Following the final vote by the House and Senate decisions
still have to be made on the University level. Contacting the president
of the University (T. K. Wetherell) and especially the Board of Trustees of the
University will be critical to the final decisions regarding these critical
programs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Contact information for T.K. Wetherell:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Dr. T.K. Wetherell<br>
Office of the President<br>
Florida State University<br>
Tallahassee, FL 32306<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>850-644-1085<span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Wetherell@fsu.edu</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The FSU Board of Trustees is
scheduled to meet on June 17 and 18. It is important to contact members of the
Trustees well before this date. The directory and contact information (phone
numbers and mailing addresses and limited e-mail addresses) for the Trustees
members can be found at: </span><cite><span style='font-style:normal'><a
href="http://trustees.fsu.edu/">http://trustees.fsu.edu/</a><o:p></o:p></span></cite></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><cite><span style='font-style:normal'><o:p> </o:p></span></cite></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><cite><b><o:p> </o:p></b></cite></p>
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