TAGITM,

As I write this over my lunch break on the second day of the NCAA Men’s tourney and the first day of NCAA Women’s Tourney, we find ourselves in the middle of March Madness.  By the time you read this, we will be very close to our own version of April Awesomeness.  Our Awesomeness isn’t three weekends long, but we pack a lot into the 4 days of the TAGITM Annual Conference.  It’s here, y’all!  It’s time for “All Systems Go” at La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio.  Registration is open, and I hope you have already signed up.  If you haven’t looked at the specifics and the agenda, make sure you check out all things related to the conference here. 

I said at the end of last year’s conference when I became President, that if I didn’t burn the whole thing down, I would consider this year a success.  We are still here, so I guess it’s been an alright year.  Let’s look at what has happened in the last year…

1. Masks aren’t a major thing anymore.
2. Queen Elizabeth passed.
3. Britain had three Prime Ministers in two months.
4. Russia and Ukraine are still at war.
5. Inflation has continued to rise.
6. Apple hit the $3 trillion market cap record.
7. The slap heard across America courtesy of Will Smith. (Don’t come on stage at the conference, peeps. I will be prepared! 😊)
8. Roe v Wade was overturned.
9. The US got a new Supreme Court Justice.
10. Japan had a PM assassinated.
11. Elon bought Twitter.
12. World Population hit 8 billion.
13. Nuclear Fusion became a reality.
14. Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, erupted.
15. NASA launched Artemis 1, trying to put humans back on the moon.

That’s an amazing list of events during and since 2022.  I don’t know if it will happen, but I think this year’s conference has a good chance of making a similar list of notable events for 2023.  It’s gonna be that good!  We have a great line-up of breakout sessions, a sold-out Sponsor Exhibit Hall, Top Golf makes a return, some great Keynote Speakers, a GIS specific day with GIS focused sessions in one track all day, a free Wednesday night where most of us spend the evening with Industry Partners in a smaller setting, and we finish it off with an awesome Thursday night party.  I am still working on an appearance by Maverick, but scheduling is a challenge.  Even if Tom doesn’t make it, there is something for everyone at this conference.  We would love to see the most GIS attendees we have ever seen, so we can continue to expand offerings to that growing segment of our membership. 

By the way, speaking of the conference, I have a very selfish Presidential request.  I collect Challenge Coins.  I know many of you out there have these for your department/City/PD/Fire/etc.  I have a few from other member agencies like Seguin, Little Elm, Friendswood, Murphy, Hurst, and Bryan.  I would be eternally grateful for any additions you may bring my way.  Heck, I will trade you an adult beverage for one of your coins.  I have an idea for a display I want to do for my office of just TAGITM related coins.  I have one for my Navy Son’s career I am following, and I thought I would extend the collection to my TAGITM friends and memories.  Bring ‘em if you got ‘em, please!

Tony Gonzalez,

TAGITM President