ESRI UC 2008 - Facebook

http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/ucblog/archive/2008/07/03/tips-for-building-relationship.aspx

Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:11 AM - ESRI-UC-Team

Tips for Building Relationships

How often do you get to spend a week with 14,000 GIS users? Take advantage of this opportunity by developing relationships with other attendees.
Here are some ways to build your network at the conference.

Prior to the conference, visit the ESRI UC Facebook site. Go to http://www.facebook.com/ and search for the group Official ESRI UC 2008. Connect with users attending the conference and peruse behind-the-scenes content posted by ESRI staff.

Once on site, visit the Welcome Social on Sunday evening. Pick up your registration materials and meet other users in a casual setting.

Attend the Map Gallery Opening on Monday after the Plenary. Your fellow GIS users are doing amazing work. Check out all the maps and special displays to see cutting-edge projects and get ideas that you can use in your own GIS efforts.

Just when the conference seems too big, drop by a regional user group (RUG) or special interest group (SIG) meeting to gather with users from your area of the world and/or your industry.

To meet ESRI staff, visit the ESRI Showcase area in the Exhibit Pavilion. ESRI industry staff and product specialists will be on hand to help you in whatever way they can. While there, get to know ESRI Business Partners and representatives from professional associations.

Attend user presentations and meet the authors. Presentations are grouped into tracks by industry for learning from others, sharing ideas, and discovering new GIS applications.

Throughout the week there are plenty of social activities where you can meet other users.

The ESRI UC is your show. Take time to talk to someone about your conference experience or ask another attendee what they find interesting. You might be surprised how easy it is to strike up a conversation. The friends you make will enrich your experience.