Notes from ISAC’s 58th Fall School of Instruction & Policy Setting Conference
The Technology Agenda was not included in the ISAC conference brochure that was given to registered attendees but was printed on a separate flyer. Our group all agreed that this may have actually worked to our advantage as it tended to call more attention to the ICIT programs.
First session, Wednesday 9:00 – 11:45 – Round Table discussion of the formation, objectives, by-laws of a Technology Organization for county personnel moderated by Jim Rice. Roughly 34 people attended the first session and 41 after the break, including the ICIT board members. There was general agreement from those in attendance that our group is headed in the right direction is it’s efforts in creating bylaws, establishing ourselves as a not-for-profit organization and attempting to get the group designated as an ISAC affiliate.
Jim and Wayne Chizek went over the proposed bylaws that the organizational committee had prepared up to that point. Micah Cutler had been keeping track of the modifications and changes to the bylaws prior to the conference and she made additional modifications as various points were discussed. The issue of whether to have district representation on the board was well received and the attendees all agreed that using the same 6 districts as those used by ISAC made the most sense.
District 1 – Central 16 counties – currently represented by Wayne Chizek (Marshall), Scott Williams (Marshall), Ray Willis (Polk), Ken Agey (Polk)
District 2 – North Eastern 18 counties – currently represented by Jim Rice (Cerro Gordo)
District 3 – North Western 16 counties – currently represented by Dean Neal (Woodbury)
District 4 – South Western 18 counties – currently represented by Micah Cutler (Harrison)
District 5 – South Eastern 17 counties – currently represented by Pete Buckingham (Washington)
District 6 – Eastern 14 counties – currently represented by Bob Canney (Black Hawk), Jason Siebrecht (Linn)
At Large – representing any county that might not have an “IT” or “GIS” person within that county’s organization – currently represented by Randy Snyder (Warren)
Greg Davis of Solutions, raised the question of “vendors” being members of the group. The discussion was that since we were aspiring to get “ISAC Affiliate” designation, the current organizational board did not feel that we could accept “vendors” as members since they would not meet the definition of “county employee and/or any member of any board the the Board of Supervisors has appointed or is a member of” as defined in Article 6 Membership. The suggestion was made that we might give “vendors” a non-voting membership status. No motion was made to modify the current bylaws to include a non-voting membership.
Discussion about the role that ICIT should play in monitoring, proposing and either supporting or opposing proposed state legislation lead to a general agreement that ICIT should take an active role. The group agreed that there should be a standing “Legislative Committee” within ICIT.
Several proposed names for the group were discussed and the votes were mixed. The majority voted for “Iowa Counties Information Technology Organization”.
Theresa Wurth (Clay) moved to approve the proposed bylaws as ammended, seconded by Pete Buckingham (Washington), passed unanimously.
Carl Wilburn (Carroll) moved to implement the organization and move forward with the duties of the organization, seconded by Bill Buttrey (Marion), passed unanimously.
The list of candidates will be submitted at the ISAC Spring School in March and any additional nominations will be taken at that time. We expect to hold the first election of ICIT officers at the ISAC Fall School next fall. The issue of whether to vote for a person to fill the office of Past President was left undecided. Wayne Chizek will contact the ISAC board to continue the group’s efforts in getting “Affiliate” status.
Second session, Wednesday 1:00 – 2:30 – Digital Government Update, Ken Adrian & Kip Peters, IA Department of Technology and Marie Hubbard, Information Security Office
Third Session, Wednesday 3:00 – 4:30 – Digital Government Update continued, Kay Arvidson of Iowa Interactive
Fourth session, Thursday 1:30 – 2:30 – What is GIS? Micah Cutler & Pete Buckingham
Fifth session, Thursday 3:00 – 4:00 – If GIS is where it’s at, How do we get there? Wayne Chizek