GIS User Group

Group name - Florida chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (FLURISA) - FLURISA 

FLURISA is a regional chapter of URISA and is a non-profit for GIS professionals. There are three regions of Florida this organization covers; north, central, and south, offering several options to potential members. They range from professional to student and young professionals, while also extending memberships to different types of organizations, such as educational institutions or government agencies. The main page is 

I have chosen the Florida chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). Although I looked at other organizations to join, URISA was the best fit. It favors GIS more than other groups and offers a Florida chapter, other organizations may offer something comparatively but being specific to Florida convinced me. The student membership rate was also an attractive incentive. I was not very familiar with FLURISA before but after a conversation with our instructor and current president of the Florida chapter, I was motivated to become a member.

The annual membership options are professional at $195, young professionals at $125, students at $20, and retired, and unemployed at $75. The student requirements include minimum coursework at the time of enrollment. Each of these has pro-rated amounts according to first-year join dates which vary based on the year quarter you join. The Florida Chapter of URISA has annual dues of $25, although why it is different or how different it is from other state chapters I am unsure of.  To join, go through the main page URISA, click on membership, select the type of membership, and then click the hyperlink titled “join online today”. 

The benefits of a professional membership extend wide for FLURISA. Some highlights are education and training event discounts, access to an electronic library of journal articles, networking with fellow GIS Professionals, and a nice bonus for many, contribution points toward a GISP certification. Note -  “A GISP® is a designation awarded to a certified geographic information systems (GIS) professional that provides him/her a professional distinction in the GIS profession.” (https://www.gisci.org/)