The Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium's 11th Annual Conference & Workshops is scheduled for October 10-12 at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota. In order to increase the amount of contact between exhibitors and conference attendees, the Consortium has incorporated the following features in the conference schedule:

• A buffet reception is scheduled from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday evening and will be held in the exhibit area. The Consortium will be giving away door prizes and cash prizes. Ticket holders must be present to win.
• Exhibitors are invited to participate in the seated conference luncheon on Thursday.
• Morning and afternoon refreshment breaks scheduled on Thursday and Friday will be served in the exhibit area.

The conference will also feature several excellent speakers who will be address various topics in the GIS/LIS field. On Thursday morning, a representative from the US Census Bureau will be our keynote speaker, and will open the conference with a discussion on the 2000 Census. On Friday, our luncheon and closing speaker will be Jim Pisarowicz from Windcave National Park in South Dakota, who will share his experiences from an exploration of Sumidero Santa Elena, a large river cave in the Mexican state of Puebla.

Last year's conference committee received very positive feedback on the St. Cloud event. This year, we are looking for an even bigger and better conference, and expect to exceed the 600 participants who attended last year's event.

Located on the shore of beautiful Lake Superior, the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, locally known as the DECC, is a full-service conference facility with over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. The new Harbor Side convention center addition features panoramic views of Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge. The DECC is located next to Canal Park, a waterfront district home to many shops, restaurants, and hotels. The DECC is also connected to downtown Duluth's business district, the Radisson, and the Holiday Inn via the skywalk system. For more information on the conference facility, visit http://www.decc.org.

Exhibit booths will be conveniently located adjacent to the main foyer and meeting halls. The exhibitor fee is $525 prior to August 13, 2001, and $575 after that date. The exhibitor fee includes one exhibit booth (8 feet deep and 10 feet wide), carpeting, a draped table, and two chairs. Any additional equipment or electrical service can be ordered directly from the DECC. A DECC Exhibitor Order Form will be sent to you upon receipt of your application. Also included in the exhibitor fee are two conference registrations and the seated luncheon on Thursday.

Booth locations will be allocated on a first-come, first serve basis. A list of the 2000 exhibitors is enclosed for your information. Please do not delay in sending your Exhibit Space Reservation Form. Because Duluth receives many visitors during the fall color season, you are also encouraged to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.

The exhibit hall will open mid-morning on Thursday and remain open until 7:00 pm that evening for the buffet reception described above. The exhibit hall will be open on Friday from 8:30 am until early afternoon. The exhibit hall will be secured at all other times to protect equipment and displays. Additional information regarding exhibit set-up and tear-down schedules will be sent to you upon receipt of your application.

To guarantee your exhibit space for the upcoming Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference, please complete the Exhibit Space Reservation Form and mail it to the address listed below along with payment.

MN GIS/LIS Conference 2001
c/o UMD Continuing Education
251 Darland
10 University Dr
Duluth, MN 55812-2496
Fax: 218-726-6336

Please reserve your exhibit space immediately to take advantage of the early discount. Lodging information will be sent to you upon receipt of your Exhibit Space Reservation Form, or may be viewed on the Consortium's Web site at http://www.mngislis.org/conf2001/hotels2001.htm . Please address your exhibitor questions to:

Marge Erickson
UMD Continuing Education
Phone: 218-726-6819
E-mail: merickso@d.umn.edu 

Thank you very much for your interest in the Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference. I sincerely hope that you will exhibit your company's products and/or services at our upcoming event.

Sincerely,

Gerald Sjerven
2001 Conference Chair