GITA 2011

Note: Sign up below... -- April 10-14, Grapevine, Texas

OSGeo will have a booth and its own Open Source track throughout this GITA event, mainly on April 11-13th.

http://www.gitaservices.org/websites/gita2011/index.php?p=1

Background
GITA is hired as the conference managers for FOSS4G 2011 and working with this GITA event gives OSGeo a chance to promote FOSS4G several months in advanced to a community that may be somewhat under-represented in OSGeo that is, the infrastructure/utility organisations.

Event Summary
Copy from the 2010 website:
 * 1) See the most diverse program on the latest geospatial solutions being applied at the most cutting edge infrastructure organizations
 * 2) Walk an exhibit floor that goes beyond technology to show true solutions and ways you can make the most of your existing systems
 * 3) Meet some of the fathers of the geospatial industry who are now putting their pioneering spirit to work with a new generation of geospatial leaders

Booth

 * Exhibit floor schedule TBD

Presentations
A call for presentations will be coordinate by OSGeo.

There will be presentations through the event in our own OSGeo track. Details of times are coming but are spread across the event timeline (April 10-14th).
 * Details TBD

OSGeo Attendees
If you are planning to be at this event and are able to lend a hand with the booth or interested in presenting in our track, please put your name and interest/availability here:
 * Tyler Mitchell: Coordinating the event from OSGeo's side
 * Peter Batty: already planning to be at show. Available for presentation if needed. My company will have a booth so limited ability to spend time on OSGeo booth, but maybe a little. Definitely up for spreading the word about FOSS4G!
 * Robert Hollingsworth: definitely will be there. Been there a number of times before. 4-hr drive from here.  Interested in being Booth Presence.  Will consider presentation possibilities.  Would love to see FOSS4g crack the utilities/telecom market.
 * Geoff Zeiss: will be attending
 * Karsten Vennemann: Considering seriously to be there. Would love to bring some more OS GIS to the "untouched fields of Texas ,) ". "http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Karsten_Vennemann"
 * Daniel Morissette: planning on going. Available to help with the booth (part time), and could be interested in presenting something, just need to find a topic of interest for this crowd.
 * OSM: SteveC hunting down speakers

Others to Contact
Hit these guys up to speak in our stream? What project, community, consultants might do a good job addressing this utility style audience.
 * Past agenda here
 * OpenGeo - showing a stack is important
 * Gerrry at Texas A&M geo side
 * Check past exhibitor list
 * Email to service providers directory
 * geosparc, the overlords of Geomajas, have been contacted about possibility of somehow showing off existing Geomajas projects in the utilities space.