2026 Fall Conference Recap: Milwaukee, Baseball, and a Whole Lot of Teamwork!
The last, and only other time Geospatial Professional Network (GPN), formerly known as URISA, held its annual conference in Milwaukee was in 1994. Back then, it was promoted as a “tremendous opportunity
for people in the upper Great Lakes region to attend a large national conference without the usual expense of air travel.” One of the GPN conference’s social events that year featured a tailgate picnic and a Brewers game. While we may not have made it to the ballpark this time around, we hope everyone left Milwaukee with a little more Brewers spirit (and maybe a few new fans!) Curious about the conference back in the day? Take a trip down memory lane with the Wisconsin Mapping Bulletin from the State Cartographer’s Office to read more about that gathering.
Looking Back & Ahead
Partnering with a national organization was a unique opportunity for WLIA, offering valuable lessons, fresh perspectives, and plenty of takeaways. GPN expressed its sincere appreciation for the partnership and we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to work together.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, moderated, presented, served on a panel, wore a dirndl or lederhosen, or otherwise helped make the conference a success. We’re especially grateful for the continued support of our Education, Communication, Membership and Outreach, Graphics, and AV Committees. These teams keep stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park. (Yes, these baseball references are intentional!)
This experience was a great reminder that many hands make light work. We may not hit a home run every time, but with collaboration and a willingness to pitch in, we can accomplish great things. While the 50/50 raffle may have been a new concept for many non-Wisconsin conference attendees, the idea of a “party with a purpose” clearly resonated. Between the raffle and the stein holding contest, we raised just over $1,400 for the WLIA Foundation!
Photos Please!
Did you capture some memorable conference moments? Please share your photos with the WLIA Flickr account via this Photo Submission Form. If you have any problems submitting your photos, reach out to me!
On to the Next Inning!
With Milwaukee behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the Annual Conference in Madison, followed shortly by the Spring Conference in Eau Claire.
We look forward to seeing familiar faces, welcoming new ones, and continuing to bring Wisconsin’s geospatial community together. Thank you again to everyone who helped make our fall conference a success. It was a real memory maker, and we couldn’t do it without you!
See you in Madison!