The Illinois GIS Association was created to unite the geographic information system (GIS) community together in order to work together tot overcome the challenges of the field. This association allows businesses and individuals in GIS to share their experiences and expertise, to participate in conferences, and to stay involved in the research and breakthroughs in GIS technology. Membership is based on the calendar year and discounts for (verified) students are available. Members receive all ILGISA mailings, a member directory, and special rates for conferences and seminars. Membership is open to anyone interested in GIS, but a few professions that are common in the field are land surveyors, engineers, cartographers, and soil scientists.