1) I applied for and received my GISP. The GIS Certification Institute is headed by a board made of member from a variety of GIS and Geography professional associations. I like it because it is a point based portfolio system. Like all professional certificates it aims at creating an elite level of professional, but I think they do a good job by attempting to open it up to as many people as possible while still maintaining significant minimum qualifications.
For any archaeologists out there, it is roughly equivalent to the RPA. And like the RPA it is pretty much useless. It does not really qualify you for anything, but it is expensive. So there is that. However it does really show how much overall involvement and effort you put into your professional life. It took me quite a bit of time to write out all of the point descriptions and assemble the supporting documentation. It is worth it though.
2) I did a public lecture at the Fort Walla Walla Museum. It was a test for the poster that I worked on with a close friend and colleague regarding the progression of the 'Chinatown' in Walla Walla Washington. The Museum is US Civil War based (although they do a good job of getting other time periods) and we had an excellent turn out for a topic not directly related to their primary function.
3) I made a poster of said work on the 'Chinatown'. I will be presenting it on January 8th, tomorrow, at the Society for Historical and Underwater Archaeology conference in Seattle. I am in Seattle currently and writing in my hotel room. Hopefully I will get out of here soon and see some of the city. I have been through many times, but I have never had the opportunity to actually see the place. I guess I could probably register for the conference. That might be good.
4) I was laid off of my regular job. I will not go into detail right now as the dust has not really settled. It has been pretty stressful the last few days because I need to find a job. Luckily I have a lot of supportive friends and family. Hopefully I can do some serious networking at this conference and find a full time job or enough contracts to work self employed. Or if any of you want to just hand me a job. That would be cool.
So that is it for now. I will attempt to update on the conference as we go. There is a LiDAR poster next to mine that I am looking forward to reading.