We are excited and proud to finally make the WIMS 3 application available! Below are some frequently asked questions, specific to TNC staff, regarding the use of WIMS 3. We do not anticipate WIMS 3 to be a TNC requirement or standard, but we hope that WIMS 3 will help you manage your weed data at your project sites.

We would like to know if you are using WIMS 3, if you are finding it useful, as well as if you are experiencing technical difficulties. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have other comments or questions.

• Will WIMS 3 become a TNC standard for weed data?

• Is there technical support available for TNC staff for WIMS 3?

• I do not have the resources to purchase a handheld unit for use on my Preserve. Can GIST help me purchase this equipment?

• How can I obtain ArcPad?

• Are there workshops or training sessions available for TNC staff, so that I can learn how to use WIMS 3 in about 1 day, instead of wading through and reading all of the support materials available on this website?

• I have an extremely slow dial-up internet connection. Can you send me the User's Manual and download files on a CD?

• TNC Contact Information

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Will WIMS 3 become a TNC standard for weed data? 
We do not anticipate WIMS 3 becoming a standard or requirement for TNC staff or sites. TNC-Oregon and TNC-Idaho created WIMS 3 for its own use and needs; WIMS 3 is simply being made available to all TNC (and partner) staff, who might find it useful.

Is there technical support available for TNC staff for WIMS 3? 
Yes! We have established (for TNC staff) WIMS 3 technical support at the Enterprise Help Desk. They are trained (as of Feb. 1, 2005) to answer your questions or problems. If your question is GIS-related (i.e., "How do I get an image of my preserve in MrSID WGS84 UTM format?"), you should ask your state or Operating Unit GIS specialist instead. You can also look at the WIMS 3 Message Board (http://rachel.des.ucdavis.edu/wims/) to see if anyone has encountered similar issues.

I do not have the resources to purchase a handheld unit for use on my Preserve. Can GIST help me purchase this equipment? 
We cannot promise anything, but we are trying to raise donor funds and/or reach corporate agreements to get this equipment to TNC staff. Of course, you should also ask your local Director(s) and Development Staff for assistance. By using WIMS 3, you will be more accountable of your weed management activities, you will be able to show how much of your staff and volunteer resources go towards local weed control, and you will be able to instantly demonstrate the great strides that you have made (i.e., "measures of success!") towards abating the threat of invasive species to our goals (i.e., "conservation targets!"). Let Mandy Tu (TNC, Global Invasive Species Team) know if you need assistance getting the equipment.

How can I obtain ArcPad? 
TNC has a limited number of ArcPad licenses available for TNC domestic (U.S.-based) programs organization-wide. To obtain an ArcPad license, ask your state/Operating Unit GIS or TIS Specialist (TISOM) to use this ArcPad request process: (http://home.tnc/gis/services/arcpad.html).

The full version of ArcPad 7.1 is available with a 20-minute time-out unless you have a registration license number.

Are there workshops or training sessions available for TNC staff, so that I can learn how to use WIMS 3 in about 1 day, instead of wading through and reading all of the support materials available on this website? 
Yes! We are working with TNC's Training and Documentation Team within TIS at the WO to develop several online tutorials for WIMS 3. We may also (depending on demand) hold a few in-person training sessions in various locations. Additionally, we have trained a few regional contacts to be local WIMS 3 Trainers. If you have an Operating Unit (state field office, etc.) with several people that would like to be trained, a special "in-person" training is also definitely a possibility! Let me know if you are interested!

Demonstrations and Person-to-person training
We have trained several TNC staff around the U.S. to be "WIMS 3 Trainers." If you would like to be personally trained on how to use WIMS 3, please contact me to get the contact info the folks listed below. We have trained staff in:
California
Florida
Hawaii
Indiana
Maryland/DC
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Virginia
Washington

I have an extremely slow dial-up internet connection. Can you send me the User's Manual and the WIMS 3 download files on a CD? 
Yes...we can definitely do this for TNC staff. Please let Mandy Tu know.

TNC Contact Information: 
Mandy Tu
The Nature Conservancy's Global Invasive Species Team
E-mail: imtu(at)tnc.org
Phone: (503) 802-8100