ISU AMS Meeting Minutes

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ISU AMS Meeting Minutes
http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/
August 31, 2010

START TIME: 7:06 pm

ATTENDANCE: 76

President Minniear -- Welcome!

Benefits of ISU and National AMS

ISU AMS: 1.) Make good friends

2.) Opportunities including tours of the NWS, a wind farm, severe storms conference, and much more. Connections can be made from these experiences as well.

3.) Looks good on a resume: distinguish yourself by becoming involved.

National AMS: A more professional group that you can be a member in during and beyond college.

Opportunities such as the national convention in Seattle
Get discounted rate to subscription of BAMS which includes journal articles about weather. Great resource for all, should start reading that type of material now rather than later.

Weatherfest Update

This springtime event will occur during VEISHA and will include several organizations from broadcasting, Freese-Notis Weather and the NWS. While coordinating with Storm Ready, this will be a large and fun event.

Air Force Speaker

Interest level was gauged and many approved of having an air force speaker come to ISU. Dates on exactly when this would occur will be detailed later.

NWS Tour

Mindy Beerends will provide a tour on Thursday, Oct. 21^st at approximately 7:00 pm. As this date gets closer, an email will be sent about carpooling: tentatively we’ll leave around 6:15 pm

Ames Flood Donation

United Way will accept donations, but not volunteers. No one was opposed to donating, and after discussion an amount of $250 was agreed upon.

AMS Going Green?

The club decided to abolish the tradition of printing agendas for meetings. Agendas before the meeting and meeting minutes after will still be sent out via email.

Member Information Sheet

Fill this out so we know when to set the next meeting to ensure maximum attendance. If didn’t complete it during the meeting, turn it into the AMS mailbox in 3010 Agronomy.

Vice President Effertz

Clubfest

Will take place Wednesday, September 8 from 11-4pm. The goal is to have two people present at all hourly slots. A sign-up sheet went around, but more volunteers may be needed.

Fall Clothing Orders

Clothing orders are due Friday, Sept. 24. Options include wind-breaker or fleece jackets with quarter or full zip, cotton or “Exceed” (Under Armour-like material) polos, red or blue, and short or long sleeve shirts. Prices range from 24 to 39 dollars. When filling out an order form, please remember both your name and e-mail address. Also, turn in your payment with your order into our AMS mailbox in 3010 Agron. Contact Pete Effertz (vp.isuams@iastate.edu) if any questions arise.

ISU AMS Window Clings

They are $5 each and can make a great gift! If interested, contact Pete (vp.isuams@iastate.edu).

Treasurer Carletta

Dues

Club dues have been $10 in the past, and will remain so thanks to a club vote. Until dues are in, you won’t get on the ISU AMS list serve, but can still participate in group activities for a set length of time.

Current Balance

Currently at $4008.16, but after upcoming expenses the balance should be near $3000.

Central Iowa Chapter of the NWA

This is another group that consists of people from the NWS, broadcasters, and many other potential contacts that you could be with and get go know. This group does fundraising, weather radio sessions, and they put on the Severe Storms conference. Their first meeting will be on Sept. 20^th a, and we usually organize carpools to go with them. Contact Nick Carletta (tres.isuams@iastate.edu), JoBeth Minniear (pres.isuams@iastate.edu), or Rachel Hatteberg (rah@iastate.edu) if you have questions.

Secretary R. Lueck

Keep reading to get to this month’s weather history fact!

Social Chair Roney

Bonfire

Since Sept. 11^th involves an away ISU vs Iowa football game, the club decided that Friday, Sept. 24^th will be the date of our bonfire. Further details will be provided in time.

Golf Outing/Disc Golf

Debate over which activity to participate in led to a vote – turns out both activities will eventually happen due to the vast interest in both. A Golf event will happen before disc golf and will probably take place at the Veenker golf course due to their Monday/Thursday group discount: 9 holes for 9 dollars. Only problem is there will not be rental clubs available.

Student Faculty Dinner Update

This event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 16^th at Hickory Park and will start at 5:00pm. We’ll be meeting in parking lot north of Agronomy at 4:45pm. An email will be sent out on more details as the event approaches.

Intramurals

Upcoming events are broomball, a sport similar to hockey but with a broom and tennis shoes ($5), curling ($3), and flag football (free). Our new policy, “pay before you play,” will ensure nobody escapes paying these dues, which was an issue last year. If you weren’t at the meeting or didn’t have money with you at the meeting and want to play, you can either find a way to get it to Nick Carletta or drop it off in the AMS mailbox in 3010 in an envelope stating what the money is for. Emails will go out with more details later.

Outreach Chair Carter

Calendar Update

Calendars have arrived! Order forms were sent around for those interested in ordering calendars for family, friends, or whoever else. Cost will be $12 per calendar, $14 if include shipping (indicate on the order form if you want them shipped). A great prize will be awarded to the top seller. The deadline for the contest is at the October meeting. As always, email Kristy (outreach.isuams@iastate.edu) if you have any questions.

Weather Photos

It’s that time to start sending new photos for the 2012 calendar to Kristy at outreach.isuams@iastate.edu. We’re expecting some great shots from this summer’s flooding, tornadoes, etc.

Ames Schools Outreach

First event is next week and that’s already been taken care of by volunteers, but don’t worry if you missed it – we have 22 more requests from high, middle, and elementary schools, so get involved in the future.

Any ideas on what the club can do for outreach or science night activities should be sent to Kristy.

Academic Chair Kraul

Learning Community Update

Many hands raised – lots from learning community.

Turn in Class List to Nick

Fill out your class list on the sheet that was handed out during the meeting and bring it to the AMS mailbox in room 3010 in Agronomy. If you didn’t attend the meeting, email him a list of your own at academic.isuams@iastate.edu. Also, study session leaders are needed – if have done well in a class before, let Nick know by filling that portion of the sheet out.

Ask questions on AMS Forums!

Questions about classes? Post them on the forums! Your posts will be accessible to anyone who has an account.

Forecasting

WxChallenge Information and Sign up

This is a challenge put on by the University of Oklahoma and you get to forecast across the country throughout the school year. Forecasts are submitted Monday through Thursday each week, and we’ll start in Texas on Sept. 27. If you’ve never forecasted, is a good experience. Remember to forecast everyday if you do sign up, otherwise the team score from ISU will be compromised. The cost is 5 dollars for the year, but only 3 dollars per semester. To sign up, you must have user name of 6 characters and a password of 9 characters.

Forecasting Sessions

These sessions will assist those forecasting in the WxChallenge, but feel free to attend even if you’re not involved in the WxChallenge. Sessions will be held every Monday at 5:00 pm starting Sept 27 in room 3128. Run by the graduate meteorology club, their members will lead discussions, but undergrads are encouraged to participate and lead as well. NowCasting will happen as well, so you can compete against people at the sessions. Note: These sessions will not be mandatory to attend if you’re involved in the WxChallenge, but they’d be a great help to your forecasting techniques.

Iowa Forecasting Contest – Jon Hobbs

This forecast contest’s domain is the state of Iowa and exists so you can practice your forecasting skills here in Iowa. This contest is similar to the national forecast since you forecast Monday through Thursday each week. However, differences include style of forecasting (will mimic an operational setting), will forecast for 2 to 7 days out at times, and will forecast not only for temperature and precipitation, but also wind, cloud ceiling, and visibility. Also, you forecast all year round… not just for the school year and participation is free. Participation is up to you – there are no guidelines for when you begin. For more information, visit the AMS homepage and click on the link for the Iowa Forecasting Contest.

Iowa State Daily Sign Up

This opportunity allows you to forecast for the ISU Daily. Upperclassmen will lead groups of forecasters, and each group will be responsible for a day of the week to put out a 3 day forecast as well as a possible weather graphic and weather tidbit. The process takes around 25 minutes to complete.

Webmaster Nelson

Visit http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/forums/ and then click on register at the top. Need username to be your first and last name – for example, I’d register as Ryan Lueck.

Interesting Website Tidbit

A career page for all sectors of meteorology exists on the website. This can be found in “Member Resources”, “Careers.”

Historian A. Lueck

Event photos

Anyone who has a camera and will be attending any kind of social event is encouraged to take photos and then send to Anthony at historian.isuams@iastate.edu or upload at http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/Photos or on ISU AMS’ Facebook Page. Recent photos from the picnic and ice cream social will be put on Facebook soon, and other photos from the year will be put in a scrapbook, on a poster, etc.

Historic Iowa Events

Many events have occurred over the past 3 to 4 years in Iowa, and they will be displayed and updated on a poster throughout the year.

Past President Hatteberg

Could not attend

Storm Ready Update

This event involves going around campus to dorms and other buildings to make sure people know what to do if a tornado strikes. We should get a hold of signs soon, so a sign-up sheet during the next meeting will go around to decide teams and times.

HyVee Bags Update

For the past couple years, AMS has been working with HyVee and their bags to include severe weather tips for floods, lightning, and tornados. This project may expand to the entire Midwest this year!

Cy’s Eyes Update

First show

This show will be September 13^th or 15^th (future email will clarify) and will only be a run through, not live. Cy’s Eyes is student run through ISU TV, so if you’re looking into broadcast meteorology, make an attempt to attend. If broadcast meteorology isn’t for you, this is still something to get involved in since cameras and sound systems still need to be run.

Since the production of the show will take place in the communications building (northwest campus), a group will meet in the northern parking lot for agronomy and head over together. This would be a good opportunity to check out how things are run, and if after the show you’re still interested, you can sign up at that time. The crew roster sign up is posted on the forums before every show, so sign up. Note: Genesis, the graphic machine for the show, is experiencing a few difficulties, but should be up and running by the 13^th.

5-Day week video cast

Visit http://www.isutv.stuorg.iastate.edu/.This is a new, real TV station type feature, and the 5-Day week video will be there. However, we need more participation to make this happen, so sign up if interested.

ABC 5 Tour

This tour will occur on Tuesday, September 21^st at 7:00 pm. If you’ve never been to a TV station, this would be a neat experience to see how everything works, plus we’ll get to talk to chief meteorologist Brad Edwards. Those who are attending will meet in the north agronomy parking lot at around 6:30 pm.

Sophomore Chair Gogo

Freshman/Sophomore Social

This event exclusively for freshman and sophomores will be organized and happening soon. Ideas included volleyball or bowling at MU, but capture the flags on central campus, with team freshman vs team sophomore, appears likely.

END TIME: 8:05 pm

Weather History for August: 8-22-1992 - Hurricane Andrew strikes Southern Florida as a Category 5 storm with wind gusts estimated as high as 175+ m.p.h. This storm produced damage estimates in exceeded of $20 billion and killed more than 60 people. This was one of only three category 5 storms to have ever struck the United States.

Next Meeting TBD from results of Survey