Straight Talk:
G'day

I just returned from Australia, where I had the pleasure of signing a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to foster a mutual exchange of scientific and technical expertise between our countries. This is an important step in advancing the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). We will work with our Australian colleagues as they move to a digital forecast process similar to our National Digital Forecast Database. We'll also work with the Australians as they strengthen their tsunami warning capability in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We hope this partnership can increase efficiency here and there. Sharing data and technology will benefit both our Nations. I'll add that being in Melbourne following the destruction caused by Cyclone Larry, the worst tropical cyclone to impact Australia in many years, gave me a renewed appreciation for the need for us to work worldwide to improve forecast and warning systems and services for the protection of life and property.

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Gold, Silver Medal Winners Added to Awards Web Page

Recent NWS award winners, including Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal awardees, have been added to the NWS Employee Resources and Best Practices web page here.  Take a look and if you haven't done so already, pass along your congratulations.  Look for future award winners to be added periodically.

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Warning Coordination Meteorologists from Dakotas, Montana Meet at WFO Bismarck

Surrounding WCMs from parts of central and western region gathered in Bismarck, ND, for a 2 ½ day conference that focused on innovative and improved services to partners, customers, and stakeholders.

Six WFOs including WFO Bismarck; WFO Grand Forks, ND; WFO Aberdeen, SD; WFO Rapid City, SD; WFO Billings, MT; and WFO Glasgow, MT, were represented.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCMs) gathered on February 7, 8, and 9 to learn about new NOAA-NWS initiatives and participate in small group discussions. Brent MacAloney of the OCWWS Performance Branch led a day-long presentation and discussion on Storm Data and the future of verification. Jim Keeney, Central Region WCM and current Acting Services Division Chief, spoke on Warning-By-Polygon and the One Inch Hail Experiment. Hutch Johnson and Kevin Lawrence, Chief Meteorologists at local stations KXMB-TV and KFYR-TV, respectively, addressed NWS products and services from a broadcast meteorologist's perspective.

The group also had presentations via teleconference. Brian E. Smith, WCM WFO Omaha, NE, spoke on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, Peter Wolf, SOO WFO Jacksonville, FL, presented information on ProbWarn2010, and Tom Gurss, DOH Missouri Basin River Forecast Center, discussed RFC operations, services, and outreach as a compliment to those of a WFO.

Open discussion topics were tackled between formal presentations with topics ranging from outreach to IFPS and from Minority Serving Institutions to NWRWAVES.

"I thought it more practical for individual WFOs from the same geographical area to support a local conference. That way travel expenses could be held to just a few hundred dollars for each participant," said Bismarck WCM John Paul Martin. Martin first thought about hosting a gathering of WCMs about a year and a half ago when he anticipated difficult budget years and concluded that there likely would not be funding available to justify a regional or national conference. Martin went on to stress the importance of MIC support in such an endeavor. "MICs know the importance of outreach and I was confident that they would support getting their outreach experts together to share ideas," he said.

"NOAA and its NWS need to remain viable, reliable, and relevant to the nation. Initiatives like Warning-By-Polygon, the EF Scale, and ProbWarn2010 show that we have our vision set on the future. This conference was a great way to learn more about these initiatives and share ideas," Martin concluded.

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Smith is New NOAA Goal Team Lead

George Smith of the NWS Office of Hydrologic Development is the new Lead for the NOAA Weather and Water Goal Team.  Smith replaces Frank Kelly of the NWS Office of Science and Technology.

Ward Seguin of NOAA Research is the Deputy Lead for the Weather and Water Goal Team.

Weather and Water (W&W), one of four NOAA Mission Goals, coordinates the planning and programming of nearly $860 million dollars across NOAA's Line Offices to serve society's needs for weather and water information.

For more information, go to the Weather and Water Goal web page.

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NWS, Boy Scouts of America Launch West Central Texas Preparedness Campaign

The NWS Weather Forecast Office in San Angelo has partnered with the Texas Trails and Concho Valley Councils of the Boy Scouts of America and state emergency managers to launch the West Central Texas All Hazards Preparedness Campaign.  The February 8 kickoff was timed to coincide with the 96th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The campaign's central theme features the popular Boy Scouts motto Be Prepared®.

"The Boy Scout's Be Prepared® motto is a perfect match to the disaster preparedness philosophy the National Weather Service shares with our emergency management community," said Steven Cooper, deputy regional director of the National Weather Service Southern Region. 

In the coming months, approximately 6,000 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will help spread the preparedness message in their communities and will be featured in broadcast public service announcements. They will carry messages on the importance of residents owning a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other non-weather hazard information (including chemical, biological, radiological or terrorism incidents) 24 hours a day.  Later this year, emergency managers will be allowed direct access to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, providing them with a fast, reliable means of injecting non-weather Civil Emergency Messages into the nation's Emergency Alert System.

Serving nearly 4.9 million young people, between seven and 20 years of age,the Boy Scouts of America have more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories.

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Quad Cities SOO Honored at National Engineers Week Banquet

By Stephan C. Kuhl
Meteorologist-In-Charge, WFO Quad Cities

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) recently presented its "2005 Senior Scientist of the Year Award" to WFO Davenport, IA, Science and Operations Officer Ray Wolf.
The award was established in 1966 to recognize Engineering and Science Professionals whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society, and their profession.  This includes helping to promote and raise the awareness of Engineering and Science in our local communities.

"I'm truly honored to have been selected to receive this award" said Wolf. "It is extremely gratifying when your career efforts are recognized by a prestigious organization like the Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council."

Wolf's NWS career has focused on applying cutting edge scientific research and utilizing new technology to improve weather, hydrologic, and climate services to fulfill the NWS mission of protecting lives and property.  He also leads the WFO's research efforts through collaborative research with universities, making presentations at scientific conferences, and providing results in peer reviewed publications. 

Ray Wolf, WFO Quad Cities Science and Operations Officer (center), receives a “2005 Scientist of the Year Award” from the Quad City Engineering and Science Council at the 44th Annual National Engineers Week Banquet held recently in Davenport, IA.

For 10 years Wolf has been active in the community by serving as a local facilitator and co-leader for American Meteorological Society programs that provide meteorology and hydrology classes for K-12 teachers.  He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association and holds a B.S. in Meteorology and a M.S. in Agricultural Climatology from Iowa State University.

The QCESC is an umbrella organization representing 33 technical societies in the Quad City area with approximately 6,000 associated members.  The QCESC sponsors events such as the National Engineers Banquet, the Engineering and Scientist of The Year Awards, 3 scholarships to local high school students, the President's Reception for local Society President's and provides judges for the local technical activities including Invent Iowa.

NOAA Rotational Assignment Program (NRAP) to Begin Soon

NRAP will get into swing soon, where NOAA supervisors will have a chance to recruit, on a temporary basis, NOAA employees for three to six months, and the employees will have a chance to learn new skills in other areas of NOAA.

"Supervisors and managers, please begin thinking about developmental assignments that you might be able to offer in your office—whether you need help with routine work or special assignments," said Denise Hamilton of the NWS Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer. Hamilton said an official call for assignments will be coming soon, along with guidelines.

Employee Milestones

• Click here to see NEW APPOINTMENTS/TRANSFERS to NWS through March 31, 2006.
• Click here to see RETIREMENTS/DEPARTURES from NWS through March 31, 2006.
• Click here to see NWS EMPLOYEES ACCOMPLISHMENTS through March 31, 2006.

Snapshots

Click here for a look at photos we've received from around the NWS.