May 14, 2012, 7:30 pm - 9:20 pm
National Weather Service Grand Rapids
Conference Room
4899 South Complex Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
The May 2012 meeting of the chapter was called to order by President Brandon Hoving (National Weather Service Grand Rapids) at 7:30 pm. Approximately 21 people in total were in attendance at the meeting. A few new people were in attendance at the meeting, so each person in the room introduced themselves. President Hoving, Vice-President Jeruzal, and Treasurer Marino were in attendance. Secretary Dale was unable to attend due to a personal commitment.
President Hoving and Vice-President Jeruzal gave an update about the chapter. Dues are once again $10 for members and $5 for student members. President Hoving and Vice-President Jeruzal mentioned that anyone can become a member, and the benefits include: voting rights in chapter affairs and elections, supporting the chapter financially, and free forecast contest entries are the biggest benefits.
Vice-President Jeruzal then gave the final results of the winter forecast contest.
President Hoving won two of the categories for the forecast contest:
-Closest to the Grand Rapids Seasonal snowfall total of 51.2 inches, with his forecast of 75 inches.
-Closest to the Grand Rapids Max daily snowfall (mid-mid) of 6.2 inches, with his forecast of 8 inches.
Jared DePouw won the Coldest Grand Rapids low temperature of +3°F, with his forecast of +2°F
Jared won a gift card for being the winner.
Entries for the 2012 Summer forecast contest are still being accepted through Saturday the 19th. Entries are being emailed to Vice-president Jeruzal, and will be posted to the website after Saturday.
Treasurer Marino then gave the treasurer’s report for the chapter. The Chapter had $405.53 in its bank accounts as of the beginning of the meeting. $20 in dues was paid after the meeting, bringing the total up to $425.53.
Vice-President Jeruzal gave an abbreviated version of a talk that Dr. Louis Uccellini presented back in April at Central Michigan University and for the staff at NWS Grand Rapids. The talk touched on some of the different parts of the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The talk included the different offices of NCEP, including Storm Prediction Center, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, Aviation Weather Center, Space Weather Prediction Center, and other National Centers. He also talked about the performance of the models, some of the history of the models, and the future of the models.
Bob Dukesherer, Senior Forecaster and Marine Program Leader at NWS Grand Rapids then gave a talk about the new beach hazards program spinning up at NWS Grand Rapids. Rip currents have been given a lot of attention in the past few years due to many drownings along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Bob talked about the initiative that he is helping to lead in educating the public about the many different swim hazards that exist along the Lake Michigan shoreline in addition to rip currents. A new beach hazards product will be issued this summer when the potential exists for dangerous swimming conditions. Webinars will likely be conducted for emergency management officials also to help spread the word about dangerous conditions, and to help decision makers help keep the public safer from these conditions.
President Hoving thanked Bob for his talk on the beach hazards, especially with it being last minute due to our scheduled speaker having to cancel due to illness. He presented Bob with an honorary Chapter membership for 2012. He also thanked Vice-President Jeruzal for his talk summarizing AMS President and NCEP Director Dr. Louis Uccellini’s talk about NCEP and the future.
President Hoving mentioned that this will be the last chapter meeting until the fall. We will send out information concerning details of the next meeting when details are available.
The meeting was adjourned by President Hoving at approximately 9:20 pm. An informal tour of the NWS operations area was given by Vice-President Jeruzal for all interested people after the meeting had concluded.
Sincerely,
Nathan Jeruzal – Vice President, for Robert Dale - Secretary