Minutes of the High Plains AMS/NWA Chapter
Meeting
April 18, 2007
Nineteen members came from far and wide to gather in Phillipsburg, KS
at the Frisky Brisket golf course club. We met in the dining room at
11:30 AM,
enjoyed a period of lunch and visiting, and then reconvened in a lower
room for
a presentation. John Stopkotte/ SOO from
North Platte, NE,
briefed the group on an unusual “Anticyclonic Tornado near Rushville, NE
on June 20th, 2006.” This was a left
moving storm, which normally would not have developed into a tornado,
but moved
into an environment favorable for anticyclonic rotation.
John stressed that this does not fit any of
our conceptual models, and takes a different approach (looking upside
down) to
recognize these potentially dangerous storms.
Call to order. The meeting was
called to order at 12:15 PM. Secretary Tim
Burke/DDC read the minutes from
the previous meeting on 01/24/07; accepted as read.
Treasurer’s report.
Treasurer Matt Masek/LBF sent a report in his
absence, which Christina Henderson reported.
The previous balance of $1551.81 had deposits of $1017.37 from
dues and
scholarship donations, for a current balance of $2569.18.
Of this balance, $690.00 is earmarked for the
Jim Johnson Scholarship, leaving a “usable” balance of $1879.18.
Old Business.
The Jim Johnson Scholarship committee,
made up of a representative from each NWS office in the chapter, met to
discuss
the judging process. Four applications
had been received, and each committee member was a given copy of all
the
applications. A winner will be selected
by May 1st.
New
Business. The 11th
High Plains conference will be held August 16th
and 17th, Thu/Fri in Hastings,
Nebraska at Hastings College. There may be a meeting on the Wednesday
afternoon prior (Aug 15th), designed for NWS personnel to
exchange
ideas. Three hotels have been reserved,
with 50 rooms blocked off for conference attendees.
Keynote speakers thus far include Jon Davies
from Wichita,
and Ron Przybylinski/SOO from the St. Louis NWS office. Presenters are encouraged to submit a paper,
and our conference is known for its friendliness, especially toward
first time
presenters. More information
will soon be on our Chapter
webpage: www.highplains-amsnwa.org
It was announced that a HP Chapter member,
Jon Finch from Dodge City,
has been invited to be the guest speaker at the Kansas City AMS meeting
on May
15th. Jon will present a talk
on the 50th Anniversary of the deadly (F5) Ruskin Heights
Tornado,
May 20, 1957.
Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 1:25 PM. The
next meeting will be the end of June, and
members will be notified of the date and location.
Rick Ewald, President
Tim Burke, Secretary