Minutes of the High Plains AMS/NWA Chapter
Meeting
December 3, 2008
Our
Chapter held a short teleconference meeting, with 19 members logged
into the phone conference. The meeting started promptly at 11:00
AM and concluded at 11:35 AM. This meeting was efficient,
succinct, and cost our Chapter very little. We discussed having
another such media meeting in the future, perhaps next time with a
featured speaker via a webinar or go-to-meeting.
Call to order. President Rick
Ewald/GID started our conference call with a welcome, which was
followed by Secretary Tim Burke/DDC reading the minutes from the Sep 4,
2008 meeting.
Treasurer’s report. Treasurer
Matt Masek/LBF reported we started with $4112.09 in our treasury on Aug
8th, had deposits of $3754.13 and expenses of $4341.44, ending with a
balance on Dec 3rd of $3524.78. The Jim Johnson Scholarship fund
is at $1450.00, leaving a checkbook balance on 12/03/08 of
$2074.78. During our call, we approved moving $200 from the
conference funds into the Jim Johnson fund, as we voted to do 2 years
ago. Overall, the conference will come out $377 in the hole
(negative), not bad considering it was held at a remote location.
Old Business. Congratulations to
Jordan Carroll of Atwood, KS, the high school student winner of this
year’s Jim Johnson Scholarship. Jordan plans on attending Kansas
University in the fall. Pictured on our web site,
www.highplains-amsnwa.org/ is Chapter President Rick Ewald accepting
the NWA Chapter of the Year Award at the NWA Convention in Louisville,
KY. We all should be proud! President Rick encouraged all
members to consider submitting papers/presentations to the national
conferences – the atmosphere it is not much different than at our own
regional conference.
New Business. The Goodland staff was
commended for fine job they did hosting the High Plains 12th Conference
in Hays during September. There were over 30 presenters, with
nearly 60 attendees. Nominations for 2009 Chapter officers are
being solicited; you may nominate yourself or someone else by emailing
Rick.Ewald@noaa.gov. He would like the nominations by Jan 5th, so
ballots can be emailed out 10 days prior to our next meeting, votes
counted during the meeting, and then the new slate of officers can take
charge during that meeting. For the Jim Johnson Scholarship
committee, Rick recruited the following volunteers: Chris
Foltz/GLD, Teresa Keck/LBF, Aaron Johnson/GID and Jennifer
Ritterling/DDC, most volunteering for a second year. Also, to
prevent a tie in the voting, a 5th Chapter member volunteered and has
been added, Bill Eckrich of Dayweather in Cheyenne, WY. Thanks
Bill!
The North Platte office gave a brief synopsis of plans for next year’s
conference. Their Conference committee will be getting together
after the holidays to firm up some plans. Right now, they think
they may change to a 2-day conference format, to fit in more speakers,
and they are looking at the August time frame for hosting the
conference.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at
11:35 AM. The next meeting will be held in the mid to late part
of January; Vice President Mike Umscheid/DDC will notify all members
with the details.
Rick
Ewald, President
Tim Burke, Secretary