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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 8:40:14 GMT -5
It has come time to organize the weather observers together in this country. The unions have helped us, but it is time to get someone bigger than just PATCO involved in helping protect our jobs. I have done some researching and here is a very good association. Many big weather companies, various individual weather associations have linked up with weather coalition, and meteorology departments of universities are members of weather coalition. We really need to form an association and link it to this one or just have our contractors join for us.
INTRODUCTION
As a matter of principle, the Weather Coalition believes that, in spite of the fiscal challenges now faced by the our country, the nation’s physical and environmental security mandates that the national weather enterprise receive the support required to restore to global preeminence our national capabilities to monitor and forecast. A restored level of weather-prediction preeminence will provide our nation the enhanced information needed to safeguard lives and livelihoods, enhance our economy, and provide the early strategic insights needed in the international arena. Reestablishing and maintaining this global preeminence in weather monitoring and forecasting will require innovative approaches involving all three sectors – private, public, and academic – that together comprise America’s national weather enterprise.
There exists in the United States a unique national weather enterprise. This consists of a community of meteorologists and other professionals in academic, private, and government sectors who provide services to, and are supported by, a growing community of users, also part of the enterprise. The meteorological community develops and distributes weather products and services to the user community in order to protect life, reduce risk to property, and enhance economic competitiveness.
Each sector is made up of diverse components. Many meteorologists in the private sector are employed by private forecasting companies, which serve a variety of clients. Other private-sector meteorologists work for media outlets, equipment manufacturers, companies that manage weather risk, consulting services, and elsewhere. The academic sector includes universities and associated research laboratories, joint institutes, and other scientific organizations. The government sector includes not only federal agencies such as the National Weather Service but also state, local, and regional agencies. There is also a professional sector that consists of professional organizations, private foundations, independent research labs and other entities in kind. The user community ranges from private individuals to small retail and specialty manufacturers to large corporate manufacturers and distributors that serve national and international clients.
Federal legislation affects many aspects of the national weather enterprise. To ensure that enterprise interests are well represented in such legislation and in the resulting policy, procedures, and expenditures, members of the private, professional and academic sectors of the meteorological community have joined to form the Weather Coalition.
Put the word out! I will get more information on here as I work with some other SWO's to make this happen. We plan to talk to the Coalition 6 of CWO's before their Conference in Washington ends today about organizing an association for weather observers and see what they think.
Chachiman
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 9:25:42 GMT -5
I just spoke with weather coalition and they are extremely interested in supporting us. I spoke directly with the Managing Director and I am going to be sending him more information on what the FAA has been trying to do to us the last 3 years and sending him the Plan and what it would have done if implemented at the 57 sites. More information coming after the individual contractors have also been contacted about this.
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Post by tornado on Apr 20, 2016 9:29:27 GMT -5
Do we want to include the military as part of the government sector? I've known several weather observers in the reserves or guard units,
that also worked for CWOs.
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Post by coldairfunnel on Apr 20, 2016 10:22:55 GMT -5
I would be extremely interested in an organization like this as long as they are not another one of the "TALK BIG BUT DO NOTHING" type of organization like we have experienced with SEIU and PATCO...Show me some accomplishments...
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 11:39:08 GMT -5
These folks are not unions. They are more like just advocates that will speak up for us when the FAA tries to do anything the next time. Weather coalition would just help us have a bigger voice the next time the FAA comes after our jobs.
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Post by alstein on Apr 20, 2016 11:40:24 GMT -5
In that case, how are they going to be funded?
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 11:42:41 GMT -5
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 11:43:41 GMT -5
MISSION
Mission Statement: The mission of the Weather Coalition is to bring together representatives of industry, academia, and scientific and professional associations to advocate effectively for initiatives that advance U.S. weather observation, prediction, and warning capabilities.
Special consideration is given to national initiatives that:
expand research and development collaborations among industry, academia, and government agencies
support the establishment of a robust Earth observing system
support the infrastructure, including human and computing resources, necessary to use global observations effectively for research and operations
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 11:44:11 GMT -5
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Work collaboratively for the good of the weather enterprise as a whole
Constructively support relevant national initiatives
Monitor and respond to legislative activities in a timely and effective manner, and inform the White House and the U.S. Congress of the capabilities of the weather enterprise and how it can become even more effective
Support enhanced competitiveness for U.S. industry, improved national defense and homeland security, and increased protection for life and property
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Post by chachiman on Apr 20, 2016 11:45:56 GMT -5
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Purpose
The Weather Coalition (WC) is dedicated to bringing together industry, state and local governments, academia, and professional organizations to identify and pursue priority initiatives to advance the capabilities of the U.S. weather enterprise. The WC was established in 2004 by a consortium of private and academic sector entities within the weather enterprise.
The U.S. weather enterprise has a number of existing entities that organize and represent community interests. While providing excellent service to the community, these organizations are either focused on a single sector, or are constrained in their ability to work directly with policy makers to further the goals of the enterprise. The WC will fill this gap, building on existing enterprise activities and organizations and working with Congress and the Executive Branch to implement identified initiatives. The goal is to improve the nation’s weather prediction and warning capabilities in service of our citizens and businesses. The outcome will be improved protection of life and property, economic growth and reduced socioeconomic vulnerability to weather, stronger research and development, enhanced competitiveness for U.S. industry here and abroad, and better support for national defense.
Background
The economic health and public safety of the nation are dependent on state-of-the-art weather data, information and services provided through a partnership of the public, private and academic sectors known as the U.S. weather enterprise. In turn, these data, information and services require robust capabilities, including weather infrastructure, satellites, radars and other terrestrial sensors, and data provision, as well as state-of-the-art computational resources and forecast models. The urgent and expanding demand for improved weather services has surpassed our current capacities. However, the weather enterprise has the latent capacity to develop and implement robust new capabilities. Achieving these new capabilities will require agreement on specific priorities, an approach to achieving the priorities, and active engagement of stakeholders including senior officials in the Administration and Congress. The WC will focus on this latter step and will rely heavily on existing organizations to identify priorities as well as solutions to meet these priorities. The WC is not intended to replace the advocacy efforts of its constituent organizations, but rather to provide a more effective voice for shared priorities.
2. Membership
Companies, organizations, institutions, state and local governments, and universities supporting the U.S. weather enterprise or interested in furthering the capabilities of the enterprise are eligible for membership if they are willing to make a clear and continuing commitment to active participation in the activities of the WC, including its governance.
Membership is to consist of entities within the Weather Enterprise as defined above. Sole proprietorships are eligible entities; however, individuals may not be members.
Individuals and non-U.S. entities may be represented within the WC by means of several methods including via membership in one of the scientific, academic, or private sector entities belonging to, or affiliated with, the WC.
Each member entity shall designate one primary representative; this representative may designate a substitute on occasions when the primary representative is unavailable.
Membership is transparent.
There is no restriction on the number of member entities.
There are multiple membership levels each associated with different levels of dues and representation.
3. Organizational Structure, Accountability and Operational Procedures
The governing body of the WC shall be a Board of Directors (called the Board).
The Board shall be elected in a regular and open manner by the members, as defined in the Bylaws.
The role of the Board shall be to provide strategic direction and leadership to aggressively pursue the development of the next-generation capabilities of the U.S. weather enterprise to support the economic health and public safety of the nation now and into the future.
The WC shall have an Executive Director who serves at the discretion of the Board and reports to the Board.
The Executive Director shall be appointed by a super majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
The Executive Director shall be responsible for on-going activities of the WC.
The WC shall have a Secretary/Treasurer who will be appointed by the Board.
The WC shall conduct a yearly independent audit.
Political or advocacy positions of the WC must be representative of a super majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
The WC organizational structure, accountability, and operating procedures are documented in detail in the WC Bylaws.
4. Working Methods:
Functions
To fulfill its mission the WC will:
Annually prepare and aggressively deliver top priorities of the enterprise in concert with the annual federal appropriation cycle. This includes gathering input from the community, coordinating a review among members, and presenting final recommendations to WC leadership for approval. These priorities will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis as needed or in response to major issues as they arise.
Develop and implement strategies to advocate for priorities with Congressional members and Administration officials. This includes developing and maintaining an active relationship with leadership of member organizations, federal leadership and staff, Members of Congress and congressional staff. Coordinate any rapid responses to Congressional, Administration and press inquiries.
Assist member organizations with their communication and advocacy efforts by sharing materials and communicating any feedback from federal interactions. This includes maintaining an awareness of concerns of member organizations.
Leverage and work to enhance existing weather enterprise activities that focus on improving the quantification of the nation’s socioeconomic vulnerability to weather.
Maintain relationships with Partner Organizations within the weather and climate enterprise (e.g. the American Meteorological Society).
Maintain relationships with similar organizations in other fields.
Work actively to support and engage the public sector.
Convene sub-groups on an as-needed basis.
Meetings
The WC will convene meetings bi-monthly or more frequently on an as-needed basis. These may be telecons.
The meetings will be called and chaired by the Executive Director.
The agenda will be set by the Executive Director.
Meetings may include invited non-members subject to the approval of the Executive Director.
Meeting minutes will be distributed to the Board for approval and made available to members on a members-only secure part of the WC website.
Web Presence and Social Media
The WC will maintain a website.
The WC will utilize additional social media as needed.
Print-friendly PDF
Updated: 12 September 2013
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