February 28, 2008 — Fifth Annual Chapter Banquet, Dr. Steve Lyons, Hurricane Expert, The Weather Channel

The North Florida American Meteorological Society’s fifth annual end of the year banquet was a tremendous success with 100 attendees. The banquet took place at Florida State’s University Center Club on February 28th, 2008 at 7:00 PM. During the reception a slideshow of pictures throughout the year was shown. Dinner began at 7:30 PM while the officers made announcements. Charlie welcomed everyone and went over a synopsis of the chapter’s accomplishments throughout the year. He then introduced Andy who thanked his program committee for their help with events throughout the chapter year such as the golf tournament, the bowling social, the football tailgate, and helping with refreshments before the general meetings. Following Andy, Kevin thanked his membership/fundraising committee for their help with finding sponsors for the upcoming mini-golf tournament, the basketball tailgate, and the car wash fundraising event. Next, Liane thanked her publicity committee for their help with advertising the chapter meetings and thanked those who helped to bake or sell for the bake sales throughout the year. Following Liane, Alec thanked his science and education committee for their help throughout the year with outreach events such as science fairs and Hazardous Weather Awareness Week. Charlie then thanked all of the officers and distributed certificates to each officer. He then announced the chapter’s Member of Year, John Smith. Finally, Charlie announced the banquet’s speaker, Dr. Steve Lyons, hurricane expert at The Weather Channel. Dr. Steve Lyons spoke on “Hurricanes and The Weather Channel” explaining to our chapter how The Weather Channel operates during hurricane season and with storms approaching the United States coastlines.

February 27, 2007 — Fourth Annual Chapter Banquet, Ben Nelson, State Meteorologist, Florida Department of Emergency Management

On Tuesday, February 27th, 2007, the North Florida AMS Chapter held its fourth annual banquet at the Holiday Inn Select. The banquet began with Vice President Clark Evans opening. Jessica Fieux proceeded with the Year in Review. “This year marks the 5th year of the North Florida Chapter of the AMS, and we have our largest membership count yet with over 80 members,” says Jessica. Committee reports followed Jessica.

Charlie Woodrum spoke of his Membership committee, which has been a tremendous success. Secretary Katie Walls reviewed her Publicity Committee and her bake sale events. The chapter has made almost $200 in only three bake sales!

Ben Nelson, State Meteorologist of Florida, spoke on the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. Ben grew up in Richmond, VA, and graduated from Florida State University in 1999 with his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. He became State Meteorologist in July 2004. Mr. Nelson was recognized for his work during the 2004 hurricane season in the Governor’s State Address on March 8, 2005.

February 17, 2006 — 3rd Annual Chapter Banquet

The North Florida Chapter held its 3rd Annual Chapter Banquet at 7pm on February 17, 2006 at Chez Pierre restaurant in downtown Tallahassee, FL. Approximately thirty-five chapter members were in attendance for the banquet, doubling as the chapter’s February meeting.

This year’s featured speaker was Sir Harold Kroto, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Sir Francis Eppes Professor in the Dept. of Chemistry at Florida State University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1996 for his work on “buckyballs,” chains of 60 atom carbon clusters. The title of his talk was “Architectures in Nanospace,” a look into the background of his work along with some of the societal outreach efforts he spearheads locally and in the United Kingdom. More information on his works can be found at his personal website at http://www.kroto.info/.

During dinner and before Sir Kroto’s talk, President Pat Taylor and Vice President Geoff Wagner unveiled the recently received banner from the national AMS recognizing the North Florida Chapter as the AMS’ 2004-2005 Local Chapter of the Year. Over fifty chapter members were in attendance at the 86th Annual AMS Meeting in Atlanta, GA, with five in attendance at the Local Chapter Breakfast on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 to receive the Chapter of the Year award. In the coming months, chapter efforts will be continued to develop educational outreach programs in the Tallahassee community as well as professional development and social activities for our members.

The banquet was concluded at approximately 9:30pm. The next chapter meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 23rd, 2006 at 7:30pm in Rm. 353 of the Love Building on FSU’s campus. The speaker will be announced at a later date.

The above minutes are a true and correct reflection of the February 17, 2006 chapter banquet.

April 15, 2004 Inaugural Chapter Banquet

The North Florida Local Chapter of the AMS held its Inaugural Chapter Banquet on April 15, 2004 at 7pm at the Silver Slipper in Tallahassee. Nearly 50 members were in attendance for the banquet, many of whom had taken part in the majority of the chapter’s functions over the past year. Designed to be a celebration of the events during the past year, the banquet highlighted a number of items from the past year and featured Mr. Craig Fugate, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, as the speaker for the evening.

Banquet Open

Vice-President Joe Marzen opened the banquet at approximately 7:20pm with a short introductory speech. However, with food on offer, Joe quickly dismissed members at various tables to help themselves to the buffet of food and cash bar on offer for the evening.

Chapter Year-in-Review

After a thirty minute interlude for dinner and dessert, President Clark Evans highlighted several key functions from the current chapter year. Highlights included the interactions with the national AMS, specifically with regards to chapter attendance and support of the 84th Annual AMS Conference in Seattle, WA in January 2004, as well as the development of the chapter’s science & education outreach program. Other events briefly mentioned included the efforts undertaken by the Program Subcommittee with regards to developing chapter meetings and the chapter banquet, clothing and food drives for ECHO Outreach Ministries in Tallahassee and the presentations given by each of the chapter’s features speakers over the past year.

Local Forecasting Contest Awards

At the beginning of the chapter year, the chapter announced that it would be sponsoring the FSU Dept. of Meteorology’s local forecasting contest over the coming year. Held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, the contest draws entries from meteorology students and members of the meteorological community each Friday over the course of 11-12 weeks, forecasting for Tallahassee and another city for Saturday and Sunday each week. Plaques were presented to the winners of the Fall 2003 edition of the contest, with Joe Marzen taking home first place, Bill Cottrill taking home second place and Brian Mackey claiming third place.

Featured Presentation – Craig Fugate, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management

Vice-President Joe Marzen introduced the evening’s speaker, Mr. Craig Fugate. Originally of Alachua County, Mr. Fugate was appointed director of the Division of Emergency Management by Governor Jeb Bush several years ago. His talk for the evening centered around “Changing Outcomes,” a broad topic highlighting that no matter how many advances are made in meteorological prediction, unless people know what to do in the event of an emergency, we have failed. A perfect forecast of a meteorological disaster means little if there is needless loss of life. His job, as director of the Division of Emergency Management, is to push for a changing of the outcomes involved with these disasters through public enlightenment and understanding of the dangers involved with the weather.

Closing Comments

After Mr. Fugate’s speech, which was well received by the chapter, President Clark Evans delivered a short list of thank yous to a select group of people, including Dr. Bob Ellingson, Mr. Bill Cottrill and Mrs. Phyllis Young of the FSU Dept. of Meteorology, each of the six speakers – Dr. Guosheng Liu, Dr. Robert Hart, Mr. T.J. Turnage, Mr. Mike McCall, Mr. Paul Duval and Mr. Craig Fugate – at chapter functions during the year, and to the entire executive board, specifically Joe Marzen and Richie Schwerdt.

Announcement of the 2004-05 Executive Board

Following his thank yous and final comments, Clark then announced the 2004-05 Executive Board. Severing as Past President will be Clark Evans; as Secretary, Robert Banks; as Treasurer, Cerese Albers; as Vice-President, Geoff Wagner; and as President, Chris Bennett. Full bios of each of the chapter officers are available on the chapter’s website at http://www.northflams.org/reports/elections.htm. Following announcement of the election results, President-Elect Chris Bennett delivered a short speech to the membership outlining some of his goals – greater community involvement, further development of outreach programs and permanent entrenchment of the chapter into the community – for the coming year.

Meeting Close & Final Acknowledgments

Vice-President Joe Marzen began to close the chapter banquet with closing comments for the evening and the year. He singled out two groups, President Clark Evans and the Program Subcommittee, for their efforts during the past year. As a token of his and the chapter’s appreciation, Joe presented Clark with a plaque commemorating his service as President during the past year along with an old dropsonde from the Natl. Hurricane Center and a 13 pack of chocolate chip cookies from Publix. As a token of the Program subcommittee’s and the chapter’s appreciation, Joe was presented with a parting gift. After these brief presentations, the banquet was called to a close shortly after 9pm. Pictures will be available in early summer from the chapter’s website at www.northflams.org.