[ARRL-OK] SKYWARN Net Controllers sharpen their skills

[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

SKYWARN Net Controllers sharpen their skills

by Mark Conklin N7XYO, ARRL OK SEC PIC

Spring is coming and so will the severe weather.  Volunteer amateur radio
operators working closely with the Tulsa Warring office of the National
Weather Service are tuning up their skills as SKYWARN net control operators.
With the help of the Skywarn Advisory committee the staff of the Tulsa NWS
is producing a training course for net controllers.
 "We've heard that the net control desk can be pretty intimidating at
first - this is to help them along" said George Mathews, Tulsa NWS Warning
Coordination Meteorologist. "Also it helps the seasoned net controllers keep
their levels high."
The training modules will cover geography, radar interpretation, familiarity
with the amateur radio equipment at the Tulsa NWS, meteorology, and current
software used by the NWS and the net controllers.
The Eastern Oklahoma/Northwest Arkansas SKYWARN advisory committee has
announced meeting dates for the first quarter of 2002. The meetings are all
7 p.m. Mondays; the dates are: Jan 21; Feb.18; and March 18.
The meetings will be held at the Sun building downtown in the 10th floor
conference room. Anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN net controller in
learning more about what net controllers do should attend.
 For more information, be sure to visit: www.okarkskywarn.org.