[NvHam] SKYWARN Recognition Day Information

[Dick Flanagan]

SKYWARN Recognition Day

The fifth annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) will take place this year on
Saturday, December 6, 2003. This is the day that Amateur Radio operators
visit National Weather Service (NWS) offices and contact other operators
around the world. The purpose of the event is to recognize Amateur Radio
operators for the vital public service they perform during times of severe
weather, and to strengthen the bond between radio amateurs and their local
National Weather Service office. The event is co-sponsored by the American
Radio Relay League and the National Weather Service.

Traditionally, hams have assisted the National Weather Service during times
of severe weather by providing real-time reports of severe events and storm
evolution. "You simply can't put a price tag on it", says Scott Mentzer
(N0QE), organizer of the event and Meteorologist-In-Charge at the NWS office
in Goodland, Kansas. "The assistance that radio amateurs provide to the NWS
throughout the year is invaluable".

SKYWARN Recognition Day this year will be held from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC on
December 6, 2003. Scott Mentzer, the creator and promoter of the event,
strives to involve more NWS offices and Amateur Radio operators each year.
In 2002, participants logged nearly 23,000 QSOs during the 24-hour event.
Last year nearly 70 countries were contacted. To learn more about this
year's event, check out the NOAA Web site: http://hamradio.noaa.gov/.  This
site includes a link to a list of participating National Weather Service
offices and their call signs.

Questions concerning this event can be directed to Larry Boyd, K0ILB, at
larry.boyd@noaa.gov.

--Thanks to David Floyd, N5DBZ,
Warning Coordination Meteorologist,
NWS Goodland, Kansas
david.l.floyd@noaa.gov

An announcement on SKYWARN Recognition Day also appears in November, 2003,
QST, p. 90, and at this Web page:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/skywarn-recognition-day.html
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org