Post by n3fjp on May 23, 2009 19:32:13 GMT -5
I've received e-mail from folks who have expressed interest in either finding a local/regional weather group to be part of or growing their own group. One very successful regional model to consider joining or emulating is Gulf Coast Weather: www.gulfcoastwx.com/ipb/
While their name references the gulf coast, the group is very pertinent to anyone who is affected by hurricanes, including all of us along the eastern seaboard. I'm in Maryland and very happy to be a part of the group. Gulf Coast WX welcomes anyone with a weather interest, regardless of location.
Gulf Coast WX recently moved their site. They were up to 1,121 members before the move and they are already back to 297 as of 5/22/09 and growing daily.
Why is this site so successful? In my humble opinion, here are just a few of the many reasons:
1. The group is very welcoming and works hard to build a sense of community. They keep it fun and friendly. They use on-line forums for all members to communicate and stay connected with each other. They host social events and have speakers, etc.
2. The group has a very solid core of serious weather folks including meteorologists, meteorology students and advanced amateurs.
3. All are made to feel welcome and a part of the group. The emphasis isn't Skywan or Emcomm or Amateur Radio - it is the common interest of weather. All who share a weather interest have equal status.
4. The site is constantly updated with the latest radar images and alerts, so there is plenty of reason to visit often for the latest information (in addition to the community appeal).
5. Hurricanes are serious business, affect a lot of folks and represent a common focal point. All of us in the southern and eastern US are paying attention to a specific storm at the same time, and eager to share thoughts on what is happening.
6. There is a lot of educational information available and the folks there are eager to help you learn and understand weather intricacies.
7. The group is strongly encouraging the use of WXSpots among all their members (not that that has anything to do with their growth, but just one more piece of evidence that this is a sensible group)
As a large regional site, this is a great one, especially for those of us in the southern and eastern US. This model could certainly be adopted for other areas such as a northeastern site, midwestern site, etc.
Perhaps some of you would like to get together and make that happen. If you would like to find others to work with you, please feel free to put the word out here on the WXSpots e-mail group.
For those who aren't looking to build regional sites and would be thrilled to have a dozen or so folks they could count on in their own county, I think many of the same rules apply. Large or small, build a welcoming community. Use forums or e-mail groups to keep your group connected. Keep communication going even in quiet times. Have regular meetings using WXSpots. Organize a cookout. Provide some weather education. Keep your group fun, interesting and informative and you will enjoy the same success that Gulf Coast WX is experiencing!
Take care,
Scott
While their name references the gulf coast, the group is very pertinent to anyone who is affected by hurricanes, including all of us along the eastern seaboard. I'm in Maryland and very happy to be a part of the group. Gulf Coast WX welcomes anyone with a weather interest, regardless of location.
Gulf Coast WX recently moved their site. They were up to 1,121 members before the move and they are already back to 297 as of 5/22/09 and growing daily.
Why is this site so successful? In my humble opinion, here are just a few of the many reasons:
1. The group is very welcoming and works hard to build a sense of community. They keep it fun and friendly. They use on-line forums for all members to communicate and stay connected with each other. They host social events and have speakers, etc.
2. The group has a very solid core of serious weather folks including meteorologists, meteorology students and advanced amateurs.
3. All are made to feel welcome and a part of the group. The emphasis isn't Skywan or Emcomm or Amateur Radio - it is the common interest of weather. All who share a weather interest have equal status.
4. The site is constantly updated with the latest radar images and alerts, so there is plenty of reason to visit often for the latest information (in addition to the community appeal).
5. Hurricanes are serious business, affect a lot of folks and represent a common focal point. All of us in the southern and eastern US are paying attention to a specific storm at the same time, and eager to share thoughts on what is happening.
6. There is a lot of educational information available and the folks there are eager to help you learn and understand weather intricacies.
7. The group is strongly encouraging the use of WXSpots among all their members (not that that has anything to do with their growth, but just one more piece of evidence that this is a sensible group)
As a large regional site, this is a great one, especially for those of us in the southern and eastern US. This model could certainly be adopted for other areas such as a northeastern site, midwestern site, etc.
Perhaps some of you would like to get together and make that happen. If you would like to find others to work with you, please feel free to put the word out here on the WXSpots e-mail group.
For those who aren't looking to build regional sites and would be thrilled to have a dozen or so folks they could count on in their own county, I think many of the same rules apply. Large or small, build a welcoming community. Use forums or e-mail groups to keep your group connected. Keep communication going even in quiet times. Have regular meetings using WXSpots. Organize a cookout. Provide some weather education. Keep your group fun, interesting and informative and you will enjoy the same success that Gulf Coast WX is experiencing!
Take care,
Scott