Now that I’m back home from Tulsa, I wanted to reflect for a moment on #nwas21, which was, to the best of my knowledge, the first open meeting in the weather enterprise with an in-person component in a year and a half.
TL;DR So much pride. So much gratitude.
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TL;DR So much pride. So much gratitude.
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Over the last year, we’ve been watching COVID trends like everyone else. Two months ago, it looked like we’d have been able to have had a pretty large in-person meeting, potentially without many restrictions.
Then the variant-that-shall-not-be-named reared its ugly head.
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Then the variant-that-shall-not-be-named reared its ugly head.
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For the last few weeks, @JaniceBunting and I were talking daily, sharing stats, reviewing guidance, and so forth. That lead to more conversations with folks in Tulsa on case rates, hospitalization figures, and guidance from civic leaders.
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We convened two Board meetings to discuss our plans and whether and how we should move forward with the in-person component. (Fortunately we’d been planning a hybrid meeting all along, so the show would go on either way.)
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After a deep review of the situation, the latest CDC guidance, local updates, and requests from the city & healthcare leaders, the Board decided to move forward with an in-person component, to require proof of vaccination, and to require masking in our space.
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We aren’t doctors. We aren’t epidemiologists. We aren’t infectious disease experts.
So we listened to those who are - and to the community that was to host our meeting.
And we held our in-person activities in the most responsible way we could: Fully vaxxed and masked.
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So we listened to those who are - and to the community that was to host our meeting.
And we held our in-person activities in the most responsible way we could: Fully vaxxed and masked.
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We can’t eliminate the risk, of course, and it would be foolish to suggest otherwise.
But we can take steps to mitigate that risk for those who wanted and felt comfortable to attend in person while also providing a full and meaningful experience for attendees online.
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But we can take steps to mitigate that risk for those who wanted and felt comfortable to attend in person while also providing a full and meaningful experience for attendees online.
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I am proud of the @nwas Board of Directors for its thoughtful and deliberate approach to this topic.
I am grateful to the #nwas21 in-person attendees for being the responsible guests in our host city and for complying with the requirements without complaint.
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I am grateful to the #nwas21 in-person attendees for being the responsible guests in our host city and for complying with the requirements without complaint.
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There are many people whose time, talent, and treasure resulted in this meeting coming together. I want to highlight a few.
@JaniceBunting and @StormySongbird at @nwas HQ are the wizards behind the curtain. They do so much that we never see but that is utterly critical.
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@JaniceBunting and @StormySongbird at @nwas HQ are the wizards behind the curtain. They do so much that we never see but that is utterly critical.
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The annual meeting committee and especially the co-chairs, @weeiindysellers and @shawncable, pulled together a fascinating four days of sessions and conversations, and Shawn helped keep sessions running smoothly throughout the meeting.
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Our partners with @factor110 juggled in-person and virtual talks flawlessly, keeping the in-person A/V and remote streams flowing smoothly for all attendees. Honestly, for many remotely delivered talks, I forgot the presenters were even remote.
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(And we minimized the “can you see my screen?” and “can you hear me now?” moments that have become all too common in our lives in the last 18 months.)
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I also need to highlight @BetsyKling who once again helped to program an excellent broadcast workshop for Sunday. (We look forward to buying raffle tickets next year!)
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I want to express my deep gratitude to our keynote speakers, Anzio Williams, @PlanetaryKeri, & @kdroege, and our invited speakers, @wx4keg, Russ Schneider, and @NWSDirector, for sharing their time, perspectives, and experiences with us - and challenging us to keep improving.
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And thanks to everyone who presented their work and to everyone who contributed to that work along the way, even if you weren’t able to join us. What you are doing moves our weather enterprise forward. Even small steps over a long time can and do make a big impact.
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My heart is full tonight.
Full of joy at seeing my colleagues and friends in person, even behind masks. It has been too long.
And full of gratitude for the hard work and long hours put in by so many to make a meeting like this happen. Thank you.
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Full of joy at seeing my colleagues and friends in person, even behind masks. It has been too long.
And full of gratitude for the hard work and long hours put in by so many to make a meeting like this happen. Thank you.
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It is a privilege to be a part of this organization and to have the opportunity, this year especially, to witness up close the dedication of its members (and our HQ staff!) to its mission of connecting operational meteorologists and pursuing excellence.
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Thank you all again for being a part of #nwas21.
If you missed a talk want to watch again, the talks are in Whova.
Mark your calendars for the RON (10/6) & the Student & Early Career Workshop (10/24).
Meantime, be smart and stay safe.
I wanna see all y’all @ #nwas22.
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If you missed a talk want to watch again, the talks are in Whova.
Mark your calendars for the RON (10/6) & the Student & Early Career Workshop (10/24).
Meantime, be smart and stay safe.
I wanna see all y’all @ #nwas22.
18/fin
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