Chasercon 2015

[Todd Rector]

Just in case anyone who is involved with planning might be watching this thread, I want to emphasize my inability to attend wasn't money or location this year, it was simply because it was on Valentine's Day weekend. One weekend in either direction and I would have signed up in a flash! (also, I just looked and noticed Feb 14th 2015 is on a Saturday)

 

[Todd Rector]

I was near Beaver Crossing as well, busy learning life lessons about relying on I-80 for an escape route while getting pelted by rocks and dirt clods being picked up off the fields. I didn't count it as a tornado "catch" because I didn't see it with my eyes (or camera) but it was definitely there in that wall of rain coming towards us.

 

[Skip Talbot]

How about conference badge ribbons instead?

We'll have different ribbons for your number of tornadoes and years chasing, one that says you're a certified Skywarn spotter (that's like the participation ribbon that everyone gets), and maybe one with LED lights that blink for lightbar owners. You'll have to submit photos of each tornado for review by the Spotter Network QR team before you get your ribbon, so don't think you can just write a number on a line of the conference registration form. That tactic only works on Facebook and Stormtrack.

About half of you are bummed you can't attend a geek conference because you have a love life... first world problems, sheesh.

I say we just move the conference to Norman. Those guys don't want to travel any further than a county, and it'll be just like any other long distance chase trip for the rest of the crowd.

This is just for laughs, of course.

 

[Rob H]

How about conference badge ribbons instead?
I say we just move the conference to Norman. Those guys don't want to travel any further than a county, and it'll be just like any other long distance chase trip for the rest of the crowd.

"Oh God, that's I-70 up ahead. I heard this is the edge of the world, and there's just a giant cliff on the other side of this that feeds into an infinitely deep chasm..." *turns car around*

 

[Todd Rector]

I TOTALLY WANT A BADGE LIKE THIS.
I have emergency lights on my vehicle (fire department - I have never used them during a chase). Does that qualify me for blinking LEDS on my badge?

Also, I may have a solution to my love life "problem" ... "Hey honey, what say we take a little Valentine's Day getaway to Denver this year?"... Any bets on whether or not I will still have a love life after that weekend?

 

[Skip Talbot]

I have never used them during a chase). Does that qualify me for blinking LEDS on my badge?

No, the whole point of that lightbar ribbon is that, like the lightbars on chase vehicles, they're attention getting devices. "Hey, look at me! I'm a storm chaser!" There isn't enough room in the conference hall for people to drive around in their vehicles with their lights flashing, so we use the ribbons instead. People will be impressed, believe me.

Also, I may have a solution to my love life "problem"

But seriously, the real solution is to simply celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other on a different weekend. Why does it have to be on Valentine's Day? Whole families don't converge on that date, and it's not a workplace holiday, so why not just move the date?

 

[Todd Rector]

Okay, I don't qualify for LED lights, darnit!

How about this: For chasers with excessive weather instrumentation on their vehicles, giving out ballcaps with miniature mobile mesonets, all feeding a master console via bluetooth so we can check weather conditions in real-time around the convention room...

(ducking, running)

 

[TJKLECKNER]

I'm not getting "CON-ed" out of money this year

 

[Dan Robinson]

No, the whole point of that lightbar ribbon is that, like the lightbars on chase vehicles, they're attention getting devices. "Hey, look at me! I'm a storm chaser!" There isn't enough room in the conference hall for people to drive around in their vehicles with their lights flashing, so we use the ribbons instead. People will be impressed, believe me.

If the elevator breaks down or someone spills their drink, they can be the ones to block the hallway to keep everyone safe.

 

[Will Wilkens]

I've gone in '10, '11, '12, '13, and '14. Each of those years the weather was nice, 50's into 70's. Maybe some snow showers in the mountains. In fact this year the weather was in the 70's with 60's at night! The only time it snowed in the city of those 5 years was in '10, that Sunday morning AFTER we had 75F on Sat. It snowed 4 inches in the morning and all melted before lunchtime. Now that doesn't mean it won't ever blizzard on a 'Con weekend, but so far it has never been a problem the times I went.

 

[joel ewing]

Royce, could you please tell me where you found the info that Nebr. is leading the nation in tornadoes this year? I've tried to find that info for all states in '14, but without success. Thanks!

 

[joel ewing]

Mr. Clope....I think I can speak for many of us....we've ALL had instances where we missed the "BIG" event(s) by mere minutes....after spending hours and hours of driving long distances as well as lots of hard-earned cash attempting to make a successful intercept. I also believe that ALL of us would encourage you to just keep plugging away at your chase goals and don't even think about giving up. Just like our sports coaches used to drill into us....each loss gets you closer to the game you will eventually win....IF.....you review why you failed....then made your adjustment(s) prior to your next attempt. Storm chasing has a long, hard learning curve...and personally I never quit learning each time out...in spite of doing this for 3 decades. Believe me....once you see your first tornado, especially if it's relatively close....it'll make up for all the painful busts and mistakes you made in the past.

 

[Shaba117]

I love Denver, CO! The only time that a Philly/Air Force Girl has spent in this great city has been for past ChaserCons (up until '06). Absolutely wonderful, the Airport, the Hotel...everything that I remember was great, not sure if change is for the better. Denver, for one, is a large air hub. OKC...not so much. Gathering large #s of ppl from afar, you'd want a 'hub' airport to save $$$. Yeah, bit biased on my DEN experiences, but also realistic.

 

[John Wetter]

If it moves, it needs to stay at a major air hub. What I like about Denver is there are a lot of cheap flights there. So, no Omaha, no OKC, etc.

 

[Shane Adams]

IMO the point of moving it would be to lesson the strain of travel for those who are driving. Moving it to satisfy air travelers' needs defeats the purpose completely. If you're willing to fly, you can get there within a few hours from anywhere in the country, even with flight changes and layovers. Suggesting two major Midwest cities be automatically eliminated from the running based on airport issues is silly, as those two locations would be huge draws. In fact OKC would probably be the biggest.