• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

How Spotter Training Classes Positively Impact Communities

Cait French

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 16, 2019
Messages
2
Location
Kentucky
I’m a meteorologist working in the local sector of Emergency Management and have gotten together with our local college and NWS office to set up a Spotter Training class. I’m concerned that it won’t have much of an impact on my community but I hope I’m wrong! I really want to see the public become more aware of dangerous weather and take more initiative to protect themselves and their families.

In what ways have you noticed these classes positively impact your communities? Or did it never take off?

Do you think they’re still helpful or should we try to go a different route as a spotter community trying to encourage Joe Q. Public?
 
In the NWS FWD (Fort Worth/Dallas) area NWS holds spotter training in all 46 of their counties. They would not do this if they didn't think it made an impact. These classes play to full houses in many counties and for ever person they directly train, that person becomes almost like an ambassador to their friends, family, and co-workers - so the reach is much larger than it looks. I think there are a couple of key things to success . First get your local media outlets to plug it on air and even ask them to come talk for 15 mins. Second, invite every em, fire, police, school district offical, and ham club around you.
 
We were very fortunate and had about 80 people there (including one VERY excited 6-year-old)! It was a fantastic turnout and I couldn’t have been happier! I did push for a lot of first responders and a lot of the county fire fighters came. Most of the ones that did were some that I’ve done training with (hazmat ops, SAR, etc), so it definitely pays to befriend those around you.
 
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