joel ewing
EF5
Chris, I never had even what could remotely be called a negative experience back in those days when I would visit an NWS office with some donuts. Quite the opposite, actually. Many times, the staff(s) would seem to be flabbergasted that someone would show some kindness now and again. This was "pre-Twister" time, but still it was a time when a lot more people were beginning to chase...and a lot of newbies would barge into offices and act like they owned the place. I remember this was beginning to get bandied about (the "ugly" chasers at NWS offices) within the pages of the old hardcopy StormTrack publication.
For the record..I wouldn't just come flying thru the door of the NWS offices...donuts in hand. I would always ask whomever greeted me at the door or buzzed me in if they were willing to "trade some donuts for a little bit of chase info"...it was always done cheerfully, and always well received. The few times that I was denied entrance was when there was truly some other obligations that the staffs had to deal with (meetings, etc.) but I always was welcomed back there at a better time for them.
I don't often go into the NWS offices nowadays, but I still visit one or two annually. With on-board computers, there isn't so much of a need. However, last season on a basically blue-sky day my 13 yr. old cousin from O'Neill Neb. that lives on a horse ranch and I visited the Sioux Falls office for about 15-20 minutes. We didn't take donuts, and once I was buzzed in, I asked if perhaps we could take a quick little "tour" ....for her benefit, of course. She's chased with me three times in her young life...we've seen naders on 2 of those (my LUCKY little chase Cuz!) and believe me.....she LOVED it. And the staff at Sioux Falls couldn't have been more accomodating.
Thanks for reading my postings.
cry
