NWS-NWSEO National Labor Council Holds Initial Meeting

On April 5, 2002, the first meeting of the NWS-National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) National Labor Counsel (NLC) was held at NWS headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between NWS and NWSEO, the NLC will function as a national problem solving group and as a forum for input on decisions affecting the NWS bargaining unit as a whole. Approximately two-thirds of NWS employees are represented by NWSEO as members of the bargaining unit.

Assistant Administrator Jack Kelly opened the meeting with remarks that highlighted recent NWS accomplishments, but underscored the need to plan for change in the future. He invited NWSEO input to help make changes to keep NWS a successful organization. He introduced the NWS NLC members/negotiating team: Mark Brown (NWS Deputy CFO/CAO), Chief negotiator; Mickey Brown (Eastern Region Deputy Director), and Rich Douglas (Western Region MSD Chief), negotiators. Paul Greaves, NWSEO President, responded briefly with comments calling for dialog and communication to assure the bargaining unit contributes to and understands changes that will occur. He introduced Dan Sobien, Southern Region NWSEO Chair, and Richard Hirn, NWSEO Counsel as other members of the NWSEO negotiating team.

"This is the third collective bargaining agreement between NWSEO and NWS, but the first renewal since 1995," said Mark Brown. "Electronic copies of the CBA will be available to employees on the web and printed copies will be distributed to NWSEO and NWS in the next 30 days."

The NLC meeting covered a number of issues of concern to both NWSEO and NWS. Agreement was reached on steps to be taken to train NWS personnel on the details of the CBA. A joint training session is planned for Western Region's MIC Conference in June. The group agreed on committee membership to develop the implementation of the Gain Sharing program which will allow use of airline and hotel points towards cash awards for employees. The Council discussed options for revitalizing the gathering of ideas from employees to improve the quality of work life in NWS. Several Articles of the CBA still require updating for programs that have been revised over time, including the COOL (Commerce on Line) applications program and updating OMB Circular A-76 contracting provisions. NWS will propose revisions of these Articles for NWSEO review. NWS and NWSEO agreed that work at home overtime pay requirements apply to all employees and not just shift workers.

Brown said the NLC will meet not less than semi-annually, but may meet as needed, either in person or via video and teleconferencing. The next meeting will be scheduled for October.

The CBA has been transmitted to all NWS managers and is available the NWSEO web site http://www.nwseo.org/cbaindex.html. Brown said the CBA will be available on the NWS web site shortly, with additional material now pending Department of Commerce approval.

Click here for photographs of the meeting.

Upper Air Stations Begin to Get Surface Weather Observation Equipment

A new element of the Radiosonde Replacement Program should yield better upper-air observations once it is installed at 88 upper-air stations this year.

As part of an NWS upper-air rawinsonde observation, a surface weather observation is taken and included in the operational upper-air coded message, according to Joseph Facundo, Chief, Observing Systems Branch, Field Systems Operations Center, NWS Headquarters.

The surface weather observation is used as a "tie-point" or baseline for the rawinsonde data and is essential for determining the accuracy of the radiosonde sensors, Facundo said. The observation contains the following elements: weather; cloud amount, type, and height; temperature; dew point or relative humidity; wind direction and speed; and barometric pressure.

"The NWS currently uses the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) for measuring all these elements except cloud type," said Facundo. "ASOS can be used with the upper air system, if it provides observations near the balloon release point. Unfortunately, at nearly all upper-air stations ASOS is too far away to be representative of the balloon release point."

To improve the accuracy of the surface weather observation and provide equipment uniformity across the upper-air network, the NWS is installing the Radiosonde Surface Observing Instrumentation System (RSOIS) near balloon release points to provide measurements of temperature, relative humidity, and winds. Atmospheric pressure is being provided by a separate precision digital barometer deployed at all upper-air stations a few years ago. The remaining surface weather observation elements are determined by the observer.

As of April 8, 2002, NWS Electronic Technicians have installed RSOIS at five stations: Morehead City, NC; Albuquerque, NM; Midland, TX; Cold Bay, AK; and Kodiak, AK.

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An analysis of the more than 1,000 comments received on the new National Weather Service web design indicates the redesign is a hit with a large majority of those who made comments.

Between January and February 2002, 1,084 people submitted comments on the redesign. The NWS Strategic Planning and Policy (SPP) Office analyzed and categorized the comments topically and in groups of supportive, neutral, and negative, based on the tone of the comments. Comments identified as "supportive" comprised 82 percent of the total. Eleven percent of the comments were "neutral," and seven percent were "negative." Most of the people who made negative comments expressed a preference for features of the earlier designs. Comments were categorized into nine topical areas: ease of site navigation; website/browser compatibility; design/layout; links; maps; information; city, state and zip code search; specific topics; and general suggestions.

"We appreciate all of the people who took time to comment on the new design," said Edward Johnson, SPP Director. "I was surprised by the diversity of the people who use our web pages – mountain climbers, rescue workers, meteorologists, farmers, teachers, hobbyists, and housewives depend on our information. It was especially satisfying to read comments from users who appreciate the accessibility features of our new design. One of our commenters said, ‘My son and I are disabled and transportation by ambulance is a necessity. Your consideration of the disabled is welcome and appreciated.'"

Numerous comments praised the design for its polished, professional, and clean appearance. Many comments noted that maps should be larger and use larger type fonts for better legibility.

Eighty percent of all comments mentioned the improved ease of navigation, and more people liked the standardization than disliked it. Sixty percent of all comments contained praise for the variety and depth of information provided.

Negative comments about website/browser compatibility and link problems stopped once the reported problems were fixed. Positive comments on links focused on the convenience and variety of the links provided in the redesign.

Specific references were made on the NWS Interactive Weather Information Network (IWIN) service, forecast discussions, watches and warnings, maritime and upper air information, and NOAA Weather Radio.

Sixty percent of all comments praised the information offered. The most popular single product among the commenters is the Forecast Discussion with 98 total comments.

"We're going to continue to examine comments and tweak the design," said NWS Webmaster Bob Bunge, NWS Office of the Chief Information Officer. "A team of webmasters from across the agency will regularly meet to explore suggestions from comments and how they can be best incorporated into the design."

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Getting the word out about saving lives and protecting property has taken on a new twist in Elko, NV. A public/private partnership has yielded city bus signs with the NWS web address for the Elko Weather Forecast Office (WFO) that increases public awareness of NWS products and services with minimal costs. Eleven employees at WFO Elko volunteered to be on a grass roots marketing team to help get the word out about their life saving products. The concept of using a bus sign was the brainchild of Sue Packham.

"Each team member was challenged to come up with at least one new idea to promote the NWS in our 45,375 square mile county warning areas. On my way to work one day, I passed a city bus and this idea was born," Packham said. She approached North Eastern Area Transit Bus Company about the project and negotiated with them to defray some of the project's costs. In the end, the weather service's final cost for three month rental of window space and sign materials was a "whopping" $270!

"The Elko community has shown great pride in our NWS office since it was built in 1995," said Kevin Baker, Elko Meteorologist-In-Charge. "Many people pass us every day on the nearby highway and we look for unique ways to let them know more about how to access our products and services through the Internet."

Vickie Nadolski, NWS Western Region Director added, "This outreach effort is relatively inexpensive and has the potential for big pay backs." Nadolski helped unveil the project during a recent visit to the Elko forecast office. "The project was timed to provide winter weather information to the citizens of north east Nevada."

The Elko marketing team tracked the success of the bus promotion project by monitoring web site traffic. Their statistics indicate that NWS Elko averaged 350 visitors to its web site per month before the project began.

"We zoomed to about 500 unique hits in March, even without any major weather events in our area," said Brian Fehrn, co-webmaster and meteorologist in Elko. "We will continue to monitor the usage and are glad more people are now aware of this service."

"This project reinforces the idea that public education is effective," said Packham. "I encourage other NWS offices to work with their community's transportation systems to get the message out about saving lives." Click here for a look at the Elko bus logo.

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Edward Fenelon, Meteorologist-in-Charge at the Weather Forecast Office in Marquette, MI, contributed the following story:

WFO Marquette SCEP (Student Career Experience Program) employee Gwendolyn Akom was recognized recently with an award as an Outstanding Graduating Senior in the Engineering Technology Department in the College of Technology and Applied Science at Northern Michigan University (NMU). Akom received the honor at the 2002 Honors Banquet on April 2, 2002.

Akom entered the electronics program at NMU in the fall of 1998 as a full time nontraditional student with husband (Tim) and two children (Jamie and T.J.) at home. Even though she had been out of school for 20 years, she immediately excelled carrying 16 credits and earning a 3.925 GPA in her first semester. Akom quickly got involved helping fellow students by working as a tutor and study group leader for Student Support Services. In July, 1999, she began work with the NWS in the SCEP program. Balancing family, work, and academic commitments, Gwen received her Associate Degree in Electronic Servicing with High Honors in May of 2000 with a GPA of 3.934. She was the first recipient of the Fred and Marjorie Staples Scholarship in the Winter of 1999 recognizing her excellence both in and out of the classroom. Gwen currently holds a 3.836 GPA and will be graduating in May, 2002, after having completed the program in four years.

Dr. William Rigby, Akom's Department Head said, "Gwen has been an inspirational student and one that other students look up to and count on for assistance. She will be sorely missed in the department, but we know she will continue to excel at the National Weather Service."

Gwen will begin full time employment with the NWS May 6, 2002, at WFO Marquette as an Electronics Technician.

For more information on SCEP, click here.

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Across the Nation, Thursday, April 25, 2002, is "Take Our Daughters to Work Day." But because of the belief that day should be open to all young people, NOAA sponsors "Bring a Child to Work Day." In 2001 NOAA's NWS Focus published photos of "Bring Your Child to Work Day" as it was celebrated here in Silver Spring. We plan to do that again, but in addition we hope that this year NWS field offices will send us photos of your local celebrations. We'd like to share them as well. Please submit them to NWS.Focus@noaa.gov.

"I very much hope that no matter where your NOAA office is located, you will share your workday -- and world of science, service, and adventure -- with your child or children," said NOAA Administrator, Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher.

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Calling all Eastern Region Alumni!

All current and retired NWS employees and friends are invited to the seventh NWS Eastern Region Reunion on June 3, 6:00 p.m., at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, Long Island, NY. For information or to make a reservation, contact Fred Zuckerberg at 516-621-7551 or fredz11@earthlink.net.

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