Palmetto AMS Spring / Summer 2001 Chapter Newsletter
- USC CENTRAL SC REGION II SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR JUDGING - On March 22, a diverse team of PAMS members from the SRS, SC DHEC, and Shaw AFB 20th OWS participated as judges at the 45th Annual Region II Science and Engineering Fair at the Columbia Coliseum in Columbia, SC. Following a reception and dinner, these 5 brave souls bivouacked, mapped their strategy, divided their manpower, then swiftly descended upon the Carolina Coliseum floor with the sole objective of seeking out and judging those science projects dealing with the atmospheric sciences and related fields. After an exhausting, but enjoyably enlightening evening, the judges pooled their nominations, forging a consensus. One winner from the Junior level (Lindy Bunch, an 8th grader from E. L. Wright Middle School) and one winner from the Senior level (Christina Joy, a 10th grader from Spring Valley High School) were awarded a certificate from the AMS, as well as a very useful book on the subject, “The National Audobon Society Handbook of North American Meteorology”. Please join the judges, as well as the officers & general membership of the Palmetto AMS, in congratulating the winners and all others who participated in this most fascinating display of research from the brightest young scientific minds in the Midlands. Please remember that judges are always needed. If interested, we urge you to answer when the call goes out for the 2002 fair. You won’t regret a moment of it!
– MEMBERSHIP MEETING, JUNE 8th, 2001 - The PAMS members & their guests came together at the SC DNR offices on the 11th Floor of the Capital Center building in Columbia to sit back and enjoy a little history of where we all came from. Dr. Walter Saucier, founder of three atmospheric science departments at universities across the country, spoke about the struggle to provide adequate meteorological educational opportunities throughout the country after World War II through the 1980s. A loose and thoroughly enjoyable storyline, wrought with anecdotes and allusions to the teller’s contemporary comradeship with some of the great atmospheric scientists we all know from our textbooks, Dr. Saucier spun a history of meteorology as it transformed from a simple necessity for the safety of wartime aviation, to the sophisticated science it has become at the dawn of the 21st century. His achievements were most admirable in light of the obstacles he encountered at each institution of higher learning. Also speaking at the meeting was Dr. Walter Bach, who gave an interesting presentation concerning the Cases 99 Stable Boundary Layer modeling effort. Following the meeting, members & guests adjourned to the Millennium Buffet oriental restaurant near the Blossom St. Bridge for a relaxing meal & light conversation. The PAMS would like to extend extra special thanks to our distinguished guests, the SC DNR, and the Millennium Buffet for making this a most pleasant and informative evening.
- DUES! DUES! DUES! - Those of you out there (and you may not know who you are!) who are due to renew membership in the Palmetto AMS this quarter will be e-mailed directly a reminder sometime in the near future. Dues are still $10 and are payable at any PAMS meeting or activity, or anytime you come into contact with one of the officers. If you owe, please DO NOT mail your money to the officers. The e-mail will be your reminder to bring extra dough to the next meeting!
- OUR NEXT PALMETTO AMS ACTIVITY... - We are planning our next PAMS activity, a tour of the Delta Airlines Meteorological Operation Center in Atlanta, on Thursday, August 16th, 2001. This is a golden opportunity to take a rare look into real-time meteorological operations in the private sector. Thanks go out to President Rob Addis for setting up the entire outing. Please stay tuned to the site for details & directions!
2001 PAMS
Officers (once again):
President: Rob Addis… Vice President: Andy Million… Secretary/Treasurer: Paul Martin