The AMS needs reform and rejuvenation to effectively serve its members and the nation.

I am running to bring change that will strengthen and reinvigorate the Society.

Consider the current situation.   Membership numbers have steadily declined, with particular losses among younger members and the operational community.  The AMS annual meeting is too large and unfocused, offers few opportunities for continuing education, and includes often tedious “presidential fora”. Disciplinary meetings require reorganization to better reflect current requirements. The costs of AMS meetings have increased to unreasonable levels, with excessive charges for virtual attendees.  High meeting costs reduce the diversity of attendees.

Of critical importance, the AMS has failed to engage the large weather enthusiast community, a lost opportunity both in terms of service and garnering additional financial resources.  Of note is the failure of the AMS WeatherBand, upon which the AMS has invested substantial resources.

The AGU has expanded into atmospheric and other environmental disciplines, displacing the AMS from leadership in important areas such as climate. Many leading members of the atmospheric community are no longer members of the AMS.  In my department, the AGU meeting is far more important than AMS gatherings. 

The AMS organization needs streamlining to release funds for reform, and the sale of some of the Society’s substantial real estate and other assets should be considered.

Although many AMS journals remain popular, the flagship Bulletin is poorly organized, often with articles of marginal interest to the general community.

I have been a long-time member of the AMS and care deeply about the organization.  I believe it can be reformed to far better serve both the atmospheric sciences community and society.   

Meeting improvements, financial reform, membership expansion, effective outreach activities.  If elected, I will work to address such issues in an energetic, open, and cooperative way.

Cliff Mass is currently a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.  As an undergraduate physics major, he worked with Carl Sagan and Stephen Schneider on planetary atmospheres and climate research.  He received his Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington, with a thesis on African Wave disturbances.  After three-years at University of Maryland, he returned to the University of Washington as faculty member.  

Cliff Mass’ research deals with synoptic and mesoscale meteorology, as well as high-resolution numerical prediction on both regional and global scales. He runs an operational weather prediction effort for the Pacific Northwest and currently is working on wildfire meteorology, high-resolution regional climate prediction, and the use of smartphone pressures for prediction.   He originated and has led the Northwest Weather Workshop for several decades.

Outreach to the community is one his priorities, and his activities include a popular weather blog, a podcast, and substantial interactions with the media.  Cliff Mass has been heavily involved in K-12 math education efforts and has a number of joint efforts with local governmental and private sector entities.  He is also active on policy issues, such improving the quality of U.S. numerical weather prediction.

Cliff Mass is a fellow of the AMS, and a member of the organization for over 30 years.  He is an author of over 150 peer-reviewed papers, most published in AMS journals.