DMARSPA MINUTES - APRIL 27, 2017
1. President Justine Finley welcomed DMARSPA minutes and guests to the April 27, 2017,
meeting.
2. Bill Snyder introduced the speaker, Zachary , who belongs to an organization which
provides information to channel 8 for the weather. His passion for weather started with
storm chasing and he joined the storm chasing network. He was taking courses in
meteorology, but changed to storm chasing. He will be graduating from Iowa State in May.
KCCI asked to partner with the organization, which was founded in 2008. In 2010, they
formed the Iowa Storm Chasing Network. Zac, while at Iowa State, interned with Ben
McMillin, the founder of the Storm Chasing Network. He helped put out forecasts, and
things snowballed on the internet. Today, they have 130, 000 followers. The entire state is
covered by storm chasers. Storm Chasers forecast, inform, provide live coverage, and
rescue, respond. They don't always see a tornado; only one out of eight times do they see a
tornado. They use "storm hunters," vehicles especially equipped. When asked why they do
it, they reply, "We save lives." While on the road, they look for a particular type of storm. He
tries to stay at least a mile away from a tornado. Zac has been as close as a quarter mile
from a tornado. Having real time information is key to warn people. Storms are dangerous,
and people need to have a plan. They forecast by using computer models and general
knowledge. The station weather people forecast general weather; they forecast storms, bad
weather. The forecast models they use can look at 7-14 days out, but it is not totally realistic
that far out. Information 3-4 days range is more accurate. A thunderstorm forms from
moisture, unstable air and lift. Warm fronts produce the best tornadoes. It becomes severe
when hail stones are larger than 3/4 inch. How do tornadoes form? Need two key
ingredients: war, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool dry air from Canada. When
mixed, this creates instability. The horizontal spinning effect comes from a change in wind
direction and an increase with wind speed with height. Tornado Fact: The average forward
speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but can range from stationary to 70 mph. Most tornados are
130-180 mph. A new fact just recently found is that 22 percent of deaths were caused by
head injury in the April, 1211, tornado. So wear a helmet. About 75 percent of injuries
come after the tornado. If your house gets hit by a tornado, leave the house. Homes are
unstable and can collapse on the people. Tools used inside the vehicle are; light bar,
camera mount, tablet, laptop, HAM radio, navigation, video camera, internet, light bars. All
are web enabled. In order to be a storm chaser, you must be flexible and have a flexible
job; have loved ones who understand your lifestyle; understand your free time is limited,
especially in spring and summer. The job will provide stress; long hours will be spent in a
vehicle; your health could be impacted; and there is a high fuel cost. With all of this, why do
they chase? Excitement, knowledge, desire to help people and save property; interact with
new people. He tells students, " Don't just follow your dreams; chase them." One member
asked why they have Ham radios in their cars? Zac said when power goes down, Ham
radios still function. Use two data plans sometimes to get internet usage. He plans to find
a job with more regular hours after graduation with the McLaughlin family. John McLaughlin
was a meteorologist with KCCI.
3. April birthdays were recognized.
4. President Finley led the Pledge to the Flag, followed by a moment of silence.
5. Buffet lunch catered by Baratta's.
6. President Finley asked Dee Fleischwaker to introduce the scholarship winners. Dee
introduced and thanked her committee. All three recipients are ISU students; two attended to learn English. Olivia Crane, a Southeast Polk graduate, has helped with literacy, and
would like to student teach in Italy. All of the winners received high marks from their
references and all three have participated in many community activities. The third recipient
was unable to attend until June.
7. The April 27, 2017, business meeting was called to order by President Finley.
A. Secretary Minutes - Sherry Wilkinson. Minutes were approved as read.
B. Treasurer's Report - Rosemary Hillman. Checking account balance on April 27,
2017- $10,837.65. Scholarship fund balance on April 27, 2017, $3,116.35. Total
assets as of April 27, 2017, $13, 954.00. Funds of $1500 will be transferred from
the General Account to the Scholarship Fund to award three scholarships.
C. Scholarship Committee - Dee Fleischacker. See previous notes.
D. Courtesy - Dee Fleishchacker: Thinking of You card to Betty Atwood; cards were
sent to Mary Sherer who died, and Erica Brown who has been very ill
E. Legislative - Gary Thelen: House file 89 introduced January 24,2017, would take
everyone in the DM Plan into IPERS, without any member being charged. The
DM system would guarantee the pensions. It passed in the House on March 21;
passed the Senate on April 17. The governor has not signed it yet. Should know
next month whether he signs the bill. The legislature will not be in session.
F. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Continue to log your volunteer hours.
2. Continue to alert Bill and Joelle of changes for the Directory.
3. Time to pay dues.
4. Last call for donations to the Food Bank. So far, we have $376 donated.
G. NEW BUSINESS:
1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Need someone to be a Vice President and a
head cashier.
2. Volunteers - email Justine, if you would like to volunteer.
3. Free lunch in June only to NEW retirees. Please let anyone who qualifies
know.
4. We will consider another month in the year to cover the cost of a meal for
those who have been retired and would like to come to become a
member.
7. Cashiers for next month - Pat Papenheim and Janet Linn.
8. Announcements: Spring District 5 meeting will be held in Knoxville Thursday, May 11, at the
Marion County Extension Office, 201 North Iowa Street in Knoxville. Registration at
8:30 a.m.; meal reservation by May 1; email Lyle Stirling, lylestirling@gmail.com or call
641-208-6012.
9. Introduction of guests, visitors
10. Puzzle answers read by Dee.
11. Door prize won by Sue Jansen
12. Meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m. The May 25 program will be Girl Scouts of America with
Jessica Tobin.
Gabriella Krammer is a Valley High School graduate. She helps tutor Middle East students
1. President Justine Finley welcomed DMARSPA minutes and guests to the April 27, 2017,
meeting.
2. Bill Snyder introduced the speaker, Zachary , who belongs to an organization which
provides information to channel 8 for the weather. His passion for weather started with
storm chasing and he joined the storm chasing network. He was taking courses in
meteorology, but changed to storm chasing. He will be graduating from Iowa State in May.
KCCI asked to partner with the organization, which was founded in 2008. In 2010, they
formed the Iowa Storm Chasing Network. Zac, while at Iowa State, interned with Ben
McMillin, the founder of the Storm Chasing Network. He helped put out forecasts, and
things snowballed on the internet. Today, they have 130, 000 followers. The entire state is
covered by storm chasers. Storm Chasers forecast, inform, provide live coverage, and
rescue, respond. They don't always see a tornado; only one out of eight times do they see a
tornado. They use "storm hunters," vehicles especially equipped. When asked why they do
it, they reply, "We save lives." While on the road, they look for a particular type of storm. He
tries to stay at least a mile away from a tornado. Zac has been as close as a quarter mile
from a tornado. Having real time information is key to warn people. Storms are dangerous,
and people need to have a plan. They forecast by using computer models and general
knowledge. The station weather people forecast general weather; they forecast storms, bad
weather. The forecast models they use can look at 7-14 days out, but it is not totally realistic
that far out. Information 3-4 days range is more accurate. A thunderstorm forms from
moisture, unstable air and lift. Warm fronts produce the best tornadoes. It becomes severe
when hail stones are larger than 3/4 inch. How do tornadoes form? Need two key
ingredients: war, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool dry air from Canada. When
mixed, this creates instability. The horizontal spinning effect comes from a change in wind
direction and an increase with wind speed with height. Tornado Fact: The average forward
speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but can range from stationary to 70 mph. Most tornados are
130-180 mph. A new fact just recently found is that 22 percent of deaths were caused by
head injury in the April, 1211, tornado. So wear a helmet. About 75 percent of injuries
come after the tornado. If your house gets hit by a tornado, leave the house. Homes are
unstable and can collapse on the people. Tools used inside the vehicle are; light bar,
camera mount, tablet, laptop, HAM radio, navigation, video camera, internet, light bars. All
are web enabled. In order to be a storm chaser, you must be flexible and have a flexible
job; have loved ones who understand your lifestyle; understand your free time is limited,
especially in spring and summer. The job will provide stress; long hours will be spent in a
vehicle; your health could be impacted; and there is a high fuel cost. With all of this, why do
they chase? Excitement, knowledge, desire to help people and save property; interact with
new people. He tells students, " Don't just follow your dreams; chase them." One member
asked why they have Ham radios in their cars? Zac said when power goes down, Ham
radios still function. Use two data plans sometimes to get internet usage. He plans to find
a job with more regular hours after graduation with the McLaughlin family. John McLaughlin
was a meteorologist with KCCI.
3. April birthdays were recognized.
4. President Finley led the Pledge to the Flag, followed by a moment of silence.
5. Buffet lunch catered by Baratta's.
6. President Finley asked Dee Fleischwaker to introduce the scholarship winners. Dee
introduced and thanked her committee. All three recipients are ISU students; two attended to learn English. Olivia Crane, a Southeast Polk graduate, has helped with literacy, and
would like to student teach in Italy. All of the winners received high marks from their
references and all three have participated in many community activities. The third recipient
was unable to attend until June.
7. The April 27, 2017, business meeting was called to order by President Finley.
A. Secretary Minutes - Sherry Wilkinson. Minutes were approved as read.
B. Treasurer's Report - Rosemary Hillman. Checking account balance on April 27,
2017- $10,837.65. Scholarship fund balance on April 27, 2017, $3,116.35. Total
assets as of April 27, 2017, $13, 954.00. Funds of $1500 will be transferred from
the General Account to the Scholarship Fund to award three scholarships.
C. Scholarship Committee - Dee Fleischacker. See previous notes.
D. Courtesy - Dee Fleishchacker: Thinking of You card to Betty Atwood; cards were
sent to Mary Sherer who died, and Erica Brown who has been very ill
E. Legislative - Gary Thelen: House file 89 introduced January 24,2017, would take
everyone in the DM Plan into IPERS, without any member being charged. The
DM system would guarantee the pensions. It passed in the House on March 21;
passed the Senate on April 17. The governor has not signed it yet. Should know
next month whether he signs the bill. The legislature will not be in session.
F. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Continue to log your volunteer hours.
2. Continue to alert Bill and Joelle of changes for the Directory.
3. Time to pay dues.
4. Last call for donations to the Food Bank. So far, we have $376 donated.
G. NEW BUSINESS:
1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Need someone to be a Vice President and a
head cashier.
2. Volunteers - email Justine, if you would like to volunteer.
3. Free lunch in June only to NEW retirees. Please let anyone who qualifies
know.
4. We will consider another month in the year to cover the cost of a meal for
those who have been retired and would like to come to become a
member.
7. Cashiers for next month - Pat Papenheim and Janet Linn.
8. Announcements: Spring District 5 meeting will be held in Knoxville Thursday, May 11, at the
Marion County Extension Office, 201 North Iowa Street in Knoxville. Registration at
8:30 a.m.; meal reservation by May 1; email Lyle Stirling, lylestirling@gmail.com or call
641-208-6012.
9. Introduction of guests, visitors
10. Puzzle answers read by Dee.
11. Door prize won by Sue Jansen
12. Meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m. The May 25 program will be Girl Scouts of America with
Jessica Tobin.
Gabriella Krammer is a Valley High School graduate. She helps tutor Middle East students
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