AMS Papers Submitted by NWS are "Solid" Says NWS Director

After reviewing selected NWS papers that will be presented at the upcoming American Meteorological Society national meeting in Orlando on January 13-18, 2002, NWS Director Jack Kelly shared words of praise with the NWS Corporate Board. "In a word, they [the NWS-submitted papers] are SOLID. The papers cut across the spectrum of what we are doing and show the diversity of activities that are ongoing in the NWS. After reviewing them, I believe the external world will see our folks are future- and science-focused."

Kelly suggested that among the many important papers, two dealing with the human dimension of the IFPS implementation should be on everyone's must-read list. "Both are easy to read but will stimulate your mind," Kelly said.

Here are web links to the papers (both papers are in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format):

• Alan Rezek, "Changing the Operational Paradigm with the Interactive Forecast Preparation System - IFPS"
• Jeffery Davis et. al., "Implementation Challenges of IFPS at a Forecast Office with Complex Terrain"

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2002 Federal Pay Charts Released

The Office of Personnel Management has posted new Federal pay charts for 2002 on its website. The tables incorporate an across the board 3.6 percent raise, and locality pay differentials for certain pre-defined geographic areas. Click here http://www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm to find the General Schedule pay chart and locality pay charts, available in either a web-readable chart or an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file.

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The W/OPS National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) at the Stennis Space Center, MS, earned a CFC Gold Award. The Gold Award was presented for the highest Per Capita Giving in the small agency category (under 100 employees). NDBC's contribution of $325 per capita was the highest for any agency of any size in the Southern Mississippi Campaign. NDBC's Director, Paul Moersdorf, was the CFC Chairperson for all of Stennis Space Center. Moersdorf's secretary, Cheryl Firth, was the CFC Campaign Manager, and Penny Parker, NDBC Contracting Officer, was the NDBC Campaign Coordinator. The award was presented on December 11, 2001, at a ceremony sponsored by the Mississippi Coast Association of Federal Administrators.

Kevin Murray, systems meteorologist with the NWS's Eastern Region in Bohemia, NY, was instrumental in breaking last year's CFC record for Long Island Division One, according to Bob Chartuk of Eastern Region Public Affairs. Murray visited federal facilities across Long Island seeking CFC commitments at a time when the nearby Twin Towers disaster weighed heavily on everyone's minds. Murray, assisted by Eastern Region CFC Coordinator Andy Nash, helped raise a record $90,231. Murray pledged that if his colleagues would break last year's record of $89,114, he would cut off the stylish ponytail he had been cultivating for the last 5 years. Rose Miller, technical training manager, cut Murray's locks during a pizza party at Eastern Region Headquarters.

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More people have disabilities than we commonly realize-about one in six Americans have some degree of disability. Many disabilities are hidden or not apparent, such as epilepsy, arthritis, or diabetes. When you write about people with disabilities, remember that the way we describe people can shape perceptions. Words can hurt, but positive language empowers people. Here are some general tips.

• Don't use catch-all phrases such as "the blind," "the deaf," or "the disabled." Use nouns like "employees" and "people."
• Focus on the individual, not the disability. The disability is only one facet of the person
• Show successful people with disabilities as successful people, not as super-humans. Don't overstate their achievements, as this may imply that other people who have disabilities aren't competent.
• Don't use stereotypes. Many people with hearing impairments can talk and have some degree of hearing.
• Emphasize abilities, not limitations. Don't say "confined to a wheelchair." The wheelchair provides mobility; people would be confined if they didn't have a wheelchair. Say instead, "uses a wheelchair."
• Be accurate in describing disabilities.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. People with disabilities are generally used to questions and don't mind answering them.

This information is from the Communicator Guides produced by the Federal Communicators Network. For more information, see www.fcn.gov.

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NWS Milestones

RETIREMENTS/DEPARTURES

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