Topic: How could Skywarn be improved?

[Shawn]

How could Skywarn be improved in all of your OPINIONS? I mean such as organization, training, reporting structure, etc. What more or even what less would you like to see in the Skywarn storm spotter program?

[Curly]

Two reason turned me away.

High fee to join - Too much for volunteer work.
Police background check - I'm not a criminal and I don't need to prove it.

[jgillett]

No fee or BG check here, Curly. See http://www.weather.gov/skywarn/.

[Curly]

My apologies...

A while back I got an email from a person that wanted permission to use some content from my web site for a SkyWarn page. I didn't hesitate and gave permission to use the defined content.
Later I got another email from the same person and wanted to know if I would care to join. Seeing my data on the web site tipped the scale so I decided to join. A link to the application was sent. Red text on the page grabbed my attention and this is where the fees and BG check was required at my expense. I thought this whole thing is a scam so I left the page and never went back, but kept supplying the content.
After looking at the NOAA SkyWarn page (thanks jgillett), I wanted to figure out what is going on so I searched for the email again and found the link. After revisiting and looking the web site over, it's for another weather related organization...   I should have read the complete page the first time.

[jgillett]

You're welcome, Curly.

Thought something like that might have been the case. Fortunately, the 'real' Skywarn doesn't charge, even for training.