STORM TRACK: December 31, 1977 (Volume 1 Issue 1)

One of my long standing concerns has been that storm-chasers may eventually draw too much publicity, and chasing will become another mass cult of the leisure class, much as scuba-diving or hang-gliding. Should this happen, we might find ourselves in some future year impatiently waiting in line at an NWS or FAA station for a turn to look at the data essential to our daily forecast. If the numbers of such people increase significantly, Federal regulations may be passed limiting data access to licensed pilots, etc. For this reason, I have shunned publicity. I enjoy chasing too much to risk losing it for a brief moment of notoriety. What's your opinion?

In the area of public relations, I usually make a special effort to be courteous and patient at each NWS/FAA station, when seeking forecast data. I always defer to pilots coming in for a briefing and make a special effort to keep out from underfoot. I take time to be sociable, show prints of past storms, and -occasionally- leave some behind. I am usually in a hurry for information but try not to let it, show. This makes my next visit easier, and perhaps yours too. We need to keep this part of our public always friendly. They and their services are critical to a good forecast and -ultimately- great pictures.- Hoadley