KATRINA/RITA VICTIMS CHARITY DVD

[Shane Adams]

This idea was a hit last year and produced thousands of dollars towards the tsunami relief effort a year ago. A sequel was briefly mulled over earlier this year but never got off the ground. I think we have a pretty damn good reason to re-think this idea. I don't know about video production, but I'm guessing there will be a long line of chasers (including me) who would be willing to donate 2005 video for the project.

If anyone's interested and makes this happen, I'm in.

[nickgrillo]

I'd definitely be interested in helping out with this...

I have shot >20hrs of video from late April thru late June this year. Therefore, I have a wide variety of different material I could donate to this production. BTW If nobody wants to do the actual production itself, I'm all in for doing it.

Any others?

[HAltschule]

I think it's a great idea. Kudos to you for coming up with the idea and for all of those who are willing to pitch in. I am writing because someone may be able to find a professional editor to donate their services for free, for the cause. Just an idea.

[Jeff Snyder]

I think it's a great idea. Kudos to you for coming up with the idea and for all of those who are willing to pitch in.

In absolutely no discredit to Shane, but this was started last year with Storms of 2004, which was headed up by Greg Stumpf I believe, and all proceeds from that DVD production went to charity. There was a discussion about a 2005 version earlier this year, and I certainly think that the Katrina disaster is a very worthwhile cause for a 2005 edition.

[Shane Adams]

Greg Stumpf and Jim LaDue spearheaded this project a year ago, and raised over $2000 for various charities, a portion of which went directly to tsunami relief. I just took their idea and applied it to Katrina.

[Mickey Ptak]

I would be more than happy to put the DVD together under OEGP (One Eyed Guy Productions) at no cost. It would be great to help out. Let me know.

Mick

[Shane Adams]

That works for me. If anyone would like to contribute video, please PM me.

[Sheila_Ward]

I don't have any good 2005 video to contribute, but I will definitely donate some funds for media, cases and stuff.

Mods, any chance we can sticky this thread so it doesn't get lost?

[Greg Stumpf]

I'll have to talk with Jim LaDue about this again! Last week, we thought the idea was pretty much dead due to lack of real motivation, but Katrina certainly changes that landscape again.

We had rounded up about 75% of the participants to produce a "Storms of 2005" DVD, but were still awaiting some help with some of the chapters to proceed - including Shane and Mickey for a Apr 21 chapter. You guys in? We were also missing a producer/volunteer to take on the Jun 7 chapter. We already had volunteers for the other major chapters (Mar 21, Apr 10, May 12, June 4, June 5, June 9, June 11, June 12), but not sure at the moment of these folks are still "in".

Please PM me if you are interested in helping co-produce the project. Once we get a sizeable number of folks to help produce, then we will send out a call for video submissions.

BTW - Walt Lyons, the AMS President, is behind this project and is willing to showcase the DVD during on of the major "electronic theatre" segments at the 2006 AMS Annual Meeting.


greg

[Bill Hark]

My chase year also was not good so I don't have any footage to donate. (I am still kicking myself about not donating footage in 2004).

I can donate money to help with production and duplication costs.

Bill Hark

[Kurt Silvey]

Great idea guys, unfortunately I don’t have any video to contribute (been one of those years). Anyway all I can offer is some free posting on my site. I have space and bandwidth, so just let me know if I can help. Good luck

[Dennis Gulley]

I have a little bit of video of a tornado near Kearney NE back in May that I would be more than happy to share. Thats about all i have for the year.
May not be good enough for a DVD though. Let me know.

Dennis

[Gabe Garfield]

I have a little video from the Paris, Texas tornado of March 21st that I would be willing to give (though Jeff S. might have better vid). That is all. :D

Gabe

[Morgan Palmer]

Have stickied this.

Here is another post from Shane I couldn't move

I'm looking for video of the April 21 SE Kansas tornadoes, for use on the Storms Of 2005 Charity DVD. If anyone is interested in donating video, please PM me.
_________________
Storm Chase Videos by Shane Adams

[Greg Stumpf]

Jim LaDue and I will be sending out an official request for video contributions to the Storms of 2005 DVD project in the next few days, as soon as we have all the chapter producers committed to their chapters. We'll include submission guidelines (formats, lengths, add NO graphics, release statements, etc) at that time. Just like last year.

Thanks!

[John Farley]

I don't have any video to contribute this year, but if you plan to include a montage of stills, I do have a couple nice ones from June 8 and 13 that I would be willing to contribute. And count me in for buying a copy when it comes out.

[Shane Adams]

This post can be deleted, as the Storms Of 2005 project is in the works. Thanks to all who offered contributions.

[Dave Lewison]

Greg Stumpf has asked to have this message relayed to the ST community while he is away....He has requested only private email responses, no PM's. Click here for access to ST email for Greg:
http://stormtrack.org/forum/profile.php?mo...ode=email&u=877 (http://stormtrack.org/forum/profile.php?mode=email&u=877)
Or you can PM me and I'll give you his address. (I didn't want to post it for privacy reasons).

All,

Jim LaDue and I are spearheading another "Storms of" DVD project, this
time for 2005 storms to raise charitable contributions to Katrina
victims. We have lined up co-producers for all the chapters except
one. We are looking for a volunteer with decent video editing skills
and artistry to co-produce a 5 minute chapter on the 7 June 2005 South
Dakota event. We need to line up a volunteer in the next 1-2 days, or
we are going to have to drop this very important chapter. If you are
interested in doing this, or know someone not on on our list who is
interested (preferably, someone who also chased the event and was
immersed in the meteorology of the event, and can work on short order -
next 1 month), please contact me ASAP (by Monday 9/12). Thanks![/url]

[Greg Stumpf]

Last year, Jim LaDue and Greg Stumpf, along with their co-producers, brought to you the “Storms of 2004” DVD (http://www.towerofstorms.net/sls22), the most unique compilation of storm chasers’ video of the incredible 2004 storm season of its kind. This 2 hour DVD production was the highlight of the American Meteorological Society’s 22nd Conference on Severe Local Storms in Hyannis, Massachusetts in October 2004. The DVD was then subsequently sold as a charitable fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross efforts to help victims of the natural disasters in 2004, including the four Florida hurricanes, and the Southeast Asian Tsunami. Proceeds were also donated to the Heart of Oklahoma Chapter of the Red Cross, who dealt with the devastating tornadoes in Moore and Oklahoma City in 1999 and 2003, as well as the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the AMS, who underwrote the costs of the production. All profits from the sales of the DVD were donated to charity. In the end, over $4000 dollars were raised by the sales of the DVD.

Witnessing the catastrophic devastation in the Gulf Coast due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina, Jim and Greg are teaming up again to produce a “Storms of 2005” DVD. As like last year, all profits for the sale of the DVD will be donated to charity, primarily to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to aid victims of the hurricane. Jim and Greg will be aided by the help of chapter co-producers, like last year, with some familiar names in the storm chasing community donating their efforts.

We are going to develop a DVD in which the "Storms of 2005" will be the focus. We plan to develop different "chapters" focusing on some of the more noteworthy storm events of the 2005 storm season, including a special chapter devoted to storm chase video from Hurricane Katrina. Each chapter will include some "set-up" information, including synoptic/mesoscale maps, radar/satellite loops, and storm verification information. Then, the remainder of the chapter will be a semi-chronological replay of video and digital stills of the event, with interlaced submissions from multiple chasers. The “Storms of 2005” DVD will also be shown at the 2006 AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, as part of their “Electronic Theatre” shows, and in conjunction with the special Severe Local Storms Symposium.

This announcement is the official solicitation for submissions of video and digital stills for the event. As like last year, submissions are 100% for charity, and therefore we will not be compensating anyone for their costs. For this year’s production, we are asking that contributors send their submission directly to the chapter producers. This will help save time in the production, so that the DVD can be ready for sale in the not too distant future.

Deadline for submissions is receipt of the video/stills to the chapter producers no later than Tuesday 27 September, 2005. This is two weeks from today. Please make every effort to rush your video submissions to the chapter producers if you wish to be included in this special fundraiser (Priority Mail or Fed Ex preferred). We hope to have the DVD produced and on the market sometime in early November 2005.

The following list includes the events from 2005 that we will be highlighting on this DVD. Please do not send any video/stills from any other event, since it will not be used, and don’t send submissions from multiple events only to one producer. Send your submission for each event directly to the chapter producer, and follow the guidelines below. The individual chapter producers may post/email additional information regarding their specific chapters in the next few days. Please email (not PM) your chapter producer in advance of sending your video submission so that they can plan accordingly.


CHAPTER: PRODUCER / SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS / EMAIL ADDRESS

21 March (OK, TX)
Jim LaDue
901 96th Ave SE, Norman, OK 73026
daphjim@swbell.net

10 April (OK, KS)
Mike Umschied
113 Plains St. #A, Dodge City, KS 67801
mike.umscheid@noaa.gov

21 April (KS)
Shane Adams and Mickey Ptak
1300 Crown Point Ave. #15, Norman, OK 73072
shanestorm@hotmail.com

12 May (TX)
Dave Lewison
51-E Sherwood Forest Rd., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
dave@facethewind.com

4 June 04 (KS, OK)
Michael Peregrine
1601 SE Moore Rd., St. Joseph, MO 64507
mperegrine@stinsonmoheck.com

5 June (OK)
Greg Stumpf
1413 Castlebay, Norman, OK 73071
greg.stumpf@noaa.gov

7 June (SD)
Blake Naftel
515 Minor Ave. Apt. B, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
blake.w.naftel@wmich.edu

9 June (KS)
Amos Magliocco
1901 Jasmine Street, Denton, TX 76205
amosm@yahoo.com

11 June (TX)
Blake Naftel
515 Minor Ave. Apt. B, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
blake.w.naftel@wmich.edu

12 June (TX)
Jason Politte
1313 McNutt Rd. #47, Conway, AR 72034
jpolitte@earthlink.net

Hurricane Katrina
Martin Lisius
Prairie Pictures, Inc., PO Box 122020, Arlington, TX 76012
lisius@earthlink.net


If you are submitting video or digital still material for the DVD, we request that the contributors follow these STRICT GUIDELINES for submission (or risk not being included):

1. We need your best RAW video clips from 2005, with no more than 10 total minutes' worth of clips per person per chapter. By limiting the length of the submission, it facilitates the chapter producer’s job of hunting down the best video to include.

2. Contributors should include an index to their contributions with dates/times/locations of each clip. If you can, please include a few clips ("video bites" - perhaps 15 seconds each?) of storm structure and/or initial and ending shots of storms to help "tell the whole storm story".

3. Digital stills are acceptable. Each digital still will be counted the same as 10 seconds of video. Resolution should be at least twice the size of normal NTSC video resolution (so, twice the size of 720x480).

4. No "pre-edited" highlights productions will be used. We will take your raw clips and interlace them with others' clips. Please refrain from adding any music, video transitions, overlaid graphics, or special effects to your submissions. We want to interlace all the contributions from many chasers for each event showing a semi-chronological recount of the storms and tornadoes. If you've seen the “Storms of 2004" DVD - think that.

5. DO NOT add your own copyright line or watermarks to the video. We will add a continuous text graphic with a copyright line per author for each scene at a specific location on the screen.

6. Formats allowed include AVI or MPEG2 files burned to CD or DVD, Mini-DV, Hi8, 8mm, or VHS. DO NOT send video transfers to DVD (e.g., direct DVD recordings or VIDEO_TS directories). These are not easily nor digitally extractable for video productions.

7. Include any material that may aid in the "set-up" portion of each major event. This may include electronic graphics of weather data, and information on your chase strategy and decision making.

8. You must grant the right for your entire submission to be sold on a special fundraising DVD, with all profits being donated to charity. Please fill out and sign a “Storms of 2005” submission release form and mail it to Greg Stumpf. By signing this form, you are not relinquishing an exclusive copyright. The release statement just allows for free non-exclusive use for the benefit DVD. You can still market your video elsewhere. This form is available for download at:

http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~stumpf/stormsof20...005_release.pdf (http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~stumpf/stormsof2005_release.pdf)

9. Deadline for submission of materials is Tuesday 27 Sep 2005. Any materials received after the deadline will not be included. We are producing this DVD on very short order since the need for Katrina charity is greatest now.


We will repeat this information at the following web page in the next few days:

http://www.stormsof2005.org

Remember, 100% of the profits will be donated to charity. There, we request that all contributors submit materials at their own expense (e.g., materials, postage), and all contributors to purchase their own copy of the DVD, so that we maximize profits. We hope that you can participate for this honorable cause!


Greg Stumpf and Jim LaDue

[Jason_Politte]

Originally posted by Greg Stumpf

1. We need your best RAW video clips from 2005, with no more than 10 total minutes' worth of clips per person per chapter. Each digital still will be counted the same as 10 seconds of video. By limiting the length of the submission, it facilitates the chapter producer’s job of hunting down the best video to include.

The following request is applicable for the June 12th chapter:

In addition to Greg's quote above, I'm also seeking good steady tripoded footage from this day that can be time-lapsed. This can include storm structure, growing cumulus, etc. . . I know that time-lapses require a lot of footage and can easily eat up the ten minute time limit, so it's by my request that those who will be submitting video for June 12 disregard the ten minute limit regarding time-lapse footage.

For example, if you have ten minutes of amazing footage to submit for June 12 but also have lengthy steady tripoded structure shots that you also want to submit, please do so. I don't care if it causes the submission to be an hour long. Also, please don't speed the video up before sending. I want to be able to set the appropriate pace for the time-lapse. Thanks - I'm looking forward to receiving some incredible video for this charitable cause!

Jason

P.S. If a contributor wants to submit the video as a file, no MPEG2's please, only AVI's. Thanks!

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally posted by Jason_Politte
In addition to Greg's quote above, I'm also seeking good steady tripoded footage from this day that can be time-lapsed. This can include storm structure, growing cumulus, etc. . . I know that time-lapses require a lot of footage and can easily eat up the ten minute time limit, so it's by my request that those who will be submitting video for June 12 disregard the ten minute limit regarding time-lapse footage.
I hadn't considered this. If we can compute what a normal time lapse speed would be, e.g., 10x, then up to 100 minutes of video intended for time lapse could be allowed. However, that would add a burden to the producers to have to look at a lot more video, unless the submitter has already converted it to a time lapse.

We'll allow this "exception" for the individual producers, as they desire, in their individual messages. For my 5 June chapter, please separate out any "time lapse" submissions from the rest.

[Greg Stumpf]

OK - we now have the 4 June chapter producer lined up. Please use this information to send your submissions. I will also edit the previous post in case folks read that first.

4 June 04 (KS, OK)
Michael Peregrine
1601 SE Moore Road, St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
mperegrine@stinsonmoheck.com


greg

[Kurt Hulst]

I see theres no chapter for JUNE 29. A very good day in my mind. If there is i may want to contribute.

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally posted by Kurt Hulst
I see theres no chapter for JUNE 29. A very good day in my mind. If there is i may want to contribute.
We're already full right now, but I've posed the question to the co-producers. We'll let everyone know.

[Greg Stumpf]

We've added new information about the submission of digital stills:

Digital stills are acceptable. Each digital still will be counted the same as 10 seconds of video. Resolution should be at least twice the size of normal NTSC video resolution (so, twice the size of 720x480).

[Mike Peregrine]

Since I don't have a lot of time to hunt down other potential June 4th contributors - if anyone on the list has June 4th video they are interested in adding to the cause, please feel free to contact me at mperegrine@stinsonmoheck.com. We'll need to make some very quick arrangements to get the video to me (i.e., FedEx before this weekend). But I'll be happy to take a look at it to determine whether it should be included. While all submissions will be reviewed for this particular date, we're primarily interested in the Hiawatha storm that went on to produce additional tornadoes to the Iowa state line. If I receive no other contributions, I have plenty of video to fill up 5 minutes for this day, but including alternate views is always a good thing.

I'll need to get the video very quickly, as I plan to get nitty and gritty in the editing this weekend. In addition to the requirements Greg outlines above, I request that video be digitized and formatted on either digital 8 or mini-DV media to ease compilation on my end. And along with Jason's post, any high quality, tripoded video that can be time-lapsed from any storm on the 4th would be outstanding. Thanks!

-----------------

EDIT - if you need to email me over the weekend concerning this, please use my home account at torn8o@gmail.com or send a private message to me through Stormtrack - thank you -

[Dave Lewison]

Same goes for me...
So far I've only received one contributor for May 12 video of the TX Panhandle storms. I KNOW there were a lot of chasers out that day, and I also know many had an unpleasant hail encounter (including yours truly!) If you are willing to contribute video, please contact me at: dave@facethewind.com

Thanks!!!

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi,

I sent an e-mail in regards to June 7th 2005 and received no response. Unfortunately being in Australia, I have run out of time to send since it takes 11 days to send. I would have loved to contribute June 5th 2005 tornado footage tripoded and June 7th footage lots of timelapse from the east. Unfortunately I'll have to await another time when there is a little more time provided to send. Good luck with the project.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Greg Stumpf]

I've been on a family vacation for the past 5 days and am now catching up...

I too have only gotten one reply about submissions for the 5 June event, and it is for stills only (even after privately emailing folks I know who were there).

Please donate! Please contact the appropriate folks in the original list if you have something you can contribute. We know this is short notice, but given the situation, we don't have much of a choice since it takes time to coordinate all of this.

Jimmy - it is not too late if you send video now. Don't wait for a reply - just send the video, rush delivery. Just email folks that it is in the mail. Or, upload the .avi files to an FTP server. I suggested this to Blake, who is the 7 June chapter producer.


greg

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi Greg,

Sending via fast mail will cost me over $100 from my last quote - I personally cannot afford that.

Passing it up to a server I can only do if we allow it in mpeg format -
AVI with all the timelapse up to 1 hour of raw footage to be timelapsed.
We don't have the fast DSL speed here to upload though I could look for
somewhere - my upload speed here is 12kb per second! If it was accepted
that it is in timelapsed format, then that would reduce the load in
sending. Like I suggested, unless it was allowed in good mpeg 2 format.

Please note I am not making excuses - I want to find a way to send and
will try looking for a way to do it!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Greg Stumpf]

All,

The deadline for submissions for the charity DVD is rapidly approaching. There are a few chapter that we've had a very challenging time receiving submissions:

21 March (OK, TX)
Jim LaDue
901 96th Ave SE, Norman, OK 73026
daphjim@swbell.net

12 May (TX)
Dave Lewison
51-E Sherwood Forest Rd., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
dave@facethewind.com

4 June 04 (KS, OK)
Michael Peregrine
1601 SE Moore Rd., St. Joseph, MO 64507
mperegrine@stinsonmoheck.com

5 June (OK)
Greg Stumpf
1413 Castlebay, Norman, OK 73071
greg.stumpf@noaa.gov

7 June (SD)
Blake Naftel
515 Minor Ave. Apt. B, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
blake.w.naftel@wmich.edu

11 June (TX)
Blake Naftel
515 Minor Ave. Apt. B, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
blake.w.naftel@wmich.edu

12 June (TX)
Jason Politte
1313 McNutt Rd. #47, Conway, AR 72034
jpolitte@earthlink.net

If you have any footage that you would like to contribute to this project, please contact the appropriate chapter producer NOW, and arrange for the quickest way/format to send the contributions. Thanks!


greg

[Greg Stumpf]

Just an update for everyone...

All the video and photo contributions have been submitted, and the chapter producers are well on their way in producing their individual chapters. We expect to have the chapters completed by Oct 22, afterwhich, Jim and I will mix and author the DVD. Expect these to be available for sale in mid-November, if not sooner.

Again, we'd like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who has contributed their materials, time, and/or effort to the project!


Greg

[Greg Stumpf]

http://stormsof2005.org/images/sourcebackground2005-1_02.gif

[size=18]Storm chasers helping storm victims in their time of need

With four major landfalling U.S. hurricanes and the Asian Tsunami, nobody could imagine that the need for disaster relief could be eclipsed.

Then came Katrina, forcing the largest humanitarian relief response that the Red Cross has ever experienced. Other major hurricanes and even autumn tornadoes followed.

In our way to help the needs of those affected by these great storms, we are proud to introduce to you another truly unique summary of storm stories.

[size=16][b]
To order online, please visit: http://www.stormsof2005.org/


Cost is only $20 per DVD (plus s&h). Storms of 2004 (http://towerofstorms.net/sls22) DVDs are also again available for $20 each (plus s&h). A set of both DVDs is only $35 (plus s&h).

Order by December 10 2005 to guarantee shipping before Christmas! Offer is good while supplies last.


[b]Did you know:

This DVD is the sequel to the highly successful Storms of 2004 which raised over $4,000 for charity.

The DVD will be shown at the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting Electronic Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in January/February of 2006. This conference is the premiere gathering site for professional meteorologists in the world.

All profits from the sales of this DVD will be donated to charity. Our primary beneficiary will be the American Red Cross, to aid in their tireless efforts in disaster relief. You may receive a tax deduction on a portion of your purchase.

Other beneficiaries include the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association, and others to be named later.

Eight chase day stories were edited by nine producers. The chase days March 21, April 10, April 21, May 12, June 4, June 5, June 9, and June 12, plus a special chapter devoted to chaser footage from Hurricane Katrina comprise over one hundred minutes of footage. A few of the producers you may recognize. You're welcome to check the producers page.

You will find an educational flair to the chase stories as you will see the maps the chasers used, and where the chasers are located on radar images of the storms.

Make a difference in the life of a storm victim while enjoying some of the most incredible storm video of 2005.

A must for any storm video fan, and the only video dedicated solely to helping storm victims.


Sincerely,
Greg Stumpf and Jim LaDue, plus the other 48 contributors

[Greg Stumpf]

We are planning the world premiere of the Storms of 2005 at 6:30pm on Saturday, December 3, 2005, at NSSL in Norman, Oklahoma. DVDs will be available for sale at the showing, and we will rent a movie-style popcorn machine again and provide drinks. This is being sponsored by the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the AMS (COCAMS) and the NSSL/SPC Employees Association (NSEA).

More details in a few days.


greg

[edited for date change and location]

[Greg Stumpf]

We are planning the world premiere of the Storms of 2005 at 7-9pm on Friday, December 2, 2005
NOTE: Date change!!!

The Storms of 2005 DVD premiere will be taking place on Saturday, December 3, 2005. The date change was done to accomodate a conflict on Friday night with the OU student chapter of the AMS (OUSCAMS).

Doors will open at 6:30pm. Movie-style popcorn and soft drinks will be served. The show will begin promptly at 7pm, so please show up early to socialize, etc. DVDs will be available for sale before and after the show. The running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Location will be the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK (use maps.google.com or your favorite mapping program for directions). Please use the front entrance, and ring the bell if locked.

[Greg Stumpf]

Please order now: <a href=\'http://stormsof2005.org' target='_blank'>http://stormsof2005.org[/b][/size][/color]</a>

greg

[Greg Stumpf]

Please visit:

http://stormsof2005.org/links

about information regarding adding a banner ad to your web site - please
help us spread the word about this very important fundraiser.

[Greg Stumpf]

REMINDER</span>

The <a href=\'http://stormsof2005.org\' target=\'_blank\'>Storms of 2005 DVD</a> premiere will be taking place on Saturday, December 3, 2005.

Doors will open at 6:30pm. Movie-style popcorn and soft drinks will be served. The show will begin promptly at 7pm, so please show up early to socialize, etc. DVDs will be available for sale before and after the show. The running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

<span style=\'color:indigo\'>Anne Clouse, Financial Development Director of the Heart of Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross will be present at the beginning to say a few words about how your donation helps disaster relief, both nationally, and locally in Central Oklahoma.

Location will be the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK (use maps.google.com or your favorite mapping program for directions). Please use the front entrance, and ring the bell if locked.

[Greg Stumpf]

I appreciate the kind remarks by some of the folks who attended the DVD premiere last night. See:

http://stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9243

http://stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9151

I have to say that it was almost a no show. I plugged in the rented movie popcorn machine and I was showered by sparks. There was apparently an electrical short somewhere in the machine. After lamenting for a few minutes about the loss of popcorn for the event, I walked out into the conference room, and noticed that the short tripped a circuit breaker to all the electrical outlets that power the room's audio- visual equipment - none of it was working! But if it weren't for the efforts of Steve and Sarah Corfidi (both on shift at SPC at the time), who spent 30 minutes tracking down the tripped circuit breaker, this show would have never happened. I also want to thank NSSL students Kiel Ortega, Terra Thompson, and friend, for cutting and inserting the DVD case sleeves for me while I was running around trying to secure alternate a/v equipment (which we ended up not needing). I also want to thank Anne Clouse from the local Red Cross chapter for coming out and saying some words about the importance of the charity at the beginning of the show.

So - the DVD selling challenge is being met. In just 16 days of sales, we've already sold 195 DVDs (75 were sold to the AMS national chapter to re-sell at the AMS annual meeting in January in Atlanta). Last year, our total for the entire campaign was only 215. Last year, we raised just over $4K for charity. I have a goal to raise over $20K this year. This will require selling more than 5x as many DVDs, since the wholesale costs are a little higher this year, and the retail cost is less. So, the challenge continues! I'd like to see another orders for at least 50 more DVDs before December 10!

[size=18]Order now! http://stormsof2005.org

Again, thanks to all those who attended the premiere and supported the cause with your purchases.


greg

[Mike Hollingshead]

This will require selling more than 5x as many DVDs, since the wholesale costs are a little higher this year, and the retail cost is less. So, the challenge continues! I'd like to see another orders for at least 50 more DVDs before December 10!

I'd sell that thing for $30. Going off the price of chase videos right now it is certainly worth that. That is charity aspect aside too.

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally posted by Mike Hollingshead
I'd sell that thing for $30. Going off the price of chase videos right now it is certainly worth that. That is charity aspect aside too.
We took a $25 price to a local event (2005 TESSA meeting) and only sold 4 DVDs. We lowered the price to $20 at another event (National Severe Weather Workshop) and sold about 25. Very similar crowds at both (mostly spotters and general public). Something about handing us one bill versus two also seems to do the trick.

Of course, $20 can be a "suggested minimum donation"! We'd be happy to take more!

[Bill Hark]

Suggestion:

I really enjoyed Storms of 2004. I'm still waiting to see 2005. For those chasers who enjoy the "Storms of" series and are feeling charitable, why not buy a couple extra as gifts or for as a donation to your local library (county or school). There may be some kid who is developing an interest in weather and goes to the library to see what they have. I did when I was young.

Bill Hark

[Greg Stumpf]

Read about the Storms of 2005 DVD (http://stormsof2005.org) here:

http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART...0/438e7ab6b68de (http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/30/438e7ab6b68de)

Unfortunately they forgot to include purchase info! I've asked for them to add it, but I'm not sure if this already made it to the print version of the paper. Can any OU students verify this for me (and send an email)?

[Glen Romine]

Hey Greg - I sent a comment in with the online article with the web address for the DVD. Maybe that will get added to the feedback at the bottom of the article.

Glen

[Jeff Snyder]

Originally posted by Glen Romine
Hey Greg - I sent a comment in with the online article with the web address for the DVD. Maybe that will get added to the feedback at the bottom of the article.

Glen

LOL I did as well.

[Tony Perkins]

Are orders not being shipped out until after Dec 6th? Just wondering because I ordered about 2 weeks ago.

[Greg Stumpf]

Orders are being shipped out this week when Jim LaDue gets back in town (tonight) to help me with these massive quantities. We oversold the first batch of 100 DVDs, and we already placed an order for 200 more to be ready in a few days! Be patient, "barring any unforseen circumstances" - you'll get it before Xmas!

209 DVDs have already sold in the first 16 days of sales. We are only 6 DVDs away from breaking the total from last year (215 DVDs in 6 months).

The challenge continues!

[Mike Hollingshead]

Hmmm, I ordered the second I saw it up in Market Place. I knew I should have went to the showing. Seriously jonesing at this point.

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally posted by Mike Hollingshead
Hmmm, I ordered the second I saw it up in Market Place. I knew I should have went to the showing. Seriously jonesing at this point.
I'll whet your appetite. I've placed a low-resolution wmv preview of the entire June 5 chapter (SW OK storm; the chapter I produced) on the web:

http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~stumpf/june5_preview.wmv (13.7 MB)

And we will be sending out orders as they were recieved - Mike, yours was #2 (Robin Tanamachi beat you for the #1 spot).

[nickgrillo]

I apologize for my delay in ordering one... So far, I have heard nothing but sensational reviews of this production -- and am very much looking foward to seeing it. I would have donated more material, but Dan Robinson already had the same position as me (we were chasing together) on 6-9-05 and I guess the 6-7-05 segment never materialized. I'm glad to see this is raising money for a great cause. I just saw your 6-5-05 preview, and it looked excellent.

[Melissa Moon]

Greg,

The article ran last Friday. Hopefully someone's response with purchase info will run in the paper. I could submit one too. Or, another option is running an ad in the paper.

[Jeff Snyder]

All three of our responses giving the website have been posted (Greg's, mine, and Glen's), so interested folks should be able to get the purchasing info on that site.

[Melissa Moon]

Are they going to be in the paper tomorrow or are they just online? Cause I think that more people read the print version of the paper (when they should be paying attention in class).

What about other schools? I'm sure that other colleges that have newspapers and a meteorology program would be interested in running the article as well.

[Greg Stumpf]

The ball was dropped with the OU Daily. Even if they run a small "addendum", it is doubtful it will be seen by the same number who read the article. Unfortunate, since print media has the best marketing power of all media. We will not be running an ad either, since OU Daily readership will be dropping to zero after this week (finals).

I already did interviews with the Daily Oklahoman (OKC's major paper) and the Tulsa World (theirs). I know that the DailyOK's article is slated to be a lead story for a "community" section (Section B) in the next few days. From here on out, I am specifically requesting that any media we interview with does not omit the purchase information in any story! We are also going to target other markets as soon as Keli Tarp (NOAA Public Affairs officer) is done dealing with press requests on the November tornado outbreaks, and I'm working on arranging a meeting with National Red Cross HQ next week in Washington DC.

[Greg Stumpf]

Here's an update on the shipping of the DVDs. The first pressing we made was of 100 Storms of 2005 DVDs. They have all sold out and all those orders were shipped on Tuesday. Preference in shipping was given to the early orders. Mike H. - yours is in transit now!

A second pressing of 125 Storms of 2005 DVDs and 75 Storms of 2004 DVDs will be ready on December 9. Any remaining orders received before December 10 will be shipped on December 10. These should arrive to U.S. customers before Christmas.

Any orders received after Dec 10 will be shipped sometime before Christmas, but there are no guarantees that they will arrive before Christmas.

Orders will continue to be taken while supplies last. Additional pressings will be made if demand is high.

Here's the count so far - based on Internet word of mouth and advertising in the Norman weather community: 241 DVDs have been sold in the first 19 days. Last years combined total across 6 months was 215 DVDs, so we are already outpacing last year. 75 DVDs were sold directly to the American Meteorological Society for resale at the AMS Annual Meeting in January in Atlanta. After Christmas, we will tally up the orders and make our first donation presentation to COCAMS and the Red Cross.

46 more DVDs have been sold since I stated the challenge to sell 50 more between Dec 4 - 10. Well done! Let's see if we can meet the challenge, and extend that to 25 more DVDs (total 75) before Saturday Dec 10!
[size=24]
Order now! http://stormsof2005.org/

Our next challenge will be this: Last year, we raised just over $4K for charity. This year, our goal is to raise over $20K for charity. This will require us to sell about 1200 DVDs total.

Anyone with local print media contacts wishing to run a story on our fundraiser, please have them contact Greg Stumpf or Jim LaDue.

[Greg Stumpf]

An article about the DVD is now in the Daily Oklahoman, OKCs major daily newspaper:

http://newsok.com/article/1699239/


greg

[jladue]

I just shipped all orders that have arrived by 9am December 10. Will ship the rest in the upcoming early part of the week. The Tulsa World story apparently sparked a surge in sales from that part of Oklahoma. But we would like to see more sales. We've sold on the order of $6k but our target's $20k.

regards,

Jim

[Joe Nield]

I received the DVD late last week, and finally got around to watching it yesterday. This is an exceptional collection, and that's really all I can say about it. It is worth every penny, and my hat is off to all involved...a terrific effort!

[Greg Stumpf]

I wanted to update everyone on the status of the sales of the Storms of 2005 DVD (and the Storms of 2004 DVD).

We easily met the pre-holiday challenge I stated, and in the first month of sales have sold 557 DVDs. By comparison, we only sold 215 Storms of 2004 DVDs in all of last year (6 months of sales). We have raised over $7400 in charitable donations (as compared to just over $4K last year).

Remember, a portion of your cost of the DVD is tax-deductible (details on the Web page), so get your orders in before Dec 31, 2005! We plan to make our final 2005 shipment next week (after Christmas). New challenge - 50 more DVDs sold between now and December 30, 2005!

Our final challenge will be to sell enough DVDs to raise $20K in charitable donations. We are 37% of the way toward that goal.

Order now: <a href=\'http://stormsof2005.org' target='_blank'>http://stormsof2005.org[/size][/b][/color]</a>


Greg and Jim

[gilbert sebenste]

Reproduced from the wx-talk list:

Hello all,

Well, after hearing what people were saying about this DVD, and the cause it
was going to...I had to get it. "The Storms of 2005" (available online at
http://stormsof2005.org and in the Oklahoma City/Norman area, see website
for details) was, I admit, something that I wasn't too excited about at
first. I mean, it's going to be good, tornadoes can't be bad, right? :-)
But, I had bet that the production quality would not be the greatest, there
weren't many chaseable days this year (OK, it largely stunk, let's put that
card on the table, outside of the hurricanes) and I couldn't imagine that
the split screens and other special effects showing where chasers were as
they were filming it could be done well without heading into a professional
studio.

Boy, could I have not been more wrong. From the opening sequence to the credits, you're in for a 5-ticket ride. Each segment is introduced by a
weather discussion showing relevant surface and upper air maps from the
morning and late afternoon. Then, you are in the driver's seat with a
professional storm chaser as your narrator and guide. No bad or
family-unfriendly audio here, no tasteless, insensitive shots, no boring
segments. Each one captures your interest from the beginning. And, despite the fact that the video was done by several video producers/storm chasers, each one maintains a high-quality production level with a consistent format, yet with enough leeway to break it when appropriate for special shots and/or graphics.

As the video begins, your appetite is whetted with early season weak
tornadoes in March. Then, all hail breaks loose (and tornadoes) in April.
Used when needed, the split-screen, time-synced tornado shots from multiple angles with a graphic radar overlay and markers showing each chaser's location is phenomenal! The satellite, radar and surface graphics from NCAR display well when used to highlight points of interest.

I literally cringed when I saw the May 12 video segment. I mean, I've heard all about it, and I knew it was coming. Watching the gorgeous tornado cross over the power poles/lines to the chaser's only escape route out, and watching as one of the chasers pans over to the west to view the oncoming Armageddon fury of hail, you know that anyone north of that tornado is doomed. A video of one chaser who pulls up to the downed power poles and lines covering the road can easily see "freedom" just a few hundred feet away. Then, after a few seconds of nothing real exciting happening, you see a huge white ball of ice explode in front of the car. The rest is history. Many chasers lost windshields and even cars from the onslaught of hail up to softball size and larger. "Hail nets"? They're great for golfballs and baseballs (sized hail), but beyond that...oh my. The screams, yells and terror is both fascinating and painful to watch. Nobody in that crowd is a millionaire, and they're losing their cars as a second awesome-looking tornado roars nearby. You quickly don't care about it, though (trust me!), as the barrage of hail does its damage to the frightened armada of chasers. This segment made me never even think about punching a core ever again!

The next 4 segments are from tornado days in June...specifically, June 4, 5, 9, 12. I had to be at a graduation on June 4th, and I KNOW, I KNOW I would have been there to see the big one. This segment just made my heart sink, but I'm glad those who were there got that one, and the video was excellent! And again, on the other 3 days, bravo. Nice split-screen shots and radar (reflectivity and velocity)...very well done.

OK, enough of the kid's play. It's time for the Katrina segment. This
video's proceeds go largely to the Red Cross (and is mostly tax-deductible
as a result). I had hoped this part of the video would be done especially
carefully, sensitively, and professionally. When Martin Lisius' voice broke
onto my speakers, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Martin is a professional film maker and videographer. And, he also happened to chase Katrina. You know, I think the video quality on my stuff looks good with my Sony Digital 8 camera. But to my surprise, Martin doesn't use a cheaper "field camera" to shoot this historic storm. I don't know what he used, but it is shot in TRUE widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) and it also appears to be shot in high definition! Now, DVD's can't handle that, so Martin has to "letterbox" his video to fit it on the screen. No matter---the video quality is extremely crisp, higher than what TV news crews shoot with standard 4:3 aspect ratio cameras, and it looks terrific.

After Gary Woodall's excellent introduction, we get Martin's angle as he heads from Mobile westward towards Mississippi. He meets the storm surge head-on. Martin is a very good storyteller; the irony of the "Celebrate Mobile!" sign is not lost on me. But then he heads to slightly higher ground as the storm surge rolls in. Two things from his video blew me away (no pun intended). The first: his amazing video of the fire department rescue boat, going around, IN THE HURRICANE, looking for those trapped in cars now being submerged by the storm surge. Throw out the definition of bravery and stick this segment in the video dictionary, folks. Then, how in the WORLD did he get the tight shot of the waves lapping up on the stop sign with not a drop of water on the lens, nor a hint of shaking, shot from a good distance away, in the hurricane winds? Wow. Wow!

But there's more gems in this video segment, too. We see the storm surge coming ashore and washing right over a camera. Hollywood couldn't match that. A roof being torn off at close range, the top of a parking garage coming off and flying past chasers on the way down...a few expletives had to be bleeped out here, but when you see the video from multiple angles, it's obvious why they almost needed a diaper change! :-) Jim Leonard's stuff is great, and talk about "valet parking" at a hotel as cars float up to the building. I bet they didn't tip the valet parking drivers! ;-)

I have only given out one 5 star rating for videos, but this one is close.
"Storms of 2005" gets 4.5 stars out of five from me. Even if you have been chasing for 30 years and were at these events, you still need to get this video. Professionally done, enhancements and effects done well with good narration, and excellent quality, largely tripoded digital video make this a stocking-stuffer, no question about it. I wanted to hop in the car and go chase a storm! The producers and videographers put their heart and soul into this production, and it shows. Even better, the profits are largely going to people who desperately need help from the events that were seen in the DVD.

(Enthusiastically pounds fist on table) Well done, gentlemen. Well done!!!

[Greg Stumpf]

Here's an update on DVD sales in the first 7 1/2 weeks of sales:

Total sold DVDs: 624
Total donations raised: $8812.88

We are outpacing last year by a long shot, but sales have dropped off since the holiday. We are still aiming to raise $20K in the end, so, if you haven't already done so, please place orders now:

http://stormsof2005.org


By comparison to last year, in 6 months of sales:

Total sold DVDs: 215
Total donations raised: $4207.74


Thanks!
Greg

[Jeremy Bower]

I have an idea to possibly help out with the sales of the charity DVDs. I'm involved with the organization of two conferences within a week of each other this April. I'm going to help Ken Dewey at the University of Nebraska organize the Central Plains Symposium and I'm also a Consultant for the Ohio Severe Weather Symposium. My idea is to somehow sell the DVDs at these events and I know they will sell out. I was the Co-Coordinator of the Ohio Symposium last year and Tim V. sold some of his products outside the auditorium where the registration table was and the sales went pretty well. Rick McCoy from the Van Wert County, OH Emergency Management Agency sold DVDs of video taken from the Van Wert Tornado in November 2002 and he completely sold out of those. Any merchandise sold at the Ohio Symposium is fine as long as the Meteorology Club doesn't benefit from the sales. With this being such a worthy cause, I know that people will buy these up at both conferences. I'd be willing to help out with this anyway possible if it can be done.

Contact: jbower2@bigred.unl.edu