National Weather Service Employees Organization

NWSEO Convention News

National Weather Service Employees Organization
Minutes of 41st Annual National Convention

Salt Lake City, Utah

Day – 1 September 25, 2016

NWSEO President Dan Sobien called the 41st annual convention to order at 8:00 am on September 25, 2016. There were approximately 87 people in attendance.

Secretary Treasurer David Solano presented the minutes of the 40th National Convention. Reading of the minutes was waived on unanimous vote and the minutes were accepted as written. Once the minutes were accepted, Dave signed a copy.

NWSEO Recognitions

NWSEO is powered 100 percent by membership. This year, NWSEO members spent significant time (for some, it was like a second job) stepping up to make sure NWSEO is prepared for CBA negotiations, that NWS employees are represented on the Organizational Workforce Assessment teams, and that NWSEO accomplishes it's annual agenda, NWSEO appreciates all of our members.

NWSEO President Dan Sobien, Executive Vice President Bill Hopkins, and Secretary/Treasurer Dave Solano recognized the following members for their many hours of work and dedication to NWSEO.

Chris Jacobson – FIFs team, helps with grievances, worked on Vision and NBM response, Constitution Committee. OWA strategy team
Shannon White – FIFs, Digital team, Helped with AWIPS2 negotiations, OWA strategy team
Clair Ketchum – FIFS and organizational structure team (OWA)
Gino Izzi - FIFS and organizational structure team (OWA)
Elise Hagner – workforce team (OWA)
John Werner – CBA team, operating model team (OWA), OWA strategy team
Jen Hubbard – operating model (OWA)
Jason Wright – chair the shift work team, workforce team (OWA) and organizational structure team (OWA)
Marlon Varsamy –workforce team (OWA)
Barry Lambert – NBM, vision and position team, asked consistency question, always coming up with better ideas for NBM, OWA strategy team
Dave Bruno - NBM
JoAnn Becker – CBA negotiator, chief note taker, onboarding class with short notice. Helps Bill often. Frequently treated crummy by management for her union duties.
Steve Pritchet – CBA negotiator, great note taker, past (HQ) and current recruitment (NESDIS) efforts
Delyne Kirkham – Credentials committee, CBA team negotiator and COO, takes care of all organizational needs of the CBA team. OWA teams POC and organizer, Diversity team, Constitution committee
Bob Ruehl – made every call, provide amazing insight and out of the box ideas.
Suzanne Sims – CBA team, makes every call, was a negotiator at first Ground Rules negotiation session, pivotal witness for ULP case. OWA strategy team
Nathan Becker – CBA team, Provides pivotal insights and suggestions for the new CBA. Developed a point and click table of contents for our google docs page.
Mike Dion – put his neck out to protect BU employees at HQ
Jeane Allen – Credentials Committee, senior member, retiring
Suru – help with NESDIS recruiting
Hugh Sharkey – NESDIS recruitment and negotiations
Jim Brader – Chair of the OWA strategy team
Mitch McDonald – NCR, LMF
Barry Hirshorn – directives, help writing CBA articles, various help in negotiating (questions proposals etc.)
Jim Bunker – Console replacement

Constitution Committee
Brooke Bingaman
Lauren Smoker
Ken Kleeschulte
Credentials Team DeLyne Kirkham
Kevin Durfee
Gerald Claycomb
Angie Margrave
Shift Work Team – (not previously mentioned)
Amanda Bowen
Angie Margrave
Elinor Lutu-McMoore
Laura Kasper
Kathleen Lewis

NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn presented the General Counsel and Legislative Reports.

General Counsel Report:

NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn is attending his 36th NWSEO Convention. Richard is also NWSEO's lobbyist. There is a synergy in serving as legal counsel and as the legislative representative. The knowledge base helps Richard to do both jobs. Attached is the NWSEO General Counsel report for 2016.

NWS Staffing / Understaffing
Open & Closed Grievances and Arbitrations handled by Richard Hirn
1. February 21, 2016 grievance over AWOL of employees at NCO who could not get to work during January blizzard. Arbitration has been invoked.

2. June 27, 2016 grievance over repudiation of promise to pay travel and per diem in June 2nd internal reassignment MOU. After the MOU went into effect, the NWS stated that PCS payment is in the discretion of the hiring manager. Federal law says that PCS costs MUST be paid when reassignment is in the interest of the government and not primarily in the personnel interest of the employee. Arbitration has been invoked. If anyone knows of any employee picked from the Internal Reassignment Program, please notify Richard Hirn directly.

3. February 12, 2015 grievance over failure to make timely career ladder promotion or within-grade step increases due to miscalculation of anniversary dates following temporary promotions. Agency agreed to process corrective pay actions for three of four grievants and correct their promotion or within grade anniversary pay dates.

4. June 5, 2015 grievance over failure to make timely career ladder promotion or within-grade step increases due to miscalculation of anniversary dates following temporary promotions. Agency granted grievance and has taken corrective pay actions to pay the eight grievants and correct their promotion or within grade anniversary dates.

5. July 20, 2015 grievance over failure to make timely career ladder promotion for Imoasina7 Solomona-Tilo, met tech at Pago Pago, in violation of Article 14, section 7. Case was eventually settled with employee receiving retroactive promotion and back pay for period of October 2014 through May 2015.

6. August 19, 2015 grievance for Richard Maliawco (WFO Glasgow) who was denied timely career ladder promotion from GS-9 to GS-11 (one month delay). Management granted the step 1 grievance he filed earlier in the year, but WFMO refused to honor it. NWSEO then filed a union grievance at the national level, which was granted.

7. December 4, 2015 differential grievance for Jane Taifane (WSO Pago Pago). While grievance was pending, management restored her differential and therefore denied the grievance as moot.

8. January 6, 2016 grievance on behalf of five forecasters at WFO ABQ who were denied temporary promotions since October 9 while filing in vacant lead forecaster shifts. Grievance granted; retroactive promotions made.

9. February 17, 2016 travel & Per diem grievance of Dan Sobien. Grievance was granted.

10. May 10, 2016 grievance over AR repudiation of 2011 agreement to give all employees at AR WSOs five-day time off award each year. Grievance granted and time off awards restored.

11. Schick decision on disposable kitchen items. Arbitrator found that payment was not a “personal expense” of employees because of benefits to agency. DOC appealed to FLRA, where it is now pending. In the interim, DOC obtained an ex parte opinion from Comptroller General, who found that such payments were an inappropriate personnel expense. FLRA granted NWS’s appeal and overturned Schick award based on Comp Gen decision. Although FLRA acknowledged that Comp Gen decisions are not binding precedent, it stated that it would follow Comp Gen decision in this case because the parties ostensibly conceded that Comp Gen decisions are binding precedent.

12. Grievance over termination of pilot projects. Arbitrator ruled that there was not a de facto agreement to establish and maintain pilot projects indefinitely.

Unfair Labor Practice Cases:

1. NWS Alaska Region, SF-CA-15-0672. NWS unilaterally reduced hours of operation at Nome, Barrow and Kodiak WSOs and permanently reduced staff without bargaining after declaring all 70 NWSEO proposals “non-negotiable.” ULP charge was filed in June 2016; FLRA General Counsel issued a complaint and set case for trail in Anchorage on September 28, 2016. The Regional Director settled this case with the NWS

2. NWS Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD, WA-CA-15-1500. Charge alleges that on September 21, 2015 the National Weather Service unilaterally changed conditions of employment by affecting the directed reassignment of three of four remaining Emergency Response Meteorologists to lead forecaster positions before the parties completed negotiations over the impact and implementation of the agency's decision to terminate the four pilot projects and reassign the Emergency Response Meteorologists. Regional Director has informally determined that a violation has occurred and has decided to issue a complaint, but has placed the case in abeyance until the period for filing exceptions to the Simmelkjaer arbitration award expires. However, the Regional Director later dismissed the case, determining, incorrectly, that it was same issue before arbitrator.

3. National Weather Service, WA-CA- 16-0097. This charge alleges that the NWS violated its duty to bargain in good faith by cancelling the agreed upon December bargaining session for ground rules and by refusing to meet for further bargaining on ground rules. FLRA General Counsel issued a complaint against NWS. NWS settled by agreeing to post notice and send email to employees.

4. National Weather Service, WA-CA- 16- 0487. This charge alleges that NWS engaged in illegal surveillance by monitoring NWS members-only Facebook page. Charge was filed in late July and is under investigation by Regional Director of FLRA.

Other Proceedings:
GAO investigation into extent and causes of NWS understaffing: GAO investigators have contacted NWSEO as first step in this process, but they do not expect to have their report and findings concluded until the end of 2016 or early 2017.
16 FSIP 27 – On December 3, 2015 management filed a request for assistance from the FSIP, claiming that the parties were at impasse in bargaining over ground rules – despite the fact that management walked away from the bargaining table and cancelled future bargaining sessions after being informed that NWSEO was preparing a new counter offer. FSIP rejected the NWS request for assistance, agreeing with NWSEO that the parties are not at impasse.

On July 17, 2015 re-initiated “waste, fraud, mismanagement” complaint with DOC Inspector General over illegal use of personal service contracts at NWS HQ and NCEP, to perform work similar to that currently performed by NWS employees, on NWS premises, using NWS resources, under direct supervision of NWS personnel. Identical to complaint we filed in 2012. After investigation of that complaint, IG investigator confirmed our allegations, but IG refused to take any corrective action. Status of this complaint is unknown, as IG refuses to inform us of any action that it is taking.

16 FSIP 92 – On June 9, 2016 management once again filed a request for assistance from the FSIP, claiming that the parties were at impasse in bargaining over ground rules. There is only one issue that remains outstanding: management’s insistence that the union cannot reopen negotiations on a particular subject during negotiation of the new CBA once it has expressed tentative agreement to it, regardless of length of negotiations or changed circumstances. NWSEO insists that tentative agreements are just that – “tentative” – which can be reopened without the other side’s consent for a valid reason.

FLRA Representation Case No. WA-RP-16-0043. NWSEO has filed a Petition to Clarify the bargaining unit status of HQ employee Mike Dion, who was removed from the bargaining unit ostensibly because he is a manager.

FOIA Appeal No. DOC-OS-2016-001130. NWSEO filed a FOIA request on February 3, 2016 for copies of the FY 2016 NOAA spend plans submitted to Congress pursuant to the DOC 2016 Appropriations Act; all NOAA reprogramming requests for FY 2016; and for the IT Consolidation Report that was submitted to Congress. This request was denied by NOAA on May 3 on the basis that “no documents were found” in the agency’s search of its records. We appealed to the Department, which granted the request on June 14 and supplied the documents which NOAA claimed didn’t exist.

Legislative Report:

Appropriations – House ~7million over President’s request for NWS operations – but cut the rest of NOAA Overall by -3.2%. Senate Appropriations Committee added $11 million over President’s request for NWS operations – but cut rest of NOAA Overall by -1.3%. The House, Senate Appropriations Committee all rejected the proposal to eliminate ITOs for 5th year (9/2016) in a row due to the lobbying work of NWSEO.

NWSEO Political Action Committee (PAC)

NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn discussed the support NWSEO receives from members of Congress. NWSEO PAC funds help NWSEO lobby to save critical NWS jobs, improve NWS employee working conditions and make for a more effective NWS. PAC funds are used as political contributions to members of Congress who strongly support the National Weather Service and NOAA, regardless of party affiliation. This effort is most effective when all members contribute.

You can donate to the NWSEO PAC fund by credit card or by mailing a check made out to NWSEO PAC to:

NWSEO PAC
601 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 900
WASHINGTON, DC 20004

NWSEO is appreciative of all members who contribute to the PAC.

Remember: DO NOT solicit members to contribute to the NWSEO PAC at work.

Credentials Committee Report

Delyne Kirkham from the Credentials Committee reported to the convention attendees. The Credentials Committee reviewed each region’s delegates and the number of members each delegate represents. This information ensures that each member’s vote gets counted. The review account is an opportunity for all delegates to correct any discrepancies. A motion was made on the floor to accept the number of delegate votes and passed on a unanimous voice vote.

OWA Update

NWS Organization-Wide Operations and Workforce Analysis (OWA) assessing the current workforce model, operating and organizational structure. There are 5:

Communications & Stakeholder Engagement (No NWSEO members)
Workforce Workstream
Operating Model Workstream (IDSS focus)
Organizational Structure Workstream
Fully Integrated Field Structure (FIFS) Workstream
Related are the Model Blend Team(s) & Shiftwork Team

NWSEO is not on the communications team. The management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, is driving much of OWA.

Workforce Workstream goal is to build off NWS’s talented, motivated, and professional workforce by holistically improving the way NWS hires, trains, develops, and empowers its workforce. These changes will in turn help improve the organizational health of the NWS. The first NWS New Hire Training class, called OnBoarding, was held the week of Aug. 8 with 29 New NWS employees attending. Dr. Uccellini spoke with the class on the first day of class. NWSEO NCEP Chair, JoAnn Becker was NWSEO representative for the class.

The Operating Model Workstream is focused on understanding and enhancing Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS), which is a critical part of helping NWS achieve Weather-Ready Nation. The team is working to ensure a common understanding across the NWS of the overarching goals and objectives for IDSS. The team also has been working to identify policy guidance needs, training gaps, and specific actions that NWS can take to address current challenges in providing consistent IDSS and transform the organization in support of Weather-Ready Nation

Organizational Structure Workstream works to help the agency improve role clarity, create an open and trusting environment, and innovate, including capturing external ideas. The Organizational Health Index (OHI) survey from the OWA diagnostic shows that improving these three capabilities are critical to building a healthy organization (so-called “power practices”).

Shift Work Best Practices Team is to make recommendations to the NWS-NWSEO Strategic Leadership Team about ways the NWS can help lessen the challenges of shift work

FFS/Digital Services/National Blend of Models – Shannon White/Chris Jacobson

The Fully Integrated Field Structure (FIFS) team has been a contentious team led by Dan Cobb (MIC GRR) with reps from all regions, participation by several Centers, with Chris Jacobson and Shannon White as NWSEO reps. The team has heard presentations from Cobb and others on topics such as:
- shifting primary forecast responsibility to the centers such as WPC
- shifting watch/warning/advisory responsibility to centers
- collaborative forecast process where WPC negotiates changes to the national forecast
- WFO staff shifting focus to being IDSS briefers rather than forecasters
These suggestions have met with vigorous disapproval from NWSEO.

The National Blend of Models (NBM) Demonstration Team NWSEO advisors Barry Lambert and Dave Bruno have expressed concern with several aspects of the NBM including:
- Verification of the NBM versus the WFO forecasts (NDFD)
- Overblown precipitation forecasts
- Run-to-Run inconsistency introduced by using the NBM

NWSEO Position - Response to FIFS

WFOs must retain primary ownership of the gridded foundational forecast for all time periods included within the current NDFD out to Day 7
Primary ownership of the forecast within the WFOs will allow these forecasts to remain focused on local conditions, with rapid updates provided in order to provide the best possible IDSS to local partners

Only the WFOs forecasters with extensive local knowledge can respond appropriately to quickly changing conditions. NCEP/WPC should provide enhanced guidance to the WFOs for use as a common starting point in the forecast process. This guidance may include significant use of the National Blend of Models (NBM). However, WFOs will not be required at any time to re-initialize their forecast database with any NBM or WPC generated grids.

Primary watch/warning/advisory (W/W/A) responsibility must remain with the WFOs

There may be opportunities for WPC, other NCEP entities, or the Regional Operations Centers (ROCs) to play a larger role in coordination and collaboration of W/W/A products in the future, especially for synoptic-scale products that cover large geographic areas. However, the final decision-making authority for any W/W/A product must always rest with the WFO.

24/7/365 meteorologist coverage must continue at all 122 existing WFOs. This is absolutely critical for maintenance of public safety. NWSEO is against any part-timing WFOs. It is recognized that future gains in forecast production efficiency may allow for some shifts to be re-allocated to an increased IDSS role, but there must always be a requirement to have at least one meteorologist on duty at all WFOs 24/7/365.

NWSEO will continue to oppose the current direction of FIFS with all available resources.

NBM Demo Team

Key NWSEO Concerns:

Verification - Need to more closely look at how it is done by stacking the deck due to algorithms.
Run-to-Run inconsistency
Lose valuable, well-collaborated data which affects IDSS
Can yield “flip-flopping” forecast
Blend issues -Consistent use of “extreme” PoPs across 7+ days, Inability to depict sharp gradients of elements, Low predictability with low pressure

How Can YOU Be Involved? View the Data as NBM v1 can be seen in AWIPS now. All of the data is available on web along with verification against NDFD. Provide Feedback and some offices are officially providing feedback. Anyone can provide feedback directly to the NBM team Via VLab if you want to identify yourself Anonomously by emailing national.blend.feedback@noaa.gov

CBA Sub-Teams Report

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Negotiation Team provided insight to the negotiations process. The team thanked members for reviewing each of the articles of the current CBA and sending in suggested changes, additions, and new ideas for conssideration.

Financial Report and 2017 Budget - NWSEO Secretary-Treasurer David Solano

NWSEO Secretary Treasurer David Solano gave a detailed overview highlighting NWSEO's finances in checking, savings and investments. NWSEO investments have increased by just over 50% since 2013. The labor Organization report (LM2) has been filed with the Department of Labor along with the federal tax return (form 990), Certification of the NWSEO (LM5) and Federal Election Committee (FEC Form 3X) have been timely submitted.

David then reviewed the proposed 2017 budget line by line with the attendees. After review of the 2017 budget, David answered questions from the floor. David reminded those at the convention that the budget is a planning document, presenting best estimates for income and expense categories, and should be reasonable but cannot predict to the penny. A motion was made to accept the NWSEO 2017 budget and was second. The 2017 budget passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Day –2 September 26, 2016

Keynote Speaker: William Proenza, retired NWS Southern Region Director

William Proenza spoke to those in attendance the importance of the NWS Brand and Agency’s history. William served in the NWS for over 50 years before retiring and cares greatly for the NWS, the important mission of the NWS and the alliances with our stakeholders in so important. The NWS goes back to 1870. In 1890 the U.S. Weather Bureau was formed in the Department of Agriculture. In 1940 the U.S. Weather Bureau, now the NWS, was transferred to the Dept. of Commerce. Mr. Proenza's insightful presentation is available here.

Partial list of lost NWS positions since NOAA’s enactment

1971-1972: US NWS State Climatologist program eliminated and 45 NWS FTEs moved to NOAA HQs
1997: Proposed SRH closure was successfully averted but NWS ROs still lost 80 positions (NOAA keeps about half).
2006-present: NOAA decimates the above ASC field staffs leading to lapses in vital NWS support!
2011: NOAA greatly slows down NWS recruiting…last two years NWS has suffered an average of 600+ vacancies!
Now the US NWS field has experienced downsizing & part-timing in Alaska.

NWS HQ continues talking about integration, consolidation and modeling as a way to facilitate field staffing cutbacks to our 24x7 mission delivery NWS offices. NOAA imposes ownership of NWS products and services frequently by stating such things as “NOAA’s forecasts”, “NOAA’s Seasonal Hurricane Outlook”, “NOAA’s Tsunami Statement”, even “NOAA’s Forecasters”, “NOAA’s Weather Service” or “Storm Prediction Center”. NOAA still continues to complain that employees should not be showing the NWS emblem in the background.

Mr. Proenxza also said “Any cutback in local WFOs and RFCs is not only pound foolish but also deadly”. The NWS, with its 24x7 national network of LOCAL WFOs, best meets our nation’s needs. Specifically, local WFOs provide area focused/direct on-site all-hazards weather info in all sorts of ways with the latest communications technology.
NWS RIP-Current Warnings, save lives and this program was conceived and implemented at WFO Miami and now throughout the NWS. A LOCAL WFO initiative, now National! Innovation can and should also come from the field offices who know our customer and stakeholder needs.
The Local/State EM community continues to ask NWS for more all-hazards support. Such decision support weather information is most effective when immediately provided to a local EOC or on-site field command center by a local WFO or RFC. 24x7 WFO/RFC/WSOs is the proven Weather Ready Nation Network by:

Enabling a nationally designed response to climate variability
Better handle on water availability for life, homes, industry, agriculture, ecosystems, and recreation
Enabling our local expertise to enhance local environmental information for unlimited economic benefit and productivity
AND Better protection of life, property, natural habitats, biodiversity

“Fair-weather staffed” NWS field offices are dangerously understaffed by NOAA’s slow recruiting since 2011. The NWS field offices have been averaging about 600 positions understaffed the past 2 years preventing offices to immediately deploy or dedicate a forecaster(s) 24x7 to DHS/EM/local govt. Training opportunities are dangerously minimal for our science and all-hazards based agency’s protection of life mission.

NWS 24x7 WFO/RFC/WSO have proven local & direct weather support for state & local government, EM decision-makers, first responders and partners…for the most resilient all-hazards Homeland. Such LOCAL NWS services epitomizes the concept: “Weather services closest to the people, serves best”.

Results of th 2016 Regional Elections:

There were contested elections in Central Region and Alaska Region. Candidates in the other regions ran unopposed. NWSEO would Regional election results for Chair and Vice Chair are:

Alaska Region
Chairperson – Jim Brader
Vice Chair-Phil Dutton
Central Region
Chairperson – Jim Lee
Vice Chair – Andy Boxell
Eastern Region
Regional Chairperson - David Solano
Vice Chairperson – Barry Lambert
Headquarters Region
Chairperson - Steven Pritchett
Vice Chairperson – Amy Fritz
NCEP Region
Chairperson - JoAnn Becker
Vice Chairperson – Suru Saha
NESDIS Region
Chairperson – Hugh Sharkey
Vice Chairperson – Kevin Turner
NOAA Attorney's Guild
Chairperson – Mitch MacDonald
Vice Chairperson - Lauren Smoker
Pacific Region
Chairperson – Chris Jacobson
Vice Chairperson – Nathan Becker
Southern Region
Chairperson – John Werner
Vice Chairperson - Mark Wilson
Western Region
Chairperson – Suzanne Sims
Vice Chairperson- Robert Ruehl

NWSEO thanks you for your commitment and service to the union.

NWSEO Communications/Media Relations and Recruitment– NWSEO Executive Director Lisa Luciani

NWSEO Communications Director Lisa Luciani presented a report on Communications. NWSEO members are key to all communications efforts. Success depends on steward and member involvement to communicate the challenges and issues in their office. This communication helps the National Council, General Counsel Richard Hirn and Lisa to better understand the challenges offices face and to strategically tailor messages to reach Congress, NOAA and NWS leadership, journalists and the public. Lisa thanked members for their assistance on all NWSEO communications efforts.
This includes:
•            Responding to NWSEO email surveys
•            Responding to NWSEO media requests
•            Members using the NWSEO Facebook Group to inform each other about how challenges are met in their office.

NWSEO Communications/Media Relations is strategic and targeted. NWSEO has developed strong relationships with members of Congress, Emergency Managers, and journalists in key media markets. Our goal is to distribute accurate information for both local and national communications efforts. Please keep in mind, if a news release is distributed on a national level, it represents information provided from stewards nationally. If the information in your office does not clearly reflect on the news release and you have a request for a media interview, please contact Lisa at mediarelations@nwseo.org so that we can work together to provide the reporter with accurate information for what is happening locally without diluting the key messages of the strategic communications efforts.

Lisa highlighted the relationship between NWSEO and journalists including an NBC 5 Dallas Investigative Reporter, a Palm Beach Post weather reporter and blogger, the Washington Post, and Greenwire Communications in DC, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She highlighted news stories focused on the high number of vacancies across the NWS during severe weather, the NWS to eliminate the Golden Triangle initiative in Chicago, NWS Communications National Outage.

Lisa also talked about her work with Congresswoman Gwen Graham of North Florida. Lisa, with the support of NWSEO members at TAE, invited the Congresswoman to the Tallahassee forecast office in early June . TAE has one of the highest vacancies in the country and for more than a year was down 6 of the 23 employees. Congresswoman Graham also had a private meeting with Lisa and NWSEO members from TAE to discuss the impacts of the shortage. The congresswoman promised to take this information with her to Capitol Hill. She was especially interested in the GAO report. Since the June meetings, Lisa has met with Congresswoman Graham’s district director twice, following up with the vacancy situation at TAE. One of the meetings was after Hurricane Hermine made landfall in the Tallahassee area.

Lisa Luciani's available here.

Membership Report/Recruitment – NWSEO Membership Director Christy Fox

Total NWSEO Membership is 1459. Membership enrollment for 2016: new members 103, membership losses 84 with 68 percent NWSEO losses due to promotions and retirements. NWSEO is aware that there are well over a 2,000 NWS employees who are not NWSEO members and there is plenty of opportunity to reach out and recruit new NWSEO members. NWSEO has online recruitment resources at http://www.nwseo.org/Recruitment.php and many of you have been successful in your offices this year. Please share with NWSEO what works for you in recruiting members at membership@nwseo.org

Congratulations, Mr. Rob Niemeyer for recruiting the most new members in the past year and also congratulations to Mr. David Sanchez, for recruiting the second highest number of new members!

A motion was made on the floor by Amy Fritz to make Steven Pritchett and Jeanne Allen lifetime NWSEO members and this motion passed on a unanimous vote. Both Steve and Jeanne are long-time active members of NWSEO who will be retiring this year.

NOAA Attorneys Guild 2016 Convention Report

Lauren Smoker, Vice Chair of the NOAA Attorneys Guild is pleased to report that union membership rate is currently at 78%! She said she is also happy to see that about 40% of our current membership joined the union within the last 6 years. These numbers seem to indicate that NOAA Attorneys Guild has been successful at recruiting new members over the years and at recruiting attorneys new to NOAA. In addition, almost 30% of the current stewards & vice stewards joined the union in the last five years, so they also have members new to the union interested in taking leadership roles. The challenge with these numbers is that over the next 5 years, so they are expecting to lose an increasing number of current members due to retirement and promotion to management.

The NOAA Attorneys Guild is also pleased to report that our interactions with upper level NOAA GC management appear to be taking a turn for the better. Our two, recently hired Deputy General Counsels seem very interested in establishing a good working relationship with the union, and one has taken several steps to demonstrate that intent. This Deputy GC has traveled to our Northeast regional office to meet face-to-face with NOAA Attorneys Guild Chair Mitch MacDonald and discuss labor management issues a few times already this year and they have agreed to quarterly, face-to-face meetings. During the discussions that have occurred so far, Mitch has reported that management seems to be really listening to what the union is saying, is discussing with Mitch the issues important to management, and has taken steps to improve and facilitate labor-management interactions. Some examples include an invitation for Mitch to talk with all NOAA GC managers about labor management issues at a managers meeting occurring in September 2016, and management is working on setting up a time for Mitch to speak about the union with the new class of Honors Attorneys during an orientation training for them this fall.
NOAA Attorneys Guild Chair Mitch MacDonald and Lauren are hopeful that during this next year, they’ll be able to demonstrate to the membership and bargaining unit the benefits that come from good labor-management relationships. They’ll also be trying to maintain and increase membership and provide members with more opportunities to participate in labor-management interactions to better prepare our union for the changes that will come with the retirement of our long-time members.

NESDIS Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station Report – Hugh Sharkey

NESDIS Vice President Hugh Sharkey gave a presentation to the convention. NWSEO filed a petition to seek an election to expand our bargaining unit at NESDIS from just the Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station to all five branches of NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) non-professional bargaining unit employees, which includes the Satellite Operations Command Center. Dozens of 1187s have been received along with dozens of interest cards. This will be the first step in the process, if that all goes well we will then petition to merge this unit with NESDIS Vice President Hugh Sharkey Wallops Island VA. This is not covered under Richard’s retainer so there will be an unbudgeted cost to all of this which at this time is impossible to predict.

NWS Vacancies - NWSEO Pacific Region Chair Christopher Jacobson

Pacific Region Chair Chris Jacobson provided statistics on the continuing high number of vacancies in the NWS. Estimated NWS-wide vacancy rate remains near 13% with no progress on reducing the number of vacancies during the past year. Only 12 of the 122 WFOs are fully staffed, and there have been over 300 WFO vacancies throughout 2016. (At this time last year (09/26/15) only 10 the122 WFOs were fully staffed

NWS Vacancies
33 WFOs have 4 or more vacancies
10 in Southern Region, 6 in Eastern, 6 in Central, 6 in Western, 3 in Alaska, 2 in Pacific
5 WFOs have 6 current + pending vacancies
CLE (Cleveland), LKN (Elko), TFX (Great Falls), AJK (Juneau), HFO (Honolulu)
11 WFOs have 5 current + pending vacancies
ALY (Albany), PHI (Mount Holly), EPZ (El Paso), FWD (Fort Worth), SJU (San Juan), DMX (Des Moines), GJT (Grand Junction), LOT (Chicago), RIW (Riverton), PSR (Phoenix), VEF (Las Vegas)

Only 12 of 122 WFOs are fully staffed: CRP (Corpus Christi), HUN (Huntsville), KEY (Key West), MFL (Miami), MOB (Mobile), SHV (Shreveport), ABR (Aberdeen), DDC (Dodge City), ILX (Central Illinois), PAH (Paducah), LOX (Los Angeles), SEW (Seattle)

Comparing vacancies from the spreadsheet with total billets in the Table of Organization, NWS currently has approximately 13% vacancy rate overall
Overall vacancies have continued to increase during 2016 compared to 2015
301 WFO vacancies on 9/21/2016 vs 270 on 9/22/2015
There have been over 300 WFO vacancies throughout 2016

NWSEO Vision of the Future NWS and Guiding Principles on OWA and NBM- Alaska Region Chair Jim Brader

This Vision statement is a Draft and work in progress. NWSEO is looking for help to develop this vision. Please review the PowerPoint presentation and send suggestions to mediarelations@nwseo.org. Please use the title, "NWS Vision" in the subject line.

NWSEO Vision of the NWS Mission

The NWS will provide responsive and relevant information to enable partners’ decisions when weather, water, or climate has a direct impact.
We will achieve this by using the latest technology, scientific methodologies, and communication strategies to forecast and communicate high impact events.

Guiding Principles to Achieve the NWSEO Vision of the Future NWS

WFO/RFC and other Forecasters Own the Forecast
All local forecast and WWA responsibilities remain with the
WFO 24/7
Required for effective local IDSS
Able to respond to quickly changing conditions and partner needs
Local ownership of forecast is a lesson learned by IMETs

2) Provide WFOs with technology and methods to allow them to create and communicate forecast conditions quickly and easily

Forecasts need to reflect rapidly changing local conditions, and rapidly changing partner needs.
Verification Based on High Impact Events and Partner Needs
Verification Team made up of NWSEO members
Base verification on high impact events such as heavy snow, dense fog or high winds, not on temperature discrepancies

NWS Employees Mental Health Awareness Initiative Website Discussion - presented by Jason B. Wright

Jason Wright, NWSEO Steward, conducted a discussion around his development of an initial version of a NWS Employees Mental Health Awareness Initiative Website: weather.gov/mental health. This website will focuses on the importance of mental health awareness to the health and well- being of all NWS employees by developing a compact but comprehensive single resource center, covering multiple topics associated with improving employees’ mental health awareness needs along with overall health. He informed NWSEO convention members of progress that has been made up to this point, progress that needs to be made before this is distributed to all NWS employees for their usage, along with requesting any additional ideas, input, materials, etc. for enhancement to this website. If you have pictures of yourself participating in health activities that promote mental health that you would be willing to share to be a part of the pictorial presentation being developed for this website, please contact Jason Wright at Jason.B.Wright@noaa.gov. Jason will be coordinating with NWSEO leadership and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management (OEODM) in the near future for proper posting location of the NWS Employees Mental Health Initiative Website on both of these websites respectively.

2017 NWSEO Convention

Locations and properties were considered for the 2017 42nd Annual NWSEO Convention: Nashville, Tennessee, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center $161.00/night, Nashville Airport Marriott $142.00 and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club at the government per diem rate at $114.00. Food and beverage will cost $7,500 at the Vinoy and $15,000 at both Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center & Nashville Airport Marriott. A vote was called. With a majority total of 1198 votes, the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida will be the location of the 2017 National Convention.
The convention discussed the locationsand the opportunities to invite members of Congress to the convention. The Convention voted to have the 2017 convention at the Vinoy Renaissance Reort in St. Petersburg, Florida.

National Water Center – National Water Model - Eastern Region Chair and Hydrometeorologist David Solano

David Solano provided an update concerning the National Water Center and the New National Water Model to the attendees as the NWS moves to Evolve/Enhance Water Resource Services. There are many questions that need to be answered; however, one thing for certain is that water supply, water sources and the growing need for water services is a goal for both NOAA & NWS. The nations need for water (energy, food, health, infrastructure, recreation, transportation, etc.) is a growth story and opportunity for the NWS. The NWS needs to go beyond flooding and address “water gaps” where is minimal or no decision support services for ALL water resource needs of the nation. The Office of Water Prediction (OWP) includes elements in Maryland, Minnesota and Alabama.

The National Water Model is a NEW National Hydrologic Modeling System running on WCOSS in 2016 and will begin to fill the hydrologic services gaps. NWM provides streamflow guidance for underserved locations and unlike the RFC “lumped models” the Hydrologists will be “outside the loop” vs “inside the loop”, as the model forcings will be strictly Numerical model QPF (MRMS, HRRR, GFS , RAP & CFS-based forcing data). The NWM will expand from the current nearly 3,600 forecast locations currently provided by the NWS to providing river channel discharge and velocity and other hydrologic information on 1km and 250m grids at 2.6 million river reaches and will be useful in headwater locations, streams/creeks in support of NWS’s flash flood program. RFC Staff support development of NWM and associated tools to leverage NWM output. The RFCs will coordinate with WPC, WFOs and NWC to identify high risk areas of HRNG runs from NWM (flash flood early detection); however, the RFCs and WFOs need to develop a Concept of Operations on how to use NWM guidance as NWM guidance will eventually aid RFC/WFO core partners IDSS flash flood support. A team is being chartered to work on a concept of operations for NWC Operations Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The potential makeup of the Team includes an RFC HIC, another RFC rep, WPC, NOS, SSH, NWC, AFS, 2 NWSEO representatives and Regional ROC.

Constitution Committee

The Constitution Committee, working with NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn, has prepared a working draft of the necessary amendments to the NWSEO Constitution and Bylaws which would implement direct voting for National and Regional officer elections, as directed by the 2015 Convention. This draft language and an explanation of the changes was disseminated to the membership via Four Winds on August 26. To allow for full Convention consideration of these extensive changes, this working draft language has been brought before the Convention for discussion.

2017 Committees

NWSEO President Dan appointed the following committees with input from the National Convention attendees:

Constitution – Chris Jacobson – Chair and Jim Lee, Lauren Smoker, Brooke Bingaman, Ken Kleeschulte
Resolutions - Jim Brader, Chair, Barry Hirshorn
Finance - David Solano, Chair; Martin Lee, John Werner
Legislative, Public Affairs – Chair, Barry Hirshorn, Angie Margrave, Wes Adkins, Adam Futterman, ex Officio Lisa Luciani
Recruitment Committee - Sven Nelaimischkies, Chair, Barry Hirshorn, Doug McDonnel, Jim Lee, Kathleen Lewis, Amy Fritz – Ex Officio Christy Fox
Health and Safety - Martin Lee Chair, Laura Kasper, Suzanne Sims, Jason Wright
Credentials and Elections Committee –Kevin Durfee, Delyne Kirkham-Chair; Martin Lee, Gerry Claycomb, Angie Margrave
Election Letter – Mitch MacDonald, Bill Hopkins, JoAnn Becker, Ex Officio Lisa Luciani
Convention Set up – DeLyne Kirkham, Amanda Bowen, Shawn Weagle, Ex Officio Lisa Luciani, Christy Fox
Quality of Work Life - Jason Wright, chair; Barry Hirshorn, Delyne Kirkham, Gina Tillis-Nash, Muthuvel Chelliah, Linda Engebretson
NWSEO Directives Lead - Barry Hirshorn (Chair) and Jim Brader, Patrick Maloit
National Consultation Rights - NWSEO gets consultation rights from DOC & NOAA then the NWS sends us proposals to negotiate. Mitch MacDonald has agreed to do the consultation rights. Bill Hopkins
Diversity Team – Jason Wright (Chair), Elinor Lutu McMoore, Sina Solomona-Tilo, Mark Wilson, Ricky Lam
NWSEO Facebook Group – Robert Ruehl, Chair, and James Bunker, Erik Youngquist

New Business

Recruitment Incentive

The following recruitment incentive was passed at the convention. Any member who recruits two or more new members to join NWSEO using the 1187 for payroll deduction (not by credit card) from August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017, NWSEO will provide airfare, 3-nights lodging, and group meals for the 2017 convention. The name of the recruiter must be on the submitted 1187 in order to receive recruitment credit.

$100 New Member Rebate
The delegates passed a “$100 new member rebate” recruitment incentive for any new member who joins NWSEO by 1187 http://nwseo.org/pdfs_3/Join1187_2016.pdf for payroll deduction to receive a $100 dollar dues rebate.

The offer is available from October 15, 2016 to November 30, 2016. All stewards are encouraged to speak with a recruit new NWSEO members at their branch. NWSEO has not offered a dues rebate offer in years and this is a great opportunity to join our professional organization but the offer is only good for 45 days.

The convention adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

41st Annual National Convention
Marriott City Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
September 25 & 26, 2016

Sunday, September 25

Room: Capitol A & B
Morning:
  7:00 – Registration
8:00 – NWSEO President Dan Sobien - call meeting to order, appoint parliamentarian, call for reading 2015 Convention minutes.
  8:15 – Recognition of NWSEO team members
9:00 – NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn
10:15 – Break
10:30 – Legislative Report - NWSEO General Counsel/Legislative Director Richard Hirn
11:30 – Credentials Committee Report

12:00 – Lunch – Olympus Ballroom

1:00 – PAC Report – Dan Sobien/Richard Hirn
1:20 – Operations and Workforce Analysis (OWA) Update - Delyne Kirkham
2:20 – Fully Integrated Field Structure (FIFS)/Digital Services/National Blend of Models -
Shannon White and Chris Jacobson
3:00 – Break
3:15 – CBA Update - NWSEO CBA Negotiations Team
4:00 – Financial Report & 2017 Budget - NWSEO Secretary-Treasurer David Solano
4:30 – Regional Elections
5:00 – Closing remarks

6:30 - 9:00pm Banquet
Olympus Ballroom

Monday, September 26
Room: Capitol A & B

Morning
8:00 – Media Relations/Recruitment - NWSEO Executive Director Lisa Luciani
8:45 – Membership Report – NWSEO Membership Director Christy Fox
9:00 – NOAA Attorneys’ Guild Report - NOAA Attorneys’ Guild Vice President Mitch MacDonald
9:15 – NESDIS Report - NESDIS Vice President Hugh Sharkey and NWSEO President Dan Sobien
9:30 – AOC/AOML Report - AOML Vice Steward Jay Harris
9:45 – NWS Vacancies – NWSEO Pacific Region Chair Chris Jacobson
10:00 – Vision position
10:15 – Break
10:25 – Keynote Speaker: William Proenza, retired NWS Southern Region Director
11:30 - National Water Center –NWSEO Eastern Region Chair David Solano

12:00 – Lunch with Regional Meetings – Olympus Ballroom

1:00 – NWS Employees Mental Health Awareness Initiative - NWSEO Steward Jason Wright
1:30 - 2017 Convention location
1: 45– Constitution Committee Report – NWSEO Constitution Committee Chair Chris Jacobson
2:30 – Appoint committee members
3:00 – New Business
3:15 – Closing remarks