Post Classifieds

New AMS executive board

By Catherine Vitale

On May 6, 2011

Pin It

The American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association club has named a new executive board.

The new board took over on May 1, in preparation for the club's next storm conference. The board is responsible for picking the keynote speakers, booking the venue, and making the conference come to life.

Last year's executive board wasn't sure if it would have a storm conference this past March due to a total of about $8,000 in debt that spawned from a problem with the previous year's board.

Last year's Treasurer Laura Lenfest will replace Samantha Couture as the club's new president. Lenfest played a key role in getting the club out of debt by managing its funds and its progress throughout the semester. Lenfest believes that her experience as treasurer and being able to get the club back on its feet will help her in her new role.

"It helps us figure out where we need to be for fundraising." Lenfest says. "Now that we're out of debt, we need to make sure that we stay out of debt for future boards."

Craig Johnson has never held a position on the executive board, but he will replace Matt DiPirro as Vice President. Though he has had no experience on the board, Johnson has been active in the club and will bring fresh new ideas to the table. Johnson will be in charge of many things, including the club's website where members can check how many events they have attended and whether or not they have paid their dues.

Torrance Gaucher will take Lenfest's position as treasurer. Gaucher believes that this is an important position to fill, especially given the club's status last semester.

"I deposit and handle the money, and without any money the club couldn't run." Gaucher says. "I am also the voice of the club for the SGA." Gaucher has had experience as treasurer during high school and also has handled money for one of his relatives business.

Brian Knopick will take over for George Krauszer as Secretary. Knopick came to Lyndon State as a transfer student and brought along with him some ideas for fundraisers and improvements for this coming storm conference. Knopick believes, while keeping cost in mind, that the storm conference should expand to include people from out of the northeast part of the United States. He also believes that the club should reach out to the freshman who may not know what the club is.

"I want to get the freshman more involved and other people around campus." Knopick says. "Especially the freshman, there's been a decline over the past several years."

The AMS/NWA also has three more positions that are not traditionally held in other clubs. The position of Public Relations is now held by Pat Hogan who succeeded Ben Sisskind. Hogan will now be in charge of sending club e-mails and communicating with the club members.

Rachel Kelley will replace Alison Ciaramitaro as Historian. It is the historian's job to archive the club's "memories" of events and members and keep track of "memories" from years past. Kelley was excited to be elected for the position.

"I went to storm conference as a prospective student," Kelley says. "I saw the board and thought I want to do that."

George Krauszer will take the position of Community Outreach from Garrett Combs. Community Outreach helps the club interact with the surrounding communities and gets both children and adults involved in weather through things like school visits and balloon launches.

The board hopes that with the debt off their backs they can worry about reaching out to their community, keeping their memories, and hosting a highly successful storm conference.