Perry Williams Memorial Weather Station

[WesL]

Dear fellow TW members,

Thank you!

I'm blown away with the response we had with getting our project funded so quickly. It speaks to how highly Perry was regarded in our community. I wanted to give you a breakdown of the project funds and give you an idea of how we will proceed.

In 3 days, with 15 donors, we have raised $560. Our orginal goal was $500 so we are blessed to have a little extra in funds. GoFundMe take 5% and their bank takes 2.9% and $0.30 per transaction. That equals $48.74 in fees so those last few donations help make sure that we have everything truly funded and gives us $511.26 to complete our mission.

I will notify our contact at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Educational Foundation that we have reached our goal and we are ready to proceed.

If you are a member who contributed please send me a PM or e-mail ([email protected]) and I'll add you to our recognition group.

 

[ARCC]

I think it's awesome. It will be a great memorial to Perry.

 

[Lori]

It doesn't surprise me, this group has always been amazing with good, good hearts!!
Thank you and thanks to Wes for talking this on and making sure Perry's memory and his wx expertise is always remembered for many years!!


Sent from my iPhone using TalkWeather

 

[Titan]

Can't wait to see how this project looks when it's completed. Awesome idea.

 

[WesL]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the weather station has been ordered and is slated for delivery next week. Still working out the installation site and mounting hardware but hope to have that completed later this week.

 

[JayF]

I would love to be there for the installation and the dedication ceremony. Thank you, Wes You are doing a fine job sir.

 

[ghost]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the weather station has been ordered and is slated for delivery next week. Still working out the installation site and mounting hardware but hope to have that completed later this week.

Thanks Wes for working so hard on this

 

[WesL]

Still in my living room. I did get to talk to one of the IT people a few weeks ago at an event and they know what to expect. Just waiting on the final location so we can order the mount.

 

[t0rNaD0ez]

I missed the boat with all of this, and I certainly wish I would have known. Praise God for his legacy. I added some to the total this morning.

 

[Drew Richards]

I hate I missed this as well! Is there an update on this amazing project?

 

[WesL]

I hate I missed this as well! Is there an update on this amazing project?

The station is sitting in my office waiting to go to the space center. We had volunteered to purchase the mounting hardware as soon as they gave us a location but I haven't heard back in weeks. Someone did tell me that they were working on adding weather observations to the curriculum but that was the last update I got. I'm going to attend a board meeting next week, hopefully, I can corner someone who will have an answer. If not, we should seriously consider donating it to a school.

 

[Mike S]

The station is sitting in my office waiting to go to the space center. We had volunteered to purchase the mounting hardware as soon as they gave us a location but I haven't heard back in weeks. Someone did tell me that they were working on adding weather observations to the curriculum but that was the last update I got. I'm going to attend a board meeting next week, hopefully, I can corner someone who will have an answer. If not, we should seriously consider donating it to a school.

I initially thought of the UGA Atmospheric Sciences program but I'm sure they have all the equipment they need. I believe some here were in contact with his friends and family, so maybe if the USSRC doesn't work out we could find out where Perry attended middle school or high school and have it donated in his name there????

 

[WesL]

Well after much frustration of dealing with the USSRC for the past year, I feel that it is time to consider giving this equipment to a school. Same stipulations would apply as before. The equipment would be theirs, it would include a plaque honoring Perry and the official name of the weather station would be the Perry Williams Memorial Weather Station. Unless there are any objections, I plan on calling some of the county schools in my area so that we can observe the installation first hand. If you know of a school that you feel is deserving and can help with making sure it gets installed, we would gladly consider that suggestion as well.

I'm just glad I didn't turn it over to the Sprocket for it to sit in a closet and collect dust. We are going to get some good out of this generosity one way or another. If you donated and object to giving it to a school, feel free to contact me via PM and I'll refund your money.

Thanks,
Wes

 

[Mike S]

Well after much frustration of dealing with the USSRC for the past year, I feel that it is time to consider giving this equipment to a school. Same stipulations would apply as before. The equipment would be theirs, it would include a plaque honoring Perry and the official name of the weather station would be the Perry Williams Memorial Weather Station. Unless there are any objections, I plan on calling some of the county schools in my area so that we can observe the installation first hand. If you know of a school that you feel is deserving and can help with making sure it gets installed, we would gladly consider that suggestion as well.

I'm just glad I didn't turn it over to the Sprocket for it to sit in a closet and collect dust. We are going to get some good out of this generosity one way or another. If you donated and object to giving it to a school, feel free to contact me via PM and I'll refund your money.

Thanks,
Wes

What about New Century Technology School in Huntsville? They are a public school and share part of the Lee High School building. Looking at their webpage they have Environmental Science as part of their curriculum. Maybe they'd be interested. https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/new-century-technology-high-school/science

 

[Mike S]

There's also the Academy for Science and Foreign Language for younger kids - https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/academy-science-foreign-language

 

[rolltide_130]

Buckhorn High School had an AMS chapter last I heard of them. Not sure if its still active though.

Another option to look into is a school or organization catering to children with disabilities, particularly those who are hard of hearing. I'm HOH myself and I personally know both the HUN (Jen Saari) and BMX (Gerald Statterwhite) hard of hearing coordinators. They would both really like this idea.

 

[WesL]

Afternoon everyone,
I've reached out to Huntsville City Schools and received a polite thanks but no thanks. It sounds like they have something in the works. I had a friend who met me for lunch last week at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens and while enjoying quite possibly some of the best chicken salad ever, I had an idea to inquire if they would be interested in hosting our weather station. I made the inquiry and I'm pleased to say that I just returned from an informal meeting and I think we have a partner. They have to run the idea up their chain of command but the lovely staff I met in the Education and Curator departments were really excited about what we had to offer. We even had a chance to scout a location and it is the perfect place to get excellent consistent readings. So, needless to say I'm excited that this system will not only benefit the garden staff but will actively used in education programs.

As I mentioned before, we have deviated from our original plan and if you don't like the new direction, I am happy to refund your contribution with no hard feelings whatsoever.

Looking forward to an update soon.

Wes

 

[HazardousWx]

I missed this as well. Did you have luck with the Botanical Garden? If not, for the county schools, I can put you in contact with someone that is over their facilities and operations.
Also, I think the old Sparkman HS had a little damage from the 74 tornadoes (now Sparkman Middle) and we had some minor damages to Merdianville Middle and Buckhorn HS in 2012 from tornadoes. That might be fitting - to be at a school that actually experienced tornado damage. Around that time frame, in Lincoln Co. TN, South Lincoln Elementary took a tornado hit. That might be another option.
I remember saving a map that Perry did of mesoscale low tracks and asked him how I should credit him. He liked the term Storm Historian.

 

[Fred Gossage]

I missed this as well. Did you have luck with the Botanical Garden? If not, for the county schools, I can put you in contact with someone that is over their facilities and operations.
Also, I think the old Sparkman HS had a little damage from the 74 tornadoes (now Sparkman Middle) and we had some minor damages to Merdianville Middle and Buckhorn HS in 2012 from tornadoes. That might be fitting - to be at a school that actually experienced tornado damage. Around that time frame, in Lincoln Co. TN, South Lincoln Elementary took a tornado hit. That might be another option.
I remember saving a map that Perry did of mesoscale low tracks and asked him how I should credit him. He liked the term Storm Historian.

And it would be really fitting that it would be at a location of 1974 damage, because it was that tornado outbreak (and severe weather at his home in Georgia a few weeks before in March 1974) that really solidified his interest in meteorology.

 

[WesL]

Pleased to announce we are in the final state an agreement with the Huntsville Botanical Gardens to place Perry's weather station. As a part of the agreement, we will have routine check-ups at the station (i.e. check stability, clear debris from rain gauge, etc).

At this time we are seeking a few awesome volunteers in the Huntsville region, that would like to assist with this effort. You will be required to complete a Huntsville Botanical Gardens volunteer application. If you are interested let me know via PM and I'll shoot you the paperwork.

Going to do another scouting trip to take some measurements to get our rigging equipment ordered. If anyone is interested in going let me know.

Wes