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National Weather Service
2170 Overland Ave
Billings, MT 59102-6455
Phone: (406) 652-0851
Fax: (406) 652-3214
Homepage: nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov/billings


March 7, 1999

To:	Meteorologists
Through:	Bob Diaz Meteorologist in Charge
From:	Keith Meier Science and Operations Officer
Subject:	Quarterly Proficiency Checklist

As a shift leader, it is critical that you have an understanding of the many facets encompassing operations. This includes troubleshooting systems, assisting with HMT duties as the circumstances require, and serving as a knowledge resource for operational duties. Human nature dictates that we forget items unless we do them on some type of regular basis. To help counter this tendency, the "Quarterly Forecaster Proficiency" checklist has been created. Items on the checklist are those that are typically not part of your immediate duties (ensuring generation of the evening STP) or that you aren't expected to do very frequently (i.e. backup operations).

Every quarter, this checklist will be provided for you to complete. The person initialing your completion should be someone that is familiar with that particular duty (i.e. I wouldn't expect a forecaster to initial someone on the STP Generation). Use your best judgement here. The goal is to learn...so I'd suggest you try to complete these items in conjunction with those people that you feel are "experts" on any particular duty (i.e. they know the "ins & outs" themselves and can explain them to you).

When your checklist is completed, please provide them to me. I'll provide these to Bob on a quarterly basis to assist him in the performance evaluations.

Completion Deadline: February 28, 1999 (an extra month this first time around)