The Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association (SC - AMS/NWA) has set the bar high for funded group performance during one of Student Organization of Kean University's most crucial assessment years. This professional focused funded group, originally funded for the 2008-09 academic year, already has a 'Funded Group of the Year' bout under their belt; and with the group's recent achievement of 'Funded Group of the Month' for September, the group shows no sign of slowing their momentum. A congratulatory announcement of the group's September achievement was given during the Student Organization's recent council meeting held on October 8, 2010. As front-runners for effectively executing the newly implemented 'Project Twenty-12' performance initiative, the SC - AMS/NWA funded group proved they are operating with the group's longevity and growth in mind.

The SC - AMS/NWA "helps provide an understanding of weather and its phenomenon not just to meteorology majors, but to any students interested in learning about the weather," according to the group's CougarLink profile. For students interested in joining the group for professional or personal interest, or simply curious as to how the group operates, the SC - AMS/NWA holds meetings every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. till 4:15 p.m. in the Science Building, room 336.

During one of the more recent general body meetings, the group featured Bob Larner, a longstanding AccuWeather representative and Kean Alumnus. Larner worked with the group closely to help cultivate the group's professional practices. The collaboration with Larner is just one of the many alumni networking and development opportunities that the group engages in. During the week of October 2 to October 7, 2010, the group took nine students to the Annual National Weather Association Conference in Tucson, Arizona in order to present research fellow meteorological society members. Daniel Peck, President of the SC - AMS/NWA funded group at Kean, admitted that the trip helped to foster both professional and personal growth within the group; though, "networking was the [personal favorite]" component of the trip. Peck expressed a great deal of pride in the group having collaborated with such notables as Nick Gregory from Fox 5 NY, and Nick Walker from The Weather Channel, during the conference. The group has already organized similar professional programming to take place during the Fall 2010 semester, one of which includes a trip to Weather Works, a private weather consulting group in Hackettstown, NJ.

The most anticipated project for the funded group, according to Peck, is prospective community service project the group plans to carry out. Through affiliation with Union County, Kean Campus Police, and the National Weather Service, the group intends to get the Kean campus "storm ready". The group has already begun reviewing Kean's existing evacuation plans and emergency protocol in order to recognize and strengthen any areas of safety concern. One component of this community service is the implementation of weather radios throughout campus - the official emergency contact platform used during critical times of crisis.

In addition to the group's weekly general body meetings which are open to all Kean students, the group is actively involved in reaching out to students through other communication media. The group operates a campus weather service known as KeanCast, accessible through video updates on the Kean Television Network as well as through website; the direct link for that site is http://hurri.kean.edu/keancast/. The ambitious, developing group has now even expanded their outreach to the campus through utilizing the university's radio station - 90.3 WKNJ. The group plans to start having radio discussions during one hour segments on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. During this time, students, faculty and outside listeners may call in to pick the brains of or join discussion with a SC - AMS/NWA representative.

The SC - AMS/NWA is making great strides towards solidly establishing their presence at Kean University. If their ambition and accomplishments are any indication of the remaining year's performance, this will truly be the group's best one to date. Perhaps even, the group is looking at a potential reclaiming of a coveted ending year title; only time will tell.