Get Involved
You do not need experience. You need to show up.
Spotter training is free and open to anyone. Here is the whole path from interested to on the air.
The Path
Three steps.
Take a spotter class
Free, about two hours, open to anyone. NWS Springfield runs classes across the region ahead of severe weather season, and we hold our own sessions too. No amateur radio license is required to attend, and there is no test.
Join the Facebook group
This is where the day-to-day happens - training announcements, forecast discussion when weather is coming, and debriefs afterward. It is the fastest way to plug into the organization.
Get on the air
Check into the Tuesday training net at 7:00 PM Central on the linked N0NWS system. Practice giving a report while nothing is on the line. If you are not licensed yet, this is usually the point where people decide to get their Technician ticket.
Questions
What people usually ask.
Do I need an amateur radio license?
No - not to take spotter training, and not to report severe weather to the National Weather Service. A license is what lets you participate in our nets, which is where reports get coordinated and relayed. Many spotters take the class first and get licensed later.
Do I need to chase storms?
No. Spotting is not chasing. Most useful reports come from people observing from home or from a safe, stationary position with shelter nearby. Nobody is expected to put themselves in the path of a storm, and we do not encourage it.
Is there a time commitment?
None that is mandatory. There is no on-call roster and no minimum participation. Spotters report when they are able and when weather affects their area. The Tuesday net is practice, not an obligation.
Is there a cost?
No. Training is free, membership is free, and we are all volunteers.
I already took a class years ago. Do I need to retake it?
Refreshing every few years is a good idea - criteria and guidance evolve, and the skill degrades without practice. The Tuesday net is the low-effort way to stay sharp between classes. We recommend that you take a spotter class every year.
Can I volunteer as a net control?
Certainly! If you are interested in acting as net control, please reach out and we will work on getting you in the rotation.
Still have questions?
Ask. There is no wrong question, and we would rather answer one than have someone talk themselves out of getting involved.