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Hi All,

I added a quick chat feature to my free WXSpots program. The quick chat feature will display messages to all users on the main form that are sent in the main form's quick chat window. The other group / individual messaging features on the separate group messaging page have not changed in any way.

The quick chat message feature is a handy way to chat with other weather enthusiasts on WXSpots. It's less formal, so the program won't move to the front if you are working on another application when a message comes in. To communicate with specific people or groups, you'll still want to continue to use the separate message form.

After you start the program, either wait 30 seconds or press the Esc key. The quick chat message display on the main form will appear where the banner is.

If you are new to WXSpots, please click this link to download the full installation package:



If you already have a previous version of WXSpots installed, to update your existing version please:

- Close the program

- Click this link:



- Replace the .exe file in c:\program files\Wx Spotting log

If you are upgrading, you'll also need to download the sound file and put it in the working directory (you may have to right click on it and click Save As):



- Start the program. The title bar will say 1.8.

Enjoy, and please say Hi on Quick Chat!

This is the end of my?software announcement update, but for those of you who are interested in sharing your weather interest with others, please read on:

A Very Successful Weather Group Model - Gulf Coast Weather!

I've received e-mail from folks who have?expressed interest in either finding a local/regional weather group to be part of or growing?their own group. One very successful regional model to consider joining or emulating is Gulf Coast Weather: http://www.gulfcoastwx.com/ipb/

While their name references the gulf coast, the group is very pertinent to anyone who is affected by hurricanes, including all of us along the eastern seaboard. I'm in Maryland and very happy to be a part of the group. Gulf Coast WX welcomes anyone with a weather interest, regardless of location.

Gulf Coast WX recently moved their site. They were up to 1,121 members before the move and they are already back to 297 members and growing daily.

Why is this site so successful? In my humble opinion, here a just a few of the many reasons:

1. The group is very welcoming and works hard to build a sense of community. They keep it fun and friendly. They use on-line forums for all members to communicate and stay connected with each other. They host social events and have speakers, etc.

2. The group has a very solid core of serious weather folks including meteorologists, meteorology students and advanced amateurs.

3. All are made to feel welcome and a part of the group. The emphasis isn't Skywan or Emcomm or Amateur Radio - it is the common interest of weather. All who share a weather interest have equal status.

4. The site is constantly updated with the latest radar images and alerts, so there is plenty of reason to visit often for the latest information (in addition to the community appeal).

5. Hurricanes are serious business, affect a lot of folks and represent a common focal point. All of us in the southern and eastern US are paying attention to a specific storm at the same time, and eager to share thoughts on what is happening. With just over nine days until hurricane season, the site is growing particularly quickly now.

6. There is a lot of educational information available and the folks there are eager to help you learn and understand weather intricacies.

7. The group is strongly encouraging the use of WXSpots among all their members (not that that has anything to do with their growth, but just one more piece of evidence that this is a sensible group) ;)

As a large regional site, this is a great one, especially for those of us in the southern and eastern US. This model could certainly be adopted for other areas such as a northeastern site, midwestern site, etc.
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Perhaps some of you?would like to get together and make that happen. If you would like to find others to work with you, please feel free to put the word out here on the WXSpots?e-mail group.

For those who aren't looking to build regional sites and would be thrilled to have a dozen or so folks they could count on in their own county, I think many of the same rules apply. Large or small, build a welcoming community. Use forums or e-mail groups like this one to keep your group connected. Keep communication going even in quiet times. Have regular meetings using WXSpots. Organize a cookout. Provide some weather education. Keep your group fun, interesting and informative and you will enjoy the same success that Gulf Coast WX is experiencing!