My name is Brandon Monroe KG4QWI. I am the coordinator for the North East Tennessee District Seven Skywarn Team. I first became interested in weather when I was 11 years old. I bought my first scanner that year and began listening to the Skywarn nets on the K4JP repeater 146.760. I purchased my first N.O.A.A. radio form Radio Shack in 1997 also. I began listening to the watches and warnings that were issued by the National Weather Service. In 1999 I purchased my first personal weather station, the WX200 Radio Shack by Accu Weather. I begin to start logging data on spiral bound note book about my current conditions during severe weather events. Later on I started recording daily weather data from my weather station. I still have these records today.

I learned more about the Skywarn program and looked up the next class scheduled close to my area and attended the class in 1999. I started reporting weather to the National Weather Service then.

December, 23rd 2001 I received my amateur radio call sign from the F.C.C. I immediately fell in love with the hobby. I started checking in to the Skywarn weekly nets on the 146.820 Gate City machine. I became a net controller that year. I also started working with K4NRI Gary Churchwell to help coordinate the Skywarn program. I was awarded the Assistant Coordinator title that year. In 2002 Gary decided to appoint me to be the Coordinator for this district.

Since then I have struggled with participation levels because of the change and South West Virginia coordinator moved out of the area and spotters slowly stopped checking in from that area. I decided to change the weekly net to the K4JP repeater. Participation increased for a short period of time and once again spotters slowly lost interest. When the K4JP repeater was give to Todd Malone KE4CCB the frequency was forced to be change to the 145.290. Once again a dramatic decrease in participation occurred. However, the Carter Co. Club began checking in and became the largest amount of our check-ins. Once again we were forced to change frequencies because the current repeater belonged to the Carter Co. club. The 146.700 went on the air and participation was at its lowest ever. With only two net controllers, and with an average of five check-ins per net, I went to the National Weather Service board meeting and discussed possible ways to increase interest. During the meeting I only learned that every district was having the same problems with no suggestions for a solution.

I knew I had to come up with some ideas. I changed the net script, began announcing to other nets the need for check-ins, started reading weather training information during the nets, I also began collecting email address to send out newsletters, and started the polling process for members to have a vote about ideas in the program.

Gary Cox KI4JIB then launched the Skywarn Web page and more attention was brought to the program. Currently we are at our highest amounts of check-ins and registered members. Currently the program is becoming more effective in the local communities, and our spotters are better trained and are ready to meet the demands of any weather situation in our area. Better ideas are being brought to my attention by the members, and we are becoming a better organized team every day.