First off THANKS TO EVERYONE for getting SpotterChat.org to 1000 users!

In a effort to make SpotterChat a little more generic to everyone I will be changing the name shortly to StormChat.
It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time and just been too busy with other projects.

Spotters never really took to the service and it’s just become a great place to hang out and talk about storms!
We are going to be having some impromptu events on StormChat on some significant outbreak days from years past, one recently was the OKC/Moore outbreak from May 3, 1999 where we watched Shane Adams unedited video from that day.

I would like to invite you to sign up for the new StormChat twitter account at www.twitter.com/stormchat we will be giving away a Midland weather radio later this month to the first person who responds to our tweet asking for a winner!

We will also have some more improptu video viewings and special guests, being on Twitter will get you the front seat to when to sign on!

We will be having a chat and watching Shane’s unedited chase video from May 3, 1999 tonight in the chat room.

If you are not a member or have lost your password simply create a new account.

The video will be hosted at http://www.passiontwist.com/stream.htm and sponsored by www.chasertv.com

UPDATE:  It’s 7PM TONIGHT!

Join us this Sunday 3/29/09 at 7:00PM Central on SpotterChat to watch “Storm Stories” on The Weather Channel.

This episode “Tornado: In the Line Of Duty” will have clips from SpotterChat regular Lanny Dean.
Lanny will be in the chat for Q&A during and after the episode!

If you have missed it Lanny has also been sending Live video from his chases on www.ChaserTV.com he captured the first ever Tornado on the service on 2/9/09!

Please join us Sunday night for this event!

Come join the 750+ users on SpotterChat, the self proclaimed leader in real-time conversation about the weather.

Membership is free and you don’t need to be a “Spotter” to join.

Simply sign up and download our client from the website, you can be sharing your weather experience with other weather enthusiasts worldwide in just 5 minutes.

We also have some sponsorship opportunities available, please shoot scott@endlessweather.com a email for details, this includes topical chats, banner ads and room notifications of events.

We had to take the Beta of flash chat down today, after trying to get it doing what it needed to do we just don’t have time to make it work right.
With severe season upon us stuff just needs to work, feel free to use our client or any of the other XMPP clients out there.

Pidgin does have a random disconnect problem with our server, be aware.
If using an alternate XMPP Client the setup info is below (Ours is pre configured that you can download to your right)
Server im.spotterchat.org
Our Chat Room lobby@conference.im.spotterchat.org
You MUST have an account on our server BEFORE connecting.

We have a MDT RISK tomorrow in parts of OK, TX, MO and AR and Spotterchat will be PUMPING at full steam!

If you are not already one of the 650+ members today is the day to join us for some weather discussion!

Word has it both the new www.ChaserTV.com and www.SevereStudios.com will have live streams in the area!

So it appears at about 4:21pm central on new years eve the virtual machine that runs all this fun stuff was unplugged at the datacenter. Nothin more fun that driving to the other side of town as the bars are closing at 1am to press a power button.

Needless to say sorry if you wanted to spend the evening chatting it up!

Hopefully you joined some friends down at your local pub for a couple of brews, have a safe holiday!

With over 600 users the Buddy List is not piratical to keep everyone loaded all the time.
The “All Users” list has been removed, you can create your own lists by searching for the members to add to your own list at the bottom of the primary program.

To comply with COPPA guidelines we will not be able to provide services to members under 14 years of age.
We do not have the resources to research and gain consent from parents of these children.

We will be making another change to the room structure within the next few days.

Thanks

Thank you everyone for making the chat a TREMONDUS success!

We had over 200 people chatting at one point in 2 different rooms!

Here is the transcript from last night, please do not copy to other sites only link back here.

©2008 SpotterChat.org and TornadoVideos.net

  [Read the rest of this entry...]

Who says Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers needs to end?

We will be having a LIVE Q&A with Reed Timmer on 12/14/08 in SpotterChat.

Here are the basics you need to know to make this a GREAT event!

1. Donwload The SpotterChat Software Here
2. While it’s downloading, register HERE.  (Try not to put spaces in your username!)
3. Sign on and join us in the Lobby for some pre-event discussion!
4. Make sure your “Nickname” conforms to our name policy here.  (And how to fix it)
5. Submit your questions here BEFORE the event if you can so we can have some ready as soon as the chat starts.

On Sunday starting at 7pm Central when you sign on to SpotterChat you will be automatically placed into the Theater room.  In this room you can only listen unless a moderator gives you “Voice”.

If your question is selected we will try to get you on Private Message to ask your question personally, otherwise we will give you credit.     Your statement may need to be trimmed down into a questionl, please help our moderators by sticking on topic.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask any of our moderators, you can find them with the MOD after the usernames.

Thanks!

Scott Bennett
SpotterChat.org Admin