2023 - 2024 President's Welcome
Dear Society members,
It is with a good anticipation that I accept the one-year presidency; a transition presidency in many senses of the word. Already, in my opinion, a 2-year presidency and vice-presidency has shown advantages and results, allowing the team to work on some longer-term projects. It's a different kind of transition that's in store, since while we'll be finishing off the Halifax Chapter's term of the CMOS national executive, part of this team will also remain in place to support the other executive that will begin its term next year. I'm delighted that one of my great accomplices in the adventure of organizing the 2023 Congress, Shannon Nudds, is joining me as Vice-President, this year. If all goes according to plan, some members of the current National Executive Committee will be on the next national committee until their mid-term. In the meantime, I know that Shannon and I will be able to bring our experience of organizing this year's convention to the future team.
The unusual involvement of the National Executive Committee in the organization of this year's convention was in itself an opportunity to realize that we could greatly standardize the organization of the Society's main annual event by defining a timetable with its critical steps for organizing a convention. Next year's virtual congress could help establishing the procedure for building the core scientific program of the congress, i.e. its parallel scientific sessions. I hope that my experience as co-leader of this year's scientific program and my ideas can help this team. |
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In an era when the impacts of climate change are no longer future, but real and lived, and of the great misinformation on the internet and social media, can we envision a greater role for our Society as expert-communicators or in mentoring our youth through its more engaged members ? Can we imagine a Society at the service of the society (the public)? Our CMOS mission statement reads as follows: CMOS is the national scientific society of individuals dedicated to advancing atmospheric and oceanographic sciences, as well as related environmental disciplines in Canada. The Society’s Mission is to promote meteorology and oceanography in Canada within the academic, government and private sectors. Our mission statement ends as follows : CMOS, through its educational and outreach efforts, seeks to enhance public understanding of weather, climate and environmental issues in general. Can we do that better ? Can we use this mission statement to help us as our selling pitch to recruit new members and keep our current ones engaged and eager to renew their memberships. To conclude, if all goes as planned two years will still be too short to accomplish and complete everything, but we, the Halifax Chapter, hope to leave a legacy that will enable CMOS to facilitate the organization of its congress, to advance towards its vision, to live its mission, and to do so in an environment that respects equity, diversity and inclusion. The plan is ambitious, but if the will is there, we can truly become what we strive to be: a scientific and expert Canadian voice reaching out to the public and future generations to offer a better understanding of meteorological, oceanographic, climate and environmental issues in general. Best regards and looking forward to work with you, |
Serge Desjardins