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CMOS and the CFCAS

CMOS continues to play an important role in CFCAS in two main areas:
(i) provision of the 'Members' of CFCAS, who must also hold membership on the CMOS Council, and (ii) assurance through oversight by the Members and by a CMOS-appointed ex-officio, non-voting CFCAS Trustee, that the bylaws and operating procedures of CFCAS meet the requirements outlined in the tri-partite Agreement which governs the activities of CFCAS. The Members of CFCAS also elect the CFCAS Board of Trustees, from a slate put forward by a Nominating Committee led by CMOS's ex-officio Trustee.

The following paragraphs provide some details on CMOS itself.

The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) is the national society of individuals and organisations dedicated to advancing atmospheric and oceanic sciences and related environmental disciplines in Canada. The Society's aim is to promote meteorology and oceanography in Canada, and it is a major non-governmental organisation serving the interests of meteorologists, climatologists, oceanographers, limnologists, hydrologists and cryospheric scientists in Canada. CMOS was officially created in 1967 as the Canadian Meteorological Society and adopted its present name in 1977, following an invitation by the Canadian Meteorological Society to the oceanographic community in Canada to join the Society. However, CMOS has a rich history dating back to 1939 when it was known as the Canadian Branch of the Royal Meteorological Society. 

The Society's Membership

The Society comprises some 1100 members and subscribers, including students, corporations, institutions, and others who are involved in the educational functions, communications, the private sector and government. Membership is open to all who share an interest in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, their related sciences and applications. The Society addresses a broad range of national and international meteorological and oceanographic concerns including weather and weather extremes, global warming, ozone depletion and surface air quality and their effects on all aspects of life in Canada including forestry, agriculture and fisheries. Special interest groups in the Society consider meteorological aspects of hydrology, agriculture, forestry, meso-scale meteorological phenomena and operational meteorology. 

The Society's Structure 

An Executive and Council, elected at an Annual General Meeting govern the Society. The Council includes the Chairs of 14 Centres and Chapters elected locally. The Society is served by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director, appointed by Council. In addition, Council appoints members to serve on the Scientific, University and Professional Education, School and Public Education, Prizes and Awards, Consultant Accreditation and Media Weathercaster Endorsement Committees. The office of the Executive Director is the contact point for members, students, career counsellors and the general public who may be seeking information on careers and weather- or ocean-related subjects. The fourteen centres and chapters located across Canada serve as focal points for formal and informal meetings on atmospheric and oceanographic subjects throughout the year. Each year a chapter or centre is chosen to host a national Congress, which attracts participants from around the world. 

CMOS Publications

In addition to publishing its bi-monthly CMOS Bulletin, its annual Congress Program and Abstracts, books, and its Annual Review, CMOS produces Atmosphere-Ocean, an internationally respected refereed scientific journal for the publication of original research as well as occasional survey articles, notes and comments on published papers on all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic and hydrologic sciences. 

CMOS Scholarships and Awards 

CMOS offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to qualified graduate and undergraduate students. In association with the Canadian Council for Geographic Education, it sponsors Canadians high school teachers for participation in Project Atmosphere, which is jointly run by the American Meteorological Society and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States. CMOS is working with partners to establish a Canadian counterpart. 

CMOS recognizes the achievements of its members by the presentation of special awards, medals and citations to individuals who have made outstanding scientific or public contributions in atmospheric and oceanic sciences and services. Members may also be honoured for their work in research, teaching, professional services, communication and interpretation of atmospheric and oceanographic phenomena by being elected Fellows of the Society. 

Accreditation of Consultants and Broadcasters 

The Society grants the status of "CMOS Accredited Consultant" to applicants who have demonstrated that they meet established standards of training and experience in the fields of atmospheric and oceanographic sciences. As well, the status of "CMOS Endorsed Weathercaster" may be granted to radio or television broadcasters who demonstrate they meet CMOS' specified criteria.