#AMS2016Orphans: A Unique Complement to the 2016 Annual Meeting

Social media has changed the way that information is communicated. Weather reports and information can now be transmitted in near real time. Beyond live weather information, conferences now have hashtags and Twitter feeds that allow for attendees to share information with other attendees and those who are unable to attend. Social media has also enabled individuals around the world to connect with other users interested in the same cause, hobby, or interest. The 2016 AMS Annual Meeting saw the intersection of these two aspects of social media. What initially started as a group of meteorologists commiserating over not attending the Annual Meeting evolved into an internet conference. The hashtag #AMS2016Orphans was born, and complemented the AMS Annual Meeting. Here we tell the story of the AMS Orphans, discuss the logistics of the internet conference, and look to the future of the Orphans.