Bill Barrett a CT ARES transplant from Ridgefield to someplace "Down South" of the Mason-Dixon line writes:

"Will there be a "Snow Desk Net" this year?

...of course, there will be a Snow Desk Net this year! There will always
be a Snow Desk Net, since it exists in free-form, self-perpetuating chaos,
doesn't have a Net Manager or any designated Net Control, and should be
opened up by anyone at anytime there's snow in the air. Feel Free!

The purpose of The Snow Desk Net is to re-invigorate the deterioriating
art of the "Long Form Rag Chew Roundtable" --which seems rarer every year.
Presummably, when Snow Desk is on, there's a near-blizzard underway, and
everybody is stuck home, and there's nothing worthwhile on the TeeVee.
Snow Desk also has a serious purpose -- that is to occupy the ARES HF
Primary frequency, and thereby maintain its ready conversion into a
real, official, activated emergency net. This has happened at least
three times that I can recall in recent years.

Here are the (few) guidelines:
[1] Frequency is 3.965. Additionally, there will be a second, daytime
only frequency of 7.280. The 80 meter is the primary. This year
we may also experiment with 5.3715, if you have it.

[2] There is no appointed net time. Simply make a call for "Snow Desk"
when the snow is on loud enough to indicate. Try 3.965 first. Then,
particularly in daytime, try 7.280. Otherwise, monitor 3.965 as you
are inclined and able, because people pop up at all odd times.

[3] The shortwaver station that faded in around 4pm seems to be no longer
operating. This is good. He used to drive us off as the sun went down.

[4] Snow Desk never moves. In the interest of being predictable and easily
monitorable, we never slide around to avoid other QSOs. We patiently
await their conclusion before starting or resuming conversation. There
is never a hurry on Snow Desk: time, we have in abundance.

We're announcing and confirming Snow Desk a little earlier this year, because
we've had a few Septembers and Octobers memorable for, shall we say, some
sudden, large weather surprises. (Blizzards, Giant Hurricanes, etc.)
So... Now you're briefed. See ya on The Snow Desk Net. Have some fun with
Old Style plain old ragchew hamming!

73
Bill Barrett, KW1B
Pinehurst, North Carolina