Joyce Elliott, left, of Polymers and Coatings (MST-7) reacts with excitement Monday while her husband Norman Elliott, also of MST-7, receives more information about the Beechcraft Bonanza, right, he just won in an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association sweepstakes. Photo by Leroy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Surprises do have wings

All Norman and Joyce Elliott of Polymers and Coatings (MST-7) knew was that the Public Affairs Office (PA) needed to do a video interview with them as soon as possible. They had been back from travel but a few hours.

The interview was supposed to be about their work in inertial confinement fusion and the deadline was tight for a video that was being produced. Adding weight to the urgency was the presence of Janet Mercer-Smith, their group leader, who accompanied the Elliotts for the interview.

Right in the middle of answering a question about how the program had changed over the years, the telephone rang interrupting the interview.

"Would you get that for me please?" said John Bass of PA who was shooting the videotape. The videotape kept rolling because the real reason for the interview was about to be revealed.

Norman Elliott, a pilot and aircraft owner, found himself talking to Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association, who wanted to let him know he had won AOPA's Bonanza Sweepstakes.

In a drawing from the members of AOPA, Norman Elliott learned he had won a Beechcraft Bonanza worth about $400,000.

"I never win anything," he said. "I can't believe this . . . it hasn't really sunk in."

The Frederick, Md.-based AOPA holds the contest every year among its 300,000 members and selects a different type of aircraft each year to give away.

The 34-year-old V-tail Bonanza has been completely refurbished with a new engine, custom interior and a "glass" cockpit filled with the latest in avionics. The aircraft is currently in Mineral Wells, Texas waiting for final approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration before it is delivered to the Elliotts.

Norman Elliott is a flight instructor who currently owns another aircraft, a Mooney. "Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with it. This is all so unbelievable," he said, "I thought I was just going to talk about ICF. I was set up."

Joyce Elliott agreed. "What a great setup!"

--John Bass

Seminar series talk today for IGPP director candidates The second in a series of talks by candidates seeking to become director of the Laboratory's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) is today. Edmond Mathez of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the American Museum of Natural History in New York will speak about "The Bushveld Complex and Geo Chemical Evolution of Partially Molten Rocks," at 10:30 a.m. today in the Cochiti Room of the Study Center. For more information, contact Shirley Roybal at 7-0920 or see Friday's Daily Newsbulletin.

Stroke prevention discussed today at the Lab

The Laboratory's health promotion program in Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) and Compensation and Benefits (HR-1), in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield New Mexico and Solvay Pharmaceuticals is hosting a talk today on stroke prevention through blood pressure control.

The interactive presentation is from noon to 1 p.m. Lab workers can watch the presentation on Labnet Channel 10 or through Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) on desktop computers. To complete an evaluation of the talk, click here.

There also will be special viewing location set up at room 167 of the Canyon School complex on Central Avenue.

The presentation by Dr. Glenn Graham is being held in conjunction American Heart Month in February. Dr. Graham is director of the Cerebrovascular Disorders Program and associate professor of Neurology, Radiology and Neuroscience at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the Albuquerque Veterans Administration Hospital.

For more information, see the Jan. 31 Daily Newsbulletin.

Department of Energy's 2003 fiscal year budget released

The Department of Energy's 2003 fiscal year budget was released Monday by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. The secretary called the proposed $21.9 billion budget a "blueprint to build a stronger foundation for energy security in the 21st century."

The 2003 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

To read a news release, click here.

On today's bulletin board
Commuter's Corner | Parking areas around TA-3 | Parking shuttle routes (pdf) or jpeg
Computer Corner news Fidelity Investments at Lab on Feb. 12-14 Found: a pair of sunglasses Daffodils for Hospice 2002 Customized Dell systems available through Technology Integration Group Basic Records and Information Management course schedule Lost: earring Lost: Zia shaped silver earring Lost: Palm Vx New volunteer opportunities IMAGIC Business Solutions at Lab on Feb. 5 and 6	Xilinx vendor presentation Feb. 11 in Otowi Building side rooms Windows 2000 Active Directory domain now available at the Laboratory Five openings remain in the Leadership Institute February 10-15 2002 Dog Jog Logo contest deadline is Feb. 15 Reading Olympics for youths, adults at Mesa, White Rock branch libraries "Project Management Toolbox" scheduled Feb. 19-21 Family Strengths Network events Seats still available in Management Institute No. 9 Women leaders 2002 symposium March 7-8 at UC, San Francisco Employees leaving Lab must attend termination presentation

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