Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005

Support for tsunami victims

Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos asked employees to consider how they might assist the victims of the Dec. 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in southeast Asia.

To read a all-employee memo, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

Updated 1/13/05

Wellness Center closing early on Friday

The Wellness Center will close at 5 p.m, Friday, for the Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend. The facility will reopen for normal business at 5:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18.

For more information, contact the Wellness Center at 7-7166.

Updated 1/13/05

Wellness Center classes

Changing for Good! -- Do you start a health improvement program with the best of intentions, only to find yourself back at square one after a month or two of dieting, exercising, quitting smoking, etc.? Participants will complete self-assessments for determining their readiness for change and learn about strategies for achieving individual health goals. Fee: $13, to cover purchase of required course book: Changing for Good. Bring check – payable to University of California – on the day of class. Noon to 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 21, Wellness Center Room 106.

Health promotion classes are open to the entire Laboratory work force. Register at http://www.wellness.lanl.gov/svc/classes/hp/hp_sch.htm online or call 7-7166.

Updated 1/13/05

Skolnik training classes

Skolnik Technical Training Institute will host the following classes:

• “Special Four-Day Electronics I” training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 24 - 27, and its continuation, which is the “Special Four-Day Advanced Electronics” training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 7 - 10, at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Albuquerque. Both of these special extended classes are designed to cover the subjects in depth and more detail. The Electronics I class will discuss in detail the basic electronics concepts in the areas of passive components and test equipment for engineers and technicians. The fee for this class is $1,535. The extended Advanced Electronics will cover in depth the practical design and troubleshooting skills over-and-above those taught in schools for engineers and technicians, and the fee for this class is $1,999.
• “IPC/EIA J-STD-001 Certification” training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 7 - 11, at Skolnik’s soldering training facility in Albuquerque. This IPC/EIA J-STD-001 class is designed to provide soldering certification to assemblers, technicians and/or engineers, for end-product acceptance criteria of high reliability electronic assemblies. The tuition fee is $1,149.
• “IPC-A-610 Re-Certification” class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., February 14 - 15, at Skolnik’s soldering training facility in Albuquerque, and a two-day “IPC/EIA J-STD-001 Re-Certification” class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 16 - 17, at Skolnik’s soldering training facility in Albuquerque. The tuition fee for the “IPC-A-610 Re-Certification” class is $599, and for the “IPC/EIA J-STD-001 Re-Certification” class is $799.

For more information, go to http://www.skolnik-tech.com/ online or call the registration department at (505) 299-1157.

Updated 1/11/05

Public meeting on environmental cleanup of high explosives on Jan. 26

The Laboratory is hosting a public information meeting beginning at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear Don Hickmott, project leader for the Technical Area 16-260 Outfall Cleanup Project, present on the history of the site, recent characterization and cleanup activities at the site, risk assessment results and potential cleanup options for near-surface contamination.

This site a high explosives machining outfall that has contaminated soils, springs, surface waters and groundwater. Monitoring at this site has been ongoing for several years. Recent activities include characterizing the groundwater contamination, completion of human health and ecological risk assessments, and evaluation of cleanup alternatives.

Dave McInroy, deputy project director, also will outline the remediation activities for 2005.

For more information, contact Carmen Rodriguez of Remediation Services: Environmental Characterization and Remediation (ENV-ECR) at 5-6770 or write to carmenr@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 1/10/05

Early morning exercise classes offered at Wellness Center

Karate, #3374: Karate is an excellent way to increase flexibility, coordination and physical condition while learning a traditional form of martial arts. Participants will learn karate fundamentals through the instruction of basic exercises, kata, tuite (self defense) and ippon kumate (one step fighting) in a safe, controlled and respectful setting. Students of all skill levels and physical condition are welcome to participate. 6 to 7 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday, Room 121

Tummy Tuck, #529: Join Diane for a class designed to help strengthen and tone your core. The focus will be on the abdominal and back areas with some work for your "bottom" line as well. 6:15 to 6:50 a.m., Monday and Wednesday, Room 101

Updated 1/10/05

Memorial fund established for Lab employee's family

A memorial fund has been established at Los Alamos National Bank to collect funds for the family of a Laboratory employee who was killed in a skiing accident on New Year's Day.

Blake Morstad of Applied Electromagnetics (ISR-5) was killed when an avalanche swept the area where he was cross country skiing in Montana. Morstad joined the Laboratory in November.

The memorial fund was established by Morstad's colleagues in ISR-5. Laboratory personnel and others who want to contribute to the fund can provide cash or write personal checks to the Blake Morstad Memorial Fund at the bank. The account number for the fund is 00282618-01.

Donations will be used to pay for moving expenses and medical insurance for his wife, Adele, who is due to give birth to their first child next month.

Donations also can be given to Morstad's colleagues in ISR-5, Michelle Cash or Anne Downs. For more information, call   5-0223 or 5-1625.

Updated 1/7/05

LabVIEW Data Acquisition courses in Albuquerque

The following LabVIEW Data Acquisition courses will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Quality Inn Suites at 25 Hotel Circle at I-40 and Lomas and Eubank in Albuquerque.

• LabVIEW Jump-Start with IEEE-488 and RS-232 course - Learn the fundamentals of LabVIEW programming, learn the IEEE-488 and RS-232 System fundamentals, and learn how to apply IEEE-488 and RS-232 System programming using LabVIEW, hands-on with instruments, all in the same course. Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, $1,200 per person
• Creating Sophisticated Optimized LabVIEW Instrumentation Programs from Scratch - Take any instrument manual sample program in HP Basic or other language, make sure it is a working program by executing the commands to the instrument from the computer keyboard, then convert that program into a working, optimized LabVIEW program. Feb. 3 - 4, $1,000 per person.
• LabVIEW Intermediate Level Jump-Start Course - Learn more sophisticated LabVIEW programming methods, different LabVIEW programming architectures to suit each task, how to program LabVIEW from within to make LabVIEW panels and controls appear and disappear as needed and other, more sophisticated functions. Feb. 7 - 9, $1,200 per person.

To register for a course, call Don Jordan at (808) 630-3600 or write to interfacing.concepts@att.net by electronic mail.

Updated 1/5/05

"Project Management Toolbox" scheduled Jan. 25-27

A project management workshop focusing on individual skill building and the essential elements of project management is scheduled for Jan. 25 - 27 at the Laboratory.

This workshop will help Laboratory project management professionals

• Build high performing teams
• Establish project definitions that are clear and realistic
• Understand the detailed steps in project planning
• Optimize trade-offs
• Develop a baseline plan and monitoring procedures
• Track progress and fixing problems
• Close out the project

Updated 12/16/04

Spent Fuel and High Level Waste seminar in January

A seminar on "Accelerated Testing of Materials in Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Waste Storage Systems" is scheduled for Jan. 27 - 28, in conjunction with C26 meetings during ASTM International Committee Week. The seminar, which is sponsored by the ASTM International Subcommittee C26.13 on Spent Fuel and High Level Waste, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

The seminar will address the role and understanding of accelerated testing and the identification of related important alteration mechanisms to qualify materials used for high-level waste glass and spent nuclear fuel interim dry storage systems and repositories. Materials relevant to interim storage, transport and geologic disposal of HLW and SNF will be considered. Both U.S. and international speakers will present relevant materials studies within their respective frameworks of storage and disposal concepts.

For further technical information, contact Gary Smith at (509)371-3261, write to Gary.L.Smith@pnl.gov or glsmith@bechtel.com by electronic mail. For meeting or membership information, contact Jeff Adkins, ASTM International, at (610)/832-9738, write to jadkins@astm.org by electronic mail or click here.

Updated 12/15/04

National Instruments LabVIEW classes

The following LabVIEW classes are being offered by National Instruments, in New Mexico, during January and March, 2005.

The LabVIEW Basics I course shows attendees how to develop test and measurement, data acquisition, instrument control, datalogging and measurement analysis applications using LabVIEW. The LabVIEW Basics II course is a logical extension of Basics I and shows how to design complete, stand-alone applications in LabVIEW.

The LabVIEW Intermediate I course teaches structured practices to design, develop, test and deploy LabVIEW applications. The Intermediate II course builds on skills developed in LabVIEW Intermediate I by doing in-depth examination of memory management/performance techniques to extend your ability to develop LabVIEW code to maximizes application efficiency. This training is suggested for LabVIEW users pursuing Certified LabVIEW Developer certification.

LabVIEW users who have not yet attended this LabVIEW training can register for these classes at www.ni.com/training online or by calling toll-free (888) 484-4436. For more information or for a quote, write to Hank.Buterbaugh@ni.com by electronic mail or call (800) 433-3488 ext. 30218.

Updated 12/22/04

Employees leaving Lab must attend termination presentation

Employees who are leaving the Laboratory or changing to casual status must attend a benefits termination presentation held by Benefits (HR-B).

The termination presentations are held every Laboratory pay day for University of California Lab employees. Employees who are retiring aren't required to attend a presentation, but rather, they should schedule a meeting with their designated benefits specialist.

The presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. in room P280 on the second floor of the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3. Pre-registration is required. Employees should register on line at http://hrcluster.lanl.gov/TIOCourses/TIOAha.asp?CourseNumber=21013 one to two weeks prior to their last scheduled work day to sign up for a benefits termination presentation.

Employees also must obtain a departure processing form from Staffing (HR-S) before the presentation. This form is available at http://www.hr.lanl.gov/hrstaffing/Terminations/index.stm online.

At the presentation, employees will receive a packet of information about their benefits and savings balances. They will learn about options to continue or convert insurance plans and distribution options for savings funds.

Employees who require a sign language interpreter should write to benefits@lanl.gov by e-mail three days in advance of the presentation they plan to attend. Or call the benefits office at 5-3842 (TDD).

Because of limited parking, employees should plan to arrive early and/or make alternative transportation arrangements, such as using Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico's ride service.

Updated 10/25/02

Lost and found

Found: pair of black ear warmers for headphones outside Administration Building (TA-3, SM-43) southwest door. Call Bill at 5-3398 to claim.

Found: four keys at Occupational Medicine, Bldg. 1411. To claim, call Di at 7-7890.

Found: woman's Bulova watch at TA-3, SM-410 gate (behind Ad Building) on Monday. Contact cora@lanl.gov to identify and claim.

Found: men's 14K gold ring/band at the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center, main floor, Research Library on Jan. 3. The ring is being held at the Library's front desk. Stop by to claim, call 7-5809 or send e-mail to library@lanl.gov.

Found: cell phone on Pajarito Road, near intersection of Pajarito Road and Diamond Drive. Call 5-2977 to claim.

Found: gold colored french wire earring near Physics Building. To claim, call Wendee at 7-5724.

Lost: three keys in vicinity of S Compound and CMR parking lot. If found, contact Judy Bell at 7-5886.

Lost: silver ring in downtown area. If found, call Ron at 7-7002.

Lost: five keys on a keyring on Nov. 18, between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon. They were lost in the vicinity of the CMR parking lot and the S compound. If found, call Judy Bell at 7-5886.

Lost: diamond bracelet, TA-3 area (back of Admin. Bldg. to Otowi Bldg). Call Bonnie at 5-1850.

Found: dental retainer at Otowi (TA-3, Bldg. 261). Found on top of newspaper stand. To claim, call 7-4238.

Lost: woman's black glove on Nov. 3 between the Administration Building and the Study Center. If found, contact Gabriella at 7-1713.

Found: pendant with picture of bamboo on it. To claim, write to grthayer@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Lost: turquoise and silver earring on Nov. 3 between the Prime Contract Office parking lot and the Admin Bldg. Contact Kathy DeLucas at 7-5225.

Found: ladies prescription glasses outside East elevator, 4th floor, TA-43. To claim, see Luis Trujillo Director's Office, or call 7-5101.

Found: nylon jacket (dark blue/light blue/white with gray lining). Left at Occupational Medicine (HSR-2). Call 5-2580 to claim.

Found: prescription reading glasses (half glass) blue in color were found out in the SM-40 parking lot. Call Martha or Beatrice at 7-4117 to claim.

Commuter's Corner

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