Monday, Jan. 24, 2005

ADTR all-employee meeting today

Cliff Giles, acting associate director for Threat Reduction (ADTR) is hosting an ADTR all-employee meeting at 10 this morning in the Administration Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3.

Cleared, badged personnel may attend in person, while uncleared staff are invited to watch on LABNET Channel 9 or on desktop computers using RealPlayer or other streaming video technology.

Updated 1/24/05

Volunteer opportunities

1. In conjunction with the Science Fair, the Pinon Advisory Team is planning a Math/Science Night from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday (Jan. 25). Teachers, parents, community volunteers and upper grade students will lead activities for all ages. The Critter Gitters, Bob and Cathy Anderson, also will bring some of their animals and talk about their animal rescue work. The 6th graders will sell refreshments to help raise funds for their Spring activities. If interested in helping out with leading an activity, set up or clean up, contact Maxine Schmidt at 663-2690 or write to m.schmidt@laschools.net by electronic mail.
2. The Pinon Elementary Science Fair is Wednesday (Jan. 26) and volunteers are needed to help evaluate projects (just to give students feedback - not formal judging). The goal is for each student to be able to present her/his project to an adult who will then briefly discuss the project with the student and provide him/her with a couple of written comments. Volunteers are needed from 8 to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon at the Pinon Elementary School. For more information or to volunteer, contact Ellen Ben-Naim at 672-1075 or write to bennaim@att.net by electronic mail.
3. McCurdy High School is looking for volunteers for the schools science fair starting at 8 a.m., Thursday (Jan 27). If interested in being a judge, contact Jenny Duran at 753-7221 ext 244.
4. The Taos Municipal Schools is looking for science fair judges from 1:45 to 5 p.m., Friday (Jan. 28), at the Taos high school /middle school. If interested in being a judge, contact Ernest Lopez, at (505) 737-6024.
5. DeVargas Middle School (7-8 graders) in Santa Fe is inviting Lab employees to participate in a Career Fair from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Feb. 9. They are requesting as many Lab volunteers as we can provide to share interesting stories, show pictures and discuss their careers. Their format is to have four - 20 minute sessions where students will rotate into classrooms every 20 minutes. For more information, contact Betsy Christensen at 467-3306 / 992-8689 or write to echristensen@mail.sfps.k12.nm.us by electronic mail.
6. The Youth Development, Inc. Foundation will be hosting their Annual Gala Banquet on April 23 to help raise funds for YDI while also recognizing outstanding clients and friends of YDI. YDI is a private, non-profit organization providing services for children, youth and families in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, Torrance and Rio Arriba Counties.  For more information, go to http://www.uwcnm.org/organizations/ydi.htm online. They will have their first special events planning meeting at 5 p.m., Tuesday (Jan. 25) at the Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque. Volunteers can be part of the following subcommittees: Logistics (theme, venue, decorations, entertainment and menu); Marketing (invitation, program, signs, publicity, advertising, etc.); Sponsorships and Ticket Sales; Raffle and Silent Auction; or Awards/Recognition Ceremonies. To volunteer, contact Michelle Luna at 242-7306 ext. 18 or write to mluna@ydinm.org by electronic mail.

Employees participating in science and/or math outreach activities may be eligible for Community Service time (paid leave, up to 32 hours per calendar year). For more details and procedures for application (before volunteering), go to http://www-stb-internal.lanl.gov:8080/wosaserver/form?app=comServ online.

The Laboratory Volunteer Program is a Laboratory-approved community relations and support activity. For more information, contact Debbi Wersonick at 7-7870.

Updated 1/24/05

Skolnik training classes

Skolnik Technical Training Institute will host the following classes:

• “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.
• "Basics of Electricity (DC Circuits)" training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 15 - 17, at the Howard Johnson Conference Center in Albuquerque. The seminar is designed for technicians, assemblers, engineers, managers and anyone who would like to learn about electricity and electrical components. The training tuition is $1,150.
• If interested in utilizing external auditors in the ESD audit procedures to ensure an unbiased report, Skolnik Technical has the expertise to assist with this process. The audit will be performed by a qualified Electrostatic Discharge Control consultant, certified by the National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers, Inc., with vast experience and knowledge in electrostatic discharge and technical excellence in training, know-how and job performance. Skolnik will verify all facets of the program to ensure that they are in compliance with defined company procedures and will record and report all discrepancies related to the ESD control program. Upon audit completion, Skolnik will compile and review the report with the organization and recommend the appropriate corrective suggestions. Our goal is to effectively help you to continually improve, manage, and sustain a well-organized and successful ESD Control Program.

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

Updated 1/24/05

CDS training classes in Albuquerque

Commercial Data Systems is providing Sun, Oracle, Veritas and Linux training classes in Albuquerque. The classes are held at the CDS office, located at 4828 Hardware Drive NE.

For a list of classes, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required). For more information, contact Renato Taralli at (505) 314-4017 or write to renato@cdsinc.com by electronic mail.

Updated 1/20/05

Wellness Center class

Healthy Habits for Life - A step-by-step approach to weight loss that emphasizes a healthy, lifelong eating and fitness plan. Team-taught by a dietitian, counselor and fitness specialist. Fee: $35, for course book and metabolic rate test for an individual calorie prescription. Register soon, maximum enrollment: 15. Noon to 1 p.m., Wednesdays, Jan. 26 - Feb. 23 (5 weeks), Wellness Center Room 106. This class is geared toward individuals with Body Mass Index (BMI) > 27. To check your BMI, go to Calculate Your Body Mass Index at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ online.

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 1/24/05

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

Public meeting on environmental cleanup of high explosives is Wednesday

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 1/24/05

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 this week

A project management workshop focusing on individual skill building and the essential elements of project management is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday 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 1/24/05

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

Lost: rhinestone pendant, inch wide with chains/rhinestones attached around the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3 on Jan. 19. If found, please contact Belinda Valdez at 5-1364.

Lost: pair of ladies black leather gloves. Hole in the right thumb liner. Perhaps at Canyon Complex, Research Park or in parking lot off Truck route and Pajarito. Contact Veronica at vencinas@lanl.gov if found. They were a gift from my husband.

Lost: Nissan thermal travel mug, stainless steel, on Jan. 13 near entrance to commuter bus lot off of Truck Route. If found, call Chris at 5-6228.

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: 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.

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