Friday, March 11, 2005

"Project Management Toolbox" scheduled June 28-30

Projects produce funding. Doing projects right (delivering results on time and within budget) is the most effective tool for obtaining future funding. This three-day workshop focuses upon individual skill building, and addresses the essential elements of project management:

• Building high performing teams
• Establishing project definitions that are clear and realistic
• Understanding the detailed steps in project planning
• Optimizing trade-offs
• Developing a baseline plan and monitoring procedures
• Tracking progress and fixing problems
• Closing out the project

Learning is reinforced by application case studies throughout the workshop. The course is customized for Los Alamos and presented by Erika Jones and Associates, who have a history of successful project facilitations throughout the Laboratory. For additional information and registration, go to http://www.hr.lanl.gov/TIOCourses/TIOAha.asp?CourseNumber=19692 online or call Harry Thomas at 7-4002.

Updated 3/11/05

Retirement party for Debby Thompson on March 17

A retirement party for DebbyThompson of Decision Applications (D) is from 3 to 5 p.m., March 17, in the Otowi Siderooms.

Updated 3/10/05

SWANS radios being inventoried

Emergency Management and Response (EM&R) is conducting a Labwide inventory of all SWANS (Motorola HT 1000) radios. EM&R uses the SWANS system to contact individual radios, groups of radios, or all radios Labwide with important information and instructions in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Management and Response needs to know the correct location and point of contact for all SWANS radios. Individuals or Lab organizations with a radio are asked to contact Debbi Maez at 7-6211.

Updated 3/9/05

Wellness Center classes

Introduction to Meditation - This class will teach students how to meditate with an overview on the health benefits of meditation and will include relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. Noon to 1 p.m., Part 1: Tuesday, March 15 and Part 2: Tuesday, March 22

Stealth Nutrition: How to "sneak" more veggies into your day - A second section has been added from 12:05 to 12:50 p.m., Thursday, March 17. Practically everyone knows that eating more veggies is healthy, but how do you really eat five to nine (gasp!) servings of vegetables and fruits daily? This class will focus on the most nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits, along with quick and easy ways to enjoy them. 

Both classes are held in the Wellness Center, Room 106. No fees. Health promotion classes are open to the entire Laboratory work force. Advance registration required at http://www.wellness.lanl.gov/svc/classes/hp/hp_sch.htm online or call 7-7166.

Updated 3/9/05

ISR Division Colloquium on March 16

Michael Carter of the Department of Homeland Security will present an International, Space and Response (ISR) Division Colloquium titled "The Role of the Science and Technology Community in the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office" at 10:30 a.m., March 16, in the Physics Auditorium.

For more information, contact Vangie Martinez at 7-2965.

Updated 3/9/05

Computing Customer Service telephone down this afternoon

The Laboratory's Computing Customer Service is migrating to a new telephone system today. The telephone service will be down beginning at noon and will be back up on Monday, March 14. The Computing Customer Service telephone number is 5-4444.

The teams will be available by electronic mail. Their e-mail addresses are listed below

• Enterprise Information Consulting, IM-2, eiaconsult@lanl.gov
• Desktop Consulting, CCN-2, dacteam@lanl.gov (or your regular xxxhelp@lanl.gov e-mail address)
• ICN Accounts Office, CCN-5, validate@lanl.gov
• ICN Consulting, CCN-7, consult@lanl.gov

They will not be able to return calls until Monday, March 14.

For more information, contact Debra Bilberry of Enterprise Support and Computer Education (IM-2) at 5-4444 option 808 or write to bilberry@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/11/05

Volunteer opportunities

1. Volunteer needed to tutor adult special needs student in Basic Math from 9 to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon or 1 to 2 p.m., Mondays and Fridays. Must be patient and able to explain materials clearly. Materials and meeting space provided. If interested, contact Geri Irving of UNM-LA at 663-3419 or geri@la.unm.edu by electronic mail.
2. The Pueblo of San Juan Department of Education 2005 Spring semester After School Tutoring Program has begun. They are looking for volunteer adult tutors to assist students with English/Language Arts, some Science, Reading and Writing Comprehension. The program schedule is from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday and is open to students in grades 3 to 12 and occasionally college students will request assistance. The tutoring site is located at State Hwy 74 and Day School Street in San Juan Pueblo, on the campus of the Ohkay Owingeh Community School. For more information, call Elvie Aquino, Education Coordinator, at (505) 852-3477 or write to psj_deptofed_ema@yahoo.com by electronic mail or Byron Yepa of the Laboratory's Tribal Relations Team at 5-5430 or byepa@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
3. Santa Clara Pueblo -- Volunteers are needed for a reading tutoring program for middle school and high school students from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Santa Clara Pueblo Community Library.
4. San Ildefonso Pueblo -- Volunteer tutors needed for middle school students, with focus on math and science subject areas. Monday through Thursdays are open for tutoring sessions. Volunteers are needed at least twice a week and the tutoring times will be arranged individually with each student. All tutoring sessions will be held at the San Ildefonso Pueblo gym or at the students' place of residence.
   All interested volunteers for either program above should contact Byron Yepa of Tribal Relations at 5-5430 or byepa@lanl.gov 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 3/8/05

Wellness Center parking lot

The Wellness Center parking lot continues to be very crowded at peak hours of operation. Please consider car pooling, using the taxi service or walking to the Wellness Center during these busy times. Parking availability should improve at the Wellness Center when the new parking structure near the Otowi Building is completed.

For more information, contact Phyllis Webb at 7-7166.

Updated 3/4/05

Spring 2005 TIG-Dell product demonstration on March 15

TIG and Dell will hold a product demonstration from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 15 in the MSL Auditorium to show the newest technologies and upcoming products from TIG, Dell, Cyclades, Infoblox, Silex, Nvidia and Riverbed.

Dell also will conduct roadmap presentations for news on upcoming products.

• Client and server technology -- presentation No. 1, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
• Client and Server technology -- presentation No. 2, 12:30-1:15 p.m.

A lunch, catered by Nana’s Italian Restaurant, will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Updated 3/3/05

Records managment classes

The Information and Records Management Group is offering a half-day course on Basic Records and Information Management (Course # 22477) from 1 to 5 p.m. on the following dates:

• Session 34, March 16, Canyon School, Room 165
• Session 35, March 23, Canyon School, Room 164
• Session 36, March 30, Canyon School, Room 165

This course will be presented in four short modules: Overview of Records Management and What is a Record; Records Management Drivers; What Are Retention Schedules; and Records Disposition - Transfer and Destruction. The course will provide interested employees with the basic tools needed to continue to implement LIR 308-00-02.0 and to answer questions regarding its requirements. Certificates will be awarded to those who complete the course.

Three sessions of the mandatory training for Laboratory Records Management Point of Contacts (Course # 24182) are from 8 a.m to noon on the following dates:

• Session 25, March 14, Canyon School, Room 172
• Session 26, March 23, Canyon School, Room 164
• Session 27, March 28, Canyon School, Room 172

These sessions are for those POCs who have not yet taken the training and concentrate on the POC responsibilities as listed in LIR 308-00-02.0, Laboratory Records Management. This class is a mandatory requirement for all POCs. The sessions will provide employees with the basic tools needed to continue to implement this LIR and answers to questions regarding its requirements.

There is no cost for these sessions and registration can be done through Virtual Training on the Lab's home page. For more information, contact Dolores Salazar at dolores@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/2/05

Trinity Site spring tour is April 2

The annual tour of Trinity Site in southern New Mexico is scheduled for April 2. The tour includes lectures, walking Ground Zero, viewing of Jumbo and visiting the McDonald Ranch House.

The National Atomic Museum sponsors the Trinity Site tours. Registration in advance is required by calling the museum at 505 242-6083 or writing to store@atomicmuseum.com by electronic mail. The tour costs $50 and includes lunch at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro.

Buses leave the museum in Albuquerque at 6 a.m., and return about 4 p.m.

As part of the tour weekend, a lecture by Ben Benjamin, who was at the Trinity Site during the first test in July 1945, is scheduled for 7 p.m., April 1. The cost is $3 to the public but free to people who sign up for the tour.

Updated 3/1/05

Skolnik training classes

Skolnik Technical Training Institute will host the following classes:

• "Solder, Hands-On" training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 - 16, at the Skolnik Solder Training Center in Albuquerque. This class is designed for anyone who would like to learn how to solder or to obtain a refresher in soldering. The tuition fee is $699.
• “IPC-A-610 Re-Certification” training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 21 - 22, at Skolnik’s soldering training facility in Albuquerque. This IPC-A-610 re-certification class is to enable the operators who are currently certified to IPC-A-610 to renew their IPC-A-610 Operator Proficiency Certification (valid for two years), prior to the expiration of their certifications. The tuition fee is $599.
• “IPC/EIA J-STD-001 Re-Certification” training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 23 - 24, at Skolnik’s soldering training facility in Albuquerque. This IPC/EIA J-STD-001 re-certification class is to enable the operators who are currently certified to IPC/EIA J-STD-001 to renew their IPC/EIA J-STD-001 Operator Proficiency Certification (valid for two years), prior to the expiration of their certifications. The tuition fee is $799.
• "Basics of Electricity (DC Circuits)" training class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 4 - 6, 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 $1,199.

Skolnik Technical offers competitively-priced, first-class calibration services for instruments from numerous manufacturers. Their calibration and supply certification for industry applications are in compliance with MIL-STD-45662A, ANSI / NCSL-Z540-1, and traceable to NIST, with or without data points. Different levels of certification are offered to meet specific quality standards and individual conformance needs and requirements. 

For more information on any of the classes or equipment calibration and repair services, go to http://www.skolnik-tech.com/ online or call the registration department at (505) 299-1157.

Updated 3/4/05

EMBA call for candidates

Candidates are now being selected for the 2005-07 Executive MBA program which begins in late June. The Executive MBA Program at the University of New Mexico's Anderson Schools of Management is a Master's degree program in business administration designed for high-potential managers with an undergraduate degree in any field and at least three years of significant work experience.

• Intensive two-year program that won't interrupt your career
• Every-other-weekend format with classes on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings
• Nationally accredited by the AACSB but half the cost of comparable programs
• An up-to-date curriculum taught by UNM's senior-level Ph.D. faculty

Applications must be approved by the appropriate manager and received by Leslie Knowlton of HR-TD (MS M589) by May 4. 

An information session will be offered in Albuquerque on April 2 (morning) at the Anderson Schools of Management on the UNM campus. They also are offering a free GMAT workshop. For details and location, call (505) 277-2525 or write to emba.mgt.unm.edu by electronic mail.

For more information on the program, contact Knowlton at 5-8646 or write to lesliekn@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/2/05

FEMA guide offers emergency preparedness tips

A new guide from the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides the public with tips on emergency preparedness. Called "Are You Ready?" the guide is available to individuals, families and community preparedness groups who are looking for a comprehensive source of what to do when disaster strikes.

The guide provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by teaching individuals how to become informed about local emergency plans, identify hazards that affect their area, develop and maintain an emergency communications plan for family members, and build a disaster supplies kit.

Other guide topics include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster and information specific to people with disabilities. The preparedness facts are based on the most reliable hazard awareness and emergency education information including advances in scientific knowledge, the most accurate technical language and the latest physical research on what happens in disasters.

The guide is available from the FEMA Web site in both English and Spanish. Go to www.fema.gov online to obtain a free copy or call FEMA's Publications Warehouse at 1-800-480-2520.

Updated 2/22/05

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 1/25/05

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

National Instruments LabVIEW classes

The following LabVIEW classes are being offered by National Instruments in Los Alamos

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.

LabVIEW users 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 2/24/05

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: Olympus camera in a blue camera bag (I think it is a Samsonite bag). Camera was lost Saturday night (3/5/05) somewhere near the Unitarian church. If found, please contact Melissa at 5-1746.

Lost: black badge pouch with two keys in it and no ID in the back parking lot of the Administration Building. If found, call Yolanda at 7-8597.

Found: ladies Bulova watch in parking lot near old Van der Graff facility. Call Juan at 5-5873 to claim.

Found: men's bifocal glasses in leather case in parking lot south of SM-410. Call L. Steen at 5-3146 to claim.

Found: ladies pearl earring at southwest entrance to SM-30. Call John at 4-0597 to claim.

Lost: Toyota keyless remote in TA-53 area. Black with gray button. If found, please contact Sara at 665-7854.

Found: two pairs of prescription glasses (1) sunglasses, (2) reading glasses. Possibly left in the Director's Conference Room. Please call 7-5101 to claim.

Found: ladies silver bracelet at TA-3, Bldg. 200, 2nd floor. Call Dawnetta at 5-0424 to claim.

Found: a onyx necklace with a bear pendant in the HOV parking lot between the Ad Building and CMR. To claim the necklace, call 7-9774.

Found: one key on green holder marked BWXT #5. Found outside Motorola building on Jan. 24. Please contact Lou at 663-5555 to claim.

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.

Commuter's Corner

To run an ad, contact the Newsbulletin at newsbulletin@lanl.gov or 7-6103.

Airplane pools

Abiquiu

Albuquerque

Alcalde

Bernalillo

Chimayo

Eldorado

Española

Jemez Springs

Rio Rancho

Santa Fe

Velarde

Commercial Transportation Options

LA Bus Schedules and Fares

Park-and-ride Commuter Bus Service Schedule (pdf)