Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Wellness Center Spring classes

The Spring 2005 exercise class brochure will be available online beginning Wednesday. Registration for Spring 2005 classes will begin at 7:30 a.m., March 30. Classes begin April 11. Some exercise classes do have pre-requisites that will need to be met prior to registration.  

For more information about exercise class pre-requisites, go to theWellness Center Web site at www.wellness.lanl.gov online or call Gina Koehler at 7-7166.

Updated 3/22/05

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., March 28 - April 1, 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 electrical and electronic assemblies. The tuition fee is $1,199.
• 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.
• Basics of Electricity, DC Circuits class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 4 - 6, and Basics of Electricity, AC Circuits class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 19 - 21. Classes will be held at the Howard Johnson Conference Center in Albuquerque.

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 3/22/05

Pick up, drop off location changing for Albuquerque commuters

Laboratory employees who use the All Aboard America commuter bus service from Albuquerque will have a temporary new pick up and drop off location.

Users of the commuter bus service from Albuquerque will catch the bus from the Balloon Fiesta Park off Alameda Boulevard, said Dan Villa of All Aboard America, which operates the service for the New Mexico Department of Transportation. To get to the new location, take Alameda west from Interstate 25 to the Balloon Fiesta Park and museum and north to the pick up and drop off location.

Route times and fares from Albuquerque remain the same, Villa said, adding that the temporary location is needed while a new, permanent location is constructed. Lab employees who ride the bus from Albuquerque currently catch the bus at the transportation department's District 3 office off the Pan American freeway east of I-25.

The Department of Transportation is building a new pick up and drop off location at San Diego Avenue and San Mateo Boulevard N.E. It will have space to accommodate 300 vehicles, about a dozen which will be for handicapped parking, and will have off-street pick up and drop off for passengers.

For more information, see Thursday's Daily Newsbulletin or contact Villa of All Aboard America at 424-1110.

Updated 3/22/05

Integrity Networking Systems news

For a limited time, receive an instant $200 rebate, an additional one year warranty and a supplies start-up kit with the purchase of the Xerox Phaser 6250. Available on N, DP, DT and DX models. Offer ends March 31.

For more information, contact Tish Romero of INS at (505) 294-7747 ext. 150.

Updated 3/18/05

Younger to talk on threat reduction Wednesday

Laboratory Senior Fellow Stephen M. Younger of the Theoretical (T) Division, former Laboratory associate director for nuclear weapons, willl talk on "Reducing the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction," at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in Los Alamos.

The talk is in the lounge of the United Church's Christian Education Building, 2525 Canyon Road. The talk is free and open to the public and part of a meeting of the Los Alamos Committee on Arms Control and International Security.

From 2001 to 2004, Younger was director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a component of the U.S. Department of Defense whose activities include arms control inspections, cooperative threat reduction, new weapons development, chemical and biological programs, and operations in Iraq.

For more information, write to Agnewlm@aol.com by electronic mail.

Updated 3/21/05

UPTE e-mail to Lab workers

Many Laboratory employees received an electronic mail message last week from UPTE-CWA and have inquired as to why they were on the recipient list. UPTE has informed the Laboratory that the e-mail was intended for UC employees in California and was inadvertently sent to Laboratory employees. UPTE apologizes for any inconvenience.

Updated 3/17/05

Wellness Center news

The deadline for registering for Colorful Choices, the popular 20 day program to healthier eating habits, has been extended. For more information, go to the Wellness Center Colorful Choices Web page or see the March 2 Daily Newsbulletin.

Even when there's still snow on the ground, you can WALK SMART - a class that teaches techniques used by race walkers to boost the effectiveness and benefits of walking. Join Lois and Joe Thompson to practice effective, calorie-burning walking techniques to help manage your weight from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, at the Wellness Center (Room 106). No fee. Pre-registration required at http://www.wellness.lanl.gov/svc/classes/hp/hp_sch.htm online or call 7-7166.

Updated 3/23/05

Prescribed burn planned by San Idelfonso

San Ildefonso Pueblo is burning 175 acres north of Technical Area 46 east to NM 4. The prescribed burn is scheduled for April 4, weather permitting.

Smoke and fire will be visible from TA-46, TA-51 and TA-54 and from Los Alamos and White Rock.

Updated 3/14/05

Judges, speakers needed for upcoming supercomputing challenge

Laboratory personnel are needed to give talks, tours or demonstrations to students between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., April 25, at the 15th annual New Mexico Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge. The students will be divided up into groups of about 25 and visit several sites, mainly around Technical Area 3, both inside and outside the fence.

The tours will originate from the Los Alamos Research Park across from the Otowi Building at TA-3.

Approximately 200 middle and high school students and their teachers will be at the Laboratory for the Expo and Awards Ceremony activities of the Lab sponsored challenge.

The students will be presenting their projects to judges on the morning of April 25. Approximately 30 judges are needed to evaluate the projects that morning and select about half a dozen teams to move on in the competition. After the team's projects are judged students will tour some of the research activities taking place at the Lab.

Laboratory personnel interested in assisting with the challenge should write to David Kratzer of High Performance Computing Systems (CCN-7), Laboratory coordinator of the challenge at dhk@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

For more information about the New Mexico Adventures in Supercomputing Challenge, go to http://www.challenge.nm.org online.

Updated 3/14/05

Volunteer opportunities

Hospice volunteers needed in Española area. Many patients and families in Northern New Mexico are making the hospice choice for their final days. The hospice care team includes medical personnel, counselors and volunteers. Odyssey Hospice is currently recruiting volunteers in the northern Española and Los Alamos area. Training is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., April 7, and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., April 9 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Española. For more information, contact Phoebe Girard at 988-5331.

Volunteers are needed to judge at the 18th Annual National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF). The fair is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday (March 25), at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Volunteers should arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. for the orientation. For more information, contact Renee Davis at RDavis@uc.usbr.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 information, go to the Science and Technology Base (STB) Web site.

The Laboratory Volunteer Program is a Laboratory-approved community relations and support activity.

Updated 3/22/05

"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

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

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 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.

Mandatory training for Laboratory Records Management Point of Contacts (Course # 24182) are from 8 a.m to noon on

• 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 3/17/05

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

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

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: white gold wedding ring/band with yellow gold milled edges, size 5.5. Lost possibly near the White Rock Training Center. If found, please contact Karen at kmbrown@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Found: black remote car-door opener key ring (no keys) in the Satellite Dish parking lot by gate on Pajarito Road. To claim, call Jody at 7-8465.

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

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