The full text of Argonne Director Hermann Grunder's State of the Laboratory address is available online.

Laboratory reaches for safety
`Star' recognition

Argonne has taken the first steps toward seeking "Star" status in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

The VPP review process will provide a "third-party" check on the laboratory's Integrated Safety Management program, said Will Brocker (EQO), who is leading the VPP certification effort. The VPP application process will involve an on—site review of the laboratory's safety practices and documentation by a DOE team. Contractors whose programs meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs receive Star recognition, the highest achievement level.

"There are many benefits to the VPP review," Brocker said. "Most important, it can help ensure a safer work environment for all employees and visitors." Other sites report that participation in DOE VPP has resulted in several proven benefits, including fewer injuries and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noncompliance findings, increased employee and management involvement in health and safety related matters, better morale, increased productivity and improved communication between management and employees.

DOE's Voluntary Protection Program is more than compliance with DOE Orders and OSHA regulations. It identifies areas where contractors and subcontractors can use best management practices to improve integrated safety management performance. The program encourages excellence through systematic approaches and cooperative efforts involving managers, employees and the department at DOE sites.

The steps required for the Voluntary Protection Program and target dates are:

Prepare the application for DOE VPP consideration: July 1.

Application review by DOE's Argonne Area Office, Office of Science and Office of Environment, Safety and Health: Sept. 30.

On-site review by DOE team (including an OSHA representative): March 1, 2005

Achieve DOE VPP Star Status: July 1, 2005

More information about Argonne's VPP efforts and DOE's Voluntary Protection Program is available online.

Three Argonne reservists join war efforts in Iraq

By Margret Chang

Three Argonne employees have left their normal day jobs to take part in the war on terrorism, one of the largest deployments since World War II.

Maritess Leyson (ET), Jill Morgenthaler (CNM) and Ron Noble (PFS) have been deployed to the Middle East to join a large-scale Army mobilization of National Guard and Reserve troops. Their deployment comes in the midst of a near-total troop turnover designed to provide relief to forces that have been stationed in the Middle East for nearly a year.

Leyson and Noble will be on active duty for approximately 18 months. Morgenthaler has been deployed for six months as a public affairs administrator and spokesperson for Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for operations with the U.S. Army.

First Lieutenant Leyson leads Bravo Company, 1st Platoon, a signal unit which trained in Fort Bliss, Texas, for several months. Signal units provide tactical communications support on the battlefield. Desert training at Fort Bliss helps soldiers prepare for conditions in the Middle East.

Leyson's unit was deployed to Iraq March 15.

Master Sergeant Noble faces a heavy workload as part of the Air Force's 386 Airlift Wing.  His unit is the maintenance group in charge of C-130 aircraft — large planes used to transport supplies and paratroopers.

Colonel Morgenthaler's duties include supervising the Coalition Press Information Center in Baghdad. With limited supplies of armor and ammunition combined with the stresses of living in the middle of a war, Morgenthaler admits that her first day in Iraq was more of a crash course in survival than anything else.

Yet, despite coming face-to-face with the harsh realities of the battlefield, she finds that many of the new reservists still remain hopeful about infusing much—needed energy and optimism into American efforts in the Middle East.

"The news only captures the killings, but we see first-hand people going to work without the fear of being grabbed off the streets and disappearing forever," explained Morgenthaler. "The Army's purpose is not just to destroy but also to rebuild. When busloads of women and children and truckloads of young men yell, `Welcome to Baghhad! We love America!' we know why we are here."

Lab expands collaboration
with University of Alabama

By Chris Bryant, University of Alabama

Argonne's Norman D. Peterson (OTD) and Luis Nuñez (PBCS) recently visited the University of Alabama to begin discussions that will lead to research collaborations in nanoscale materials.

Their hosts were Robert L. Wells, executive director of the university's Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence (AIME), and Dan Daly, director of AIME. Peterson, assistant to the laboratory director, and Nuñez, deputy associate laboratory director for physical, biological, and computing sciences, outlined Argonne's new national Center for Nanoscale Materials and the center's goal of establishing research collaborations with University of Alabama faculty. Representatives from five university science and engineering departments and three AIME centers attended the presentations.

University of Alabama representatives visited Argonne March 17 to begin structuring the collaboration, which will include joint research proposals by university and Argonne scientists and engineers, a seminar series at each location, and faculty, students and post doctoral summer residencies at Argonne.

"I am particularly pleased that my long-standing professional relationship with Norm Peterson enabled us to move quickly to establish this new collaboration in research areas which are vital to discovering and commercializing new materials essential for the economic vitality of U.S. industries," said Wells. "This collaboration is an excellent example of one of the main goals of AIME in establishing partnerships with other universities, government and industry. I am also pleased that we were able to include Auburn University faculty in this initial meeting, and we expect collaborative projects between the Auburn and University of Alabama faculty will expand Alabama's participation in this national effort in developing nanotechnologies."

This latest Argonne-University of Alabama initiative builds on the long-term success of collaborative projects in fuel cell technology supported by about $1 million in external funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the current year.

Director's Awards

Fifty-one Argonne employees received Director's Awards on March 26 from laboratory director Hermann A. Grunder, who described the winners as "the best of Argonne's best."

Director's Awards honor extraordinary effort in meeting or exceeding difficult deadlines or demands of work, and outstanding innovations, discoveries, program development and cost-cutting suggestions. Recipients are chosen from among the 2003 winners of Pacesetter awards.

Director's Awards were presented to:

Steven Davey, Bruce G. Glagola and Marcia Wood (all AOD), for successfully implementing a Web-based Experiment Safety Assessment Form system for all Advanced Photon Source beamlines. The new system assists users in identifying potential experimental hazards and in developing hazard control plans. It also streamlines safety review.

Georgia A. Anast, Halil I. Avci, Annette A. Edler, Larry J. Gorenflo, Ronald L. Kolpa, John Krummel, Kirk E. LaGory, H. Robert Moore, Bobby R. Templin, Konstance L. Wescott (all EA), John D. DePue and Louise S. Kickels (both IPD), who expended exceptional effort to complete the environmental impact statement for the renewal of the federal grant for the Alaska Pipeline. Working under a stringent schedule, they delivered a technical product that exceeded the expectations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Interior.

J. Rory Kennedy, Mitchell K. Meyer and James R. Stuart (all NT) were honored for their innovation and leadership in fabrication and characterization of the first Advanced Fuel Cycle irradiation experiment. This involved developing new techniques and adapting some old ones in significant first-of-its-kind research.

Robert G. Barr, Kevin Bond, Alexandro C. Contreras, Kevin R. Hayden, Richard J. Kmiec, Michael J. Monczynski III, Stanley J. Niehoff, Victor Omiecinski, Jr., Nicholas J. Stoops, Michael J. Vonder Heide, Kenneth A. Wesolowski, Charles E. Zimmerman, (all CIS); Mary Ellen Hennebry (EEST); David Brink (NE); Mary Edylyn M. Haus, Connie S. Markiewicz, Richard C. Martello, Sherry L. Moller, Janice T. Sejut, William M. Walsh (all OCF); Mark T. Boehlen, Nick Contos, Christopher M. Girard, Gregory A. Heckler, Eugene Kendall, Rabinder N. Malhotra, Gwendolyn J. Morrison, Angela L. Keebler-O'Riley, Carlo S. Orrico, Philip C. Rash, John Surdey and Robert E. Swale (all PFS) completed an important project for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and Argonne. They planned and built the Joint Operation Center which figured in the international exercise known as TopOff 2, and which will provide a central location for responses to emergencies involving homeland security. They completed the project within a tight 14-week time frame.

Joe V. Michael (CHM) made significant contributions to the experimental determination of the high-temperature rate constraints of the simplest chemical reaction: H + H₂ à H₂ + H. He brought closure to a 75-year-old problem in molecular quantum mechanics.

Ask the Directorate

Q: Over the past year or two, the Argonne—East security force has changed vehicles from Nissan Altimas to Chevrolet Silverado pickups. Why were economical sedans replaced with pickups? The pickups purchased are mostly 4x4 V8 models that are twice the price of the Altima, and obtain half the fuel economy. I don't see the need for the pickups for patrolling the site, and the regular cab models don't have the interior room that the Altima had. This seems like government waste.

A: A precise apples-to-apples cost comparison is not possible, but based on operating efficiency and expenses for leasing, maintenance and fuel, the Silverados cost about $20,000 less per year than the Altimas. Plus, the Silverados are better suited to heightened roles in emergency response and security and safeguards since 9-11.

The Silverados are leased through the General Services Administration (GSA), which does not offer passenger vehicles for these roles. Silverados have been twice as effective as Nissans for perimeter patrols, winter operations, emergency and first response.

As to cost:

Per-unit lease costs for the Silverados are less than half those of Nissans.

Fuel economy differences are not as significant as you suggest.

Nissan maintenance and repair costs were about twice those on the pickups, and they weren't holding up well at our average mileage rate of 20,000 miles a year.

Q: Since my employment more than 10 years ago, I have noticed that there does not seem to be a way to track available resources between divisions. By resources, I mean analytical instruments, but it could also apply to other items which one division might not need to buy if it knew another division already had that item.

 A: Equipment resources are tracked at the laboratory in several ways.

Primarily, the Property Department tracks specific equipment, instruments and other items that are purchased and brought into the laboratory.

Three exchange programs are in place to provide opportunities to share and re-use equipment. These programs are:

Argonne Chemical Exchange System (ACES). Call ext. 2-2856 for more information.

Argonne Materials Exchange (www.aemx@anl.gov)

Surplus Office Supplies (www.sosx@anl.gov)

Computerized processes allow laboratory employees to post various chemicals, office supplies, equipment and other items on the web. The exchange provides laboratory employees the opportunity to contribute, order and receive various items for the workplace without incurring the cost of the item. These processes also provide laboratory stakeholders an opportunity to support Argonne's pollution prevention initiatives. To find out more about these initiatives, employees can view the Pollution Prevention Home Page.

Thus, scientific equipment, instruments and other items are shared between various departments and divisions throughout the site; sharing arrangements typically occur between groups that have an interest.

In addition, divisional property representatives have access to a property database that can locate equipment someone may be looking for but which may not be listed for exchange.

Concerns and planning associated with suitability for intended application, length of use, contamination control and transfer must be worked out between the individuals agreeing to share equipment.

Employees may submit questions to askthedirectorate @anl.gov or fax them to 2-5274. A link to the Ask-the-Directorate Web site can be found on the Inside Argonne home page at www.inside.anl.gov/.

`Take Your Child to Work Day' set for April 22

Argonne and the U.S. Department of Energy will host a "Take Your Child to Work Day" program at Argonne-East Thursday, April 22.

The program is limited to 150 children, ages 8-12. There will be tours, demonstrations and hands-on activities from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting with a welcome and registration in Building 203.

For a registration form, call Pat Boley (C&PA) at ext. 2-1790. Online registration is available.

Junior college offers on-site registration

Early registration for Joliet Junior College fall 2004 classes will be offered at Argonne-East through Human Resources.

College representatives will be available in the Human Resources — Performance Development offices in Building 201 Friday, April 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Employees must bring their completed and approved Educational Assistance (ANL-89) form to the registration. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for information on the laboratory's educational assistance program and Joliet Junior College.

`Taste of two Islands' dinner rescheduled

The "Taste of Two Islands" reception and dinner at the Argonne Guest House has been rescheduled due to a conflict with another event. The dinner will be held Friday, April 16.

A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30.

The meal will comprise five courses, each served with two wines. Entrees include grilled quail and seared beef tenderloin.

The event costs $68 per person not including tax and gratuity; group rates are available. Dinner attendees can purchase wine by the bottle or the case.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Kathy at (630) 739-6000.

Severe weather training offered

Employees interested in learning to observe and report severe weather are welcome to attend a training session hosted by the Argonne Amateur Radio Club Tuesday, April 6.

Meteorologist Jim Allsopp of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Romeoville will present the program, which will start at 7 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 951 (the Recreation Center in Argonne Park). The session will include a video and slide presentation and discussion.

The session will be open to the public and will qualify as a training meeting for those in the trained weather spotter program. The session is free, and no registration is needed.

For more information, contact Dick Konecny (HEP) at ext. 2-6597 or RSK@hep.anl.gov.

HR classes

To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative. A class enrollment form is also available online. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information.

"Russian Language" (HR164) — Thursday, April 8 - June 10 in Building 208, Room E251. This course offers beginning, intermediate and advanced instruction in reading, writing and speaking the Russian language. Beginning classes start at 9:30 a.m., intermediate classes start at 11 a.m. and advanced instruction starts at 1:30 p.m.

"Myers-Briggs: Style and Strengths in the Workplace" (HR258) — Friday, April 23, 1- 5 p.m., Building 201, Room 190. Students will learn about their individual styles and strengths using the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory. Results are kept confidential and returned to the student. Register by Friday, April 9.

"Communicating with Tact and Diplomacy" (HR355) —Wednesday, May 5, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Building 212, Room A157. This is the third in a series of classes for administrative professionals. The class will cover interpersonal and communication skills, communication tools for sensitive situations and active listening skills. Register by Monday, April 5.

"Managing the Change Project" (HR350) — Thursday, May 13, 9-11 a.m., Building 201, Room 190. Students will learn a process that provides the framework for change-project success. Register by Friday, April 30.

"Leading the Change Process" (HR351) — Thursday, May 27, 9-11 a.m., Building 201, Room 190. Students will learn to identify their managerial strengths in change implementation and effective methods to drive the process through their employees. Register by Friday, April 30.

"Conversation Skills for English as a Second Language" (HR353) — Tuesday and Thursday, May 18 - July 22, from 11:30a.m. to 1 p.m., Building 362, Room E188. This hands-on workshop will help non-native speakers improve their conversation and speaking skills. Register by Monday, April 19.

New hours for Bldg. 201 coffee shop

Starting Monday, April 12, the Argonne-East Building 201 Coffee Shop will have new hours. The shop will begin serving at 7 a.m. and close temporarily at 11 a.m. It will re-open at 1 p.m. and close for the day at 2:30 p.m.

This service is available Monday through Friday.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during April. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

Fidelity — Tuesday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 20. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

Prudential — Wednesday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 21. Call Cheryl at (847) 619-3519.

TIAA-CREF — Thursday, April 29, and Friday, April 30. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005.

Questions about Social Security to be answered

A representative of the Social Security Administration's Joliet office, will visit Argonne-East's Human Resources office Wednesday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The representative will:

Take applications for new Social Security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.

Help with earnings posting problems.

Answer general questions about the Social Security program.

To schedule a meeting with the Social Security representative, call ext. 2-2989.