ACA Steering Committee members (left to right) Fran Coose (XFD) and Sandra Biedron (ES) sit with Artricia McDaniels (SCG) contribution to the Ronald McDonald Pop Tab program, a large computer box full of pop tops.The Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Collection Program is one of Argonne Combined Appeal’s (ACA) many programs dedicated to supporting nonprofit health and welfare agencies. Photo by George Joch.

Dec. 6 , 2004 -- Some of this week's stories:

Holiday shutdown to affect many site services

The Christmas-New Year closing at both Argonne-East and Argonne-West begins Friday, Dec. 24, and continues through Monday, Jan. 3. Only employees required to properly maintain the laboratory's facilities will be scheduled to work.

Paychecks: Monthly paid checks will be distributed or deposited Thursday, Dec. 23.

Biweekly paid employees will receive their payroll checks or deposits for the two weeks ending Sunday, Dec. 26, on Thursday, Dec. 23, based on actual timecards approved and submitted electronically or hand-delivered to the Payroll Department. The deadline for all timecards, including those of employees who are expected to work on the weekend, will be Thursday, Dec. 23. Pay for any adjustments, such as overtime, not included on the Dec. 23 timecards will be made on the next regularly scheduled pay date: Friday, Jan. 7, 2005.

There will be no early pickups of the Dec. 23 paychecks. Employees who will not be available to pick up their checks on Dec. 23 are encouraged to call the Paymaster's Office at ext. 2-6893 to have their checks mailed to their home addresses.

Employees reporting sick leave on the Dec. 23 timecard in excess of established laboratory and bargaining agreements must submit their physician statements to the Medical Department by Wednesday, Dec. 22. Managers and supervisors of these employees will also need to submit an ANL-10 form (Sick Leave Form Bi-Weekly) to the Medical Department by that date.

Site access at Argonne-East: North Gate will be open 24 hours through the holiday break. West Gate will be closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 2, and will otherwise operate on a shorter schedule — 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. East Gate will be closed through the holiday break.

The Argonne Information Center (AIC) will also be closed through the holiday break. The Argonne Information Center should be called by Dec. 23 at ext. 2-5755 to register visitors expected during this period.  Non-U.S. citizen visitors that have not been pre-registered prior to Dec. 23 will not be allowed access during the holiday shut down.

Deliveries, shipments: No deliveries can be accepted at the laboratory during the holiday break. Commercial package delivery companies will hold all shipments until Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005.

Employees expecting shipments to arrive during the break should make arrangements to have the items delivered off-site. Federal Express will collect items in on-site drop boxes once a day in the evening, except for Christmas day and New Year's Day, when there will be no pickup. For more information, call ext. 2-4939.

PFS-SS will refill liquid nitrogen Dewars Thursday, Dec. 23, from 8 a.m. to noon. Liquid nitrogen orders may be set up for delivery Thursday, Dec. 30. Liquid helium orders may be set up for delivery Tuesday, Dec. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 30. Orders for both helium and nitrogen must be called in the week of Dec. 20 and will be taken up to 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23. Call ext. 2-3440 to make arrangements.

The World Travel BTI (WTBTI) on-site travel office in Argonne-East's Building 201 and Argonne-West's Building 710 will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 3. Business travelers with trips scheduled during the holiday break or immediately after the laboratory reopens should pick up their tickets and travel packets before 4:30 p.m. at Argonne-West and 5 p.m. at Argonne-East Friday, Dec. 17.

To make arrangements or change travel arrangements during the holiday break, business travelers should call WTBTI at (800) 355-8313, M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

On weekends, Saturday, Dec. 25, Saturday, Jan. 1, and after 5 p.m., call (877) 898-4806. Employees should identify themselves as Argonne business travelers.

Travel authorizations for trips starting Dec. 23 through Jan. 1 should be submitted to the Travel Office by noon Friday, Dec. 17.

Argonne Credit Union offices at Argonne-East, Argonne-West and Bldg. 900 will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 3. During this time, refer all business to the Green Ridge Center office in Woodridge, Ill., at (630) 810-9600. The Green Ridge Center office will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. This location will be open for business Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with normal business hours on Monday, Jan. 3. On-line and ATM banking are always available.

Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria and the Argonne-West Cafeteria will close after lunch Thursday, Dec. 23, and will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The Guest House restaurant will close at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23. It will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 4 for lunch.

The 401 Grill will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. It will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, through Thursday, Dec. 30, and Sunday, Jan. 2 through Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The Guest House front desk will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 and will reopen Jan. 4 at 6 a.m.

There will be no shuttle bus service to the University of Chicago Friday, Dec. 24 through Monday, Jan. 3. Service will resume Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Lab's pop tab collectors helping families in need

By Raquel Harper

A co-worker's stay at Ronald McDonald House motivated Lt. Artricia McDaniels (Security) to contribute to the Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Collection Program. Now McDaniels' generous contribution is helping families in need and inspiring other Argonne employees.

The Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Collection Program is one of Argonne Combined Appeal's (ACA) many programs dedicated to supporting nonprofit health and welfare agencies. ACA collects and recycles the pop tabs and gives the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House in Hyde Park.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a "home away from home" for families that have seriously ill children receiving care at University of Chicago hospital. The program also provides health care to underserved children.

ACA Steering Committee members Fran Coose (XFD) and Sandra Biedron (ES) started the pop tab program. "The idea came to me a year ago," explained Coose. "Sandra and I wanted to increase the awareness of ACA — to have more activities that people could get involved in. Sandra agreed to work with me, because we love helping kids."

Coose received a phone call recently from McDaniels. "When she asked if she could bring the tabs over to me, I told her she could just put them in one of the many cardboard houses located in buildings around the site. But she insisted, telling me she didn't think all her tabs would fit." McDaniels brought over a large, computer-monitor-sized box filled with pop tabs — about three times the size of the Ronald McDonald cardboard boxes.

McDaniels started collecting pop tabs after learning that a fellow officer stayed at a Ronald McDonald House while her niece recovered from a liver transplant. "I immediately started collecting tabs," McDaniels said. "I also told my mom about the program, who then told her friend, and the friend started collecting tabs for me too. That's how I ended up with such a large box of tabs. And I'm still collecting."

The Argonne Combined Appeal hopes to raise several hundred dollars through the pop tab program. So far employees have contributed milk gallons, jugs and oatmeal boxes-full of pop tabs to the campaign.

"We only collect the tabs because they are the most profitable," Coose said. "We really don't have the space to store cans, even though people regularly offer to contribute them."

A majority of Argonne employees contribute to Argonne Combined Appeal programs. In 2003 employees contributed approximately $420,000 to more than 20 nonprofit health and welfare agencies. The pop tab program has been a successful example of this year's ACA "Sharing is Caring" theme.

The program will run into the new year and employees can place their collected tabs in the various cardboard Ronald McDonald houses located around Argonne, or — if the collection is bigger than the box, employees can contact Coose at ext. 2-4955 or Biedron at ext. 2-1162.

Adam Cohen is new COO

Adam B. Cohen has been appointed Chief Operations Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Cohen will be responsible for direction and coordination of all support divisions at the laboratory.

As Argonne's Chief Operations Officer, Cohen supervises the Human Resources, Security and Counterintelligence, Information and Publishing, and Plant Facilities and Services divisions, as well as the Office of Project Management, Environment, Safety and Health/Quality Assurance Oversight and the Chief Financial Officer.

Cohen has worked at Argonne since 1991. Most recently, he helped implement a number of improvements to Environment, Safety and Health Programs while serving as director of Environment, Safety and Health/Quality Assurance Oversight (EQO). He served as manager of the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility in the Energy Technology Division. He also conducted research on nuclear materials as part of the Integral Fast Reactor Program and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Program.

Cohen is currently an executive committee member of the Chicago Section of the American Nuclear Society, a member of Tau Beta Pi (an engineering honor society) and of Sigma Xi (a science honor society). He received his PhD in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University in 1997 and his MBA from University of Chicago in 2000.

Security: Lock up before leaving for shutdown

Argonne-East employees should secure their valuable equipment during the holiday shutdown to help avoid theft, according to Dave Metta, deputy director of Security.

The majority of items reported missing to the Security Department are easily transportable and have a high resale value: computer equipment, small electronic devices and hand and power tools.

The holiday shutdown, Friday, Dec. 24, through Monday, Jan. 3, provides an increased opportunity for theft because there are few employees on site, reducing the chance of detection and apprehension, said Metta.

"The laboratory's first line of defense against criminal activity is employee awareness and reporting," Metta said. "Protective force personnel can't be everywhere." Successful site security is in large part dependent on employees observing and reporting suspicious and criminal activity.

"Reasonable, common-sense deterrents" are the second line of defense, he said. In general, and especially during the shutdown period, employees should:

Lock buildings, office doors, desks, filing cabinets and storage areas.

Check double-doors: Some have a brass bolt-lever on the upper and lower inside edge of the left door in addition to the key lock on the right.

Secure all keys and attractive, valuable and easily transportable items. Locking cable "tie-downs" should be used on all computer equipment.

Remove valuable items from places where they'll be unattended: docks, hallways, wire mesh storage areas, or other areas that don't provide "six-sided, lockable protection." These items should be secured in areas where they can't be seen by passers-by whenever possible.

 To report crimes in progress, call 911. Report suspicious activity to the protective force at ext. 2-5731 or ext. 2-5730.

Additional building patrols and other preventive measures will be in place during the shutdown. "But for these efforts to be truly effective, we need the assistance and involvement of each and every employee," Metta said.

For more information on property protection, call ext. 2-5737.

Green Chemistry and R&D 100 entries needed

Argonne entries for the Green Chemistry Challenge Award and R&D 100 Awards are wanted by the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT).

R&D 100 Awards are presented annually by R&D magazine in recognition of the "100 most technologically significant products" of the preceding year. The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards acknowledge innovative technology that reduces or prevents pollution.

To submit an entry, researchers should first complete a brief "intent to submit" form, available online. The form should be submitted to OTT by Friday, Dec. 17, for Green Chemistry and Friday, Feb. 4, for R&D 100 Awards.

For more information, contact Cynthia Wesolowski (OTT) at ext. 2-7694 or send e-mail to weso@anl.gov.

First Friday Forum hosts Dec. 13 holiday luncheon

First Friday Forum will host a holiday luncheon Monday, Dec. 13, at noon at the Argonne Guest House.

Registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 6. The all-inclusive meal will cost $18.

The First Friday Forum is an informal gathering of Argonne women usually held on the first Friday of each month. The group explores career and gender issues related to women. Meetings are open to all Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees.

For more information or to register, contact Cristina Negri at ext 2-9662 or negri@anl.gov.

Future First Friday Forum topics will include:

Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 — Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz (NE) will summarize Women in Science and Technology plans for the year

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 — A conversation with Argonne Board of Governors members Ruzena Bajcsy, Cherry Ann Murray and Daphne Preuss

Friday, March 4, 2005 — Elsie Quaite-Randall (OTT ) will talk on intellectual property, inventions, patents and other subjects.

Area stations offer repairs and towing service

With the Argonne Service Station closed, Argonne-East employees must look off-site for vehicle repairs and towing. The area businesses shown below are some alternate options for vehicle service in the case of emergency. The laboratory does not necessarily endorse or recommend these businesses.

These garages offer repair services but do not offer towing:

Tony's Repair, 210 River Road, Lemont. (630) 257-2590

All Service Auto Repair 44 Stephen Street, Lemont. (630) 257-7719

Phillips 66, Cass Avenue and Plainfield Road, Darien

These stations offer repairs and towing:

Tom and Jerry Tire and Service Center (Shell Auto Care), 7505 S. Kingery Highway, Willowbrook, (630) 323-5601. Towing is $65 plus $2.50 per mile. Towing is available 24 hours a day, and a mechanic is on duty 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Steger Towing, 500 Main Street, Lemont, (630) 257-6670. Towing is $50 plus $2 per mile if the vehicle is towed anywhere other than their repair station. Open for repair and towing Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Employees who contact a towing service to have a vehicle removed from the Argonne-East site should contact the Visitor Center to alert them that a tow truck will be arriving. The employee requesting the tow will be the site contact person for the towing service.

Choral group marks its 24th season

The Argonne Choral group, under the direction of Harry Bell (PFS), will mark its 24th season with three performances Dec. 9.

The group will sing holiday favorites in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria at noon, in the Argonne Credit Union at 1:30 p.m., and in the Building 201 lobby at 2 p.m.

Suggestion by ANL-W's Farris has IMPACT

Ronald Farris (NPS-AW) received an IMPACT award for his suggestion to install a button that cuts power to outlets at the observation window located outside of the Hot Repair Area at Argonne-West. Robert Benedict, deputy associate laboratory director for Engineering Research, presented Farris with a cash award.

The IMPACT suggestion program is a way to continually improve the quality of Argonne's work environment. Special recognition and awards can be earned for suggestions that save the laboratory money or time, or which improve environment, safety and health.

For more information on the IMPACT program, call ext. 2-9393 at Argonne-East or ext. 6-7323 at Argonne-West.

Ar'Gang

NEW ARRIVALS
A boy, Connor Jackson, born Nov. 15 to Penny and Ross Finlay (NE); a girl, Emily Natalia, born Sept. 22 to Nick and Blanca Arroyo (NE); a girl, Mariya (Masha), born Sept. 7 to Vera Erguina and Anton Moisseytsev (NE); a girl, Nonoko, born Sept. 18 to Yoichi Momozaki (NE); a girl, Megan Elizabeth, born Oct. 2 to Kim and Robert Wilson (ASD-VT); a girl, Giana Shuge, born Oct. 15 to Meiqin and Yanan Xiao (XFD); a girl, Hannah Rene, born to Naomi Leach (PFS-CU); a boy, Hunter Louis, born July 14 to Rita and Marty Vondra (PFS-BM); a boy, John Alcide, born Aug. 19 to Sarah and Fred Monette (EAD); a boy, Nathan Donald, born Aug. 27 to Mike Kaminski (CMT); a boy, John Edward, born Oct. 23 to Jack Vaughey (CMT).

Proud grandparents: a granddaughter, Alyssa Renee, born Nov. 1 to Lee Welko (SCD); a grandson, Jackson Maddox, born to Karl Grimm (NE); a granddaughter, Sophia Jade, born to first-time grandparents Candi and Sam Baker (EQO); a granddaughter, Madison Maureen, born to first-time grandparents Maureen and Ron Kolzow (EQO).

WELCOME
NE welcomes Roderick Case and Bilge Yildiz . ES welcomes Qi Feng , Haiyang Gao , Jiaqiang Guo , Chuanqi Wang , Yongiie Xing and Henning Loshe-Busch . PFS-CU welcomes Eric Bond , Tom Dilner , Jason Dunkin , Judy Frantini , April Benson , Erison Hamilton , Robert Gleason , John Smith , John Wiley and Andre Williams . EAD welcomes Ellen Moret , Andrew Davidson and Matt Nesta .

TRANSFERS
Good luck to Florence (Elsie) Quaite-Randall who transferred from LEG to OTT.

GET WELL
Get well to Gaylen Kuehl (PFS-BM), Tim Hickey (PFS-BM), Johnny Wright (PFS-GR), Mary Nunez (IPD), Norma Wimunc (IPD) and Lin Taibl (PFS-PMO).

FAREWELL
Good luck to Lisa Coffell (PFS-CU), Marsha Goldberg (EAD-DC) and Richard Greb (C&PA) who have left the laboratory.

PROMOTIONS
Promotions reported to Ar'Gang this month include: Bill McGee (PFS-BM) was promoted to foreman. Dan Newtoff (PFS-BM) was promoted to foreman. Jim Golema (PFS-BM) was promoted to Foreman. Maria (Rene) Blasier (LEG) was promoted to administrative assistant.

CONDOLENCES
Condolences to Lew Garrison (NE) on the death of his wife; Susan Rura (NE) on the death of her grandmother; Art Vik (NE) on the death of his mother; Don Preuss (NE) on the death of his father-in-law; Tom Gill (NE) on the death of his mother-in-law; John Thomas (NE) on the death of his mother-in-law; Keith Hardy (ES) on the death of his father-in-law; Hussein Khalil (NE) on the death of his mother; Ed Rank (PFS-CU) on the death of his father; Greg Dely (EQO) on the death of his mother; Gaylen Kuehl (PFS-BM) on the death of her grandmother; Dan Newtoff (PFS-BM) on the death of his mother-in-law; Marty Vondra (PFS-BM) on the death of his mother; Angie McKay (C&PA) on the death of her husband; Chris Johnson (CMT) on the death of his sister-in-law; Carol Wesolowski (IPD) on the death of her mother; Kerri Schroeder (IPD) on the death of her father; Kelly Jaje (APS) on the death of her father.

CONTRIBUTORS
Thanks to this issue's contributors: Nancy Cantwell (PFS-BM), Sharon Giblin (LEG), Lori Greenwood (EAD), Brea Grischkat (NE), Diana Grygiel (EQO), Georgianne Lamb (PFS), Susan McKinney (PFS-PMO), Patricia McUmber (ASD), Barbara Meurer (XFD), Cathy Nelson (IPD), Faith Ruppert (CMT) and Kim Tomasko (ES).

4 members wanted for club board

The Argonne Club Board requires four new members for 2005. Two current board members are up for re-election.

Members serve three-year terms and help plan the Argonne Club's activities, like Breakfast with Santa, the Argonne-East employee picnic, parties and group outings. The board meets once a month to plan these activities.

Additional volunteers are required to run for election to the board.

To volunteer for the Argonne Club Board, forward your name, phone extension and a short biographical sketch to Eric Lindert or for more information, contact Todd Hayden at ext. 2-6143 or tahayden@anl.gov.

Voting will take place on the Argonne Club home page during the first three weeks of December.

CIS classes

Computing classes offered by the Computing and Instrumentation Solutions Division are held in Building 201, Room 167C. Unless otherwise noted, classes cost $215 and are limited to eight participants. Complete class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are online. For more information about enrollment procedures, contact Diane Cavazos (CIS) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.

Classes offered in January will include:

“Introduction Access 2002” (CIS113) — Monday, Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: An understanding of Windows.

“Introduction Word 2002” (CIS111) — Thursday, Jan. 6, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Proficient in a Windows environment.

“Introduction Excel 2002” (CIS112) — Friday, Jan. 7, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: An understanding of Windows.

Introduction to PowerPoint 2002” (CIS114) — Wednesday, Jan. 12, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: An understanding of Windows.

“Advanced PowerPoint 2002” (CIS118) — Friday, Jan. 14, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Introduction and Intermediate PowerPoint.

MetLife offers quotes on insurance

A representative from MetLife Auto and Home will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, Dec. 14, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowner insurance program.

To schedule an appointment, call Craig Riddick at (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Employees can also receive a quote over the phone by calling 1 (800) 438-6388.

Children of lab employees eligible for fellowship

Applications are now being taken for the University of Chicago's J. Harris Ward Graduate Fellowship, which benefits the son or daughter of an Argonne employee.

The fellowship will be awarded annually as a $4,500 flat stipend and is for the fellow's first year of graduate study at the University of Chicago. It is not renewable.

To be eligible for the award, a candidate must be a son or daughter of a current Argonne employee. There is no restriction on the candidate's intended field of study; he or she must have been admitted to one of the departments or committees of the university's four graduate divisions or to one of the six professional schools of the university.

Candidates who have been granted admission will be reviewed for consideration by the director of the Office of Graduate Affairs of the university with the help of the laboratory director.

Interested, eligible candidates should write to Madeline Hamblin, director, Office of Graduate Affairs, University of Chicago, 5801 Ellis Avenue, Room 228, Chicago, Illinois 60637. The letter should include a statement of interest in being considered for the fellowship, the name of the program to which the candidate has applied, and the name of a parent. The letter must be received no later than Jan. 31, 2005.

J. Harris Ward (1908-1975) was president of Commonwealth Edison from 1959 to 1964 and chairman of the board from 1961. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago from 1956 to 1974. The University of Chicago has established this fellowship in recognition of the fact that his many contributions to the university included a deep interest in the work of Argonne, especially in the field of nuclear energy.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

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

Fidelity — Tuesday, Dec. 14. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF — Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 8. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005 or visit www.tiaa-cref/moc.

Questions about
Social Security
can be answered

A Social Security representative will be available to meet with employees in Argonne-East's Human Resources office in Building 201 Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The representative will be able to help with earnings posting problems and answer general questions about the Social Security program. He can also take applications for lost or stolen Social Security cards, replacement Social Security cards or corrected cards due to name changes.

To schedule a meeting, call ext. 2-2989.

College to offer on-site registration

Registration for College Of DuPage Fall classes will be offered at Argonne-East Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 2-4 p.m.

College representatives will be available in Building 201, Room 190, to register students for fall 2004 classes. Employees must bring completed and approved Educational Assistance forms (ANL89). Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information.