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4 to receive outstanding service award

The award is the highest honor the university gives to Argonne employees in support positions. Winners receive an engraved plaque and a check for $3,000. The award was established in 1983 by the University of Chicago's Board of Governors for Argonne to recognize those who have furthered the goals and missions of Argonne through exceptional contributions. The awards will be given at a ceremony on Thursday, July 24, at 3 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 213 cafeteria.

This year's winners are:

* Norbert W. Golchert (EMO) will be honored for his sustained leadership in the area of environmental issues both inside and outside Argonne. As department manager of EMO-EP, his responsibilities include the preparation of the Site Environmental Report and the monitoring of Argonne's original site in the Cook County Forest Preserve. The program looks at environmental media such as soil, air and water to see how Argonne's work impacts the environment. He has worked with other Argonne divisions on studies and reports, conducted lectures and contributed to the writing of the laboratory's ES&H Manual.

* Bernard J. Kestel (MSD) will be honored for his exceptional development of innovative materials preparation techniques and continued development of new and improved commercial specimen preparation equipment. His ingenious solutions to materials problems are widely recognized, and research programs at Argonne and around the world have benefited from his creativity. He was recently named "Technologist of the Year" by the Microscopy Society of America.

* Shirley Laidler (OTD-ERA) will be cited for her longtime dedication and performance of her work as an executive secretary in the office of Argonne's Associate Laboratory Director for Engineering Research. Laidler developed an electronic system for inputting the budget from seven division offices into the ALD budget system. This system preceded the system now used lab wide.

* Thomas W. Secor (PFS-US) will be honored for his outstanding leadership in safety awareness and the continuous implementation of safe practices by his crew and those involved in every aspect of high-voltage electricity distribution. His responsiveness to a wide variety of problems and emergency situations over the years has significantly contributed to worker safety at Argonne.

His extensive knowledge of Argonne's high-voltage electrical power distribution system was instrumental during the construction and initial phases of the Advanced Photon Source (APS), the nation's most powerful source of X-rays for research. Now that the APS is operating, he continues to be a key member of the team.

Argonne paramedics
help rescue injured hiker

A pair of hikers were exploring the far south end of the preserve, near the Des Plaines River, when one badly injured an ankle jumping over a puddle. Unable to walk, the hiker called the DuPage County Forest Preserve District for help. "Evidently, these people were prepared for anything," said the Argonne Fire Department's Lt. Daniel Forsythe.

The forest preserve district called the Argonne Fire Department for assistance, and Battalion Chief Richard Jordan dispatched an "advanced life support unit" -- what used to be called an ambulance.

Meeting up with forest preserve employees at Cass and Bluff Roads, fire department and forest preserve teams drove on the preserve's bike paths to within a quarter mile of the hiker's location. Staying in contact with the hikers by phone, the rescuers had to hike with their medical equipment through the heavy undergrowth and narrow paths along Sawmill Creek. "It seemed like these folks were halfway to Lemont," Forsythe said.

The hikers were found just east of where Sawmill Creek crosses the Santa Fe Railroad. Argonne paramedics David Bamonti and Nick Carbaugh (both ESH-FD) splinted the hiker's ankle and carried her to safety back through the woods on a back board. She was taken to La Grange Hospital for treatment.

Tickets on sale now for annual ACA raffle

This year's prizes include two round-trip airline tickets to a continental U.S. destination; a weekend night stay at the Hyatt Regency Oak Brook; a weekend overnight stay for two at the Mariott O'Hare; tickets the Paramount Arts Centre; and gift certificates for local restaurants.

Tickets also will be sold by members of the Combined Appeal Steering Committee and at Argonne-East's employee picnic, Saturday, July 12, in Argonne Park. Winners will be drawn at the picnic.

Opinion surveys must be returned by July 11

The survey will give employees the opportunity to provide Laboratory Director Dean Eastman and lab management feedback on their jobs, work place and management. Responses will be anonymous, and results will be provided through managers and supervisors.

Students can e-mail Argonne scientist on arctic expedition

Organic geochemist Ken Anderson (CHM) will be one of six researchers traveling to Axel Heiberg Island in the far northern Canadian arctic in July. The research site lies between the magnetic north pole and the geographic north pole, at about 80 degrees north -- so far on top of the world, Anderson said, that compasses there point southwest.

Anderson will maintain contact with Argonne via satellite link, conditions permitting, to transfer data and images collected from the site. He will also be able to send and receive e-mail via satellite link.

Theoretically, Anderson said, communicating from the arctic location should work, but no one has ever done it with portable equipment from this far north.

"The satellite is located one degree above the horizon," he said. "Just a little further north and you're out of satellite range. Once I can get to the satellite, I should be able to get to anywhere in the world."

The group will leave for Canada on July 6 and spend approximately two and a half weeks at the site, which experiences daylight 24 hours a day. Temperatures will range from about 32 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using e-mail from the site was orginally intended only for transmitting data back to Argonne. Anderson's wife suggested that family members back in his native Australia would enjoy receiving e-mail from the arctic.

"From there, I got the idea to involve students," Anderson said. "Going on the expedition is too good an opportunity to pass up and too good not to share."

Students and teachers interested in trying to contact Anderson should call Donna Jones Pelkie at (630) 252-5501 for more information and instructions.

Anderson said he will try to answer all the e-mail he receives. However, if that becomes impossible, updates will be posted -- conditions permitting -- on the World Wide Web home page of Argonne's Division of Educational Programs at http://www.dep.anl.gov/.

The expedition will collect fossilized plants from the remains of a forest which grew at the site 45 million years ago. Researchers hope the samples will provide valuable information about the environment and climate as it was then, as well as about forest structures and ecology. The expedition is a chance for researchers to collect samples of some of the world's best preserved prehistoric trees.

Anderson's research focuses on how plant matter -- leaves, bark, wood, and resin -- is converted into coal. The trip will offer him a unique opportunity to collect samples of individual plant tissues that were preserved before they could decompose and mix with different specimens.

Researchers also hope to study the site's geology and sediment to learn why these fossils are so well preserved. "There had to be something there at the time that was preserving things as they fell," Anderson said.

The expedition is funded by the Carnegie-Mellon Foundation. Anderson's research is funded through DOE's Office Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical sciences.

Donna Jones Pelkie

Massey to head energy secretary's advisory Board

The board is the Energy Department's highest level advisory body. Its private-sector members provide independent advice, information and recommendations to the secretary.

Massey is president of Morehouse College and former director of the National Science Foundation. The physicist headed Argonne from 1979 to 1993.

"I look forward to working with Walter Massey and having the benefit of his expertise, leadership and independent advice," Peña said. "He already has distinguished himself through his remarkable service to this nation in the fields of science and academia."

In recent years, the advisory board has produced major studies on a broad range of issues, including the future of the department's national laboratories, energy research and development priorities and steps to rebuild trust and confidence in the department.

Massey replaces SEAB chair Robert Hanfling, a senior advisor at an international management and economic consulting firm. Hanfling will remain on the board.

DOE recognizes Westbrook, Knotek for `exceptional service'

The awards, presented by DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research, went to Ed Westbrook (CMB) and Mike Knotek (APS).

Westbrook's award, in the area of structural biology, recognizes his "sustained, outstanding research ... to develop advanced detectors for crystallography while providing leadership to establish user facilities for structural molecular biology at the Advanced Photon Source."

Westbrook is director of Argonne's Structural Biology Center, which operates beamlines at the APS.

Knotek, at APS on a one-year appointment as an Argonne Fellow: Distinguished Scientific Executive, was honored for his work in the area of environmental remediation, done during his tenure at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Knotek is a distinguished scientific leader in the field of synchrotron radiation and national research facilities and programs.

EAD's Walitschek dies

He is survived by his wife, Karen, and his daughters, Megan, 4, and Amy, 2. Funeral services were held June 28.

A trust fund will be set up for Walitschek's children to support their education. Those interested in donating should contact Faith Ruppert (EAD) at ext. 2-4078 or Eleanor Robson (EAD) at ext. 2-3753.

HR offers July courses

Office Administration and Communication (HR327) -- One in a series of six courses in preparation for Certified Professional Secretary certification. Participants learn about office management and organization, records management, research and writing business reports and preparing communications. The course meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for five weeks beginning Tuesday, July 8, in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 238. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at 2-3410 for more information.

Russian Language (HR164) -- Course offers beginning and intermediate coverage of reading, writing and speaking Russian. It meets at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1.5 hours. A new sessions begins Tuesday, July 15, in Argonne-East's Building 207, Room FB119. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at 2-3410 for more information.

Performance Management (HR561) -- Instruction includes developing employee performance objectives, documenting performance, writing performance appraisals and conducting performance reviews. The course will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 10, in Argonne-East's Building 362, Room F108. Call John Hyzer (HR) at ext. 2-3503 for details.

Employees interested in registering for these courses should contact their division's TMS representative.

ESH training session time changed

Marriott conducts survey on cafeteria service

The first 150 surveys returned will receive a cookbook. Those who wish to remain anonymous should peel the name tag off the survey before they return it.

Those who did not receive a survey should call the cafeteria at ext. 2-5225.

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