Fermilab Today Monday, June 9, 2008
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Furlough Information

New furlough information, including an up-to-date Q&A section, appears on the furlough Web pages daily.

Layoff Information

The latest layoff Q&A has been updated with detailed information on layoff procedures. Visit the layoff Web site for more information.

Calendar

Monday, June 9
2:30 p.m.
Particle Astrophysics Seminar - Curia II
Speaker: M. Truch, University of Pennsylvania
Title: The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope - BLAST
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
4 p.m.
All Experimenters' Meeting - Curia II

Tuesday, June 10
12 p.m.
Summer Lecture Seminar - One West
Speaker: A. Warner, Fermilab
Title: Accelerators
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
THERE WILL BE NO ACCELERATOR PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR TODAY
4 p.m.
Budker Seminar - Curia II
Speaker: W. Tam, Indiana University
Title: Front End of Proposed 8 GeV Linac

Click here for NALCAL,
a weekly calendar with links to additional information.

Weather

WeatherThunderstorms
74°/59°

Extended Forecast
Weather at Fermilab

Current Security Status

Secon Level 3

Wilson Hall Cafe

Monday, June 9
- Potato leek soup
- Monte Cristo
- *Savory roasted chicken quarters
- Lasagna Bolognaise
- Chicken ranch wrapper
- Assorted slice pizza
- Szechuan style pork lo mein

Wilson Hall Cafe Menu

Chez Leon

Wednesday, June 11
Lunch
- Parmesan crusted chicken
- Roasted potatoes w/ garlic and rosemary
- Vegetables of the season
- Blueberry tart w/ vanilla ice cream

Thursday, June 12
Dinner
- Closed

Chez Leon Menu
Call x4598 to make your reservation.

Archives

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Result of the Week
Safety Tip of the Week
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Info

Fermilab Today
is online at:
www.fnal.gov/today/

Send comments and suggestions to:
today@fnal.gov

Layoff update

750 employees offered voluntary separation

First step in staff reduction of 140

Today 750 employees will receive the offer to participate in the voluntary separation program that Director Pier Oddone announced at the all-hands meeting on May 23. The Department of Energy approved the program, which is officially called the Voluntary Self Select Option Program. The program is the first step in reducing the Fermilab workforce by about 140 employees.

Employees selected to be part of this program will receive their offers by e-mail along with links to a password-protected Web site that provides additional information they will need to make their decisions. The e-mail requests a return receipt to ensure that all selected employees do receive their packages. Please acknowledge that you have received your offer. Hard copies of the offer and information packages will be delivered to those employees who are part of the program but don't have e-mail.

Only employees who are part of the voluntary separation program will receive individual notifications.

Employees who receive the offer and who would like to take voluntary separation need to apply between 8:30 a.m. on June 9 and 5:30 p.m. on June 20. Those who apply will have until June 27 to revoke their applications if they change their minds.

Because the laboratory is making the offer to many more employees than specified in the reduction goals (only accessible from Fermilab computers) for each job classification and each organizational unit, each voluntary separation is subject to approval. Between June 23 and June 25, employees who have applied will receive letters informing them whether or not they have been accepted. The separation date for those leaving will be either June 30 or July 1, 2 or 3. Departing employees will go through the normal terminating process.

To help employees make their decisions, Fermilab will host several meetings and individual counseling sessions. These will provide information on benefits such as health and life insurance (June 10 and 16), retirement strategies explained by TIAA-CREF counselors (June 11-13 and 17) and Career Decision Making seminars offered by the career transition firm Lee Hecht Harrison (dates to be determined). More information is available on the password-protected Web site. The link is in the e-mails and hard copies that selected employees will receive.

In the News

Appropriations Update: FY2008 and FY2009

From AIP FYI, June 6, 2008

Congress has moved ahead in its efforts to pass an appropriations bill supplementing current year funding, and in starting the process of drafting bills for FY 2009.

Current Year Funding:
There has been uncertain movement on Capitol Hill to increase funding this year for the National Science Foundation, NASA, the DOE Office of Science, and the National Institutes of Health.

The Senate approved by a very wide margin an FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill that was drafted by its Appropriations Committee. Under this $193 billion bill, $1.2 billion would be included for the four science agencies. Click here for further information on this bill.

The House Appropriations Committee has drafted its own version of this legislation that was considered by the full House in May. Some portions of this bill were passed by the House while another was not. The House bill did not include science funding. The House leadership hopes to bring the bill to the floor again next week.

It is unclear if the House and Senate will be able to agree on a bill that will include the science funding. House leaders are reluctant to including much domestic program funding in this bill to fund war-fighting operations. By keeping the supplemental funding bill in the neighborhood of what President Bush has requested, the House leadership hopes to pass a bill that the President will not oppose.

Read more

In the News

INFN researcher invents a new technique for particle accelerators

From Interactions.org, June 5, 2008

A researcher at INFN's laboratories in Frascati, Pantaleo Raimondi, has developed a technique that allows to exceed some of the limits of existing particle accelerators. The first tests, carried out at the laboratories in Frascati, have provided very positive results and are being followed with great interest throughout the world. This technique could lead to a new generation of much more efficient accelerators for studying the infinitely small.

Positive results have been obtained with the first tests of a new technique developed by a researcher at Italy's National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Panntaleo Raimondi. These tests, carried out in Frascati and closely followed by the world's leading Physics laboratories, could lead to the development of new particle accelerators (the devices used to investigate the basic structures of the Universe).

In fact, thanks to the technique developed by Raimondi, it should be possible a ten-fold increase of the efficiency of the accelerators, greatly reducing the energy they require.

Read more

Safety Tip of the Week

The heat is on

Summer heat is here, take precaution.

Remember a few weeks ago when we complained that it would never warm up? Well, it looks like the summer heat has arrived. Uncomfortable? You bet. Keep in mind that extreme heat can cause illness and death as well.

To avoid heat stress:

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing.
  • Take frequent short breaks in air-conditioning or cool shade.
  • Eat smaller meals before outdoor activity.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar.
  • Be aware that some health conditions and/or medications can increase your susceptibility to heat stress.
  • Be aware that some kinds of protective equipment such as respirators or work suits can increase heat stress.

Sometimes even with the best precautions the heat can overwhelm you. Watch for the following warning signs of heat stroke and exhaustion and seek the following treatment.

Heat exhaustion causes cold moist skin, headache, nausea, dizziness and cramps. Heat exhaustion victims should drink plenty of water and seek medical attention. On site during normal work hours, victims should report to the Medical Department. Off hours, they should go to the Fire Department.

Heat stroke causes hot, flushed, dry skin, unconsciousness, convulsions and vomiting. This condition is a medical emergency. If heat stroke happens on site, call x 3131, and cool the victim as quickly by putting water on the body.

Safety Tip of the Week Archive

Accelerator Update

June 4-6
- Three stores provided 21 hours and 43 minutes of luminosity
- Linac experts repair KRF6
- TeV vacuum and cryo problems fixed
- DZero problem requires eight-hour access
- Store 6200 initial luminosity 298.41E30

Read the Current Accelerator Update
Read the Early Bird Report
View the Tevatron Luminosity Charts

Announcements

Heart risk screening June 10
Wellness Works and Delnor-Community Hospital will offer a heart risk screening on Tuesday, June 10. The assessment will take place by scheduled appointment between 6:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. for Fermilab employees in the EOC on the ground floor of Wilson Hall. Those interested can sign up on the ES&H Web page. Participants must fast for 12 hours but can drink water.

Fermi Research Alliance, LLC (FRA) retirement plan changes
The Summary Plan Description for the FRA Retirement Plan has been updated to reflect a major change to the plan: A terminated participant is not subject to the age and service requirement in order to be eligible for a cash withdrawal. You may elect a cash distribution from TIAA and CREF Retirement Annuities. Withdrawals from the TIAA Traditional Retirement Annuity accumulations are only possible using a Transfer Payout Annuity (TPA). If the accumulation is less than $10,000, it would be provided in one lump sum.The Summary Plan Description for the Retirement Plan is posted on the Benefits Web site for your review.

NALWO sponsors wildlife talk
Fermilab's women's organization NALWO will sponsor "Wildlife on the Prairie," a talk by lead groundskeeper Jim Kalina at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 12. Kalina will share stories about coyotes, deer, American bison and other wildlife that have made their homes here at Fermilab. The informal talk will take place near the picnic tables at Kuhn Barn or inside the Barn if it rains. Anyone can attend. Please show photo ID to enter the laboratory.

NALWO lunch June 11
Join Fermilab's women's organization NALWO for a get-together lunch at noon on Wednesday, June 11, at Chez Leon. Meet other laboratory women, network, or just relax over a delicious meal. The event costs $14 and the menu includes parmesan crusted chicken, roasted potatoes with garlic and rosemary, vegetables of the season and a blueberry tart w/ vanilla ice cream. Please respond to Marjorie Appel or call her at (630) 293-9349 by Friday, June 6, so she can make the reservations at Chez Leon.

Blood drive June 24, 25
Heartland Blood Centers will conduct a Fermilab Blood Drive on June 24 and 25 from 8:30 a.m to 2 p.m. in the Wilson Hall Ground Floor NE Training Room. Schedule appointments online or call Diana at x3771 or Margie at x5680. More information. The last blood drive collected 83 units. Many thanks to all who donated.

Going to CERN?
Take your camera! Have your photos featured in the Fermilab Remote Operations Center online gallery. Contact Elizabeth Clements for details.

Scottish Country Dancing Tuesday
Scottish Country Dancing will move to Ramsey Auditorium for the summer beginning Tuesday, June 10. Instruction begins at 7:30 p.m., and newcomers are always welcome. Most dances are fully taught and walked through, and you do not need to come with a partner. For more information call (630) 840-8194 or (630)584-0825 or e-mail.

 
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