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1996 appeal posts
12% pledge increase

Argonne employees pledged $364,475.63 during the month-long campaign in October 1996. Employee participation increased to 64 percent, up from 59 percent in the previous campaign. Divisions that posted a 10 percent increase in contributions or had 70 percent employee participation were awarded plaques.

"The generosity of Argonne employees will benefit people in need right in our own communities," said Nicole Long (CHM), campaign co-chair.

The Argonne Combined Appeal gives Argonne-East employees the opportunity to contribute to United Way/Crusade of Mercy, United Way Will County and 18 other charities.

United Way organizations provide support to a network of about 500 human-care service agencies in Chicago and 170 suburban communities in Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane and Lake counties.

The 18 other agencies supported by the Combined Appeal range from the American Cancer Society to Fish, Inc., a food pantry in Downers Grove. All participating agencies are reviewed by the Argonne Combined Appeal Steering Committee and must meet stringent qualifications to be included in the campaign.

Snow, dangerous cold
closes Argonne-East

Heavy snow began falling Wednesday, Jan. 15. By afternoon, several inches had piled up, and plows were falling behind on Chicago-area roads. Forecasters were predicting high winds and below-zero temperatures.

Argonne Director Dean Eastman decided to close the site at about 3:30 p.m. to allow employees to travel home in daylight.

"The forecast was pretty desperate Wednesday evening," said PFS Site Services Manager Jim Huggins.

At 2 a.m. Thursday, all eight grounds employees, and six custodial employees, were called in to assist in snow removal. Two heavy plows and a front-end loader would be operated nonstop for more than 48 hours.

But by 3 a.m., "there wasn't much doubt that we weren't going to be able to clear the parking lots," Huggins said. "There was lots of concern about the wind chill -- anyone with car trouble would have to deal with very low temperatures. The decision was made to err on the side of safety."

Wind chill factors that morning hit -45 degrees F. (-43 degrees C). Actual air temperature hovered at about -12 F. (-24 C).

At 4:30 a.m., after consulting with Huggins, Chief Operations Officer Ron Teunis made the decision to delay opening the site until noon, the first delayed opening of the site in at least 20 years.

News of the delayed opening was recorded on Argonne's Info-Line, at (630) 252-INFO, and the Argonne News World Wide Web page by 5 a.m. Chicago-area radio and TV stations were contacted, but few announced Argonne's late opening due to the hundreds of school closings that day.

By 10 a.m. Thursday, Argonne-East was "passable," Huggins said. But the dangerous cold, combined with poor travel conditions throughout the Chicago area, led to the decision to keep the site closed for the rest of the day.

Pay policy
for lab closure

Temporary service personnel (TSPs) scheduled to work on a day when the lab closes, however, are not paid.

Three bands to perform
at Jan. 30 cafeteria party

Scheduled to appear are Broadway Rats, Dead Steelmill and the Big Eddy Springs Blues Band. Each group will play a 45-minute set.

* Broadway Rats is a trio specializing in blues and rock, including songs by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. The band has had an active schedule, appearing on many stages in Chicago and the suburbs, said guitarist John Kulpin (XFD).

* The four members of the punk band Dead Steelmill began the group in 1986. Their music is "a social commentary of everyday life, but it's not all serious," said drummer Rob Everhart (CMT). Dead Steelmill has recorded the CDs "It's All Over," released in 1991, and "Just Got Laid Off" in 1996. One of their songs was included on "Achtung Chicago," a compilation of some of the area's best punk bands.

* The Jan. 30 party marks the Big Eddy Springs Blues Band's second performance at Argonne; the first was the 1993 Employee Variety Show. The band specializes in uptempo blues songs by artists like Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Hound Dog Taylor. Three of the four band members are Argonne employees.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.; music will begin at 5:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The party is sponsored by Marriott Corp.

The favorite group from each party will meet in a showdown in the spring. Bands are still wanted for future parties. Call Dennis Sullivan at ext. 2-5225. At least one member of each band must be an Argonne employee.

Talich Quartet concert
to be held in Bldg. 362

The concert was previously set for the APS Conference Center, Building 402.

The performance will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be sold at the before the performance.

The Talich Quartet formed at the Prague Conservatory in 1964. The Jan. 25 concert will include Mozart's Quartet in D Minor, K. 421; Shostakovich's Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49; and Beethoven's Quartet in F Major, Op. 135.

The concert is sponsored by Arts at Argonne.

For more information, including complete programs for each concert, see the Arts at Argonne home page on the World Wide Web.

Arts at Argonne is Argonne's cultural arts program. In addition to its annual chamber music series, the program sponsors performances by professional musicians, art and photography exhibits, and other events. All events are open to the public.

Quick action, bit of luck
prevent medical tragedy

A 32-year-old man working alone in a small trailer in the 300 area suffered a severe allergic reaction to a common non-prescription medication. Barely able to breathe or speak, he called for help, dialing 252-1911 on his contractor's phone.

The Argonne Fire Department's dispatcher kept the man on the line while paramedics raced to the trailer. Here was where the luck came in: Battalion Chief Richard Jordan had recently been in the trailer -- which was unmarked -- and knew exactly where it was, shaving precious seconds from the response time.

Paramedics Bob Muehring (ESH-FD), who took the initial call, and Nick Carbaugh (ESH-FD) were on the scene two minutes after the call came in. The case was severe enough that the two paramedics called for assistance. With the help of paramedic Dan Forsythe (ESH-FD), they treated the contractor en route to LaGrange Hospital, where he made a full recovery.

"Paramedics don't receive any extra pay for maintaining their certifications," said Argonne Fire Chief Gordon Veerman. "Helping someone survive is the best reward they can get."

Veerman noted that several factors worked in the man's favor: knowledge of the site by fire department responders, the speed with which paramedics arrived, a flexible 911 phone system designed for use on all phones and site radios and contractor training in its use.

In this case, the contractor would still have reached the alarm office by dialing just 911. Those with cell phones must dial 252-1911; all other phone users on site can use 911.

IPD's Nadziejka honored
for technical communication

The award recognizes Nadziejka's outstanding contributions to the field of technical communication.

He has taught technical writing and technical editing at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Argonne.

Between 1990 and 1994, he served on the committee which wrote the sixth edition of the Council of Biology Editors style manual, "Scientific Style and Format," published by Cambridge University Press in 1994. Nadziejka was associate editor of the journal Technical Communication from 1990 to 1995, and editor of the IEEE Professional Communication Society's newsletter from 1993 to 1995.

Alfred N. Goldsmith, who died in 1974, was largely responsible for establishing the group that would become the IEEE Professional Communication Society, was a cofounder and editor of the Proceedings of the IRE for 41 years.

Those left out
of `labcasts' may
need to register

"Labcasts" are sent to computer users listed in a database maintained by Human Resources.

ECT's Westbrook to discuss
high-speed network at APS

The talk will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Argonne-East's Building 200 Auditorium (note change in location) .

Westbrook will discuss the high-performance asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, control system software and data acquisition and computing systems. The SBC-CAT uses X-ray diffraction to determine the structure of protein crystals, and moves data via the laboratory's ATM network to the Mathematics and Computer Science Division's supercomputer and offsite to users' home institutions for further analysis.

Robert M. Clarke, a scientific assistant in the Chemistry Division who retired in 1990 with 32 years of service, died Sept. 24. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his son, Henry; and his daughter, Renee Clarke-Pullum.

Pauline M. Dixon, a janitor in the Plant Facilities and Services Division who retired in 1961 with 17 years of service, died Oct. 16. She is survived by her daughter, Emma Connor.

David H. Jacobsohn, a computer engineer in the former Support Services Division who retired in 1985 with 37 years of service, died Sept. 6. He is survived by his wife, Sandra.

Henry Kacinskas, an electrical engineer in the Plant Facilities and Services Division who retired in 1984 with 29 years of service, died Nov. 15. He is survived by his son, Henry A. Kacinskas.

Frank J. Karasek, an engineering specialist in the former Math and Computing Technologies Division who retired in 1990 with 40 years of service, died Nov. 29. He is survived by his wife, Lillian.

John F. Koziol, a carpenter in the former Plant Operations Division who retired in 1977 with 25 years of service, died Nov. 4. He is survived by his wife, Wanda.

Edward Mus, an instrument machinist in Central Shops who retired in 1993 with 19 years of service, died Oct. 6. He is survived by his wife, Alice.

Steve G. Petrek, a senior technician in the Chemistry Division who retired in 1981 with 20 years of service, died Oct. 21. He is survived by his wife, Ann.

John F. Skraba, a rigging scheduler in the Plant Facilities and Services Division who retired in 1980 with 20 years of service, died Sept. 10. He is survived by his wife, Wilhelmina.

John R. Thompson, a driver in the former Plant Operations Division who retired in 1976 with 25 years of service, died Dec. 12. He is survived by his wife, Louem.

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Deadline Information

Story ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome. The Argonne News office is in Building 201, room 2Q-02 (OPA-201). The fax number is ext. 2-5274. Send E-mail to Argonne News editor Dave Jacque.

Seminar listings: Send by inter-office mail to Evie Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). Fax to ext. 2-5274, or send by E-mail.

Classified ads: Please limit ads to 25 words. Send by inter-office mail to Evelyn Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). A drop box is located at the Argonne News office.

Classified Ads sent by electronic mail cannot be accepted!

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