Search Under Way
for SLAC Communications Director
by Shawne Workman
With many a "thank you" for nearly two years of leadership, the SLAC Communications Office has bid farewell to Rob Brown, who stepped down this month as Director of Communications.
"We're grateful to Rob for all of his support over the past few years," said Deputy
Chief Operating Officer Mark Reichanadter.
"He has been instrumental in helping SLAC effectively communicate key messages in varying situations, from the achievements of the LCLS to the lab shutdown during the power outage. We'll miss Rob's ability to bring calm and good humor into even tough situations." Brown
joined SLAC in the fall of 2008, coming from a stint in emergency communications for the Army Corps of Engineers in post-Katrina New Orleans.
To help keep lab communications flowing, SLAC's deputy communications director, David Harris, has stepped in as acting director of communications.
The search for a permanent communications director has begun. The
job
is posted online and the search committee is on the lookout for candidates
with expertise in organizational and science communications. Those interested
can inquire through SLAC's
Human Resources Department.
Registration Open for Kids Day 2010
A Kids Day 2009 participant launches a soda bottle
water rocket. (Photo
by Nicholas Bock.)
by Julie Karceski
Kids Day registration is now open! It's time to gear up for a fun day of SLAC science on August 20. So
sign up online or at the SLAC Library in Building 50 to sponsor a child or volunteer. Registration will close on August 1.
Donations and Volunteers Needed
As always, Kids Day needs SLAC staff volunteers to serve as escorts during the event. If you are willing and able to help on Friday, August 20, please
register online. We need around 30 escorts and can use your
help whether you are sponsoring a child or just interested in helping and learning more about SLAC science.
Workshop leaders are also looking for assistants. Please contact
Julie Karceski (x2711) if you are interested in helping out with a workshop. Workshop leaders and assistants will receive lunch and a Kids Day T-shirt on the day of the event.
The hydro rockets workshop still needs 2-liter bottles. Please contact
Natalie Cramar (x3648) if you have bottles to donate.
"Kids Day is a fun opportunity for kids to explore SLAC science," said Director Persis Drell. "But it's also an opportunity for staff to learn about what is going on in other areas of the lab, so I encourage staff to volunteer and ask supervisors to allow participation."
Candidate slogans for the Travel Office? "I loved
being reimbursed!," "Lost my baggage. But happier." (Photo
by Melissa Lim.)
Have Your Say in the SLAC Travel Process
by Melissa Lim and Frank Topper
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer is committed to improving the travel experience for all, while complying with all the rules—and it needs your help! Travelers and administrators are invited to Kavli Auditorium on Tuesday, July 13
from 8:30 to 9:30
a.m. for a customer input session designed to help guide improvements in travel support. The three big questions are: what works well, what does not work well, and what are potential improvement ideas? This session builds on a February voice-of-the-customer event.
People at SLAC, as well as selected visitors and employment candidates, travel for many scientific and business purposes. Lab travelers must follow the policies and guidelines of Stanford University and the Department of Energy—that's the deal for being able to use taxpayer (your) money. Travelers need to get advance approval, understand what the lab is allowed to reimburse them for, and get their reimbursement payment within a reasonable time after returning.
There is often excitement or confusion around travel processes. Some travelers tag on a few days of personal travel; departments must be careful with their travel funds to make the best use of limited resources and have the most appropriate people attend vital meetings and workshops; and there have been past cases where travelers felt their approval or reimbursement took too long, or that more items should have been reimbursed. Whether this was the reality or perception, a unique opportunity has arisen—a chance to relinquish baggage and assist the OCFO with developing new and improved travel processes at the lab.
Older Streaming Media to Be Archived
by Brad Plummer
Tomorrow, July 13, 2010, one of SLAC's older streaming media servers called "DIONYSUS" will go offline as part of a SLAC Computing initiative to modernize our server systems. This means that some of SLAC's older video files will no longer be available in streaming format. The affected files are primarily videos in the Real Media format (.ra and .ram files), dating from the late 1990s to 2008. Once
the server is offline, when you click on an affected link, you will be taken to a temporary landing page. Please be assured that the data files are not going away—eventually
there will be a link to the files so that visitors can download them directly. In the nearer term,
the SLAC Communications Office will be exploring ways to make this material available
sooner. Questions or comments? Please e-mail
Brad Plummer.
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