New Edition of the LATG Training Manual Coming

A revised LATG Training Manual along with the collateral resources (companion CD, workbook, and ALL courses) will be available soon.

The AALAS Educational Resources Committee (ERC) has extensively revised the LATG manual based on the LATG Job Analysis Survey completed in July 2005.

The LATG Training Manual is the first to be revised, replacing the 2000 edition. The ALAT Training Manual will be revised in 2008, and the LAT Training Manual will follow in 2009.

AALAS Adding Hotels for Charlotte Meeting

AALAS has received record response to housing for the AALAS National Meeting in Charlotte, and we have been working closely with the Charlotte Housing Bureau. We have secured many additional hotels to our housing block. Many of the additional hotels are closer to the airport than the downtown area. AALAS will be running shuttles from those properties that are not within walking distance beginning Sunday, October 14. Also, most of those hotels have complimentary shuttle to the airport.

Please note that rooms on Friday, October 12, and Saturday, October 13, are no longer available.

Housing changes or cancellations must be faxed to the housing bureau (704-347-1158), not to the AALAS office. Please be sure to include your confirmation number along with the name and contact information for the reservation.

CompMed Listserve Commands

Desired Task: Send a Msg to List
Send Email to: compmed@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: Your Text Here!

Desired Task: Help from a Human
Send Email to: compmed-request@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: Help! Your Text Here!

Desired Task: Welcome File
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: GET COMPMED WELCOME

Desired Task: Subscribe
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SUBSCRIBE COMPMED FIRST LASTNAME

Desired Task: Unsubscribe
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SIGNOFF COMPMED

Desired Task: Turn Mail On
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED MAIL

Desired Task: Turn Mail Off
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED NOMAIL

Desired Task: Turn Digest On
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED DIGEST

Desired Task: Turn Digest Off
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED NODIGEST

Desired Task: Set Digest to MIME format
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED MIME

Desired Task: MIME Digest Off
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED NOMIME

Desired Task: FULL Message Headers
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED FULLHDR

Desired Task: SHORT Message Headers
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SET COMPMED SHORTHDR

Desired Task: Retrieve Settings
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: QUERY COMPMED

Desired Task: Get Archive List
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: INDEX COMPMED

Desired Task: Get Specific Monthly Archive
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: GET COMPMED LOGxxxxx
[xxxxx=(year/month/week]

Desired Task: Search archives
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: SEARCH 'x' IN COMPMED
[x = word(s) in quotes]

Desired Task: Retrieve Specific Messages
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: GETPOST COMPMED Ref1 Ref2
[Ref(s) = message #'s]

Desired Task: Get List of All Commands
Send Email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org
Command in Body of Email: GET LISTSERV REFCARD

Taxonomy and Pronunciation of Bacteria

Looking for a bacterium? Go to http://www.dsmz.de/microorganisms/bacterial_nomenclature.php

For proper pronunciation, go to http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/website/studio.htm

Thanks to Dr. Roger Orcutt for the links.

USDA Seeking Comments on Animal Care Policy

Mary Lou James reports via CompMed that the USDA Animal Care Policy manual is up for public comment. This is an opportunity to give the USDA constructive feedback on its interpretive rules. The comment period ends September 24.

After you go to the site, click on "All Documents Open for Public Comment"

• Step 1: Select what Documents to Search - check "Documents Accepting Comment"
• Step 2: Narrow your search by Federal Department or Agency* - Select "Department of Agriculture -ALL"
• Steps 3 and 4 - SKIP
• Click "Submit"
• Allow it to "process".
• Go to Page 2 and find: APHIS-2007-0110 / APHIS-2007-0110-0001 /Animal Care Policy Manual (Note: this page number will likely change with time.)
  
• If you click on "APHIS-2007-0110" it will bring you to links for the USDA Animal Care Manual and links to all submitted comments.
• If you click on "APHIS-2007-0110-0001" it will bring you to "Document Details" where you will find a link (icon) to "Add Comments". Please note that there is no active link associated with "How To Comment" (i.e., there are NO instructions.)
• Once you click on "Add Comments" icon, you arrive at a form for filling out your contact information followed by a field for entering your comments. Note, you also have the option of attaching a file document.
• Once you have completed the form, select "continue."
• This brings you to a page to review your entries.
• If you are satisfied, click on "Submit". If not, hit "Edit/Cancel".

Laboratory Animal Boards Study Group

The LABSG is an on-line study group for individuals in various stages of preparing for the ACLAM board examination. A message board has been created to provide a forum for exchange of study ideas and resources, stress relieving tips, general examination preparation and moral support of others who are preparing for the ACLAM Mock Exam.

Data Sheets on Biological Agents

Two sources of data sheets on biological agents. Thanks to Glen Otto's post on CompMed.

http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/safety_data_sheets.htm

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/

AAALAC Technician Fellowship Award

Call for nominations is now open for the 2008 AAALAC International "Technician Fellowship Award." If you are an AALAS Registered Technician, apply today! The deadline is October 1, 2007.

The AAALAC International Technician Fellowship recognizes two outstanding technicians each year--one IAT Registered (RAnTech) technologist and one AALAS Registered (RALAT, RLAT, RLATG, or CMAR) technician--who have made (or have the potential to make) significant contributions to the field of laboratory animal care and use. The award is intended to promote and reward the efforts of technicians who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in laboratory animal science and have shown a strong interest in attaining additional education and training to become more proficient in their vocation.

This Fellowship is valued at more than $4,000. The U.S. winner will receive a week-long guest visit to a prestigious biomedical research facility in the U.K. this spring, plus complimentary attendance at the IAT Congress, the U.K.’s largest laboratory animal science and technology meeting (all registration, travel and lodging expenses are included, along with a daily allowance for meals and out-of-pocket expenses).

Nomination packages must include:

1. Nominating letter (candidates may self-nominate)
2. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Up to three letters of support
4. Written statement (up to 500 words) by the candidate describing why s/he should be selected for this award and how s/he will use the experience to benefit the greater laboratory animal science community

The Nomination Package should be sent by October 1, 2007 to:

AAALAC International
c/o The International Technician Fellowship Selection Committee
5283 Corporate Drive, Suite 203
Frederick, MD 21703
FAX: +301.696.9627
EMAIL: accredit@aaalac.org

This award is presented by AAALAC International through a grant by Priority One Services, Inc. (POS) and in cooperation with AALAS, the Institute of Animal Technology (IAT), the Medical Research Counsel (MRC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

OER Grants Web Site Redesign

Click here to go to the site.

New Content Pages

• Grant Application Basics - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_basics.htm
• Grants Process Overview - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grants_process.htm
• Grants Process At-A-Glance - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grants_process.htm#process
• Planning Your Application - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/planning_application.htm
• Writing Your Application - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/writing_application.htm
• How to Apply - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/how_to_apply.htm
• Tracking Your Application - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/tracking_application.htm
• Receipt and Referral - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/receipt_referral.htm
• Peer Review Process - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer_review_process.htm
• Award Management - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/managing_awards.htm
• Frequent Questions - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/frequent_questions.htm
• T Table - NRSA Training Grants Funding Opportunities - http://grants.nih.gov/training/T_Table.htm
• F Files - NRSA Fellowship Funding Opportunities - http://grants.nih.gov/training/F_files_nrsa.htm

Significant Content Changes to Existing Pages

• Submitting Your Application - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/submitapplication.htm
• Glossary & Acronyms - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/glossary.htm
• Frequently Used Links - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/documentindex.htm
• Types of Grant Programs (Now with Activity Codes list search) - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm

Buyers Guide on AALAS Website

Here's how to find vendor products and services through AALAS' website.

1) Go to http://www.aalas.org and login with your username and password.

2) Click on the Advanced Search link.





















3) Start searching for products and services.























Vendors: If you need to make changes to your listing, please contact Carol Hudock carol.hudock@aalas.org at the AALAS office so she can update our database with your information.