Compensation Survey Deadline Extended to March 1

AALAS' 2008 Laboratory Animal Facility Compensation Survey has been extended to March 1.

This survey provides valuable data for AALAS members on 12 positions in the laboratory animal facility. Your institution can still participate. Participants receive a discount when purchasing the survey and an individualized comparison report . The survey can be completed online or faxed or mailed back to the survey company. If you are interested in submitting compensation data for your institution, please contact Pam Grabeel at AALAS for information at info@aalas.org.

India Celebrates International Tech Week

Dr. K. B. Patel of Zydus Research Center in Ahmedabad, India, provided these photos of India's first International Tech Week celebration. Dr. Patel said there was involvement from top management, and the "animal care people were very happy to have this type of celebration, recognition, and some new learning, too."

Annual Gala Event of the NEBAALAS

AALAS President Chris Newcomer (left) recounts that "Twenty years ago, as a young director, I successfully recruited Ms. Hant-Yut Chin ("Sam") Wong to work as an animal technician at Tufts University. She was awarded the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician /Cagewasher Award, a honor she highly deserved for decades of inexhaustible dedication, perfect execution on the job, and an ever-sunny demeanor.

"Sam is shown bracketed by her first and current (Scott Perkins) directors and the 2008 and 2009 AALAS Presidents. I personally find there are few moments in my professional life that bring as much joy as this. I have often reminded my staff that in our line of service, in order to be considered competent, we need to deliver better animal care services and research assistance on our worst day, than our clients would deliver for themselves on their best day. Sam was the kind of employee that reliably and commendably met that standard, and in terms of my own career development (and achievements) it's fair to say that Sam, and other talented and dedicated folks like her, held the ladder so I could do the climbing."

AALAS Awards Nomination Deadline: May 1

AALAS is accepting nominations for the prestigious AALAS awards, which are presented at the Opening General Session at the National Meeting. Nominees for all AALAS awards, other than the Nathan R. Brewer Scientific Award, must be national members of AALAS.

Each of the awards, excluding the AALAS Technician Publication Award and Poster Awards, requires a complete nomination packet. Inaccurate information may result in disqualification of the nominee. Please help the Awards Selection Committee evaluate your nominee properly by sending your nomination packets to the AALAS office by May 1. For nomination information, please visit www.aalas.org/association/awards.aspx.

Leadership Opportunities Available

Trustee, and alternate trustee nomination deadlines are fast approaching. April 15 is the deadline to submit to the AALAS office nominating petitions to run for vice president-elect, district trustee or alternate trustee. Three-year terms commence at the close of the AALAS 2008 National Meeting in Indianapolis.

To be placed on the ballot, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements. Vice president-elect candidates must submit nominating petitions with the signatures of at least 200 AALAS national members. District or alternate trustee candidates must submit nominating petitions with the signatures of at least 25 current AALAS national members from within their district. Fax completed petitions to the national office at 901-753-0046 or email scanned petitions to Amy Sauls (amy.sauls@aalas.org).

Eligibility information, a list of open positions, and a link to download the vice president-elect candidate packet or the trustee/alternate nominating petition can be found on the AALAS site. Log in, and then choose "Leadership" from the Association menu. Under related links, click "Leadership Nomination Information."

AALAS Learning Library Adds Additional Courses

LATG Courses
New LATG courses are now available on the AALAS Learning Library (ALL), which correspond with the 2007 revision of the LATG Training Manual. Because new questions based on the revised manual will be on the LATG certification exam starting in May, individuals who expect to take the exam before May 2008 can continue studying from the 2000 LATG Training Manual. Therefore, the 2000 course versions will be available until April. To avoid confusion, each version of the courses incorporates the date of the manual it is based on.

The Semiannual Facility Inspection
Developed by Martha Rooks, PhD, chair of the Online Learning Committee, this media-rich course offers a short scenario of a typical semiannual facility inspection. It may be used as an orientation or a refresher for personnel involved in IACUC inspections. Video clips show the process of an inspection where common issues are identified and a follow-up meeting in which these issues are addressed. The course summarizes the responsibilities of researchers and IACUC members in animal care and use programs, and specifically in a facility inspection. The course also offers a succinct description of basic information related to animal protocols, such as recognizing animal pain or distress and addressing the alternatives in a literature search. Streaming audio and video narrate the entire course.

Dog Biomethodology Courses
Anyone involved with the care and use of dogs in research will benefit from this suite of courses. The following courses provide comprehensive instruction regarding regulatory requirements, routine care, and common research procedures:

• The Basics
• Venous Catheterization
• Injections and Blood Collection
• Urinary Catheterization
• Endotracheal Intubation

For a free trial or to sign up your institution to begin training on the ALL, please visit www.aalaslearninglibrary.org.

Regulatory Flash Cards in the Works

Technicians who have successfully used the AALAS in a Flash study aid for the training manuals will enjoy the latest educational product, the AALAS Regulatory Flash. This resource, which will be available in late spring from the AALAS Bookstore, will have a total of 300 questions and answers, covering each of the regulatory mandates from the reference lists at each certification level.

ALAT

• Animal Welfare Regulations
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

LAT

• Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• Good Laboratory Practices for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies
• AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia

LATG

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
• Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
• Cost Analysis and Rate Setting Manual for Animal Research Facilities

The upcoming AALAS Regulatory Flash will give certification candidates a leg up on preparing for a certification exam. Many thanks to the Educational Resources Committee for helping to develop this new resource!