<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'>Dear Users Group,<br> Below is the second installment of my informal users group newsletter.<br> I hope that everyone will take just a minute or two to look it over and to<br> pass on the information to others who might be interested.<br><br> * PAC41<br> For some time, there has been a plan to have the PAC provide a prioritization<br> of the approved program as part of the process of maximizing the early impact<br> of the 12 GeV program. This may occur next summer at PAC41; I expect that<br> more information will be provided in the near future and that the topic will<br> be discussed at the Users Group Satellite meeting (10/24) at the DNP later this<br> month.<br><br> * JSA Initiatives Fund<br> I expect that the call for proposals will be coming out soon. This funds<br> many<br> important activities which you may or may not know about. Details on past<br> programs can be found here: http://www.jsallc.org/IF/IFIndex.html<br> New programs that support the JLab community are always welcome.<br><br> * APS leadership<br> The APS can have a strong impact on JLab, through its programs and its units.<br> Most notably the DNP, but also topical groups such as GHP (hadronic physics),<br> GFB (few-body physics), and others. The impact of these units depends on<br> their<br> membership and their leadership, so I encourage you to be active participants<br> in any of the APS units that you support and which you feel serve your<br> interests. We can support these units by increasing their membership and by<br> being active about nominating members for executive committees, or by being<br> willing to stand for election or serve on various subcommittees.<br><br> * Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists<br> Larry Cardman pointed out this award which honors young scientists (born<br> 1972 or later). Nominations are due Nov. 22nd, and require submission of a<br> CV<br> and research statement from the candidate and a "Rational for Nomination"<br> from<br> the nominator. It looks like a nice chance to support our young professors<br> and staff members and improve the visibility of the lab and the field.<br> Details on the National Young Scientists awards are on their website<br> http://blavatnikawards.org/national-awards/nomination-guidelines/<br> and there are also Regional Postdoctoral awards (details available soon).<br><br> * Followup: Congress acts to approve Helium Stewardship Act<br> Last Thursday, the Senate passed the act which had been approved unanimously<br> in the house, ensuring a steady supply of Helium for industrial applications<br> and fundamental research. For more details, see the APS press release:<br> http://www.aps.org/about/pressreleases/helium927.cfm<br><br> -John<br><br> p.s. Please let me know (johna@anl.gov) if you find these useful, or if<br> you have information that you would like see shared in a future email.<br></div></body></html>