That was a quick January! I hope everyone is faring well. For me it is always a relief to welcome in February because it means the chaos of January is behind me. Bring out the groundhog!
The ASCLD Board is gearing up for the Symposium in Reno. There are some great workshops being offered and we just added a new event that you can go back in and register for. Go to the ASCLDsymposium.com website, go to the registration link, select the link to modify your registration, log in with your email address and last name, and then go to the Select Agenda tab. You will find the “Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept it): Eliminate Backlog” as an agenda option. A huge shoutout goes to Director Kerri Heward from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Laboratory. She has been an immense help with so many of the local arrangements for the Symposium. Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office invite you to an evening cocktail reception celebrating the power of partnership in criminal justice Sunday, April 24th at the Washoe Crime Laboratory. Tour the laboratory's state-of-the-art facility and see how they were able to increase their productivity by 100% in just ten months. Hear from members of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, network with ASCLD attendees, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and a bit of fun as we kick off ASCLD 2022. To Accept This Mission: register to attend, space is limited. Transportation to and from the lab will be provided. Buses will depart the Peppermill starting at 4:30 pm and will run every 20 minutes. There is no cost.
Please see the new section below to highlight open Lab Director and Assistant Lab Director positions that are posted on the ASCLD website.
February is International Boost Self-Esteem month. People with higher self-esteem are more capable and confident in helping those around them, and the positivity that comes from that is often contagious. To get through and get over what’s been a remarkably rough two years of COVID, the world could use a collective boost to its self-esteem. A free workbook to help increase self-esteem with several modules to follow can be found here: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Self-Esteem. Don’t forget to start compiling those news clips, videos, etc. to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our Forensic Science Community. We will be sending out information soon about how and where to submit them. The videos last year were fantastic and definitely boosted my self-esteem as a forensic scientist.
That’s all I have this week. I hope your upcoming week goes well.
Laura
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ASCLD monthly board meeting
The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on February 18th at 1pm EST
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Weekly News and Resources |
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Are you looking for a new challenge in your career? Look no further than Manassas VA!
The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) is seeking an experienced professional to serve as the Forensic Laboratory Director for its Northern Laboratory, located in Manassas, VA. The Northern Laboratory, one of four DFS regional testing laboratories, employs approximately 50 full-time staff members. This regional laboratory provides forensic services in the disciplines of Controlled Substances, Firearms & Toolmarks, Forensic Biology, Latent Prints, and Toxicology, and also has staff responsible for Evidence Receiving, Administrative Support, and Facilities Management. DFS utilizes a statewide Quality System to promote consistent operations at each of the regional laboratories.
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Did you know Early Bird Registration for ASCLD 2022
closes on January 28 th ?!?! Did you also know you can register now and
lock in that discounted price and pay later? Make sure you lock in that
registration soon so you can join your forensic colleagues April 24-28, 2022
in Reno, NV where we will be Facing the Challenge: Mission Possible!
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Join us for the ASCLD Symposium 2022 |
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Thank you to our 2022 Gold Sponsors: |
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Another ASCLD Symposium Announcement!
As we continue to navigate the pandemic together, learn more about The Remote, the Hybrid, and the In Person - The Post COVID Workplace in Jeff Butler's half day workshop at the 2022 ASCLD Symposium.
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Celebrate the Power of Partnership!
Join Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office for an evening reception celebrating the power of partnership in criminal justice Sunday, April 24th at the Washoe Crime Laboratory.
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Please send all CLM submissions to our new electronic form!
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Please continue to tag your photos on social media with the hashtag #ASCLDfun |
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Crime Lab Minute Sponsors
For More Information, Click the LOGO below:
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Noblis and Bode Technology are currently seeking forensic laboratories to participate in the DNAmix 2021 study. Please register now: registration closes January 31, 2022!
DNAmix 2021 is a large-scale independent study being conducted to evaluate the extent of consistency and variation among forensic laboratories in interpretations and statistical analyses of DNA mixtures, and to assess the effects of various potential sources of variability. The study will be comprised of four phases. Laboratories are encouraged to participate in the early phases even if they cannot commit to the later phases.
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Below is a link for the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) Job Analysis Survey. This survey, in partnership with CPS HR Consulting, provided the foundation for the questions for the Association's three (3) written certification tests.
We are hoping to capture an updated detailed view of the duties for the Firearm / Toolmark Examiner and the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) that are determined to be the most critical at the time of certification testing.
We are continuing our partnership with CPS who will be evaluating the data and helping guide us through the test refresh process.
This link can be forwarded to qualified Firearm / Toolmark Examiners. Membership within AFTE is not a requirement to participate in the survey. All responses are confidential.
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Opt Out.
ASCLD sells your email information to vendors for marketing and promotional material purposes. You may ‘opt-out’ of receiving vendor information not directly related to ASCLD by emailing executivedirector@ascld.org. If you do not opt out then your acceptance of this Agreement will constitute your affirmative consent to receiving marketing and promotional material from ASCLD.
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There are many standards open for comment on the ASB website. Be sure to check them out and provide your valuable input!
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Safety Topics for your Lab |
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Health and Safety in the Laboratory series by Jane Northup PhD, RI State Crime Laboratory
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Donations to ASCLD can now be made online! This is a great way to honor the memory of a forensic colleague, to commemorate a life event for that person who has everything, or to otherwise assist in supporting the tireless efforts of the ASCLD organization in the pursuit of excellence in forensic science management. The donation page can be accessed by clicking HERE or by visiting the ASCLD website and clicking on "Donate to ASCLD" under the "Member Site" tab (this donation page is accessible even to non-members). Please consider donating and do share this information with anyone you think might be interested.
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The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
65 Glen Road, Suite 123
Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 919.773.2044
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