Greetings SEAALAS,
As you know, National AALAS is fast approaching and it is right in our backyard!  You can register for AALAS at http://nationalmeeting.aalas.org/.
Don’t forget to help out!  If you want to volunteer, please send an email to volunteer@seaalas.org.

Do you love to golf, or know someone who does?  Consider registering for the AALAS Foundation Golf Tournament on Sunday, October 9th.  Get a group of friends together and register! 
You do not have to be a member of AALAS to play, everyone is welcome!  You can register at http://aalasfoundation.org/Golf_Outing_Registration_Form.pdf

Technicians, I have pulled a few items that may be of interest from the preliminary program below.  Be sure to sign up for the Technician Lunch and Learn!  This is a free lunch and includes some great talks specifically for techs!  Also, plan to stop by the CTAD booth to get your packet for the Technician Fun Fair!

Monday:
·         A Tour of the ILAR Guide for Zebrafish Users
·         The Challenge of Lab Animal Allergy: A Global Issue and Local Problem
·         Hunter Lecture: Domestication – A Tale of Two Species
·         Public Opinion: How Do They Feel about Animal Research Today?
·         Planning, Breeding, & Perinatal Care for Canine Models of Human Disease
·       Technician Lunch and Learn
Tuesday:
·         Quality Improvement in Lab Animal Research – Adopting & Adapting Lessons from the Patient Safety Movement
·         Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Lab Xenopus
·         Management Training Opportunities w/i the Lab Animal Community
·         Roles & Opportunities for Vet techs in Biomedical Research

Wednesday:
·         Mini Swine in Biomedical Research: Housing, Behavior, & Handling
·         Sweat the Small Stuff! How the Little Things can Impact Rodent Breeding & Research Data in your Colony
·         AALAS Tech Certification Exam Question Development
·         Addressing Abnormal Behaviors in NHP thru Behavior Management Techniques
·         Challenges & Opportunities in Animal Biosafety Training for Animal Care Technicians
·         Husbandry for GLP Studies in Transition: Corporate Strategies to Improve & Harmonize Facilities and Programs
·         Understanding your PI: The Lab Animal Professional’s Guide to Everyday Methods and Terminology in Research Science

Thursday:
·         Rodent Enrichment – Not as Simple as You Might Think
·         Zebrafish Care Challenges: Beyond Basic Husbandry
·         How Animals Think & Learn: Animal Learning Theory & Application
·         Importance of Genetic Monitoring in Breeding Colonies
·         Problems & Challenges in Effective Monitoring and Treatment of Animal Pain

Our SEAALAS Annual Meeting and Banquet is in Charleston this year!  Start thinking about those tech talks…
Hope you all have had a great summer!  Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Stephanie

Hey everyone!!!
If you are interested in helping out in any capacity for the 2010 AALAS meeting in Atlanta please send an email to:

volunteer@seaalas.org

I will add you to my list and include you on emails as we get closer to the meeting.
Thanks so much in advance!

Kim

Attention all those interested in pursuing the LATG certification:

Research Triangle Branch is hosting a week-long LATG review course in April. The course runs from April 25-30th with the exam being offered on May 1st. Registration is due by April 2 and space is limited! Click on link below for more details.

Happy International Lab Animal Technician Appreciation Week SEAALAS! 

Take a minute out of your day this week and thank a tech for their hard work and commitment to our lab animals!  Also, please tell us what you are doing for Tech Week at your facility!  I will add this info to our website.  Not celebrating tech week?  Try and schedule a day or week later in the year to celebrate the importance of Lab Animal Science and to recognize your technicians. 

A few last minute ideas:

• Pizza lunch (managers can chip in to buy pizza)
• Pot luck
• Lab animal trivia or bingo
• Chili cook-off
• Afternoon movie or tv show (Dirty Jobs has some great animal episodes you can download at www.discovery.com)
• Awards

                Recognize those that have achieved their AALAS certification
                Ask investigators to come and say thank you or sign a card
                Give awards to each tech that recognizes a unique quality (most enthusiastic, best attendance, best communicator, etc)

No money for prizes or awards? 

• Award time off if possible (half day, extra long lunch, leave an hour early)
• Have supervisor do the techs duties for a day or half day or an hour
• Get the managers to make awards (paper plates, print certificates)

Just have fun with it!

Other business:

The annual SEAALAS meeting and awards banquet was a big success last week.  Thank you to all those who attended and participated.  It was an outstanding meeting!  Be on the lookout for the spring newsletter which will include pictures, participants, and award winners.

National AALAS is in Atlanta!  Check out our website for more info and to learn how you can help!

Happy February everyone!

Stephanie
SEAALAS TBR