The holiday season often brings out the best in us, and LANL employees are living up to that adage again this year. We're closing out our most successful United Way campaign ever; we've distributed turkeys, hams, and other food to neighbors who might have gone without; and we're working right now to provide holiday gifts that will brighten the season for many others.

It's been a busy, challenging year for all of us at the Laboratory, and it's been a joy to see staff and management at LANL find the time and resources to make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors in northern New Mexico.

Happy Holidays from the staff at LANL's Community Programs Office!

Should you have any questions, please contact Johnnie Martinez at 665-4400 or community@lanl.gov.

This year's total pledges were $844,000. Los Alamos National Security, LLC, (LANS) will match the amount dollar-for-dollar.

With the LANS match included, LANL employees raised nearly $1.7 million in pledges and donations. That is $100,000 more than was donated last year.

"Our Los Alamos employees can take pride in this accomplishment," said Johnnie Martinez acting director of the LANL Community Programs Office. "Once again, Laboratory personnel have shown through their generosity that their community is important to them and that they are eager to help those around them."

Although the campaign ended last week, some employees continue to make pledges and donations. The employee contributions fund a number of social service provider agency programs and services in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico.

Over 400 turkeys and hams were collected from various Laboratory sites and sent to the San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen in Espanola for distribution to families in need. This was the first of several drives organized by the Community Programs Office in time for the holidays

Other upcoming programs include the Adopt-a-Family campaign, LANL Laces, and the Gift Tag program. These employee giving programs help the Laboratory share its generosity with those who otherwise may not have gifts to open during the holiday season.

Packet Analytics is in the midst of an aggressive plan to commercialize both DiSARM and NetHead, two software technologies developed by and licensed from LANL. The VAF award will allow Packet Analytics to accelerate the process of commercializing these technologies, which are used to analyze network security data and generate additional investments.

Knowledge Reef Systems Inc., a recent LANL spin-off, is currently negotiating licenses for two LANL technologies, KnowledgeZone and Multi-Relational Networks for Media Distribution. Knowledge Reef will use its VAF funding to develop the prototype for an advanced, knowledge-powered, social networking service platform to spur the creation of a new category of online knowledge communities.

The LANS VAF was established in June 2006, based on the success of LANL's internal Technology Maturation Fund. Its purpose is to support external projects that facilitate the creation and growth of regional businesses based on LANL technology or expertise. LANS VAF will allocate $350,000 per calendar year.

The new chamber address is at Numero Uno Calle de las Espanolas, Suite F and G. The Chamber is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For those of you who work or live in Los Alamos, you'll see that the former "LA Buses" are displaying new signs as "Atomic City Buses." This transportation system was recently taken over by Los Alamos County. Beginning December 10, the bus system will have new routes which will add all day service to residential neighborhoods between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Students who have a desire to pursue a degree in a science-related field or other fields important to the success of northern New Mexico will be given priority consideration for the top awards.

Northern New Mexico residents who are--or will be--attending an accredited post-secondary education institution are eligible to apply. The deadline to submit an application is January 22, 2008.

For more information, contact Jeff Franken at the Laboratory Foundation at (505) 753-8890.

Education Kudos

• Kudos to the 28 NNM teachers who will complete their master of arts degree in teaching. The teachers represent rural schools and are the first to complete an intensive two-year graduate program in partnership with the Northern New Mexico Math and Science Academy program and New Mexico State University.