Executive Director's Message

Like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, are you late?

All CLSOs and CMLSOs whose certification maintenance cycle ended December 31, 2008 and have not recertified – Contact us today to avoid losing your active status!

In accordance with the CLSO and CMLSO Policies & Procedures manuals, “it is the responsibility of the CLSO/CMLSO to submit CM forms and recertification fees on time.”  Certification Maintenance (CM) worksheets with supporting documentation and recertification fees were due February 1st.  The consequence of not recertifying by this date is “Inactive Status” – loss of the use of your designation.

To restore status, CM worksheets accompanied with appropriate recertification and late fees will be accepted up to and including May 31st. After that time, it will be necessary to retake the exam to become active again.

Maintenance cycle ending December 2009?  2010?  Don’t put off collecting your CM points until year three!  Maintaining your certification is a vital part of becoming a CLSO or CMLSO.  Some categories to consider – membership in laser safety related organizations, and active participation in laser safety standards or regulations committees accrue one point per year.  These easily obtainable points are irrelevant after the fact.  Remember attendance at laser safety or applications professional conferences or meetings are worth one point per full day; presentations earn 1/2 point each.

We want you to be successful in maintaining your CLSO/CMLSO active status!  We pledge to make every effort to inform you of CM point availability, along with the number of points attributed to future events and opportunities.  If you attend a training course or participate in an activity not currently approved for CM points, you may submit the information to the BLS for consideration of points toward certification maintenance.  Conference verification and CM point request forms are available from the BLS website, www.lasersafety.org on the Certification Maintenance page.

Thank you to all of the CLSOs and CMLSOs who recertified by the February 1st deadline.  Please enjoy this issue of the BLS News & Review and feel free to contact me anytime at bsams@lasersafety.org or by phone, 407-380-5833.

Barbara Sams
Executive Director

Welcome New CLSOs and CMLSOs

Go to the BLS website to view complete listings of CLSOs and CMLSOs.

Profile of CLSO/CMLSO

• Jerry Warthan, CLSO
  
• Sharli Frederiksen, CMLSO
  

ILSC® 2009 Update

Attending the 2009 International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC) is one of the best ways to earn certification maintenance (CM) points.  This year’s event will be held March 23-27 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Resort Hotel in Reno, Nev.

In the last issue of the BLS News & Review, we presented an overview of the conference, including information on the Practical Applications Seminar and the medical laser safety session.  Since the ILSC Advance Program is now available for your perusal, let’s discuss what could be in it for you:

• Earn one point for each full day of attendance, up to a maximum of 4 points.
• Earn one and one-half points for attending the LIA MLSO course (Wed/Thurs).
• Earn one point for proctoring the CLSO/CMLSO exam.
• Earn 1/2 point for presenting a paper.
• Earn 1/2 point for volunteering to moderate one of the tables at the Hot Topic Luncheon.
• Attend the BLS Appreciation Breakfast (active status CLSOs and CMLSOs only); attendees have the opportunity to win BLS merchandise and gifts during the raffle.
• Take this opportunity to attend the ASC Z136 annual meeting as an observer to determine participation interest (more on this below in ASC Z136 Members).
• Attend ancillary meetings held in conjunction with the conference.
• Network, network, network!

Visit the ILSC website today to register; the Early Bird conference registration closes February 5th – save an additional $50 if you register online.  The hotel reservation cut-off date is February 20th – make your reservations today – the room block is filling up quickly!

Won’t you join me at ILSC 2009?  I look forward to seeing you there!

BLS Merchandise

Attending ILSC?   Coming to the Hot Topic Round Table Luncheon?  Show your support to the BLS and your commitment to laser safety in a BLS polo!

BLS men’s and women’s short sleeved polo shirts and BLS caps will be available for purchase as ILSC.  OR Buy yours today to wear at the conference and receive the same special conference pricing!

Download our BLS Merchandise Form , complete and return by fax, 407.380.5588 or call 407.380.1553 to place your order.

Special LIA Membership Offer - Available to Active CLSOs and CMLSOs

One of the easiest ways to earn CM Points is through membership in a laser safety related professional and/or technical organization or society.  Earn one CM point per year, with a total of 3 CM points maximum over the 3-year CM cycle.

LIA has just made it easier!   Join or renew your LIA membership at the special rate of $235 for 3 years.  This offer is only available to active BLS CLSOs and CMLSOs, and reflects a savings of $95 over the annual membership purchase price.

Contact Kim Truelove at 407.380.1553 to take advantage of this great opportunity!

ASC Z136 Members

By the time you receive this newsletter, the ASC Z136 meeting notice and agenda should be in-hand.  Ancillary meetings have been posted on the Z136 website and are listed in the Jan/Feb issue of the LIA Today.

So I am going to take this opportunity to ‘talk’ to the CLSOs and CMLSOs who are not members of ASC Z136. 

There are two avenues available in which to participate in the development and revision processes of the Z136 laser safety standards, membership on one (or more) standards or technical subcommittees and/or membership on the ASC Z136 consensus body.

Membership on the consensus body (ASC Z136) consists of organizations, companies, government agencies, and individuals having a direct and material interest in the activities of the committee.  The selection and addition of members is subject to approval by a majority vote of the Committee.  Committee responsibilities include proposing American National Standards (ANS) within the scope of the Committee, voting on the approval of proposed standards, and voting on revisions and reaffirmations of Standards approved by the Committee.

The vast majority of members on the Committee belong to one or more of the standards and/or technical subcommittees.  It is here at the subcommittee level that primary development, and later maintenance of the standards actually takes place.  Membership on the subcommittees is open but may be limited by the subcommittee chair to attain balance.  Requests for membership on the subcommittee are submitted directly through the Z136 website, to the subcommittee chair.

• Active participation in laser safety standards or regulations committees external of your organization earn one CM point per year, with a total of 3 CM points maximum over the 3-year CM cycle.

The ASC Z136 annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2009 in conjunction with ILSC.  The meeting is open to the public; RSVP is required for meal planning purposes.  If you would like to attend as an observer, email Barbara at bsams@lasersafety.org or call 407.380.1553.

My Traveling ANSI