ASTM International eNews is a monthly online newsletter that features the latest happenings at ASTM International, including technical committee news, publications, meetings, symposia and more. Like ASTM's bimonthly magazine Standardization News, eNews is a free benefit available to all ASTM members.
ASTM Virtual Classroom for Members
Six Web-based training courses are now available free of charge to all ASTM members through the ASTM Web site. Courses offered are: New Member Orientation and Training, Balloting and Handling Negative Votes, Developing and Revising a Standard, Roster Maintenance, Online Resolution of Negatives, and WebEx Training. Click here to view course schedules and to register.
Work Item Collaboration Space
ASTM members now have the option to comment on pre-ballot draft documents using the new task group collaboration area in the "My ASTM" section of the ASTM Web site. This new feature will assist committees in achieving consensus on a draft standard prior to ballot. After logging on through "My ASTM," you will see "My Online Task Groups" in the "My Committees" area. The task group leader or technical contact must establish the online collaboration area for a registered work item. Click here for information about training sessions on collaborative workspaces.
Virtual Officers' Training Week
ASTM staff will conduct virtual training modules for committee officers from Sept. 21-24, 2009, using WebEx. The training is intended primarily for committee officers, subcommittee chairs, or others who are aspiring to become officers. Scheduled sessions are: ASTM Online, Balloting and Handling Negative Votes, Officer and Subcommittee Chairman's Duties and Responsibilities, Interlaboratory Study Program (ILS), and the editorial module Development of a Standard. Registration will open in early June. Contact your ASTM staff manager for more information.
Professor of the Year
The ASTM Professor of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of educators in developing students' understanding of standards. Candidates for the award include professors and instructors at an accredited university worldwide who have demonstrated outstanding use of ASTM standards in their teaching. Cash awards will be given to the winning educator and their respective university. Visit the Campus section of the ASTM Web site for more information.
Board of Directors in Washington
The ASTM International board of directors will hold their spring meeting in Washington, D.C., the week of April 26. In addition to the formal Board sessions, ASTM's time in D.C. will include a full day of outreach in the city and surrounding areas, with visits to the main offices of the government regulatory agencies, code organizations and trade associations that reflect some of the key industry sectors covered in ASTM standards.
ASTM Advantage Award
June 1 is the deadline for the 2009 ASTM International Advantage Award, a paper competition searching for real-life examples that support the positive value of ASTM standards. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three papers. [Full story]
COMMITTEE NEWS . . . The latest from ASTM's technical committees
Forestland Site Assessment The U.S. EPA has determined that the 2008 revision to the Committee E50 standard describing the environmental assessment needs of parties involved in the acquisition of forestland and rural properties is now compliant with the agency's All Appropriate Inquiries Rule. [Full story]
Bicycle Classification/Trailer Cycles Committee F08 has recently published an important revision to one of its key standards on bicycles and is working on a new specification for trailer cycles. [Full story]
Light Sport Aircraft Committee F37 is at work on a new standard guide that will aid light sport aircraft manufacturers in understanding the standardization system that governs their products. [Full story]
Adhesives Symbol for CAD A new practice from Committee D14 provides a convenient way for engineers to represent adhesives on a computer-aided design drawing. [Full story]
Gas Analysis Technology A new test method from Committee E01 will allow users to test for oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen simultaneously using just one standard. [Full story]
Lubricant Compatibility Manufacturers of condoms and rubber gloves as well as personal lubricants are welcome to join in the development of a new test method from Committee D11. [Full story]
Sulfur in Natural Gas Committee D03's newest standard covers an on-line sulfur measurement method that is widely used throughout Europe and the United States. [Full story]
Hybrid Roller Bearings Committee F34's new specification will be used by end users of bearings, bearing manufacturers and roller manufacturers. [Full story]
Feedstock Chloroform Producers of feedstock for the fluorocarbon industry as well as fluorocarbon producers themselves will be the users of a new standard from Committee D26. [Full story]
Infrared Thermometers Providing practical advice on the use of infrared thermometers is the purpose of a proposed new standard from Committee E20. [Full story]
GLOBAL NOTES . . . ASTM around the world
Eleven Nations Participate in Virtual Meeting On March 5, ASTM International conducted a virtual meeting with more than 135 participants from eleven nations and three continents. The meeting included a presentation on nondestructive tests in concrete as well as information about ASTM symposia, committee weeks and developments in Committee C09. The technical portion of the presentation was delivered in English with consecutive interpretation. For more information regarding ASTM virtual meeting opportunities, please contact Jim Olshefsky.
WTO Workshop on International Standards ASTM member Manuel Lascarro represented the Society at the World Trade Organization's TBT Workshop on the Role of International Standards in Economic Development held March 16-17 in Geneva, Switzerland. The objective of the workshop was to seek ways to broaden the participation of developing countries in technical standardization activities. Lascarro, a former member of the ASTM board of directors, participated in the case study portion of the event, reporting on the use of international standards in public safety. Other topics covered at the workshop included textiles, building construction, energy, food safety and biofuels.
DID YOU KNOW? . . . Earth Day and Committee E60 on Sustainability
The annual celebration of Earth Day is on April 22. Observed in 175 countries, Earth Day promotes the appreciation and protection of the earth's environment - an important and growing issue affecting people and industries around the globe. According to Earth Day Network, more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world. This Earth Day, ASTM International will hold the inaugural meetings of the new ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability on April 21-23 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. E60 organized in October 2008 to house both existing and new standards activities that will encourage sustainability practices. Click here for more information on the upcoming Committee E60 meetings.
Visit the ASTM Digital Library to get instant access to the digital editions of nearly every ASTM book and paper published in the past 100+ years.
CALENDAR . . . Committee Weeks, Symposia and Workshops, TPTs
Upcoming ASTM Committee Week Meetings
April Committee Week, April 19-24, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada May Committee Week, May 17-22, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
June Committee Week, June 14-19, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
See information on ASTM technical committee meetings and committee weeks, including locations, detailed schedules and future meeting dates.
ASTM International is one of the world's largest management systems for the development of voluntary standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Currently, ASTM has more than 30,000 members representing industry, government, academia, and consumers. Participation in ASTM International is open to any interested party. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions around the globe.
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