ASTM has contributed $5,000 to the American Red Cross to help in the relief effort for the victims of the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Our condolences go to all the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and especially to ASTM members who may have been affected by this tragedy.

ANSI Chairman Named ISO President-Elect

Oliver R. (Ollie) Smoot, chairman of the board of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has been named president-elect of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The one-year appointment as president-elect will become effective in January 2002 and will be followed by a two-year term of office as ISO president. He will succeed Mario Gilbert Cortopassi of Brazil. During his tenure with ANSI, he has worked diligently to promote and support cross-industry collaboration. As a former chairman of the ANSI Organization Member Council, Smoot facilitated the policy-setting activities of more than 250 standards developers, professional societies, trade associations and academic institutions interested in standards, certification, and conformity assessment. Presently, he serves as the vice-president for external voluntary standards relations at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).

New Standards Experts in South America, Middle East

The Commerce Department has appointed two new standards experts to help U.S. exporters resolve regulatory, testing, and other standards-related issues in South American and Middle Eastern markets. Avertano Braganca, a mechanical engineer with management experience in government and industry, began serving as the U.S. standards representative in South America on Aug. 27, 2001. In early October, Khaled Masri began his standards-related responsibilities, focusing on the six nations that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council. He also will serve as a technical advisor to the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, as spelled out in an agreement between the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization. Contact: Elisabeth Parker, NIST (phone: 301/975-4715).

Baldrige Award News

It’s a tough, demanding job—and without pay. Yet, every year, thousands of people apply to be one of approximately 400 examiners who review applications for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Applications for the 2002 board will be available this month. Examiners evaluate applications for the award and prepare feedback reports to applicants citing strengths and opportunities for improvement. Qualifications include expertise in business, education or health care management processes and results, as well as knowledge of practices and improvement strategies that lead to organizational excellence. Applications can be obtained by calling 301/975-2036 or on the Web.

The 2001 Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence are now available. Single copies of the criteria are available free of charge from NIST by calling 301/975-2036, faxing a request to 301/948-3716 or sending an e-mail. Packets of 10 or more, as well as other Baldrige-related materials, may be ordered for a fee from the American Society for Quality (phone: 800/248-1946).

Code Certification Examinations to Merge

The Statutory Members of the International Code Council will merge the certification examination of each organization into a single, coordinated set of national certification examinations for code officials and inspectors. The Statutory Members are the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, the International Conference of Building Officials, and Southern Building Code Congress International. The agreement provides for reciprocity of certifications, which are issued by the model code organizations, as well as the national standardization of certification renewal requirements. The agreement also contains provisions to recognize the achievements of those who have obtained and maintained certifications under the existing model code organizations’ examination programs. (Source: ICC Newsletter, Vol. 4, No. 3)

Brazilian Delegate Completes Four-Month Mission at ANSI

Eduardo Campos de Sao Thiago, technical assessor to the executive board of directors of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), will complete a four-month mission at the American National Standards Institute’s New York and Washington, D.C., offices this month. ABNT intends to use the training Sao Thiago is receiving in its current reorganization process. The mission marked the beginning of an important outreach program designed to demonstrate the value of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system to international groups. The outreach program is one of the several major projects made possible by a $500,000 grant awarded to ANSI earlier this year by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. //

Copyright 2001, ASTM