Doing our part:
Ames Lab encourages staff vaccinations for everyone's safety
Currently 45% of Ames Laboratory staff have self-reported COVID-19 vaccination. While this is a great start, it isn’t enough. Simply put, the more people who get vaccinated, the more we protect ourselves, our family, our coworkers and our entire Laboratory community. We cannot leave it to someone else, we each need to do our part to work towards the solution. Read what some of your co-workers had to say about their experience with vaccination:
"I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine for many reasons, one of which is
my son. I wanted our lives to get back closer to the way things were before COVID-19; I felt like the best way to get back to that life was to get vaccinated. I understood the basic science behind the vaccine, I understood there were some side effects but overall I felt the benefit of having the vaccine outweighed the risks." - Laura Kim, Industrial Hygienist
"Due to my age and health status my physician and
cardiologist highly recommended I get vaccinated. Looking past my health conditions, I would have sought out a vaccination anyway." - Vince Dahl, Facilities Maintenance Manager
"My wife and I got our vaccinations for our 2-year old grandson, Fletcher, and h
is parents Annika and Brandon, who both work in a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. We REALLY wanted to visit him without putting Fletcher, his daycare teacher, all of our other innocent contacts, or ourselves in danger. My daughter Annika, especially, has had to witness many COVID-19 patients pass away without a way to cure them. I also got my vaccination for all of you, my colleagues and friends here at Ames Lab and ISU and my friends and neighbors in Ames. I do not know of a better gift than this simple vaccination to take away this danger from your lives! If we can stop this killer in its tracks with a vaccination, the safest and most effective vaccine ever developed in history, why wouldn't we?" - Iver Anderson, DMSE Scientist
COVID-19 vaccines are readily available for anyone 12 years and older. Ames Laboratory employees are authorized up to 4 hours of leave for each COVID-19 vaccination.
McFarland Clinic (Ames and area locations) – Online scheduling available!
Story County Public Health – Several times and locations available.
Local Pharmacies – Many pharmacies offer walk in appointments and free gift cards after being fully vaccinated!
Ames Laboratory continues to monitor vaccination rates closely to help guide leadership in recovery planning. Self-reporting is not a requirement. If you do choose to report, your information is completely confidential and not shared outside of the medical department. If you would like to report your vaccination status you can email om@ameslab.gov or call 515-294-2056.
The vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines are 100% effective at preventing hospitalizations and death from COVID-19.
Vaccines were rigorously tested. More than 90,000 individuals participated in clinical trials and were monitored after their second dose. These individuals were from a diverse range of racial, ethnic, age, and health status classifications.
Vaccines can protect others around you. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect those around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Vaccinations help save lives!
Vaccine side effects are mostly mild. The most common side effects include fatigue, headache, and pain at the injection site. It is not possible to contract COVID-19 virus from being vaccinated.
Once you are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after second dose or single dose) you can resume many activities you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
According to Occupational Medicine Staff Physician; Dr. Margaret Evans, “COVID-19 vaccination is the best tool to help us move out of this pandemic and into a more normal, although different life. I sincerely hope people feel it is in their own and family’s best interest to get vaccinated.”
The Delta variant is making headlines around the world as a highly transmissible form of COVID-19, that can cause more severe illness. Vaccination is a critical tool in stopping the spread and decreasing the number of variants that emerge. People who are unvaccinated or skip their second dose, may be at risk.
Public health guidance remains the same; get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask if you are not vaccinated and avoid contact with others when you are sick.
If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, notify your supervisor, and contact your primary care provider for further guidance.
Remember that while wearing a mask at the Lab is a requirement for the unvaccinated, it is also a personal choice for many, regardless of vaccination status. Many choose to continue wearing a mask for a variety of health-related reasons. Please be respectful and courteous to your colleagues as we transition back to on-site work.
- Diversity & Inclusion Council
New process for MPC requests
All MPC requests should now be submitted via ServiceNow. To submit a request, click “Request 
Something," and choose “MPC” under Categories. The "Internal MPC Request” link is for any work that uses Ames Laboratory Funding. Alternatively, you can type “MPC Request” in the search bar of the Ames Lab ServiceNow portal and select “Internal MPC Request." Once you submit a request, it will be received and quoted by MPC. All requests will go through the Ames Lab approval process, similar to the machine shop or FES requests. If you have questions, email mpc@ameslab.gov.
How do you pronounce your name?
Add an audio pronunciation link to your email with NameCoach
Our names are central to our unique identities, and saying them correctly is the first step in connecting 
with, respecting, and appreciating one another. In the spirit of promoting feelings of inclusion for all members of our Laboratory community, we would like to bring your attention to a service that easily enables you to add a link to the correct pronunciation of your name to your email signature.
NameCoach was started to help schools, students, and families; and has since expanded to businesses and beyond. In addition to promoting goodwill, we hope this may also help remove subtle barriers for colleagues to contact us without potential worry for causing offense in mispronouncing names. The service is free, and only takes a few minutes to set up. Once your name is recorded, you will be able to copy a button link to add to your email signature.
This service is encouraged to promote inclusivity, but not required. Individuals choosing to use the service should be aware of NameCoach's privacy statement.
Thank you to the Diversity & Inclusion Council for this suggestion!
Register here to create an audio name badge
Time to place end of fiscal year purchase requests
The COVID-19 Pandemic has contributed to significant supply chain challenges that are affecting consumers on a global scale. These challenges are affecting the Lab as well in terms of limited availability of products and services, long-lead items delivery, worker shortages, low inventories, and delays concentrated in manufacturing, construction, and trade sectors. If you're considering end of fiscal year purchases, Procurement requests you submit your purchase requisitions as soon as possible, especially for items with long-lead times. This will help the Procurement staff plan for and place timely purchase awards in order to receive those purchases and account for payment before the end of the fiscal year.
Announcements
IT is back on site for tech support
Beginning Tuesday, July 6, Ames Lab's IT Desktop staff will be on site Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 p.m. Contact IT at it@ameslab.gov or call 4-8348 if you have any questions.
D&I Council welcomes new member
The Laboratory's Diversity and Inclusion Council welcomes new member Lucas Griffith. Lucas is a Scientist I working on next-generation cooling systems in Vitalij Pecharsky’s research team, where he began work at Ames Lab as a postdoctoral researcher. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University. He is a native Iowan, born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa.
Plan and hold successful meetings
A new skill article on how to plan for and hold Successful Meetings is now in the Knowledge Base.
Monthly Book Club: Motivation by Appreciation inventory
Take your own Motivating By Appreciation inventory and read 30 pages a month in our monthly book club. We are reading 'The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace' and have one open seat. The club meets virtually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at noon. Please email training@ameslab.gov to claim your spot.
Donations needed for Leadership Library
Donate your new or gently used professional development books to Learning & Development at 111 TASF. We are creating a Leadership Library that will open this fall.
Job opportunities at Ames Lab
Did you know you can find a current list of employment opportunities at Ames Laboratory on the Job Opportunities page at www.ameslab.gov? Share with friends and colleagues, or apply yourself! You can also find the page linked on the Employee Dashboard.
