LBNL EX-Ls Report to CUCRA April 2016

New Laboratory Director: On Jan. 21, 2016, the UC Board of Regents approved Michael Witherell, Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Santa Barbara, as director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, effective March 1. Witherell is a leading physicist with a highly distinguished career in teaching, research and managing complex organizations. He is a former Director of Fermi Lab. UC President Janet Napolitano said that the attributes and experience he brings will enable LBNL to continue to thrive as one of the world’s premier labs. LBNL’s outgoing director, Paul Alivisatos, will assume the position of Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Berkeley.

Universal Membership: The EX-Ls Board of Directors voted at the January meeting to try to extend participation in EX-Ls by going to a universal membership model (meaning that everyone who retires from LBNL is automatically a member). During this one-year trial period the annual dues will be suspended. We are partnering with the UC Berkeley Retirement Center (UCBRC), which will help us with some expenses like mailings for the quarterly newsletter and luncheon announcements. PARRA has been very successful with a similar model. Like PARRA, we have submitted a proposal to CUCRA as to how best to determine our annual CUCRA dues.

The EX-Ls website has been moved to the UCBRC server and is functioning well. Check it out at: http://retirement.berkeley.edu/ex-ls.

Luncheons: We have had some very interesting speakers at our luncheons recently. Nan Zhou (LBNL) speaking about China and Energy: China’s low carbon development – transforming buildings and the built environment. Paul Williams (LBNL) reported on the twenty-three year history of the National Runners’ and Walkers’ Health Studies. Analysis of these data show that doubling the amount of exercise recommended by the CDC to 300 minutes/week of moderate (or 150 minutes of aerobic) exercise can provide large and profound health benefits. We are looking forward to hearing about the Belmont Village (a retirement residential community planned primarily for UC retirees) at our May luncheon. Ground breaking occurred earlier this year.

The Director’s second annual retiree reception is being planned for June 28 at the LBNL cafeteria. EX-Ls is helping with the planning.

Parking: The Lab has established a Vehicle Access and Alternative Transportation Advisory Group (VAATAG) to discuss possible solutions for easing parking and traffic congestion in anticipation of losing nearly 300 parking spots at the Lab this summer due to construction activities. The EX-Ls is pleased that two retirees are involved in the discussions; Joe Cerny is a member of VAATAG and Don Grether is serving on a focus group.

Janis Dairiki CUCRA representative