Editor: Robert Yearout, Ph.D.
Email: yearout@unca.edu
Late breaking news: ISOES now accepts American Express. Forms do not yet have that information added, but members may use AX cards. Remember that Biz-comm will be the company named on your credit card, not ISOES.
The organizing committee is gratified that we will once again be able to offer a program that covers several aspects of occupational ergonomics and safety. The meeting will offer the customary plenary and paper sessions. In April a preliminary program will be posted at the Society's web site, ISOES.org
Please note that this year lunch will be provided as part your registration fee. As usual you will receive a bound copy of the proceedings (not a computerized publication). Your registration fee will also cover the cost of the opening reception, a banquet meal, morning breakfast breaks and afternoon breaks. This conference will provide good value for the small registration fees that are assessed. The venue that has been chosen provides proximity to Washington, DC and the lodging rates are very reasonable for the area.
We hope that we will be greeting many of you at the Holiday Inn Fair Oaks on June 4, 2001.
—Paul C. Champney, Conference Chair
A registration form can be found here. Please note: A block of 75 rooms at a special conference rate of $109 has been reserved until May 3, 2001. Please make your reservations early to ensure a room at these rates.
You may register by fax, mail or on-line. This year credit cards will be accepted. Please note that the credit card charge will be through Biz-comm, Inc., and will be reflected on your credit card statement as Biz-comm. You may also renew your July 2001 - June 2002 dues now, or when you register to take advantage of the discounted conference rate. Non-paid members do not qualify for the discounted conference rate.
Register early for discounted room rates
Hotel: 703-352-2525
11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy
Fairfax, VA 22033
Directions:
From Points East: Interstate 66 West to Route 50 West, Exit 57B. Take the Shopping Center Exit. The Holiday Inn is located on the service road, across from the Shopping Center.
From Points West: Interstate 66 East to Route 50 West, Exit 57B. Take the Shopping Center Exit.
From Points North: Route 495 West (Capital Beltway) to Interstate 66 West, Exit 9. From Interstate 66 West. Exit 57B.
From Points South: Interstate 95 North to 495 Tyson’s Corner (Capital Beltway) to Interstate 66 West. From Interstate 66 West. Exit 57B.
Year 2001 – Current Status of the Journal
Launching an international journal of quality in ergonomics is by no means an easy task. The subscribers do rightfully expect quality journal articles published in a timely fashion. No doubt, to achieve this objective, the ultimate responsibility lies on the Editor-in-Chief. However, this goal can be achieved only when we have: (1) regular supply of quality manuscripts from prospective authors; (2) timely response from at least 2 to 3 reviewers; (3) timely decision on the acceptance of the manuscript and editing by the Editor-in-Chief to conform with journal format; (4) timely return of the revised manuscript; (5) timely editing of the accepted manuscript by the Editor-in-Chief before sending to the publisher, IOS Press; (6) publication of the journal issue by the IOS Press; and (7) mailing of the journal issue to the subscribers.
Some of the current problems and issues are stated here: (1) lack of quality manuscripts from prospective authors; (2) unusual delay in the review process (sometimes more than six months or no response); (3) often diametrically opposite responses from two reviewers, requiring a third reviewer or review by the Editor-in-Chief to make a final decision; (4) often delay of three to six months in returning the revised manuscript by the prospective authors; (5) sometimes delay in editing by the Editor-in-Chief due to personal or other professional commitments (e.g. summer of year 2000 spent on the preparation of daughter’s wedding) and; (6) delay in publishing/printing journal, especially in summer months. Some of the actions/solutions undertaken recently to alleviate the problems are: (1) 78 letters with two enclosures, journal (Occupations Ergonomics) brochure and proceedings brochure (Advances in Occupation Ergonomics and Safety) were sent from Canada in November 2000 to universities and institutes interested in Ergonomics in the USA and Canada and 72 letters with two similar enclosures to universities and institutes in Europe and Asia (sent by IOS Press in December 2000) to promote journals subscription and call for papers; (2) a review of the editorial board is undertaken in consultation with Waldemar Karwowski, Consulting Editor of the Journal. It is hoped that in the future each editorial board member will be able to review at least two manuscripts (maximum four manuscripts) in a year within four to six weeks; (3) the Editor-in-Chief with the assistance of journal Administrative Assistant will make a special endeavor to expedite the review and editing process and; (4) a close collaboration with the Production Editor, IOS Press to expedite the printing and mailing process of the journal.
Currently ISOES has approximately 65 paid members/subscribers of the journal down from about 140 in 1997. It is hoped that we will be able to exceed ISOES membership/journal subscription to 100 or more by year 200utton endeavor will be made in year 2001 to promote ISOES membership/journal subscription by soliciting: (1) Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) – Industrial Ergonomics Group; (2) Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE); and (3) Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) – Society of Work Science. This task can be done by Gene Lee, President, ISOES, with the assistance from Patrice Oliver-Wilson, Executive Directory, ISOES. As pointed out by Bob Yearout, ISOES Newsletter Editor in the Fall 2000 ISOES News that "we would like to encourage each member to seek out a colleague and encourage him or her to join ISOES" (thus we can exceed ISOES membership to 100 or more in no time). An endeavor will also be made for the participants of the 2001 ISOES Conference to join ISOES. I would also urge the current ISOES members and pros-pective members, especially the participants of the 2001 ISOES Conference, to submit an quality journal manuscript by extending their conference proceedings paper(s). I would also make a similar request to journal editorial board members.
You will soon receive the Special Issue: Ergonomic Design of Hand Tools, Vol.2, No. 3, 1999/2000. Currently Vol. 2, No. 4, 1999/2000 is being prepared/finalized for publication. Dr. Einar Fredrickson, Director, IOS Press has suggested that instead of pursuing a catch-up process, Vol. 3, No. 1 should bear the year 2001, as opposed to 2000/2001. Stated otherwise, there will be no issues published for the year 2000. Dr. Fredrickson has stated that the back-log or catch-up process creates a lot a difficulty or disappointment not only with the ISOES members/subscribers but also with the IOS subscribers. Hopefully this matter will be resolved by the Executive Council, ISOES soon to the satisfaction of the ISOES and IOS subscribers and IOS Press. All members will receive the journals for which they have paid. A future adjustment in membership dues may be necessary.
It is envisaged that in year 2001 we will have two more Special Issues on "Computer-Aided Ergonomics" and "Workplace Noise Problem.” I am hoping that by the end of year 2001, the journal can be published on a regular basis and thus avoid the catch-up process.
You must realize that the work of the Editorial Board Members and Editor-in-Chief is entirely done on a voluntary basis (although some journals give an honorarium to the Editor-in-Chief). However, journal administration costs including journal Administrative Assistant remuneration, mailing (fax, e-mail, postage etc) and telephone must be paid by the ISOES. Hopefully at a later date, when we have enough journal subscribers, IOS Press will pay the administrative cost partially or fully depending on the number of subscribers.
I have tried to share the concerns of the journal and future actions to resolve the problems with you. I shall welcome any suggestions from you to resolve or improve the journal publication process. You can volunteer your services in any way you see fit. Above all, I would expect you to show the same patience and understanding as you have displayed in the past. Our goal is to produce a quality, peer-reviewed international ergonomics journal that we can all be proud of.
To be eligible for nomination for the President-elect position, the candidate must have been an ISOES member in good standing for at least two years , as well as having served in an elected capacity in the Executive Council for at least one year. The President-elect is responsible for elections of new officers and for organizing the Awards Committee. After serving one year as President-elect, s/he will take over as President for one year and subsequently serve as Past-president for one year.
To be eligible for nomination for the Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and the two Members-at-large positions, the candidate must have been an ISOES member in good standing for at least two years (check Web site for current, paid members).
The Secretary reviews applications for membership, takes minutes at meetings, and prepares formal minutes of the meetings for the Society.
The Treasurer keeps accurate, up-to-date financial records for the Society, prepares an annual financial report, pays the day-to-day expenses of the Society, and prepares dues notices to be sent to the membership.
The Newsletter Editor publishes three newsletters each year and provides information to maintain and update the Society's Web page.
A waiting period of two years is mandatory before an officer may seek re-election to the same office.
Please submit nominations to the current President-elect:
Sourin Dutta, PhD., P. Eng.
University of Windsor
Industry and Manufacturing
Faculty of Engineering
Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 Canada
Tel: 519-253-3000
Fax: 519-973-7062
sdutta@uwindsor.ca
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