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AFDAA
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY
17 & 18, 2002
Chair
Ron Rubocki called the meeting to order at approximately 9:00 a.m.,
Thursday January 17, 2002.
Following
a welcome statement, Ron Rubocki reminded the membership that AFDAA
dues for 2002 were due. In the absence of Treasurer Catherine
Caballero, Secretary Gary Molina collected dues from those attendees
who paid, and forwarded them to the Treasurer.
Arthur
Young offered catalogs and samples from Computer Imprintable Label
Systems LLC (CILS). The company offers labels that are easily removed
from glassware.
The
first presenter for the meeting was Steve Cribari, Attorney at Law,
University of Denver, who spoke on Forensic Science in the Courtroom.
The first part consisted of the role of a defense attorney in the courtroom.
After
a morning break (sponsored by Promega) Steve Cribari continued his
presentation, speaking on our role as a forensic scientist in the courtroom.
After
the lunch break, Steve Cribari spoke of Science in the Courtroom,
focusing on specific rulings affecting forensic science and
direct/cross examination.
At
approximately 4:15 p. m., Ron Rubocki adjourned the first day's meeting.
On
Friday morning, January 18 2002, the meeting was called to order by
Ron Rubocki at approximately 8:35 a.m.
The
first speaker for the day was Ray Wickenheiser presenting a document
on DNA Mixture Interpretation Guidelines.
After
a morning break (sponsored by Applied Biosystems), the meeting
continued with Tsewei Wang, Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee
demonstrating her Least Square Deconvolution Algorithm for
interpreting DNA/STR mixtures. The LSD Algorithm is a computer
program used for help in interpreting mixtures from two people and is
being developed for use on CODIS profiles. Dr. Wang also hopes to
offer this program to all forensic labs in the future.
At
approximately 11:25 a.m., Ron Rubocki called the business meeting to
order. Approximately 35 members were present for the business meeting.
John
Planz spoke about Senate Bill 1304, which designates the University
of North Texas as the Source Lab for the Missing Persons Database.
The database will be funded by the Attorney Generals Office and will
be used for comparing unidentified remains with those of family
members of missing persons. John agreed to return in July to give us
an update.
Outgoing
Secretary Carolyn Van Winkle presented the July 2001 minutes. A
motion was made to accept the minutes by Ray Wickenheiser and
seconded by John Planz. The motion passed.
For
appreciation of service, plaques were presented to Arthur Young
(past Chair) and Carolyn Van Winkle (past Secretary).
Vice
Chair Pat Graham presented twelve new member applicants:
--Kenneth
Balagot - SWIFS, Dallas
--Forrest
Davis - Texas DPS - Austin
--Alan
Derickson - St. Louis Co. Crime Lab, St. Louis Mo.
--Angela
Fitzwater - SWIFS, Dallas
--Robert
Hansen II - Sedgwick Co. Regional Forensic Science Center, Kansas
--Melissa
Helligso - University of Nebraska Med. Center, Omaha
--Van
Nguyen - Sedgwick Co. Regional Forensic Science Center, Kansas
--Maurice
Padilla - Texas DPS - Austin
--Natalie
Russell - SWIFS, Dallas
--Lisa
Sapetti - St. Louis Co. Crime Lab, St. Louis Mo.
--Pamela
Smith - Texas DPS - Corpus Christi
--Margaret
Walsh - St. Louis Co. Crime Lab, St. Louis Mo.
Arthur
Young made a motion to accept all applicants and Catherine Caballero
seconded. The motion passed.
Catherine
Caballero presented the Treasurer's report citing a balance of
$2579.48. Dues in the amount of $470 had been collected prior to the
meeting. Account handling fees were $30, postage and supplies were
$176, and website costs were $167.
Catherine
also gave a presentation about the work that has been done on the
website. She solicited ideas from the members and asked for feedback.
Ron
reminded the members that nominations for Vice Chair and Treasurer
would be taken for the next meeting. He also encouraged members to
send him their ideas for topics for upcoming meetings. He suggested
that if anyone were to be presenting (or has presented) a poster at
an upcoming national meeting, they bring it with him or her to the
next AFDAA meeting for a dry run.
Ron
then spoke about external audits and auditors.
Arthur
commented on being asked to speak to nurses on evidence being
"lost" during hospital examinations. He offered a
PowerPoint presentation for our use should anyone be interested. He
asked for those interested to contact him directly.
Paul
Newman from Promega discussed an upcoming Working Group Meeting to
be held on April 9-10 in Memphis Tennessee. For more information, go
to their website.
Joe
Mathew commented on the lack of a guarantee that the Qiagen kits
many of us use are free of DNA.
The
meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:30 p.m., Friday January
18, 2002.
Minutes
respectively submitted by Gary J. Molina, Secretary for the January
2002 AFDAA meeting. |
