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AFDAA
MEETING MINUTES
JULY
11 & 12, 2002
DAY
1
Chairman
Ron Rubocki called the meeting to order at approximately 9:00am
Thursday July 11, 2002 with opening remarks welcoming everyone and
reviewing the agenda for the day. He also reminded everyone that
elections were to take place the following day for Vice Chair and Treasurer.
The
first presenter was Arthur Eisenberg from the University of North
Texas Health Science Center. His presentation was entitled
"Optimization of Spermatozoa Capture During the Differential
Extraction Process for STR Typing of Sexual Assault Evidence, with
the Potential for Automation". This presentation discussed a
variety of bead technologies used to aide in the separation of sperm
cells from non-sperm cells.
Dr.
Joseph E. Warren, Instructor/Assistant Laboratory Director of the
Dept of Pathology and Anatomy DNA Identity Laboratory, from the
University of North Texas Health Science Center delivered two
presentations entitled "Bloodstain Pattern Analysis" and
"Mitochondrial Interpretation Guidelines". The first
presentation focused on the collection and documentation of
Bloodstain evidence. Joe Warren discussed the Interpretation
Guidelines for Mitochondrial DNA Analysis which were distributed in
the form of a handout.
Promega
sponsored the morning break.
The
third presentation was given by Dr. Ranajit Chakraborty from the
Center For Genome Information, Dept Environmental Health entitled
"Genotype and Allele Sharing in Database: Do Observations Meet Expectations?"
After
lunch, Dr. Arthur Eisenberg from the University of North Texas
Health Science Center gave an update on the Texas Missing Persons Database.
Ron
Rubocki opened the floor for discussion of any interesting and/or
unusual cases. Phillip Rains from the Arkansas State Crime Lab
prompted a discussion regarding p30 testing with respect to using the
ABA Card vs. Seratech. Greg Mango from the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation began a discussion regarding using different peak
height thresholds for inclusion and exclusion.
Dr.
Ron Rubocki, Laboratory Director for the Human DNA Identification
Laboratory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, delivered a
presentation of "Molecular Biology: Applications for Forensic
DNA Testing."
The
next presenter was Michelle Gaines from North Louisiana
Criminalistics Laboratory speaking on "Reduced Volume PCR
Amplification Reactions Using the AmpFlSTR® Profiler Plus™ kit."
Dr.
Pat Wojtkiewicz, Director of the North Louisiana Criminalistics
Laboratory in Shreveport, then gave a talk entitled "Optimization
of Reduced Volume Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)"
The
last presentation of the day was given by Dr. Dennis Loockerman,
Supervisor CODIS Section for the Texas Department of Public Safety,
providing the group with a Texas "CODIS Program Update".
At
approximately 4:55 p.m., Ron Rubocki adjourned the first day of the
meeting. A pizza party was held at the Texas Trooper's Association
and sponsored by Phenix Research Products
DAY
2
On
Friday morning, July 12, 2002, the meeting was called to order at
approximately 8:35 a.m.
Pat
Johnson, Manager of Field Laboratories for the Texas Department of
Public Safety, provided the group with an update of Texas DPS. There
are eight laboratories in the state doing DNA casework. Last year,
1600 cases were completed. Pat anticipates 1800 cases to be worked
this year. Upon receipt of an NIJ Grant, they expect to acquire 5 new
DNA analyst positions. An application for an NIJ grant was submitted
by a Texas statewide consortium composed of all the TX State DNA labs
and five other city/county labs. This application was accepted and a
little over 3 million dollars was granted to analyze 3000 non-suspect
cases. Pat Johnson announced that another application would be
submitted this year, as well. Pat also announced that last year the
State Legislature passed a bill on Post Conviction Testing and so far
this year 27 has been performed.
Cassie
Johnson presented work she had conducted during her internship at
Orchid GeneScreen Dallas entitled "Validation of a Y-chromosome
Short Tandem Repeat 10-plex for use in Forensic and Paternity Labs".
Catherine
Caballero, Field Application Specialist, from Applied Biosystems
presented on "Applied Biosystems Human Identification Group Update".
Applied
Biosystems sponsored the morning break.
Todd
Deppe, Application Specialist from Phenix Research Products,
presented "CAS-1200 Robotic Liquid Handling System"
The
final presentation was given by Kevin Miller of the FBI entitled
"Anthropologists Study Human Variation Which Can Be Used To
Solve Crimes"
At
approximately 11:30 a.m., Ron Rubocki called the business meeting to
order. Approximately 30-35 members were present.
In
Secretary Gary Molina's absence, Catherine Caballero presented the
meeting minutes from the January 2002 meeting for group acceptance. A
motion was made by Garon Foster to accept the minutes and seconded by
Carolyn Van Winkle. The motion passed with no opposition.
Vice
Chair Patricia Graham presented eleven new member applicants:
--Deidra
O. Wood - Orchid Cellmark, Dallas
--Amber
Moss - Orchid Cellmark, Dallas
--Lynnett
Patricia Redhead - Baltimore City Police Department
--Rosalind
Antoinette Bowman - Baltimore City Police Department
--Sean
Walsh - Identigene
--Noreen
F. Purcell - New Mexico DPS Crime Lab
--Treva
L. Armstrong - Fort Worth Police Forensic Science Lab
--Dana
Kirk - Austin Police Department Crime Lab
--Carolyn
Booker - Acadiana Criminalistics Lab
--George
Schiro - Acadiana Criminalistics Lab
--Alice
Amilhat - Texas Department of Public Safety, Austin
Concerns
were voiced with respect to some of the applicants being unfamiliar
to the group. The current application process requires a reference,
however this reference does not have to be a current member and can
instead be a Laboratory Director. In situations where a Laboratory
Director is providing the reference, further investigation might need
to be done to ensure the legitimacy of the applicant and the
reference. Arthur Young made a motion to separate the applicants into
two groups:
1-
Familiar applicants that are to be accepted immediately
2-
Unfamiliar applicants that are to be accepted upon further
investigation of the Vice Chair to confirm their place of employment
Bill
Watson seconded the motion. The motion passed with no opposition.
A
motion was made to accept the applicants with the provision that Pat
Graham would first need to verify the employment of Lynnett Patricia
Redhead and Rosalind Antoinette Bowman. Joe Warren seconded the
motion. The motion passed with no opposition.
Catherine
Caballero gave a Treasury Report citing a balance of $2764.70. This
balance reflects current dues collected and costs for plaques,
website maintenance, meeting refreshments, etc.
Catherine
Caballero spoke briefly on the status of the www.afdaa.org website.
The only two pages left to be completed are the "About Us"
and the "Job Opportunities" pages. These two pages are
expected to be completed within the next month.
Now
that AFDAA is supplying certificates and some of the refreshments at
each meeting, we are now incurring a cost per member of attendance.
It was brought to the group's attention that approximately half of
the attendees at this meeting were non-members. A motion was made by
Bill Watson to establish a $5.00 fee for non-members attending the
AFDAA meetings. Gary Molina seconded the motion. The motion passed
with no opposition.
Ron
brought the topic of establishing a Student Membership up for
discussion. Bill Watson pointed out that the By-laws state that a
member must be an active member in the forensic community and
students would not be considered active members. The consensus was
that students may continue to attend the meetings; however, no
Student Membership will be established.
Ron
announced that we will be asking for registration for the next
meeting. Catherine will provide registration on our website.
Gary
Molina announced that the possibility of securing room at the
Academy for the next meeting does not look good. Angelina Reeves
suggested that we might check into working with local hotels to
receive discounts. Catherine agreed to also include a mechanism to
get members in touch with other members that would like to share
hotel rooms for the next meeting in January.
Ron
Rubocki began a discussion regarding members who do not attend
meetings. Arthur Young made a motion to begin the process of amending
the By-laws to require member attendance of one meeting in a
three-year period. Aliece Watts seconded the motion. The motion
passed with no opposition.
Ron
presented Patricia Graham with a plaque acknowledging appreciation
for her AFDAA service as Vice Chair 2001-2002.
Ron
presented Catherine Caballero with a plaque acknowledging
appreciation for her AFDAA service as Treasurer 2001-2002.
Ron
solicited nominations for the position of Treasurer. No nominations
were brought forth. Ron asked Catherine Caballero is she would be
interested in accepting another term. The members voted and Catherine
Caballero was elected to serve term 2003-2004 as Treasurer.
No
nominations for the position of Vice Chair were brought forth. Both
Joe Warren and Wil Young volunteered to run for Vice Chair in the
event that there were no nominations. The members voted and Wil Young
was elected to serve as Vice Chair for the 2003-2004 term.
Ron
Rubocki announced that he is setting up an ad-hoc committee to
investigate a complaint regarding AFDAA members that might not be
abiding by the AFDAA By-laws. If the ad-hoc committee finds evidence
of any by-law violation(s), a letter will be sent to the members to
provide them the opportunity to respond. If we proceed forward, the
ad-hoc committee will present the findings to the group at the next
meeting and allow the member(s) in question to address the group, as
well. A vote to revoke membership will then be presented to the group.
Ron
asked everyone to e-mail him with ideas for the January meeting.
George
Schiro announced that there will be a SAFS meeting held in Biloxi,
MS on Sept 30 - Oct 3. He also asked anyone who would like to present
papers to contact him.
Bill
Watson announced that he is working with Joe Warren and Ray
Wickenheiser to organize a workshop for Low Copy Number to be
conducted at the next American Academy of Forensic Science meeting
held in Chicago next February. If anyone has any low copy number
cases and/or would like to participate in this workshop, contact Bill Watson.
A
motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Joe Warren and seconded by
Bill Watson. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at
approximately 12:35 p.m.
Minutes
respectively submitted by Catherine Caballero, acting as Secretary
for the July 2002 AFDAA meeting. |
