LASER SAFETY OFFICER training at SELEM this year

[buffo]

Hey everyone!

Just got off the phone with Greg Makhov over at LSDI. He is available to teach another ILDA LSO class on Monday, August 20th after SELEM.

We are still checking on a few details, including pricing, but he said that as long as we can get at least 4 people signed up, it will cover the expenses needed to hold the class. Also, he's checking with Patrick concerning those people who took the class last year and didn't pass the test. For sure you will be able to take the test again for free this year, but we are unsure whether you can also attend the class again for free or not. (He is checking on this right now.)

I will post here with more pricing details as soon as they become available, but for those of you who have not yet taken the class and are interested, please reply below so we can get a rough head-count now. (Would really like to know as soon as possible if we have the minimum so we can nail down the schedule for Greg, as he is very busy...)

Note: this LSO class is not designed for beginners. There is a lot of information to cover, and some of it is advanced material. Also, at times the pace is rather quick, since everything has to be done in a single day. But Greg is a fantastic teacher, and he will stop to answer questions if you get lost. If you are wondering if you are ready for this class or not, ask yourself the following:

Do you understand terms like divergence, maximum permissible exposure, and irradiance? Are you familiar with 21 CFR 1040? And perhaps most importantly, do you plan to perform laser shows for the general public in the future?

If you can honestly answer yes to these questions, you're ready. Plan to bring a laptop computer to the class (helps to find things on the Internet) and be ready to learn from someone with TRUCKLOADS of experience.

Adam

[araugh]

Took this last year and it was extremely informative. It's also the least painful LSO course you can sit through.

[Bradfo69]

According to what I received from last year, those who did not pass can take it again for free within 24 months - I'll go back and see if that was specifically the test or the calss too. I'm in regardless, as I was going to go to fly to ILDA for perhaps just that one day.

[platinum]

I'm in.

[buffo]

Some more details on the LSO class:

The price will be $445 per person. Class will start at 8 AM the Monday after SELEM (August 20th) in the conference room at the Holiday Inn Express. The class will run until around 6 PM or so.

If you are a current (2012) member of ILDA, then the class will only cost $395. (They give ILDA members a $50 discount.)

If you took the class last year and didn't pass, you can re-take the test for free, but you will need to stick around until the end of the class to take it. Obviously the questions will be different, but the subject matter will be the same. However, if you want to repeat the class before you re-take the test, you you have to pay half the cost of the class in order to repeat it.

Registration for the LSO class will be through the ILDA website. Patrick Murphy has to set this up, and when I last checked, the ILDA website wasn't showing the SELEM LSO class yet. But Patrick should have that done soon. You should contact him for more information about how to register.

Adam

[buffo]

OK, more details on the LSO class. I just received this message from Patrick Murphy:

I am pleased to say that Greg Makhov will be available to teach the ILDA LSO course at SELEM on Monday, August 20 2012. We will require a minimum of 4 people who have paid the full (non-discounted) rate, in order for the class to take place.

Information about the course is available at http://www.laserist.org/LSOcourse.htm

Registration is now open at the ILDA Online Store website, at http://www.laserist.org/mm

Note from Adam: (Click on the "online store" button on the left of the page, or, if you are an ILDA member, log in first and then click on the store.)

There is an early registration rate, through July 31, of $395 for ILDA Members and $445 for non-ILDA members. Anyone registering may wish to check out ILDA Membership pricing first, since it could be advantageous for them to join ILDA and use the $50 Member discount.

On August 1 and afterwards, the registration fee will go up $50. It will be $445 for ILDA Members and $495 for non-ILDA members. This is to encourage early registration during the remainder of July.

FOR PERSONS RE-TAKING THE CLASS

If a person took the LSO class at SELEM last year (2011) but did not pass, there are two special options:

1) They can take the test only (not the class lecture) for free. This is a one-time "do over" chance for that person. Note that the questions will be different; the overall topics and degree of difficulty will be the same. This will test whether the person now has a better understanding of basic laser safety concepts.

2) They can take the class lecture and the test for half-price. This also is a one-time "do over" chance for that person. Personally, I would recommend this since A) they will get to tackle the concepts again and B) they can ask Greg in class to go over any concepts they don't understand. The price will be half of whatever rate they qualify for (e.g., depending on whether they are a Member and whether they register during July or during August). To get this price THEY MUST E-MAIL ME PERSONALLY at mail@laserist.org. I will set up the Online Store so it bills them the correct discounted (half) price.

If anyone has questions, please email me. Thanks very much for making the opportunity possible!

-- Patrick

So there you have it folks. I hope everyone takes advantage of the early pricing. If you've got any questions, Patrick's e-mail address is mail@laserist.org.

Adam

[buffo]

OK people, we are just over 2 weeks away from the start of SELEM... So far no one has signed up for the LSO class yet.

Greg said he needed at least 4 people to sign up for the class in order for him to do it. If we don't get 4 people, there won't be a class this year.

Greg is ready to book his flight, hotel, and rental car right now, but we don't have the people yet.

So if anyone wants to take the LSO class at SELEM this year, either for the first time or as a repeat for 1/2 the cost, then please go to the ILDA website store ( http://www.laserist.org/mm ) and sign up now. (If there aren't enough people to do the class, ILDA will refund your money.)

Adam

[DanG]

One of our staff has registered so that's one at least!

[buffo]

Hi Dan;

OK, I know that Jonathan (Platinum) wanted to take the class, and another Jonathan (DreamBeamz) was also thinking about taking it. So if those two sign up, that makes three in total. Then Matt (DJMatt) and Jeff (RGB-gas) were both talking about re-taking the class for half-price, so if they both do that, then we're up to 4 people (equivalent), and that's what we need.

We've got 2 weeks to go folks... If you want to take this class, please go to the ILDA website and sign up now.

Adam

[platinum]

I have to play it by ear at this point. I have a million things shifting around right now and I'm not sure I have the time or funds for this class or even SELEM itself but that's how it is pretty much every year I go to SELEM so we'll see how it goes.

- Jonathan