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 Now Accepting Applications for Scholastic year 2013-2014

The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation is now accepting applications for scholarships for the 2013-2014 scholastic year, for students who are Hispanic/Latino or of Hispanic/Latino descent. (Tab “The Chamber,” Scholarship Fund, in this website.)
Application deadline is June 30, 2013.
For more information, e-mail us at: chamber@pmahcc.org

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World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh Upcoming Events and Programs

Political Salon
Women in Cuba: Emerging Trends and Lessons for U.S. Policy to the Region
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Sarah Stephens, Executive Director, Center for Democracy in the Americas
With Raúl Castro’s recent announcement that he will resign at the end of his current term and the Cuban government’s efforts to introduce economic reform, it is well worth watching the developments in Cuba.
Join the Council and a leading Cuba expert to learn more about the influential island nation and those who shape it — as well as the economic, political, and social influencing not just Cuba but Latin America as a whole.

Encore Presentation!
Breaking Barriers: Educate a Girl and Change the World
Monday, March 25, 2013
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Special Screening of Girl Rising and Panel Discussion
After “selling out” on March 12, Bricolage, the World Affairs Council, and the YWCA are hosting a second screening of selected chapters from “Girl Rising” and organizing another panel discussion to delve deeper into the challenges girls around the world face as they strive to be educated. Come back and continue the conversation! Tell your friends!

Public Policy Discussion and Luncheon
New Opportunities: The Franco-American Partnership and the Transatlantic Relationship
Thursday, March 28, 2013
12:00 – 1:45 p.m.
His Excellency François Delattre, Ambassador of France to the United States
We may currently be in a new era of French foreign policy. France’s recently elected President François Hollande emphasized France’s ability to strike out on its own if necessary. Nearly 4,000 French military personnel are now working with Malian troops to root out and destroy al-Qaeda linked insurgents throughout the North African nation. How will France’s new foreign policy initiatives further shape the Franco-American partnership and the transatlantic dialogue?
Join the Council and France’s chief diplomat in the U.S. for a discussion on France’s developing foreign policy and its dynamic relationship with the United States.

Policy Discussion and Luncheon
After Chavez: What’s Next for Venezuela?
April 1, 2013
Monday, 12:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Miguel Diaz, Former Director of the South America Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Just weeks after his death, the debate rages over the legacy of Hugo Chavez. Foreign policy analysts and pundits have offered eulogies ranging from caustic to something resembling admiration. No matter where one stands, one fact is clear: After fourteen years, Venezuela is no longer under the control of Chavez. In a period of transition, whither Venezuela? On the heels of such dramatic change in Venezuela, join the Council for a discussion with a veteran Latin America analyst.

Breakfast Briefing
It’s the Energy Mix, Stupid!  Energy Security through Fuel Competition
Friday, April 5, 2013
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Anne Korin, Co-Director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security
The National Intelligence Council recently released “Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds,” a framework that has predicted U.S. energy independence within the next fifteen years. The U.S. is not alone in this pursuit. The world over, decision makers and opinion leaders are reevaluating their respective countries’ energy mix, and looking for ways to become energy independent. How should the U.S. and the international community envision energy security in the 21st century?
Join the Council as a leading global energy analyst discusses what energy security really means — and how the global race for it affects us all.

For information about all upcoming programs, please visit us online.
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
2640 BNY Mellon Center, 500 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2510
Phone: 412-281-7970 | welcome@worldpittsburgh.org | www.worldpittsburgh.org

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FREE Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Seminar Series

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the principal set of rules containing policies and procedures that govern the acquisition activity of the federal government.  Its purpose is to ensure purchasing procedures are standard, consistent and conducted in a fair and impartial manner.  The FAR applies to all federal executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services.  FAR regulations govern the three phases of the acquisition process: acquisition planning, contract formulation and contract administration.

This free seminar series consists of four sessions that will be fast-paced and address many sections of the FAR.  Companies who have laid the groundwork for federal procurement or who are already involved are encouraged to attend.  To fully benefit from this training we recommend you attend all four sessions.

Thursday, March 14, 2013
CAL U Convocation Center, California, PA
FAR Part 1 – Marketing and Winning  Federal Contracts
FAR Part 2 – Negotiated Procurement  and Negotiation

Thursday, May 9, 2013
Regional Learning Alliance,  Cranberry Township, PA
FAR Part 3 – Regulatory and Legal  Management of Federal Contracts
FAR Part 4 – Financial Management of Federal Contracts

The presenter for this seminar series is Barbara Weaver, PCR-CMR, U.S. Small Business Administration.  She is responsible for providing support, training and advocacy to small businesses doing business with the federal government.  Additionally, Barbara Weaver provides oversight for federal contracting offices and prime contractors to ensure that small businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in acquisitions and subcontracts.

Before attending this seminar series become familiar with the FAR at http://farsite.hill.af.mil.
Register on-line for the March all day seminar at http://cupgaco.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=78.
Registration for the May seminar is being done separately. Information will be sent at a later date.
If you have questions about the registration process or seminar content, please contact Tracy Julian at 724-938-5881 or julian@calu.edu.

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Week 3 – ERT, Evidence Response Team

CSI, Bones, NCIS…for real!

by Joe Manich

2013-03-20

Week three, not quite to the half way mark of the program. We feel more comfortable with our new FBI friends, the FBI surroundings and each of our 2013 classmates.

This week, we left the confines of the  Pittsburgh FBI field-office and went a couple of blocks down to where the ERT squad calls home.

There we were met by the SA (Special Agent) that leads the team.  One big surprise: she is the ONLY full time person in ERT, the rest, up to 24 more agents and support personnel, are part timers.  Meaning that they have other actual jobs within the FBI and somewhat volunteer or double duty as ERT squad members.

Some history: the ERT group was started in 1994.  It was a direct reaction for the FBI needs to be independent when processing crime scenes and not have the dependency on local police departments.

Once the program got rolling, the FBI developed to a formidable team that performs everything from finger-prints collection, underwater search, hazardous materials (haz-mat) collection, victim Recovery team (with special dogs), human scent evidence teams (more dogs), Forensic anthropology (a la TV series Bones), to Post Blast/Bombing investigations.

Next the Special Agent went through several famous cases where the different ERTs have been involved, a surprising many outside the US!  The one that got everyone’s attention were the pictures and tales of that fateful day in September 2001.

When news of the Twin towers hit in NYC, the Pittsburgh team was in stand-by, thinking that they would have to go and lend a hand.  Then they heard about the Pentagon strike and they thought perhaps they will be called to go to DC (due to the proximity of Pittsburgh to the DC area), but then UA Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, PA they knew then, this was to be their destination.  The Pittsburgh team was joined by 6 or so other ERT teams from the midwest.  The plane came down, upside down, at a 45 deg angle into the woods and mine fields of Shanksville.  The next 2 weeks will occupy these people with the careful search and cataloging of the remains of the innocent passengers, and other materials, including the black box (which we are orange!), to piece together that last moments of Flight 93.

So after the riveting presentations, our class was divided into 4 groups and we were to have some hands-on ERT experience!  But first the SA demonstrated how we can study bullet trajectory by studying a file cabinet full of bullet holes, and with the aid of some sticks with lasers at the end, you can pinpoint the origin of the shot.  This involves the lasers, a darken room, and a cool spray that whose particulate reflects the later allowing you to see the trajectory.  Very cool!

Fingerprint lifted from a wine bottle.

My group drew the finger printing station first.  There were several items on 2 tables: wine bottle, coke cans, and other objects.  Agents where at hand, who explained the basic use of the different dust and brush equipment that will aid us in the retrieval of the fingerprints.  The key thing to remember: less is more, when it comes to the different powders!  The powder tends to adhere to the grease our hands leave behind when we touch these objects.  Once the fingerprint is showing, protocol calls for photographing first, then use special adhesive “tape” that will ten lift the print off the object.  All is then sent to the FBI labs for processing and cataloging as evidence in the case.

Next station we were introduced to the use of light and filters to see what we cannot see at plain sight.  Most of the times, this is used to find traces of blood, even after the perpetrator attempted to clean.

Then the next group showed us how a room were a crime was committed is processed.  Two agents were at hand and they showed a number of tiles and rugs stained in different ways.  They quizzed us to see if we could correctly identify blood vs ketchup or theatrical blood.  Almost always we were wrong.

In the last station, the two agents showed techniques used to lift footprints.  One of the techniques, used powders similar to the ones used for fingerprinting, but were then lifted using a metallic film and static electricity.  The procedure involved placing the film on top of the powdered print area, then placing  a gadget that puts an electric current over the film.  Press firmly and you have lifted your boot print!

So, not as glamorous as CSI Miami, but I was positively impressed, once again, by the dedication of the local agents.

Next week, Violent Crimes, gangs, and polygraphs…