Make your plans now to attend the ISEE 44th Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique, and register before Nov. 30 to receive discounted early bird rates. As many as 1,600 blasters, manufacturers, government officials and suppliers gather from all over the world to gain new insights and to form new business alliances. Participation will be strong as the largest conference of its kind in the explosives industry comes together in San Antonio. Register online today!

Countdown to Safety
Monday, Jan. 29, 2018
8 a.m.
Opening Speaker and astronaut Mike Mullane will deliver a powerful message on an employee's role in keeping themselves and their teams safe in hazardous environments during his talk entitled, "Countdown to Safety." He uses the space shuttle Challenger disaster to define this term, its safety consequences and how individuals and teams can defend themselves from the phenomenon.

Mullane was selected as a mission specialist in 1978 in the first group of space shuttle astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the shuttles Discovery and Atlantis before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.

Emerging Professionals Social - Open to All
Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
This exciting event runs from 7 - 9 p.m. Sunday at the historical Alamo! With food, refreshments and games, the Alamo provides the perfect backdrop to meet new colleagues, share ideas, and build a stronger network while having fun.

Grand Finale Gala
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Raise a glass to celebrate new friendships, new business contacts, and renewed acquaintances. This new exciting gala event is the largest social gathering of the year in the explosives industry. Share a delightful evening together as we give accolades to the newest Distinguished Service Award winner. Grab a refreshing cocktail, enjoy an appetizing bite, and be a part of the fun and festivities. All registered attendees are invited and attire is casual.

The ISEE Board of Directors Election is now underway. Eligible voters, all members in good standing with the exception of student members, can cast votes until Nov. 30, 2017.

Eligible voters with an email on file should have received an email with step-by-step instructions for casting a vote online. Members who don’t have an email address on file will soon be receiving print ballots in the mail.

Elected officers and directors for 2018 will take office at the 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique to be held Jan. 28–31, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas.

Your opinion matters. Take part in this year’s election. For more information, contact us at isee@isee.org.

For the first time ever, the SEE Education Foundation is taking its annual fundraiser, the SEE Education Foundation Auction, online. This is an exciting development for the SEE Education Foundation. The auction will feature the traditional preview sheets at the annual conference and items will be available for viewing at the gala reception. However, bidding will take place on the auction website. The auction is open to members, industry professionals and supporters around the world. The online bidding process includes out-bid notifications so you won’t lose out on your favorite packages and the checkout process will be faster and easier.

There are many items already posted to the auction site and are available for bidding from now until Jan. 30, 2018. As in previous years, the SEE Education Foundation will be auctioning off a variety of fun, priceless and unique items to raise money for the Education Foundation Scholarship Fund which supports students pursuing degrees in explosives-related fields.

You can support these fundraising efforts by bidding on the amazing packages we have up for auction, or you can make a donation to the Education Foundation Scholarship Fund without bidding. The auction culminates at the Grand Finale Gala at the 44th Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique. Please submit your bids, track your favorites, set alerts and make these items yours, all while supporting the Education Foundation's efforts.

Have you recently worked on a project that focuses on fragmentation by blasting? This is your chance to get your research published.

Submit your paper today, including tables, graphics and images. Be sure to state the name of the paper and the purpose of publication in the journal when submitting. The publisher or the editors-in-chief can supply relevant instructions for preparing your manuscript if you have any questions. They can be reached via email at blastfragsubscriptions@isee.org.

About the Blasting and Fragmentation Journal
Edited and reviewed by expert researchers, industry professionals and academics, Blasting and Fragmentation presents contemporary analysis of engineering practices as related to explosives application to rock. It is published twice a year.

The Emerging Professionals Section has accomplished a lot since its creation on Jan. 1, 2017. The objective of the section is to grow involvement in the society by engaging, retaining and mentoring new members through networking opportunities and guidance. And the group is always looking for new members to help.

Who can be a member of the Emerging Professionals?
There is no restriction on who can be a member of the Emerging Professionals Section. The target demographic is a non-student member of ISEE in the first 15 years of their career. This could be a recent graduate now working in the industry, a person entering the explosives industry from a different industry, a driller or blaster who wants to get involved with ISEE, or anyone who wants to be more involved in ISEE.

Other Ways to Get Involved
Look out for the Emerging Professionals Social at the 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique in San Antonio, Texas. The social is open to all and bridges the gap between experienced mentors and those just starting in the industry. All conference attendees are invited to the event that will be from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 at The Alamo.

Emerging Professionals Social sponsorships are also still available. Contact John Rathbun at jrathbun@swenergy.com if your organization would like to become a sponsor and be recognized at the conference.

The Emerging Professionals is looking for table hosts for the Student Industry Connection, which will be held 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. No presentation is required. Just come ready for casual conversation with small groups of students about your career path. If you would like to help, please contact Evan Thibaud at ethibaud@maxam.net.

Do you have a knack for photography and some great shots of a recent job you’d like to share? Submit them to our 25th annual photo contest for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to the ISEE Bookstore. The winner will be announced during our 44th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique held Jan. 28–31, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. The deadline to enter is Dec. 1, 2017. So what are you waiting for? Download an entry form today.

Attached is a PHMSA letter to Mr. Tom Dunaway, longtime ISEE member and president of Tom Dunaway and Associates, Inc., Reference No. 16-0182 in response to a Nov. 3, 2016, "Request for Clarification" letter he sent to PHMSA.

In summary, the response states that after July 5, 2017, a shipping paper may no longer display the packing group (PG) II designation for those Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) entries changed in HM-218H.
Effective July 5, 2017, you would be in violation if you display the PG II designation for Class 1 explosives on your shipping papers. Anyone receiving a violation prior to July 5, 2017 can challenge it by using the Data Q.
Please refer to the link below to view the PHMSA letter Reference No. 16-0182.

The O*NET Data Collection Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is seeking the input of expert explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts and Blasters. O*NET (Occupational Information Network) is a free online database accessed by millions of students, job seekers and employers for career exploration and job analysis-- it is America's primary source of occupational information.

A random sample of experts responding to this request will be invited to complete a set of questionnaires (paper or online versions available), and $40.00 in cash as well as a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor will be included with the questionnaires.

If you are interested in participating as an occupation expert, please call Tammy Belcher at 877-233-7348, ext. 119, or email tbelcher@onet.rti.org.

Did you know the ISEE has an online career center that offers discounts to members looking to post jobs? Whether you’re a student looking for an internship or a business looking for a seasoned professional in the explosives industry, the ISEE job board, located at the ISEE website, is a great way to get noticed.

And one of the best parts is that it’s free for job seekers. Upload your resume today to get the attention of job posters or browse the job board for the latest openings. Visit the career center now.

Nov. 16-17, 2017
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel

Nov. 20-21, 2017
Queensland, Australia

Dec. 7-8, 2017
Lexington, Ky.

Dec. 7, 2017
Hudson, Mass.

Dec. 13, 2017