Awards and Honors - Lawrence

An eclectic collection of scannable awards

Various odd awards and certificates and such for Lawrence Charters. This selection is in no particular order, and is more whimsical than useful. These were discovered and, in most cases, discarded, while packing up to move across a continent.

Some of these involved years of effort and hard word. Others are the result of putting computers to working hard. Several were entirely electronic, and never printed on paper, unless you happen to print something.

If you are a federal worker, a supervisor can (occasionally) allow you to go home up to 59 minutes early. Not an hour, just 59 minutes. And there has to be a good reason.
If you are a federal worker, a supervisor can (occasionally) allow you to go home up to 59 minutes early. Not an hour, just 59 minutes. And there has to be a good reason.
I collected probably a dozen of these. I never had a chance to use them because I was always busy.
I collected probably a dozen of these. I never had a chance to use them because I was always busy.
I did try and convince one supervisor that, having collected a wall full of these, I should just take the week off. She was sympathetic. But -- no.
I did try and convince one supervisor that, having collected a wall full of these, I should just take the week off. She was sympathetic. But -- no.
AIX is an IBM version of the AT&T Unix operating system, better known for use by Sun Microsystems, Apple, and UC Berkeley.
AIX is an IBM version of the AT&T Unix operating system, better known for use by Sun Microsystems, Apple, and UC Berkeley.
To teach children about how personal action, water, wildlife, and food all interact, National Ocean Service partnered with a local school to design an online game. My job was to make it secure, and playable over the web.
To teach children about how personal action, water, wildlife, and food all interact, National Ocean Service partnered with a local school to design an online game. My job was to make it secure, and playable over the web.
For 15 years of federal gvernment service.
For 15 years of federal gvernment service.
For 10 years of federal government service.
For 10 years of federal government service.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill created a huge labor crunch as people were sent off at short notice to deal with the oil spill. I was not, but spent 10 days on 18 hour shifts updating public websites with critical environmental information about the spill as the tragedy unfolded.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill created a huge labor crunch as people were sent off at short notice to deal with the oil spill. I was not, but spent 10 days on 18 hour shifts updating public websites with critical environmental information about the spill as the tragedy unfolded.
Special certificate awarded for work during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Special certificate awarded for work during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Letter from Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce, acknowledging work on Deepwater Horizon.
Letter from Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce, acknowledging work on Deepwater Horizon.
My mother, for her 60th birthday, wanted to ride in a hit air balloon. Weather and the Sept. 11, 2001, attack made the 2001 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta too challenging, so she went the next year, and I went with her.
My mother, for her 60th birthday, wanted to ride in a hit air balloon. Weather and the Sept. 11, 2001, attack made the 2001 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta too challenging, so she went the next year, and I went with her.
The United States Naval Institute is devoted to advancing maritime services and sea power through scholarship and leadership.
The United States Naval Institute is devoted to advancing maritime services and sea power through scholarship and leadership.
A Contracting Officer Representative (COR) is a federal employee tasked with making sure contracts, and contractors, provide the goods and services the government purchased.
A Contracting Officer Representative (COR) is a federal employee tasked with making sure contracts, and contractors, provide the goods and services the government purchased.
Every year federal workers are required to take safety and environmental training.
Every year federal workers are required to take safety and environmental training.
Every year federal workers are required to take IT security awareness courses.
Every year federal workers are required to take IT security awareness courses.
Every year federal workers are required to take IT security awareness courses. The award looks almost identical to the previous year, but to keep people on their toes, the course and quizes are different.
Every year federal workers are required to take IT security awareness courses. The award looks almost identical to the previous year, but to keep people on their toes, the course and quizes are different.
No longer content with having IT security awareness courses, NOAA invested in the word
No longer content with having IT security awareness courses, NOAA invested in the word "cyber."
Every year, you have to take a course telling you how to fill out your electronic time card. And yes, it is called T&A, to almost everyone's amusement.
Every year, you have to take a course telling you how to fill out your electronic time card. And yes, it is called T&A, to almost everyone's amusement.
If you are over a certain pay grade, you are required to take ethics training. This seems appropriate, as the higher the pay grade, the more you are prone to stumble on ethical conundrums.
If you are over a certain pay grade, you are required to take ethics training. This seems appropriate, as the higher the pay grade, the more you are prone to stumble on ethical conundrums.
FOSE (formerly Federal Office Systrems Expo) was origionally a trade show featuring desks and chairs and such, and became a show about computers and computer systems. In order to convince agencies it had educational value, they started offering workshops and panels.
FOSE (formerly Federal Office Systrems Expo) was origionally a trade show featuring desks and chairs and such, and became a show about computers and computer systems. In order to convince agencies it had educational value, they started offering workshops and panels.
A GSA SmartPay travel card is -- a credit card. If you take a government-ordered trip, you charge travel, food, and lodging to the card. You can't charge clothing, dental work, movies, gardening, or anything beyond travel, food and lodging, but people do strange things, anyway, so you must take the course.
A GSA SmartPay travel card is -- a credit card. If you take a government-ordered trip, you charge travel, food, and lodging to the card. You can't charge clothing, dental work, movies, gardening, or anything beyond travel, food and lodging, but people do strange things, anyway, so you must take the course.
A course designed to teach you, apparently, to at least be aware of security.
A course designed to teach you, apparently, to at least be aware of security.
I always wondered what the gold stars were for, but didn't wonder enough to ask. I doubt anyone had an answer.
I always wondered what the gold stars were for, but didn't wonder enough to ask. I doubt anyone had an answer.
The No Fear Act, which is supposed to protect workers from retaliation for whistleblowing and otherwise reporting things that are illegal or dangerous, does not leave employees less fearful since there seems to be little interest in enforcing the law. But employees must be trained on it, anyway.
The No Fear Act, which is supposed to protect workers from retaliation for whistleblowing and otherwise reporting things that are illegal or dangerous, does not leave employees less fearful since there seems to be little interest in enforcing the law. But employees must be trained on it, anyway.
More training on the No Fear Act, which does not, in fact, reduce any degree of fear for reporting wrongdoing.
More training on the No Fear Act, which does not, in fact, reduce any degree of fear for reporting wrongdoing.
Not content with training once, I was told to take it again because the computer ate its homework or in some other fashion could not be convinced I'd taken the training.
Not content with training once, I was told to take it again because the computer ate its homework or in some other fashion could not be convinced I'd taken the training.
Still lacking any faith that the act protects anyone from retaiiation, but taking the training, anyway.
Still lacking any faith that the act protects anyone from retaiiation, but taking the training, anyway.
Taking a 2013 course in 2012 to get a jump on safety.
Taking a 2013 course in 2012 to get a jump on safety.
Being both safe and environmentally aware in 2014.
Being both safe and environmentally aware in 2014.
2014 Time & Attendance training. Should have trained us not to call it T&A.
2014 Time & Attendance training. Should have trained us not to call it T&A.
The Department of Commerce purchased a software package allowing you to record time and attendance with a web browser. You had to take a course to use the software. This was above and beyond the course to teach you how to record time and attendance, which should not be called T&A, even though the software had that in the name.
The Department of Commerce purchased a software package allowing you to record time and attendance with a web browser. You had to take a course to use the software. This was above and beyond the course to teach you how to record time and attendance, which should not be called T&A, even though the software had that in the name.
OK, so you have a course on recording Time and Attendance.. But maybe you should also have a course on doing this *accurately*. Note elapsed time for taking the course.
OK, so you have a course on recording Time and Attendance.. But maybe you should also have a course on doing this *accurately*. Note elapsed time for taking the course.
Assuming you were somewhat accurate in 2014, we would like to teach you how to be accurate in 2015, too.
Assuming you were somewhat accurate in 2014, we would like to teach you how to be accurate in 2015, too.
The US government wants you to work from home as it saves on office space and equipment, commute time, improves air quality, etc. But there are rules.
The US government wants you to work from home as it saves on office space and equipment, commute time, improves air quality, etc. But there are rules.
You know that course we had you take for how to telework? We lost the record, so could you take it again?
You know that course we had you take for how to telework? We lost the record, so could you take it again?
More stuff you should know about telework.
More stuff you should know about telework.
Everything you might want to know if you are a fed and wish to telework, circa 2016.
Everything you might want to know if you are a fed and wish to telework, circa 2016.
Despite the certificate, my GSA SmartPay Travel Card (a Visa card) never seemed particularly well trained, or smart.
Despite the certificate, my GSA SmartPay Travel Card (a Visa card) never seemed particularly well trained, or smart.
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a British plot to use American system analysis and performance principles, repackage them, and sell them back to American institutions as high-level training on how to manage high-level enterprises.
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a British plot to use American system analysis and performance principles, repackage them, and sell them back to American institutions as high-level training on how to manage high-level enterprises.
You can manage projects for years but it doesn't count if you don't have paper to show for it.
You can manage projects for years but it doesn't count if you don't have paper to show for it.
Yes, it is possible to get training in weaving dreams.
Yes, it is possible to get training in weaving dreams.
JavaScript is one language used by websites to tell web browsers how to handle things when a visitor looks at something on a website.
JavaScript is one language used by websites to tell web browsers how to handle things when a visitor looks at something on a website.
In recognition of 25 years of federal service.
In recognition of 25 years of federal service.
While in San Diego, long, long ago, I helped Apple design the first version of a course that morphed into this.
While in San Diego, long, long ago, I helped Apple design the first version of a course that morphed into this.
My colleagues awarded me this based on my habit of explaining science and policy based on historical precedent or, sometimes, chronology and causality.
My colleagues awarded me this based on my habit of explaining science and policy based on historical precedent or, sometimes, chronology and causality.
NOAA, representing the US to the WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas), needed a rapid revision of their website before the start of a large international conference.
NOAA, representing the US to the WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas), needed a rapid revision of their website before the start of a large international conference.
The Office of Personal Management conducted a workshop at a Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife facility for my office at NOAA. Government cooperation at its finest.
The Office of Personal Management conducted a workshop at a Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife facility for my office at NOAA. Government cooperation at its finest.
FYI, I was born in the Year of the Dragon.
FYI, I was born in the Year of the Dragon.
For support of the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution.
For support of the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Certificate showing some level of expertise in using MySQL (a type of database engine) to serve up information over the web.
Certificate showing some level of expertise in using MySQL (a type of database engine) to serve up information over the web.
Mac OS X Server was a massive leap in capability for microcomputers, putting a full Unix server in the hands of mere mortals via a graphical user interface. But to cause real damage, you needed to also know how to tell it what to do from a terminal using Unix commands, most of them written by Martians.
Mac OS X Server was a massive leap in capability for microcomputers, putting a full Unix server in the hands of mere mortals via a graphical user interface. But to cause real damage, you needed to also know how to tell it what to do from a terminal using Unix commands, most of them written by Martians.
Phelps Luck Elementary School awarded this certificate for terrorizing students on a field trip to Gettysburg. People should be warned when an historian goes on a field trip to an historic site with small children. The children learned a great deal about Japanese history, and quite a bit about the American Civil War, too.
Phelps Luck Elementary School awarded this certificate for terrorizing students on a field trip to Gettysburg. People should be warned when an historian goes on a field trip to an historic site with small children. The children learned a great deal about Japanese history, and quite a bit about the American Civil War, too.
First place photograph of boats along the Thames at Oxford.
First place photograph of boats along the Thames at Oxford.
Third place photograph of the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, destroyed in an infamous bombing raid by Nazi Germany.
Third place photograph of the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, destroyed in an infamous bombing raid by Nazi Germany.
Third place photograph of Shay Doron, a University of Maryland Women's basketball star guard, showing her dribbling downcourt, over and through anything in her path.
Third place photograph of Shay Doron, a University of Maryland Women's basketball star guard, showing her dribbling downcourt, over and through anything in her path.
The Western Management Development Center is located in Denver. The instructor's table has a large supply of headache tablets -- aspirin, Tylenol, etc. This is allegedly because the altitude induces headaches, and not that team project management induces headaches.
The Western Management Development Center is located in Denver. The instructor's table has a large supply of headache tablets -- aspirin, Tylenol, etc. This is allegedly because the altitude induces headaches, and not that team project management induces headaches.
For a decade or so, I served as a judge of mostly computer science projects at Howard County Mathematics, Science, and Technology Fairs. I gave every student I judged a NOAA lapel pin, with a hope that the best and the brightest would enter environmental sciences.
For a decade or so, I served as a judge of mostly computer science projects at Howard County Mathematics, Science, and Technology Fairs. I gave every student I judged a NOAA lapel pin, with a hope that the best and the brightest would enter environmental sciences.
Watching someone hack into a website before your eyes is impressive when you are in the audience, but less impressive if someone asks you to help bail them out when it is happening to them.
Watching someone hack into a website before your eyes is impressive when you are in the audience, but less impressive if someone asks you to help bail them out when it is happening to them.
After completing 1000 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is of a gaseous nebula.
After completing 1000 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is of a gaseous nebula.
After completing 100 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is a visualization of data analysis using FFE (transforms using Fast Fourier Equations).
After completing 100 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is a visualization of data analysis using FFE (transforms using Fast Fourier Equations).
After completing 2500 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is from the VLA (Very Large Array) radio telescope in New Mexico.
After completing 2500 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is from the VLA (Very Large Array) radio telescope in New Mexico.
After completing 250 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is (I think) the building at UC Berkeley where the SETI program resided.
After completing 250 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is (I think) the building at UC Berkeley where the SETI program resided.
After completing 500 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is the Green Bank radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.
After completing 500 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is the Green Bank radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.
After completing 750 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is a repeat of the Green Bank radio telescope, in Green Bank, West Virginia.
After completing 750 workunits of searching for aliens. The illustration is a repeat of the Green Bank radio telescope, in Green Bank, West Virginia.
The Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics is one of the oldest scholarly conferences on applying computers, information technology, and data sciences to nursing and health care.
The Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics is one of the oldest scholarly conferences on applying computers, information technology, and data sciences to nursing and health care.
Washington Apple Pi's website (www.wap.org) first went live in 1995, using a PowerBook 140 as the server. No, really, it did.
Washington Apple Pi's website (www.wap.org) first went live in 1995, using a PowerBook 140 as the server. No, really, it did.
While some conspiracy theorists think the Y2K controversy was a joke, in reality, keeping everything working involved millions of hours of work, world wide, and billions of dollars to replace equipment that could not be fixed with software.
While some conspiracy theorists think the Y2K controversy was a joke, in reality, keeping everything working involved millions of hours of work, world wide, and billions of dollars to replace equipment that could not be fixed with software.
It isn't every day that a Far East Asian historian gets awarded nursing education credits.
It isn't every day that a Far East Asian historian gets awarded nursing education credits.
The Planetary Society (founded by Carl Sagan) certified my efforts at finding aliens.
The Planetary Society (founded by Carl Sagan) certified my efforts at finding aliens.
Though I was not a member, I delivered a keynote to a Toastmasters conference, detailing how to avoid killing your audience with PowerPoint presentations.
Though I was not a member, I delivered a keynote to a Toastmasters conference, detailing how to avoid killing your audience with PowerPoint presentations.
Crossing the 180th meridian, according to sailing lore, puts you in the Realm of the Golden Dragon. The ship was the USS General A.E. Anderson, AP-111, a World War II-era troop transport, veteran of the North Africa campaign, various troop movements in the Pacific, the Korean War, and Cold War activities in the Pacific.
Crossing the 180th meridian, according to sailing lore, puts you in the Realm of the Golden Dragon. The ship was the USS General A.E. Anderson, AP-111, a World War II-era troop transport, veteran of the North Africa campaign, various troop movements in the Pacific, the Korean War, and Cold War activities in the Pacific.
Certified great parenting from a certified recipient of parenting.
Certified great parenting from a certified recipient of parenting.
macOS Server 5 is a much-refined version of the original Mac OS X Server platform of fifteen years earlier, supporting DNS, Wiki, web, FTP and SFTP, calendar, and a bunch of other stuff. And it runs on a Mac mini.
macOS Server 5 is a much-refined version of the original Mac OS X Server platform of fifteen years earlier, supporting DNS, Wiki, web, FTP and SFTP, calendar, and a bunch of other stuff. And it runs on a Mac mini.
We hosted a Japanese high school student. She found our Japanese-speaking preschooler to be somewhat intimidating.
We hosted a Japanese high school student. She found our Japanese-speaking preschooler to be somewhat intimidating.
This certifies we were ready for childbirth. Hah! This is so, so not true.
This certifies we were ready for childbirth. Hah! This is so, so not true.
To teach sailors and marines how to use Windows, Word, Excel, dBASE III, and computers in general, you must first qualify to be a shipboard instructor.
To teach sailors and marines how to use Windows, Word, Excel, dBASE III, and computers in general, you must first qualify to be a shipboard instructor.
While running a large bookstore in Northern California, I made presentations on new books at the local library, and was made a member of Friends of the Library.
While running a large bookstore in Northern California, I made presentations on new books at the local library, and was made a member of Friends of the Library.
My colleagues at work adopted an emperor penguin in my honor. Yes, I like penguins.
My colleagues at work adopted an emperor penguin in my honor. Yes, I like penguins.
Kang and Kodos, our Alien Overlords, also certified my efforts to find aliens.
Kang and Kodos, our Alien Overlords, also certified my efforts to find aliens.

© Lawrence I. Charters