REPORT FROM COUNCIL
The Council of the American Chemical Society
met on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 during the Fall National Meeting of the
Society held in Chicago, Illinois. The session was relatively short (only three
hours and forty minutes – about ten minutes more than promised by ACS
President, Attila Pavlath) and was virtually non-contentious. This report
provides some of the highlights of the Council activities.
Deceased Councilors – Dr. Ben Luberoff - Former CINF Member
The Council meeting is traditionally opened
with a resolution honoring Councilors who have passed away since the prior
National Meeting of the Society. Of interest to CINF members, Dr. Ben Luberoff,
a long-time member and supporter of the Division, was one of those so honored.
Elections and Nominations for the Committee on Nominations and Elections,
The Committee on Committees, and the Council Policy Committee – CINF Members
on all Three Elected-Committees!
Council elected seven of fourteen nominees to
the Committee on Committees: Carol A. Duane (CINF Member), Lydia E. M.
Hines, Mary V. Orna, Eleanor D. Siebert, and Herbert B. Silber to a three-year
term (2002 through 2004), and Peter K. Dorhout and William Dorhout to fill the
remainder of a 2000-2002 term.
Council also elected five of ten nominees to
the Council Policy Committee: Merle I. Eiss (CINF Member), Dean W.
Cooke, Thomas J. Kucera, and Kent J. Voorhees to a three-year term (2002
through 2004), and Warren V. Bush to fill the remainder of a 2000-2002 term.
And finally, Council elected four of eight nominees
to the Committee on Nominations and Elections: Rita R. Boggs, Michael P. Doyle,
Kathleen M. Schulz, and Peter J. Stang. Bonnie Lawlor (CINF Councilor),
is currently an N&E member,
Report from ACS President – Divisions to Receive Funding this Year!
ACS Member Survey Soon to be Available on the Web!
Attila E. Pavlath, ACS President, mentioned
that he had been ill and in the hospital the evening prior to the Council
meeting. However, he made it through the meeting and hopefully is well. He
mentioned that he has appointed 25 Councilors from Associate to Full members of
ACS Committees. He reported that the Emergency Task Force on Appropriations to
Divisions and Local Sections has been given approval to distribute $100K to
Divisions and $50K to Local Sections. The Divisional Activities Committee (DAC)
will handle the criteria and distribution of funds to the Divisions and the
Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC) will do the same for Local Sections.
The funds will be distributed by November 1, 2001, and both DAC and LSAC will
report the basis for their distribution to the Board of Directors.
Dr. Pavlath introduced Dr. Judy C.Giordan,
Chair of the ACS Member e-Poll Task Force, who then gave a brief summary of the
survey results (the actual report is 1,000+ pages!). The purpose of the survey
was to provide ACS leadership with a statistically sound and projectible basis
for making informed strategic resource allocations. Demographic information –
such as degrees, gender, age, business, etc. was gathered. Ninety-thousand ACS
members were contacted and 8,009 responded (9%). The survey indicated that
members are not aware of the programs/services that ACS has to offer, that
there is little participation in Local Sections and Divisions, and that only 8%
are actively involved in the Society. Satisfaction with the Society is highest
among members who are older, academic, male, and retired. 97.8% would recommend
ACS membership to others, primarily for the journals and other print materials.
Barriers to participation in ACS were mentioned as "in groups" and
"elitists". The report recommends that ACS focus on themes most
important to members, that ACS communicate their programs and services, and
that ACS do better at hearing what members say – bottom, line – satisfy the
membership (ACS received low marks in member services). The information will be
used for strategic purposes, for measuring the impact of the strategic plan,
and to continually update and improve the Society. A summary of the report will
be available on the ACS web site, and a full copy will be given to any ACS
member who requests it.
Reports From ACS President-Elect and Immediate-Past President – ACS Focus
on Diversity on the Work Force
Eli M. Pearce, President-Elect, reported that
one of his objectives as President will be to deal with diversity in the work
force. He stated that today’s minorities will be the majority in 20 – 30 years.
Diversity will be a major theme at the Spring 2002 National ACS meeting in
Orlando. A series of programs will focus on this issue and will coincide with
the 75th anniversary of the Women Chemists Committee as well as with
the anniversaries of the national Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical
Engineers (NOBCChE) and the Chinese-American Chemists Society. Also planned for
Orlando is a significant program dealing with energy policy and technology. In
Boston (Fall 2002), there will be a program on Globalization. Participants will
include leading corporate executives who will discuss their future R&D
plans as they relate to the globalization process. Dr. Pearce asked members to
contact him with any ideas that they may have with regard to any of the
programs that he mentioned (epearce@poly.edu).
Daryle H. Busch, Immediate Past-President,
reported that he continues to support the advancement of women and minorities
in the chemical professions. He mentioned that a Congressional Commission on
the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology
Development decreed action to improve the diversity of the high technology
workforce and promised financial support. The National Science Foundation is
also putting up sizeable amounts of money towards this goal, and the Council on
Competitiveness received a large sum of money to found a new organization whose
mission is to put an end to the shortage of women and minorities in the high
technology workforce. This new organization is BEST – Building Engineering and
Science Talent. ACS has a
Task Force working in cooperation with that new organization.
Report from The Chair of the ACS Board – Divisions and Local Sections
to Receive Funding for at Least Two Years!
Dr. Nina McClelland, Chair of the ACS Board
of Directors, reported that $300K will be allocated to Divisions and Local
Sections over the next two years during which time a long-term solution to the
financial situation for those groups will be developed. The Task Force focusing
on women and the chemical profession has developed a three-year pilot project
starting in 2002 for the career advancement of women in the chemical
profession. The Board is in the process of working with five Professional
Societies worldwide in order to establish shared memberships in order to
provide ACS members with a global network. In closing, she mentioned that the
Budget and Finance Committee will hold a financial planning conference in the
Fall, and that the Board will meet on November 9, 2001 to consider the
recommendations resulting from that conference.
Report of the Executive Director – CAS to Add Previously Uncovered
Data!
John Crum, Executive Director of the Society,
reported that Chemical Abstracts Service will be adding previously uncovered
reactions and citations to its databases. The reactions alone will total
750,000. In addition, property data will also be added. He mentioned that a
summary of the ACS strategic plan for 2001-2003 is available and that the focus
is on three I’s – the Individual (members’ needs), the Internet (electronic
communication and dissemination of information), and International (expansion
of the Society’s impact worldwide). He also mentioned that Halley A. Merrell,
ACS Secretary, will be retiring at the end of January 2002 (this was Halley’s
70th ACS National Meeting!!). Council gave Halley a standing ovation
in thanks for his years of service.
Council Policy Committee – Divisions and Local Sections Will be Asked
to Report Changes Regarding Health, Safety, and Environmental Concerns
The Council Policy Committee (CPC) has
developed a report on responsible care (Health, Safety, and Environmental
Concerns). Copies will be sent to all ACS Divisions and Local Sections who will
be asked to report by the Boston ACS meeting on any changes that they will make
within their own operations to ensure compliance with the report. It was stated
that CPC approved the recommendation that the Web be used to support Council
activities. Council Agendas, minutes, etc. will eventually be made available
via the Web. In addition, CPC recognizes the need for a central source of
ethical reminders with regard to publications, research integrity, etc.
Committee on Committees – Petition for Urgent Action to Increase the
Size of Society Committees Withdrawn
ConC reported that the petitioners for taking
urgent action with regard to increasing the size of Society Committees have
withdrawn their request for urgent action. The petition is for consideration
only at this meeting. ConC completed their sunset review of the Committee on
Admissions and recommended that it continue. Council voted in favor of the
recommendation. It was noted that the third annual conference for new committee
chairs will be held over a three-day period in mid-winter. The Women Chemists
Committee has requested that the committee be established as a joint
Board/Council committee rather than remain in the "other committee"
category. ConC will make a recommendation to Council on this request next year.
In closing, it was mentioned that ConC is preparing a list of their
recommendations for committee members and committee chairs for the year 2002.
Committee on Nominations & Elections
– Task Force Looking at Internet Balloting
The Committee on Nominations and Elections
(N&E) has a Task Force looking at establishing an electronic balloting
capability for ACS Elections. Currently, the Task Force is taking a
comprehensive look at the ACS Constitution & Bylaws in order to identify
the sections that require change to allow for such balloting. Simultaneously,
the technology and security requirements for electronic balloting are also
being determined. N&E also has established a Task Force to look at ACS
Campaign Guidelines in order to make the campaign process a fair, financially
equitable, and pleasant experience for all candidates. It was noted that a
"first" occurred during the Council elections at this meeting. A three-way
tie for the Council Policy Committee slots resulted. All three persons were
ultimately elected to the Committee. The terms of office (either a three-year
term or the completion of the remainder of a three-year term) were determined
by the drawing of lots.
Committee on Budget and Finance - ACS Expects a Net-Deficit of $8
Million in 2001
Dr. Nina McClelland, Committee Chair,
reported on the Society’s probable financial performance for 2001. Core
programs are expected to provide a net positive contribution of $220K. However,
this represents a $222K unfavorable variance to the planned budget for those
programs. Inclusion of the projected net program expenses of the Member
Insurance Program ($2.6 Million) and the Board’s appropriations ($5.6 Million)
will result in a projected net deficit of $8 Million. CAS is expected to have a
favorable variance to budget due to the better-than-expected sales of Sci-Finder.
SciFinder Scholar is now in more than 400 schools (it was in 115 when
commented upon at the Spring meeting). This number includes 33 schools in
France that are covered under a single agreement. It was noted, that the
2001 financial projections are in compliance with all of the Board’s financial
guidelines.
Committee on Education
The Committee on Education reported that more
than 100 student posters were presented at the Chicago meeting. It also
mentioned that the committee is developing recommendations for the
restructuring of science education in high schools.
Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs
The Committee reported that 169 employers -
representing 1,392 potential hires - attended the Chicago meeting.
Approximately 4,001 interviews were held as of Tuesday, August 28th. It was
also noted that the current unemployment rate for chemists is at 1.5%, down from
2%.
Committee on Local Section Activities –National Chemistry Week Themes
Set
Kathleen Schulz, Chair of the Committee on
Local Section Activities (LSAC), reported that National Chemistry Week 2001will
be held during the fourth week of November. The theme will be "Chemistry
and the Arts". The 2002 theme will be "Chemistry Keeps us Clean".
LSAC has established new "EZ" annual report forms that will
substantially decrease the amount of time required to compete the reports. Use
of the "EZ" form will be optional, and those Sections using the form
will not be eligible for the LSAC awards given for outstanding
performance. LSAC has established a new award to be given for the most
innovative use of technology. It will be awarded for the first time in 2002.
LSAC presented three new awards this year: 1) the best activity increasing
membership participation in a Section – California; 2) the best new
activity- East Tennessee; and best support of the ACS Strategic Plan
– New Jersey. The awards given for outstanding performance of a Local
Section in the various categories were given to: California (Very Large); St.
Louis (Large), Rochester, NY and Midland (Medium Large), Michigan State
University (Medium), and Southern Illinois/Wyoming (Medium Small). In closing,
it was noted that LSAC and DAC are working together to improve collaboration in
Regional meetings and have established a working group to improve
Division/Local Section collaboration overall.
Committee on Meetings and Expositions - 2001 A Record Year for Total
Attendance at Both National ACS Meetings!
George Heinz, Chair of the Committee on Meetings
& Expositions (M&E), reported that as of the morning of the Council
meeting registration at the National Meeting was at 15,290. The Exhibit had 543
booths from 328 companies. These figures made the Chicago meeting a record
for the number of exhibitors and number of booths. Also, the sum of attendees
at both San Diego and Chicago made the meetings in 2001 the most attended in
any year of the Society’s history!! At this meeting 6,089 papers were
presented in 66 concurrent sessions. It is expected that the total revenue from
the meeting will be $990K. 72% of hotel arrangements were made online for the
Chicago meeting. It was reported that LCD equipment will be made available at no
charge to Divisions for every technical session at least through 2002. In
addition, overhead projectors and 35mm slide projectors will continue to be
made available. N&E will poll Division Program Chairs to determine if all
three technologies will continue to be required for program presentations.
Council voted to approve the petition on
meeting registration categories. The petition was put forth because the present
language of the Bylaw VI, Section 4,b discriminates among nonmember chemical
scientists based upon the geographic location of their residence. A nonmember
chemical scientist living outside the U.S. pays less for ACS meeting
registrations than a similar person living within the U.S. Indeed, the non-U.S.
resident pays the same fee as an ACS member. The current language does not
permit an extension to ACS members living outside the U.S. of the member
privilege of paying a lower registration fee. The Committee on Budget and
Finance found that if passed, this petition will have a significant positive
impact on the finances of the Society ($50,000 - $250,000). The petition will
become effective 1/1/02 pending Board approval. There had been some opposition
to this petition because it does not take into account financial relief for
foreign speakers. However, it is believed that the financial allocations to
Divisions and Local Sections that have already been mentioned will help defray
speakers’ expenses. Also, the ACS attempt to obtain reciprocal arrangements
with other scientific societies around the world will also help in this matter.
Council approved the meeting registration
fees for 2002. The fees will be $265, representing a $10 increase over the 2001
fees.
It was noted that all the booth space for the
2002 National Meetings is expected to be sold out soon. If that occurs, the
"virtual" exhibit held in Chicago will be repeated. This virtual
tradeshow had 128,000 hits as of Wednesday morning.
There were complaints from the floor
regarding the distance of the Chicago conference center from the meeting
hotels. The response was that as cities need to expand their convention space
they are building new centers outside city centers due to space restrictions
within the city. To offset this growing problem, N&E will be able to supply
more transportation information prior to national meetings next year. This is
due to the fact that the meeting programs will be in a different format. They
will not appear in C&EN. Rather they will be printed separately and
"wrapped" and mailed along with C&EN. This new format
frees the program from the C&EN space and format restrictions, and
provides N&E with greater flexibility in content and format.
A final complaint had to due with the price
of hotels. It was asked why one can sometimes obtain rooms at a lower rate
individually rather than by reserving through ACS. The response was that ACS
books the rooms (and rates) years in advance. Hotels often will have lower
rates at the time of the meeting, depending upon their occupancy level. In
closing, it was noted that the meeting sites approved for 2013 & 2014 are
being reconsidered, and new choices may be presented to Council next year.
Committee on Membership Affairs – Requirements for ACS Membership
Clarified.
The Committee on Membership Affairs (MAC),
put forth a proposed change to Bylaw I, Section 3, a,(5), that would provide a
clarification of the qualifications for ACS Membership. The exact wording is
"An associate degree or equivalent in a chemical science or chemical
technology and five years of employment in a chemical science". The
petitioners stated that this change does not actually change membership
requirements; it only changes how the requirements are administered. It was
stated that "Nearly all technicians with a two-year degree and five years
of applicable experience would qualify for admission to the American Chemical
Society as regular members under the current Bylaw I, Sec.3, a (5), but
currently their applications must go through the Admissions committee. There is
no consistency to the process since these applications are decided on a
case-by-case basis. This petition, if successful, would streamline the process
and the paperwork, thereby improving customer service. This petition would also
ensure that technicians would receive correct and complete information about
the requirements for membership, so that they are not effectively discouraged
from applying at all."
The Committee on Budget and Finance had
determined that this petition, if passed, would have a minor positive impact of
the finances of the Society (less than $50,000). Council voted to approve the
petition. It will become effective pending Board approval.
In closing, it was also noted that the
committee is working on Bylaw wording in order to simplify the admissions
process for pre-college chemistry teachers.
Committee on Divisional Activities – Probationary Division of Laboratory
Automation Established
Dr. Frank Blum, Chair of the Committee on
Divisional Activities (DAC), reported that DAC recommends the formation of a
new probationary Division of Laboratory Automation (LABA) effective 1/1/02.
Council approved the recommendation. (Note: It should be noted that CINF
opposed this recommendation because the proposed Division’s original scope
suggested that there would be significant programming overlap between LABA and
CINF. As a result of CINF’s opposition, as well as opposition from ORGN and
I&EC, the scope was changed to limit programming only to laboratory
automation as follows: "The scope of the Division of Laboratory
Automation shall be to openly exchange and disseminate technical information
about the use of computers, robotics, automation tools, and other related
technologies as applied to the study and practice of automation in the chemical
and related sciences". All mention of such topics as drug discovery,
combinatorial chemistry, functional genomes, etc. was stricken from the
original scope. Should CINF find that this probationary Division does not
restrict is programming as defined, CINF has formal recourse for complaint to
DAC).
DAC has awarded a total of $25K to four
divisions for use in their innovative projects. These divisions are:
Analytical, Chemical Education, Polymeric Materials; Science and Engineering,
Rubber, and Chemical Technicians. Seven Divisions will take part in a pilot
project of "Gated Communities" as part of Chemistry.org. DAC
will distribute $100K to Divisions by November 1, 2001 as part of the interim
financial support being given to Divisions and Local Sections until a permanent
solution is developed.
DAC held a Caucus for Division Councilors at
the Chicago meeting. Those in attendance voted to continue the Caucus
indefinitely in the future. The 2001 Program Coordination Conference will be
held in November, and the Division Officers Leadership Conference will be held
February 1-3, 2002 in Clearwater, Florida. In closing, it was mentioned that
the Cellulose, Paper & Textile Division (CELL) has changed its name to
"Cellulose & Renewable Materials Division".
Committee On Publications – All Print Journal Backfiles to be Made
Available Electronically
Dr. Joan Shields, Publications Committee
Chair, reported all ACS print journals will have their complete pre-1996
backfiles made available in PDF format with searchable bibliographic
metadata in 2002.
Committee on Minority Affairs – Increase in ACS Membership by
Minorities
Nancy B. Jackson, Chair of the Committee on
Minority Affairs, reported that the number of minority members has increased
form 4,700 in 1997 to approximately 6,000 in the year 2000.
Other
In closing, Dr. Judy Giordan read a
resolution thanking ACS President, Attila Pavlath, for his leadership, and the
Chicago Local Section was thanked for its assistance with the National Meeting.
Respectfully Submitted, September 12, 2001
Bonnie Lawlor, Councilor
chescot@aol.com
Joanne Witiak, Alternate Councilor
jlwitiak@rohmhaas.com