Report to Sacramento ACS Local Section on
ACS Council Meeting, March 21, 2018, New Orleans LA
By Jan Hayes, substitute Alternate Councilor
As a result of none of the sections 4 elected councilor or alternate councilors being able to attend the New Orleans Council meeting, I accepted the assignment to represent of section. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the section in this way.
What follows is my report of the actions of Council and other happenings during the recently completed meeting.
The first order of a spring Council meeting is the selection of the two individuals to be candidates in the fall for the President-Elect 2019. Each of the four nominees gave a brief presentation to the Council (after having also participated in a question and answer session at the Sunday afternoon Town Hall). Selected were: Lius A. Echegoyen, University of Texas at El Paso, and Thomas R. Gilbert, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Unsuccessful nominees were Harmon B. Abrahamson and Mary Virginia Orna. These two candidates, along with any candidates selected via petitions, will stand for election in the Fall National Election. Other candidates selected were for Director of Regions I and V and Directors at large.
The Council approved a Petition on the Composition of Society Committees which will change the requirement for Councilors on Society Committees from at least two thirds to a majority, and removing the requirement that the Chair and Vice-Chair of a Society Committee must be Councilors. The result of this that ACS members with needed experience, particularly in Budget and Finance, and desire to serve do not have to be elected Councilors. More opportunities for individual to serve ACS with their strengths.
A petition for the Election of Committee Chairs by the voting member of each committee failed to gain approval after significant discussion
2019 Member Dues were set at the fully escalated rate of $175. This was based on the inflation adjusted formula which has been used for many years.
Other interesting reports during Council included:
After discussion by Council, a proposed formula for allocating dues funds to division was recommended back to the Committee on Divisional Activities for more work.
The Council passed a resolution on the passing of former ACS President Ronald Breslow, acknowledging some of his many contributions to ACS and the total Science Community.
Now is the time for individuals who desire to serve on national committees to submit their preference with supporting statements. This is of important for our elected councilors and alternate councilors, but others in the section might be interested in appointment to committees which do not require Council membership. For example, I am no longer a Councilor, but I serve on the Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs.
The total 2017 ACS Budget was reviewed. In summary, the status is good with strong performance from the Society’s Information Service (CAS and ACS Publications) and a continued emphasis on expense management across the ACS.
The ACS ended 2017 with over 150,000 members. It is still the world’s largest scientific society but does represent a continuing decline in overall membership for the sixth year in a row.
The New Orleans meeting attendance as for Monday, March 19, was Attendees 8,470; Students 6,432; and others (Exhibitors, Expo Only and Guests) to a total of 16,585.
The Executive Director/CEO reported on the impact of the formation of the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation) and its ramifications for ACS which was an original founding member of CHF.
The Board approved a resolution that recognizes the United Nations proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table and pledge ACS participation in the events.
This is a brief summary of the major points of the meeting. Feel free to contact me if you would like further information on these or other activities of the Council meeting and National meeting.
Janan (Jan) Hayes, janan.hayes@gmail.com or jmhayesacs@gmail.com, 916-601-4996
