The National ACS meeting last month in San Francisco was a huge success with a strong return to in-person attendance: of the total 15,019 registrations, 13,363 (89%) were in-person and 1,656 were online. San Francisco, which gets so much bad press, sparkled—the weather was perfect and the city was inviting. Our section served as local co-hosts of the meeting and had a booth by the registration area where we handed out custom fortune cookies as a memento of San Francisco. At SciMix we displayed a poster showing all the activities our section supports. The fortune cookies were a great success and all 1500 were consumed. Here are two of the fortunes that brought some humor to the proceedings:
- What do you do with a sick chemist?
- What is HIJKLMNO?
Answers below.
Although we did not win the ChemLuminary for Outstanding Local Section, Large Division, which was awarded to the Greater Houston section, who clearly had a great year since they also won the ChemLuminaries for Outstanding Younger Chemist Event and Outstanding National Chemistry Olympiad, we partied the night away at the ceremony. When you attend a Fall National meeting, you should plan to attend the ChemLuminary award ceremony. It is the best party that ACS offers.
At each National meeting, our councilors participate in the Council meeting which is the main governance meeting for ACS. One significant action taken at this year’s Council meeting was the recommendation to add international representation to the Board of Directors which will be done by decreasing the total number of Directors-at-Large from six to five and creating an International District Director. The total number of Directors on the Board will remain at 15. The council approved this recommendation after a long discussion of the pros and cons. Next, this recommendation will need to be approved by the Board and then an amendment to the ACS constitution will be required. A report addressing the full Council meeting is included in this newsletter.
International members now account for about 18% of the ACS and this number is growing. Over 5000 chemists from 80 countries attended the SF meeting, reflecting the high level of international interest. Different approaches to offer representation for the international chapters on council are also being explored. Stay tuned for additional changes to ACS governance to be discussed at future meetings. The basic principle is one that the United States was founded on: no taxation (or dues in this case) without representation.
With the National meeting behind us, it is time to start some new events. National Chemistry Week is Oct 15-21 and this year’s theme is the “Healing power of chemistry.” We are planning a series of events including at the Martin Luther King Library in San Jose, the Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto, and the Redwood City Library. More locations are being planned. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. These are very rewarding and great fun.
The plans for our Fall in-person event have also gelled. I hope to see you at the Chemistry of Wine program in the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum on October 7. Be sure to come a bit early and enjoy the Arboretum. You get free entrance to the Arboretum when you register for our ACS event, and it is a very special place.
Fortune Cookie Answers: 1) Barium or Curium; 2) H2O
