May 9, 2002

 

TO:         All Members of the Tampa Bay ACS Local Section

 

FROM:   Jim Walsh,  Chair,  Tampa Bay Section, ACS

 

 

       The following is presented to you for your comments, criticisms, and suggestions: 

 

 

WORKING DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION

 

       Each of our three subsections covers two counties or an equivalent area. Each has about 250 members. If each subsection were a separate Local Section, not something I am proposing or promoting, each would be in the Medium-Small size category by ACS definition. No matter how efficient, industrious, and talented, no one person can run an active and successful subsection alone. I searched, in vain, for a job description of a subsection chair. Finally I concluded that I would have to propose my own.

 

 

Thoughts About The Structure Of Subsections

 

1. Local Sections and Subsections are required to carry out their      activities in accordance with the bylaws of the Society and those of the Local Section. Subsections draw their authority and their operating funds from the Local Section. They are accountable, and report, to the Local Section. Beyond that, they have considerable autonomy, particularly in planning, programming, and in the nomination and election of Subsection Officers.

 

 2. The Chair of the Subsection is the Chief Executive Officer of  the Subsection. This person has, inter alia, the following responsibilities:

 

    a. Organizes the Subsection.

 

    b. Presides over all Subsection meetings.

 

    c. Appoints Chairs of all standing and ad hoc committees of the                 

       Subsection.     

 

    d. Guides, supervises, and assists committee chairs in carrying         

       out their assignments.         

 

    e. Communicates with Subsection members on a regular basis.

 

    f. Represents the Subsection at meetings of the Executive

       Committee of the Local Section.

 

    g. Submits to the Local Section Chair in December a written report      

       of the activities of the Subsection for that calendar year.           

         

 

 3. There are certain standing committees that are basic to the  operation of the Subsection. The first three of these should be put  in place as soon as is practical. The fourth one should be  initiated shortly thereafter.

  

 

   EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. This committee is the governing body of the

   Subsection. It should manage the business and direct the affairs of  

   the Subsection. As a minimum, this committee should be composed of

   the Subsection Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Treasurer (Financial Officer),

   and a Secretary (Communications Officer).

 

      The Treasurer will be expected (1) to prepare annually a proposed

      budget for the Subsection, (2) to keep a record of the income and

      expenses of the Subsection, (3) to make periodic financial

      reports to the Subsection Executive Committee, and (4) to serve,

      ex officio, as a member of the Local Section’s Budget Committee.

 

      The Secretary will be expected (1) to take the minutes of the

      meetings of the Executive Committee, (2) to maintain the

      Subsection mailing list, (3) to maintain a list of         e-mail

      addresses of the Subsection members, (4) to forward meeting

      information and Subsection news to the Local Section’s

      Newsletter Coordinator.                           

     

     

   PLANNING COMMITTEE. This should be chaired by the Subsection Chair.  

   It will be concerned with charting the course of the Subsection

   for 2003 and beyond. Among the items that should be considered are:

   what do the members need and want, (2) what additional committees

   will be needed, and (2) how does one identify, recruit, and groom

   the next generation of leaders.

  

   PROGRAM COMMITTEE. Should design the Subsection Program for 2003.

   What are the wishes and needs of the members? What activities are             

   proposed? What will the format be? Where will they be? When? One can

   rely on two or three ACS tour speakers. It might be practical to

   have a subcommittee handle the local arrangements for the individual

   meetings in 2002 and 2003. Ideally, the Program Committee would be            

   chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Subsection who should also be, ex   

   officio, a member of the Local Section’s Program Committee.        

 

   EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Since the original incorporation of the ACS, it      

   has been actively involved in education. It is appropriate then to

   provide Science Teachers with a mechanism for participating in the   

   activities of the Subsection and the Local Section. But the scope of

   this committee should be broad enough to include activities of the         

   student affiliate groups, as well as possible initiatives in

   continuing education. The Chair of this Committee should also be a

   member of the Local Section’s Education Committee.    

 

4. In time, there will be need for several ad hoc committees within the Subsection. The more obvious ones are:

 

   BUDGET

 

   NOMINATIONS

 

   PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

One person from each of these committees should be a member of the comparable committee of the Local Section.

 

 

5. As the Subsection matures, and interests and needs develop, it may

be appropriate to organize one or two other committees within the   

Subsection. Among the possibilities are:     

 

   AWARDS

   RETIRED CHEMISTS

 

   MEMBERSHIP/MEMBER RETENTION

   WOMEN CHEMISTS

   CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

   MENTORING

   YOUNGER CHEMISTS

 

   EMPLOYMENT/CAREER ASSISTANCE

   MINORITY AFFAIRS

   NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK

   NEWSLETTER/PUBLICATIONS

   PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS

   PROJECT SEED

   PUBLIC AFFAIRS

   SAFETY

 

 

 

                   MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

 

       As we begin this new year, my primary goal is to revitalize our three subsections. I would like to see them become active particularly in planning, programming, and in the nomination and election of their officers.

 

       To this end, we will be forming a four-member Executive Committee for each subsection. Our objectives are to have the subsec- tion members elect their Chair for 2003, and all of the members of their Executive Committee for 2004.

 

       In 2002, we plan to have at least four meetings in each of the subsections, two in the spring, and two in the fall. We have scheduled visits from two ACS tour speakers: E. Gerald Meyer in March and Mary Virginia Orna in October. In May, the Section will have a luncheon meeting at which we will honor the 2001 class of 50-year members and others who, over the years, have made significant contributions to the survival and success of the Local Section.

 

       To improve communications, we have made arrangements for the section members to receive FLACS, the publication of the Florida Section. FLACS will carry our meeting announcements and news of this section. The information will also be available on our web-site. If we have your e-mail address, you may also receive meeting reminders by that means. If you do e-mail and have not heard from us by that means, please send us your e-address.

 

       Ours is a section covering six counties and with a diverse membership of about 800. Managing such a section effectively is a considerable responsibility. One person cannot do it alone. Fortunately, we have a talented Executive Committee. Still, we need all the help we can get and we invite you to participate. If you would like to get involved, contact me or any of the other officers of the Section. Together, we can make a difference.

 

       Best wishes for a successful year.

 

                                    Dr. James A. Walsh

                                    2002 Chair

                                    Tampa Bay ACS Local Section