The 223rd National ACS Meeting was
held in Orlando, FL, 7-11 April 2002.
Despite the reserves and careful management, the Society is not immune
to financial hard times. For 2001, the net deficit was $8.3 million. Deficits
are projected for 2002 ($2. million) and for 2003 ($1. million), with breakeven
predicted for 2004. Only Brian Bern- stein’s superb handling of the investment
portfolio in a down market kept the 2001 deficit from being much worse.
Charles Rowell, Vice-Chair of the Council Policy Committee announced
that the “Petition For Division And Local Section Support”, which was on the
agenda “For Consideration”, had been withdrawn by the petitioners. This
petition was a contentious one. It sought to increase the support for Divisions
and Local Sections and to devise a system for the more equitable distribution
of this support. A tall order. In the eyes of one of us, this petition was
fatally flawed, not once but twice. While the petition indicated some
guidelines, it left the details of the distribution to be determined by the
Divisional Activities Committee and by the Local Section Activities Committee.
Further, in a time of deficit budgets, it was silent about the source of the additional
funding. It is likely that the petition will be reworked and returned for
consideration at the August meeting in Boston.
A
motion to continue the life of the Committee on Science passed by a voice vote.
So, too, did a motion to change the Women Chemists Committee from an “other
committee of Council” to a “joint Board-Council committee”. One can expect to
see the various “other committees of Council” following this lead. One
perceptive member of Council observed privately that the purposes of the Women
Chemists Committee might be better served, especially in the area of
programming at national meetings, if they simply became a Division of the
Society.
The “Petition To Increase The Size Of Society Committees” was up for
action at this meeting. Dr. Pavlath moved that action be postponed until
Boston. There was some muttering, but the motion passed by voice vote.
The Committee on Nominations and Elections had previously selected the
following nominees for 2003 President-Elect:
Dr. Charles A. Casey, University of
Wisconsin
Dr. Ernest R. Davidson, Indiana University
Dr. William M. Jackson, University of California, Davis
Dr. Alvin L. Kwiram, University of Washington
After the nominees were introduced and made
short presentations to Council, Council chose, by paper ballot, Drs. Casey and
Kwiram as candidates for President-Elect in the November election.
The Committee on Budget and Finance moved that Council set the 2003
full-member national dues at the fully escalated value of $116. The motion
passed by voice vote. Amazingly, not one dissenting voice was heard.
The Membership Affairs Committee reported that the 2001 membership count
was 163,503.
The Divisional Activities Committee moved that the name of the Division
of Cellulose, Paper, and Textiles be changed to the Division of Cellulose and
Renewal Materials. The motion passed by voice vote.
The Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs reported a serious
need for more members to serve as career counselors. In the Employment Clearing
House at the Orlando meeting, there were 131 employers advertising 985
positions. There were 867 candidates and over 3000 interviews. For the upcoming
Boston meeting, it is claimed that the Employment Clearing House will be
paperless.
The Local Section Activities Committee moved a “Petition For Change In
Section Territory”, in which the Minnesota Local Section would annex two
previously unassigned counties, Stevens and Pope. The motion passed by voice
vote.
The report from the Committee on Meetings and Expositions indicated
that, at the close of business on Tuesday, the registration for the Orlando
meeting was 14,308. If one excluded exhibitors and visitors, the figure was
12,246. The present Exposition is 25% larger than it was the last time we met
in Orlando. The Exposition for Boston is already sold out.
By
voice vote, Council approved the following sites and dates for future National
Meetings:
In 2013, New Orleans, 25-29 Apr, and
In 2013, Indianapolis, 8-12 Sep.
The Committee on Constitution and Bylaws reported that the bylaws for
sixteen local sections and nine divisions are presently under review. The deadline
for submitting new petitions to amend the Society bylaws is 1 May.
Altogether, a surprisingly quiet meeting. It is unlikely to set a
precedent.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. David B. Ford, Councilor
Dr. James A. Walsh, Alternate Councilor