Two candidates will vie for the office of president-elect of the American Chemical Society for 2001 in this fall's election. Both have had distinguished careers in academia. They are Glenn A. Crosby and Eli M. Pearce. Crosby is a professor of chemistry at Washington State University, Pullman, and Pearce is University Research Professor at Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, N.Y. The successful candidate will serve as ACS president in 2002 and as a member of the ACS Board of Directors from 2001 to 2003.

Other candidates for national offices are Anne T. O'Brien and incumbent Michael E. Strem for director from Region I, which consists of members assigned to or residing in local sections with headquarters in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania (except the Erie, Penn-York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania Sections), Vermont; and those members with addresses in the states of New York and Pennsylvania and in the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec who are not assigned to local sections.

Also candidates for national office are Theodore L. Brown and incumbent E. Ann Nalley for director from Region V, which consists of members assigned to or residing in the local sections with headquarters in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan (except Detroit, Huron Valley, Kalamazoo, Michigan State University, Midland, and Western Michigan Sections), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (except the Brazosport, Central Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth, East Texas, Greater Houston, Heart O' Texas, Sabine-Neches, San Antonio, South Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Coastal Bend Sections), and Wisconsin; and those members with addresses in Arkansas (except the counties of Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Columbia, Crittenden Drew, Hempstead, Lafayette, Miller, Mississippi, Ouachita, and Union), Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, certain counties in Texas, Wisconsin, Dickinson County (Michigan), and the province of Manitoba who are not assigned to local sections.

J. Ivan Legg, Nina M. Roscher, incumbent Joan E. Shields, and James P. Shoffner will vie for two director-at-large posts.

The successful candidates for the four director positions will serve three-year terms beginning next year.

All members of ACS will receive ballots enabling them to vote for the president-elect. Only members with mailing addresses in Regions I and V will receive ballots to vote for director from those regions. Only voting councilors will receive ballots for the director-at-large election.

All ballots will be mailed first-class on Oct. 2. The deadline for return of marked ballots to the ACS executive director is close of business on Monday, Nov. 13.

Two questions were suggested to the candidates as a framework for their statements: What would you hope to accomplish as president (or director) of ACS? What specific changes, if any, in the ACS organization or programs would you propose to achieve your goals? Candidates' views will be posted on the Web at http://www.acs.org/elections .

Washington-Idaho Border Section. Washington State University, Pullman

Date of birth: 1928

Academic record: Waynesburg College, B.S., 1950; University of Washington, Ph.D., 1954

Honors: Harry & Carol Mosher Award, ACS Santa Clara Valley Section, 1998; ACS Division of Chemical Education symposium, honoring both research and education, ACS national meeting, Boston, August 1998; Norris Award, ACS Northeastern Section, 1986; ACS Award in Chemical Education, 1985; Waynesburg College Presidential Medallion for Lifetime Scientific & Educational Achievement, 1998; two symposia honoring contributions of G. A. Crosby to research and education in conjunction with the ACS Northwest Regional Meeting in Moscow, Idaho, 1997; Who's Who in America; American Men & Women of Science; Outstanding Educators in America; Washington State University President's Excellence Award for Public Service, 1989; Washington State University President's Excellence Award in Instruction, 1984; Yamada Foundation Visiting Lecturer, Japan, 1986; Sigma Xi; Phi Kappa Phi; Sigma Pi Sigma; Distinguished Alumnus, Waynesburg College, 1982; Distinguished Faculty Address, Washington State University, 1981; Humboldt Senior Scientist, 1978-79; Chemical Manufacturers Association Catalyst Award, 1975; Fulbright Fellow, 1964

Professional positions (for past 10 years): Washington State University, professor, 1967 to date

Service in ACS national offices: Director, Region VI, 1994-2002; councilor, ex-officio, 1994-2002; Committee on Education, 1990-99, 1981-88, chair 1990-91, consultant, 1989, 2000; Board Committee on Grants & Awards, 1994-98, chair 2000; Board Committee on Professional & Member Relations, 1996-99; Committee on Meetings & Expositions, consultant, 1998-2000; Board Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, 1994-95; Canvassing Committee, ACS Award in Chemical Education, 1997-99, chair 1998-99, 1981-84, chair 1983-84; Society Committee on Education (SOCED) Task Force on Teacher Professional Development, chair, 1995 to date; steering committee for Operation Chemistry, 1993-97; Council Policy Committee (nonvoting), 1990-91; Task Force on National Science Foundation Future Directions, 1992; Task Force on Minorities in the Chemical Sciences, 1992; FACETS Task Force, 1990-95; SOCED committee that initiated ChemMatters; involved in establishment of "Chemistry in the Community"; task force chair and writing team to revise "ACS Guidelines for Preparation of High School Teachers of Chemistry," 1984-88; task force chair for preparation of "Guidelines for Working Conditions for High School Teachers of Chemistry," 1982-83; Experimental Education Commission, 1978-80

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1961. Division of Chemical Education: councilor, 1989-91; alternate councilor, 1992-94, 1986-88; chair, 1982; chair-elect, 1981; program chair, 1978-80. Northwest Regional Meeting: program chair, 1973

Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science, fellow; National Science Teachers Association; American Physical Society; American Association of Higher Education; InterAmerican Photochemical Society, fellow; Washington Science Teachers Association; ACS Divisions: Chemical Education; Inorganic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry

Related activities: National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) Committee on Programs for Advanced Study of Mathematics & Science in American High Schools, 1999 to date; coorganizer, Gordon Conference on Science Education, Oxford, England, 1998; codirector of a two-week hands-on laboratory activities/demonstrations/lecture program for high school chemistry teachers, Santiago, Chile, 1998; Graduate Record Exam Mathematical Reasoning Committee, Educational Testing Service, 1993-95; National Advisory Committee for two statewide National Science Foundation Collaborative projects, Louisiana, 1993-98, and Colorado, 1994-99; cochair, Presidential Symposium on High School Education in Other Countries, ACS national meeting, fall 1992; NAS-NRC Commission on Life Sciences, 1990-96, Research Corporation Advisory Committee, 1990-92, 1981-89; American Association for the Advancement of Science Chemistry Section Nominations Committee, chair, 1992-93; NAS-NRC Committee on National Statistics Panel on Supply & Demand for Precollege Science & Mathematics Teachers, 1986-89; chair, Symposium on Academic Standards, ACS national meeting, spring 1981; visiting professor: University of Hohenheim, West Germany, 1978-79; University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1974; University of Tubingen, West Germany, 1964; more than 180 publications, including review articles and book chapters

If I were elected president of the American Chemical Society, I would pursue most of the objectives that I have actively pursued in various capacities during the past 20 years of service to this organization. As president, I would use the power of the office for

 Promoting the interests and increasing the involvement of the scientific community in public policy.

 Generating national educational initiatives.

 Maintaining ACS superiority in the field of scientific publishing and abstracting.

 Leveraging the current programs of the society in outreach, regional meetings, and member services to maximize the impact and enhance the effectiveness of the current operations.

Since I believe that our nation is entering an era of increased power, influence, and responsibility of the science and technology communities in the formulation and the conduct of public policy, I would do whatever I could to see that the deliberations of ACS on legislative affairs are represented forcefully at all levels of government--national, state, and local. Moreover, I would personally champion those positions of the society that I believe are not only politically expedient and fiscally sound, but morally right, such as the Green Chemistry Initiative, responsible statements on environmental issues, realistic positions on proposed regulatory legislation, and the current ACS position on pension reform.

It is my opinion that ACS should not only react to impending legislation, but that it should actively propose changes that would benefit the nation while preserving the vitality of the chemical industry. As the largest science society in the world, ACS must, I believe, display political leadership commensurate with the importance of science in the modern world. As president I would promote discussions at the highest levels on topics of world significance, both internally at ACS meetings and conferences and also more broadly throughout the entire community of scientists and engineers.

My long-standing interest and involvement in education and the documented problems of the American educational system lead me to propose two major initiatives in this area. First, as president of the society I would attempt to mobilize all the relevant committees, divisions, and policy groups to sensitize institutions of higher education, especially the research universities, to their responsibilities and obligations to students at all levels, undergraduate and graduate.

It is my conviction that the federal funding mechanisms for research support and the consequent reactive policies of university administrations and faculties have built elements of unfairness into the higher educational system that are debilitating to young faculty members who wish to grow as educators as well as productive researchers and to students, both undergraduate and graduate, who yearn not only to become scientists, engineers, and technologists, but also to develop their talents fully as human beings. Moreover, I consider the system to be grossly unfair to large segments of our population who have marginally participated in the scientific activities of the past century but who must be encouraged to participate fully in this one. This statement applies a fortiori to those individuals who aspire to become teachers in the public schools.

Second, I would try to form a coalition of academia, government, and a large segment of the private sector with the objective of mounting a science teacher professional development program that would be national in scope, congruent with the National Science Education Standards, and of guaranteed high quality. It is my opinion that the time is over for talking about the deficiencies of the American educational systems and the impending problems of staffing the schools with competent personnel. The time is NOW for action, particularly by the science and engineering communities, which have the capacity to inject new ideas, maintain high standards of performance, and enforce accountability in such operations. Therefore, I would use the power of the office of the president to push, pull, inveigle, and cajole ACS to assume a leadership role in this endeavor, the establishment of a teacher professional development program in the sciences that would be the pride of the nation and the envy of the world.

Within the ACS organization proper I would actively promote changes that would leverage the current programs to obtain more benefit for the society from the considerable human and financial resources already committed. Such programs as the Heroes of Chemistry, the National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program, the ACS Awards Program, the Student Affiliates Program, and several others would be analyzed for the explicit purpose of raising their effectiveness and their visibility among all citizens. Particularly, I would seek to improve the regional meetings, to accelerate the current endeavors that are expanding and improving the effectiveness of that vital element of ACS activities. In my opinion, the divisions of ACS should play a greater role in these events. Finally, I would promote global interactions of ACS, particularly with the scientific societies of Central and South America whose members are striving to achieve scientific, educational, and economic parity with their colleagues in North America.

For further details, please visit my website at http://gacrosby.chem.wsu.edu . Questions and comments can be sent to my e-mail address: gac@wsunix. wsu.edu.

New York Section. Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Date of birth: 1929

Academic record: Brooklyn College, B.S., 1949; New York University, M.S., 1951; Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Ph.D., 1958

Honors: Special Service Award, 1999, and Distinguished Service Award, ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, 1991; Chemistry Teachers' Club of New York, Oscar R. Foster Award, 2000; Distinguished Alumnus, Polytechnic University, 1997; P. J. Flory Polymer Education Award, 1992; New York Institute of Chemists Certificate of Achievement, 1992; Kaufman Lecture, Ramapo College, 1992; Sigma Xi Research Award; EPRI-Exploratory Research Associate, 1990; Reed-Lignin Lecturer, 1987; Society of Plastics Engineers International Award in Education, 1988; Plastics Institute of America Education Award; Sigma Xi; Phi Lambda Upsilon

Professional positions (for past 10 years):Polytechnic University, University Research Professor, 1999 to date; University Professor of chemistry and of chemical engineering, 1990-99; professor, 1990-94; director, Herman F. Mark Polymer Research Institute, 1980-96; dean, College of Arts & Sciences, 1982-90

Service in ACS national offices: Director-at-large, 1999-2001; councilor, ex-officio, 1999-2001; Board Committee on Grants & Awards, 1999-2000; Board Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, 2000; Committee on Professional & Member Relations, 1999; Committee on Committees, 1997-98; Committee on Science, 1994-96, chair, 1994-96, consultant, 1998-2000, committee associate, 1993; Council Policy Committee (voting) 1990-95 (nonvoting), 1989; Committee on Nominations & Elections, 1984-89, chair, 1989, vice chair, 1987-88; Committee on Professional Training, 1975-83; Organizing Committee, 4th North American Chemical Congress, 1987-91; Petroleum Research Fund Advisory Board, 1982-84; Canvassing Committee, ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry, 1985-88, 1980-83, chair, 1987-88, 1982-83; Advisory Committee, Office of Technical Programming & Conferences, 1999-2000; Advisory Panel,CHEMTECH , 1977; Advisory Board on Continuing Education, 1975-76; ACS-AIChE Joint Committee, Cross-Fertilization of Curricula, 1980; Science Commission Task Force on Non-Publication Scientific Communications, 1979-80

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1950. Division of Polymer Chemistry: councilor, 1982-98; chair, 1980; chair-elect, 1979; vice-chair, 1978; Education Committee, 1982-89, 1970-78, chair, 1970-78; Distinguished Service Award Committee, 1991. Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering: alternate councilor, 1979-81; executive committee, 1972-81. Division of Chemical Health & Safety: vice chair, 1976-78. New York Section: alternate councilor, 1979-81; director, 1977-78. North Jersey Section: Polymer Topical Group, chair, 1975.Delaware Section: Education Committee, 1961-62. Division Officers Caucus Directorate, 1985 to date

Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science, fellow; American Institute of Chemists, fellow, councilor, New York Chapter, 1980-83; New York Academy of Sciences, fellow; Society of Plastics Engineers, fellow; North American Thermal Analysis Society, fellow; Institute for Public Information; Fiber Society. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education; Chemical Technicians; Polymer Chemistry; Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering; and Professional Relations

Related activities: Prior industrial experience: DuPont Carothers Research Laboratory; J. T. Baker Chemical Co.; Allied Chemical Corp.; director, Dreyfus Laboratory, Research Triangle Institute; editor, Journal of Polymer Science: Chemistry; ACS International Chemistry Celebration, Global Salute to Polymers, 1998-99; NATO Scientific Consultant, 1992-98; National Materials Advisory Board Committee on Fire- & Smoke-Resistant Materials for Commercial Aircraft Interiors, chair, 1993-95; Naval Studies Board Panel on Polymers, chair, 1993-95; NSF Chemistry Visiting Team, Hungary, 1991; Polymers for Advanced Technology, Oxford, 1993, honorary chair, program committee, Tokyo, 1999, Israel, 2001; member, Fire Research Panel, NISR, 1981-90; speaker, ACS Initiatives in Science Education, 1990; NSF Undergraduate Curriculum Materials Workshop, 1989; Materials Advisory Committee, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Gordon Research Conferences, council, 1984, cochair, Conference on Polymer Combustion & Flammability, 1975, chair, Conference on Polymers, 1983; U.S.-Japan Symposium on Specialty Polymers, chair, 1987; International Advisory Committee on Polymers for Advanced Technology, International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Jerusalem, chair, 1987; National Materials Advisory Board, 1975-77; invited speaker to many international conferences; consulted for DuPont, Arco, AMP, Colgate, and others; more than 250 publications and four patents

The 21st century is upon us. It offers new and exciting challenges for the American Chemical Society and its members. Using what we have learned from the previous century--as a strong base for the future--it is possible to forge new efforts together! My background in academia, industry, and government affords me the opportunity to propose new programs to meet the diverse needs of the varying segments of our membership. My extensive activities in ACS service will provide the wherewithal to make these new programs happen. In these times, we must be a more proactive society and lead by anticipating and making change happen rather than just being responsive to individual situations. The future of ACS depends on its responses to the needs of its members--YOU.

A career in the chemical sciences must compete more favorably with other professions (professional and economic parity with medicine, law, business, engineering, and other sciences). Presently, there is no shortage of chemists, multiple terminations and early retirements continue, and many chemists and engineers are underutilized. Employers must be convinced that multiple terminations are detrimental in the long run. Society has become a community of short-term thinkers--industry, government, academia, and ACS and its board must be more concerned about broadening long-term thinking--it is our future!

Today's definition of job security is the ability to get another job. We must focus on intensive retraining programs and career tutorials, in concert with industry and academia. At the same time, employment services must be increased. It should be possible for all interested ACS members to be anonymously registered with an up-to-date inventory of their skills and knowledge so that potential employers may search this database to fulfill their employment needs. ACS must be a stronger advocate for portable pensions.

Information technology. Publications and Chemical Abstracts are the crown jewels of the society. We must do everything possible to maintain and expand our leadership by increasing investments in people and equipment and we must be open-minded in regard to alliances that will make this happen.

Globalization. This is usually defined in geographic terms alone--the internationalization of business and universities. "Global" must be more inclusive, with a broader definition that includes interdisciplinarity (for example, with biology, materials science, engineering) as well as strong interactions between industry, academia, and government. On this basis, tremendous additional opportunities exist and ACS must work to better define and maximize these opportunities. We must discourage the one-way export of R&D positions as is already happening in England. Education and thinking must be reoriented so that present and future chemists will be better prepared to take advantage of these opportunities here and abroad--a major priority with serious career consequences. Fortunately for our country and profession, we already have a relatively broad cultural diversity--but continued professional exposure to cultural and language understandings are required to avoid a provincial outlook. My interdisciplinary research and overseas visits have emphasized the value of international endeavors and the future opportunities for "global" ventures in the development of science and technology.

Partnering with other professional organizations. The interdisciplinary nature of science, with chemistry as a central science, requires us to explore multiprong interactions with other scientific societies. Our ability to do this and also to make it affordable are musts! Through this route, future chemists are able to renew their knowledge and insights, contributing to their increased value and needs. There is no doubt that broader scientific knowledge is the way of the future. ACS must take a leadership role not only in "broader journal partnering" with these societies, but it must allow our membership to increase their leadership interactions within these societies. ACS must also work with divisions toward this end. A new financial structure for joint societal membership must be considered as an important part of accomplishing these goals. Innovative and affordable ways for our members to be affiliated with other organizations must be found!

Chemistry is . . . what chemists do! Chemists define themselves too narrowly and we must educate ourselves and the public at large about who we are, our achievements, and the vast potential of chemistry. Chemists and chemical engineers are involved with space, biotechnology, telecommunications, health, environment, electronics, and so on. We are the problem solvers and inventors, utilizing science and technology to achieve solutions and do research, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and so forth. ACS must lead the redefinition and reintegration of the chemical curriculum to reflect the role of the modern chemist in the changing workplace and society.

Local section programming must be improved by local section initiation of deliverable diversified scientific programming that meets the challenges of globalization, multidisciplines, and intersociety cooperation.

Divisions should be encouraged to participate in this with incentives to work more closely with local sections and regional meetings for more effective programming. Local section and division officers should be provided with the wherewithal--training, information, materials, and so on--for their members to participate more effectively in community issues such as education, safety, health, and environment. Personal involvement enhances member interest.

Councilors and members are a significant resource for ACS. Many are already an important part of the ACS committee structure. I have pushed for broader utilization of councilors and members to make useful contributions. National goals and programs coupled with local and divisional goals, needs, and interests would be the purview. Establishment of a quarterly newsletter to aid and abet these purposes would be an initial action, followed by training, development, and informational sessions.

Strengthening ACS and the profession. I am determined in my efforts to push these and other member-related programs forward. As we enter the ACS 125th Anniversary Year (2001), ACS must continue to nurture and strengthen the broadest possible diversity in its membership and leadership to achieve these goals and directions. I intend to be a society officer responsive to you, the membership, maintaining a continuing dialogue as we move forward. Visit http://www.elipearce.org for more information.

New York Section. Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Pearl River, N.Y.

Date of birth: 1936

Academic record: Marymount College, B.S., 1957; Fordham University, Ph.D., 1964

Honors: Outstanding Service Award, ACS New York Section; Sigma Xi; Iota Sigma Pi; Wyeth-Ayerst Teamwork Award

Professional positions (for past 10 years): Wyeth-Ayerst Research (formerly American Cyanamid), manager, library services, 1992 to date; Medical Research Division, group leader, 1986-95

Service in ACS national offices: Council Policy Committee (voting), 1994-99, vice chair, 1997-99; Board Committee on Planning, 1997-99; Board Task Force on Employment Problems of Chemists, 1995; Council Policy Committee Task Force on Councilor Travel Reimbursement, 1994-96; Committee on Economic & Professional Affairs, Task Force on Federal Policy Agenda, 1994-96, committee consultant, 1994-95; Committee on Economic Status, 1988-93, chair, 1991-93, committee associate, 1987; Committee on Professional Relations, 1990-93; Professional Programs Planning & Coordinating Committee, 1991-93; Committee on Constitution & Bylaws, committee associate, 1986-87

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1961. New York Section: councilor, 1985-2002, alternate councilor, 1984, chair, 1986, chair-elect and program chair, 1985; Program Committee, chair, 1994-2000; Nichols Medal Jury, 1986-91; Public Relations Committee, cochair, 1990; Program Review, chair, 1987-2000; Committee on Long-Range Planning, 1986-2000, chair, 1986; Finance Committee, chair, 1986-87; Nominating Committee, chair, 1987, 1985; Metrochem Committee, 1987; Fundraising Committee, 1987; Education Committee, 1980-84; Continuing Education Committee, 1983-84. Westchester Subsection: secretary, 1968-70

Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Institute of Chemists; American Association of University Professors. ACS Divisions: Chemical Information; Medicinal Chemistry; and Professional Relations

What would I hope to accomplish as a director of ACS? To represent you, members of ACS and its most important asset. I believe that a director must help create an environment in which you thrive, must support you in your effort to educate, to do research, to create, to invent, to make industrial science work--whatever your particular role. A director must address problems that face you, whatever your age, specialty, or employment environment. You embody the nation's investment in science.

We live in good times for many, but there are challenges.

 Unemployment in general is low, but does a chemist with 25 years' experience find work easily?

 Is the population well educated in science, in chemistry? Are our citizens prepared to vote meaningfully when science enters the public domain?

 Chemistry makes enormous contributions to our world. Does society appreciate its role? Is chemistry sufficiently funded?

The problems implied here are not easy to solve. Still, ACS is the largest scientific organization in the world. If we don't do it, who will? You are needed, to contribute both in your own way and together with ACS. The board of directors must lead the society in addressing problems affecting members, problems affecting chemistry education, and problems affecting chemical research and the chemical enterprise.

We need to work to

 Ensure that our fellow chemical professionals thrive in their work lives.

 Support efforts for an environmentally responsible global chemical enterprise.

 Cooperate with chemical professionals internationally, especially in developing nations.

 Foster opportunities for minorities to share in the rewards of our profession and to contribute their talents to the nation.

 Draw bachelor's and industrial chemists into more active participation in ACS.

 Maintain and increase funding for chemical research.

 Improve the public's estimation of chemistry and of what it means to their lives.

 Sustain, broaden, and deepen our chemical information leadership.

You may well ask, "Doesn't everyone say those same things?" Yes, they do. These aims have long been widely recognized, but we need to do more. We need to be bold in our search for new opportunities to progress toward these goals.

Why, then, should you vote for me? My experience includes more than 15 years teaching in university, college, and high school, and more than 24 years in chemical information and management in the industrial context. I understand the concerns of educators, researchers, and industrial chemists. I know, for example, that the wonder of electronic information does not entirely replace journals, books, and people! I firmly believe that, working together with you, I can make positive contributions toward our shared goals.

What are the possibilities for action? We can support chemical professionals in developing the personal skills required to change as the environment changes. We can work toward a stable employment environment for chemists. In addition, we can work toward equipping chemists to deal with the changes they encounter. Chemistry is performed by human beings with human needs. We need to respect those needs and work toward meeting them.

We can use technology to create new ways of participating in ACS--new ways to meet, to involve members, to appeal to the young. Let's build on the technological prowess that has served Chemical Abstracts and Publications so well! We can bringinteractive ACS meetings, communications, and participation to the desktop! We can put posters on our Internet sites, and allow for comment. We can invite members to hear lectures and views slides from their desktops, and conduct electronic discussions afterward.

We can develop online courses for members, making them broadly available on the Internet. Chemists have increasingly demanding responsibilities, as well as working spouses, children to care for, and professional development to consider. If we want to serve younger (and less young!) members, we can aim for the desktop!

Cultivate and honor "blurry borders"; that is, "loosen up" the sense of who a chemical professional is. Pay increasing attention to scientific professionals who use chemistry, but who may not think of themselves primarily as chemists. Continue to encourage ACS groups for interdisciplinary specialties and "niche" interests. We can attract "blurry border" scientists by helping them find the special knowledge they need, plus a world of experience and connections, among us. Invite more "blurry border" chemists to participate in planning. Ask for their opinions, give them honors.

Encourage teaching as a worthy career (high school, as well as other levels) for chemists. By respect and encouragement, we can support the teaching of science at any level as a worthy career for chemists. Set high standards for our chemistry teachers, and reward them with professional status and appropriate salaries.

Encourage in all chemists a flexibleunderstanding of themselves and their careers. They'll need this if they work in industry, where most jobs are found. Honor all careers in chemistry, especially those that serve the nation as a whole. Let's continue to educate students about nontraditional, industrial, ever-changing careers; about the need to learn along the way; to educate oneself continuously.

We are the largest scientific member organization in the world. We are secure enough to risk new ways of being. If these don't work, we shift. If they do, we have engaged the young and secured the future!

If you agree that we need these approaches, I will be honored if you vote for me, so that I may serve you on the board of directors. I have energy and determination. I pledge to work for these goals and to maintain contact with the members of Region I. I'll ask for your input and cooperation, and I'll let you know what I'm doing. You are ultimately the solution to any problems we face. Please contact me with questions or suggestions at ronanne@attglobal.net. Thank you for considering me. I hope to represent you.

Top

Northeastern Section. Strem Chemicals, Newburyport, Mass.

Date of birth: 1936

Academic record: Brown University, A.B., 1958; University of Pittsburgh, M.S., 1961; Ph.D., 1964

Honors: Henry A. Hill Award for Distinguished Service to the ACS Northeastern Section, 1995; New England Institute of Chemists Distinguished Chemist Award, 2000; Newburyport Business Champions for Education Award, 1997

Professional positions (for past 10 years):Strem Chemicals Inc., president, 1964 to date

Service in ACS national offices: Director, Region I, 1998-2000; councilor, ex-officio, 1998-2000; Committee on Budget & Finance, 1998-2000, vice chair, 1999, committee associate, 1994-97; Committee on International Activities, 1998-2000; Board Executive Committee, 1999; Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, 1998-99; Committee on Planning, ex-officio, 1999-2000; Committee on Committees, 1993-97; Committee on Professional Relations, 1989-92, committee associate, 1987-88; Committee on Technician Activities, committee associate, 1987; Advisory Board for Industry Relations, 1996-99; Canvassing Committee ACS Award in Industrial Chemistry, 1989-91, chair, 1990-91; National Chemistry Week Task Force, 1998-2000; Task Force on Washington Information Technology, 1999; Task Force on Revision of "Professional Employment Guidelines," 1991-92

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1960. Division of Small Chemical Businesses: councilor, 1986-97; chair, 1985, 1982-83; chair-elect, 1983-84, 1981-82; Program Committee chair, 1988, 1983-84. Northeastern Section: chair, 1989; chair-elect, 1988; Board of Publications, chair, 1994, 1991; Nominating Committee chair, 1990-92.Northeast Regional Meeting: Exhibits chair, 1993

Member: Royal Society of Chemistry; Materials Research Society; Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker; Société Française de Chimie. ACS Divisions: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Polymer Chemistry; Professional Relations; and Small Chemical Businesses

Related activities: Newburyport Business/Education Coalition, board of trustees, 1990 to date; Newburyport Area Industrial Development Corp., copresident, 2000-01, president 1994-96, vice-president, 1992-94; Newburyport Emergency Planning Committee, 1994 to date; member, Francis T. Bresnahan School Council, Newburyport, 1997-98; Institution for Savings, Newburyport, trustee, 1993 to date; corporator, Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport, 1992 to date; Research Biochemicals Inc., board of directors, 1990-92; National Research Council Committee on Institutional Considerations in Reducing the Generation of Hazardous Industrial Wastes, 1983-84; Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, president, 1981; Catalysis Club of New England, chair, 1976-78

I have found the experience of representing Region I members during my first three-year term to be challenging and personally fulfilling. There is much to do in serving as liaison between 25,000 chemistry professionals and the board of the world's largest scientific society. If you think I have been effective, please support my reelection.

With my roots in entrepreneurship and small business, I have the determination to react to our members' needs and hopes in a quick, direct, and thorough manner. This is especially challenging given that our membership is so culturally diverse and striving to become gender-equal. Through my board service I feel I have developed a vision of what ACS should be doing to remain strong well into the future. Let me state my vision for ACS as well as review certain of my accomplishments over the past term.

I see ACS as a grassroots membership organization with active local sections, which, as a regional director, I have had the obligation and opportunity to influence. I have worked steadily to build my contacts with the local section officers in Region I by communicating with them regularly. I have initiated a Region I newsletter sent several times a year to more than 300 people, including the officers of all Region I local sections. Also, I have attended many local section meetings and functions and met many of my constituents face-to-face.

I see ACS through its local sections as giving high priority to our National Chemistry Week (NCW) program. This program has the potential to be more successful in motivating young people to pursue the chemistry profession, as well as in reinforcing to the public the positive benefits of chemical research and the commercialization of chemical products. I am pleased to be a member of the national NCW Task Force, which meets regularly to build and improve our important and worthwhile NCW program. Its success depends on the planning and the strength of the local sections and the skills of each local NCW coordinator. We must do more in Washington and on the local level to ensure that NCW coordinators have the support and motivation to perform successfully.

I see ACS as a primary venue tonurture and maintain the pipeline of young chemists that begins in elementary school and continues through graduate school. Furthermore, it is important to give counseling to graduates on how to succeed in the workplace, so these young chemists can get off to a good start in their careers. Regional meetings, such as the Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM), are important in this regard, and I have made it a priority to ensure a lineup of NERMs through 2004 that will attract students and younger chemists. The next NERM will be at the University of New Hampshire, and a strong organizing effort is currently under way there with my active support.

I see ACS as making a stronger effort to increase the number of its members who are high school chemistry teachers and make it easier and more valuable for them to attend our national and regional meetings. At the council meeting in New Orleans last year, we heard about the difficulty high school teachers are having in getting full value from their ACS membership. We must address this; these teachers and their peers in the elementary grades are essential to motivating students to take an interest in chemistry and hopefully pursue it as a career path.

I see the Student Affiliates (SA) Program as crucial to motivating students, and I have been active in strengthening our SA Program throughout Region I. I have fostered personal contacts between undergraduate SA advisers and our national ACS SA office to aid SA chapters. At the same time, we must be aware that today's economy more than ever can uproot professional careers.

I see ACS as having stronger programs to counsel and aid members who are forced in midcareer to restart their careers.

I see ACS as being active in government activities, and we are fortunate to have an experienced staff in the ACS Office of Legislative & Government Affairs (OLGA). Through my position on the board's Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, I have worked with the people in this office and have participated in many of the events they run. We must continue to let our government officials know--through events like Congressional Visits and State Capitol Days--that basic research is a cornerstone of our world economic leadership position. It is crucial that we maintain high levels of research funding in academic, governmental, and industrial circles, and ACS must continue to show the value of research through its publications, meetings, and communication with local leaders.

Finally, I see ACS as an organizationpromoting its international status through relationships with other chemical societies in the world. I wrote a comment in the Oct. 11, 1999, issue of Chemical & Engineering News informing our members about the growth of the Federation of European Chemical Societies. Our profession is global; most companies we work for are global; and the public that appreciates the value of chemistry's positive influence is worldwide. As a member of the International Activities Committee, I have committed to enhancing our relationships with other societies in order to make the chemical profession and chemical enterprise more appreciated throughout the world.

ACS operates very smoothly, in large measure due to the management and a staff of dedicated, competent individuals. I am privileged to have learned from many of them and have utilized their expertise to help our members. My hope as a director is to ensure that the services and programs of ACS will be flexible enough to keep pace with the ever-changing needs and makeup of our membership.

To conclude, I feel that my tenure on the ACS Board has just begun, and with your support I will continue to serve another term and accomplish the vision and strategic plans to which ACS and I are deeply committed.

East Central Illinois Section. (Retired) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Date of birth: 1928

Academic record: Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S., 1950; Michigan State University, Ph.D., 1956

Honors: ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, 1993; ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry, 1972; Sigma Xi; Alfred P. Sloan Fellow; American Association for the Advancement of Science, fellow; American Academy of Arts & Sciences, fellow; Guggenheim Fellow

Professional positions (for past 10 years): retired, University of Illinois, professor emeritus, 1994 to date; director, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology, 1987-93; professor of chemistry, 1964-94; acting vice chancellor for academic affairs, University of Illinois, 1993

Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Budget & Finance, 1996-2001; Committee on Science, 1990-95, committee associate, 1989; Governing Board for Publishing, 1996-2001; CAS Governing Board, 1991-96; Canvassing Committee, ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, 1986-88; Advisory Board,Inorganic Chemistry , 1978-82; Advisory Board, Chemical Reviews, 1971-73; Task Force on Board of Directors Operations, 1999 to date

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1956. East Central Illinois Section: councilor, 1993-2003; chair, 1966-67. Inorganic Chemistry Division: chair, 1973; chair-elect, 1972; Organometallic Subdivision, chair, 1976-77

Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science; Sigma Xi. ACS Division: Chemical Education

Related activities: associate editor, Inorganic Chemistry, 1969-78; board of directors, Beckman Foundation, 1994 to date; chair, ACS Task Force on Research in CAS/ACS Publications, 1995; chair, Task Force on Renovation of CAS Facilities, 1997-99; Advisory Committee, National Science Foundation Directorate of Education and Human Resources, 1989-93; board of governors, Council for Chemical Research, 1983-1986, executive committee, 1984-86; Academic Advisory Council to the University Relations Committee, Industrial Research Institute, 1982-85; president, Association of Graduate Schools, 1985-86; Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable Council, 1989-96

I should note to begin with that I am something of a newcomer so far as Region V is concerned; the Central Illinois Section was only recently moved into the Region. However, if I am elected director from Region V, I will be active in the region, and represent your particular outlooks. At the same time, I intend to be active in looking after the welfare of the society in general, and all its members. To help you decide whether I can best serve as your director, let me tell you something of my background, beyond what is in the brief curriculum vita.

After undergraduate school, I spent three years in the U.S. Navy, then on to graduate school, and then to the University of Illinois as a faculty member. During my years on the active teaching faculty I taught general chemistry as well as advanced graduate courses. Gene LeMay and I authored the first edition of "Chemistry: The Central Science" in 1977. The text broke new ground in emphasizing the relationship of chemistry to other disciplines and aspects of the student's life. With Bruce Bursten as coauthor, it remains one of the most popular general chemistry texts, and I remain active in the revision process. At the advanced level, about 70 graduate students completed their Ph.D. theses under my direction, and more than 20 postdoctoral researchers spent time in my labs. I turn to many of these former students and colleagues for advice and insights. I think I have a good feeling for what is going on in both academe and the industrial world of chemistry.

In 1980, I became vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate college at the University of Illinois. In that role, I gained a better appreciation of how the sciences and other fields of knowledge are related. Those insights were useful in helping to build the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology. In 1987, I became the institute's founding director, with the task of promoting interdisciplinary research across a broad range of work in the physical sciences and engineering and in the life and behavioral sciences.

Administrative life also brought with it many opportunities to work with various other organizations on the national scene, as you can see from my CV. With this background, I understand more clearly than I otherwise would how chemistry relates to other sciences. Further, my experience has given me a good understanding of the importance of new technologies. (I might note that such familiar tools as Telnet and Mosaic, the first widely successful Internet browser, were developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, headquartered in the Beckman Institute at Illinois.)

ACS is a wonderful organization. I know of no other in which so many members are willing to give their time and energy to furthering the interests of the membership and of the profession. Because of this high level of member involvement, the directors need not and should not try to micromanage the society. I believe that the role of ACS directors is twofold: (a) keep in touch with members, divisions, and local sections to learn how they feel about the society, and what the society might do to advance their interests, and (b) govern the society at the highest level, keeping in mind the society's charter and mission, and the conditions in which the society must operate today.

As you can see from my CV, I have been a member of the Governing Board for Publishing since the inception of that governance entity. I will complete my last term on the governing board in 2001, the year in which I would begin my duties as director, if elected. Membership on the governing board and on the Committee on Budget & Finance has given me a terrific opportunity to learn about the financial structure of the society.

I am convinced that new technologies, such as information technologies and biotechnology, are of vital interest to ACS. Here is a fact that may surprise you: By far the greatest share of the net revenue on which the society's programs depend comes from the net revenues of Chemical Abstracts Service and the ACS Publications Division. Thanks to superb management in both organizations, and the efforts of many talented and dedicated ACS employees, both organizations are presently very healthy. Nevertheless, the future is cloudy. New technologies for information storage, retrieval, and transmission; new ways of doing science; and new publication practices will all affect the society's fortunes in years to come. This is a time for the most diligent and insightful governance of which we are capable. I think that I can help to provide that, and ask for your vote.

Here are my responses to the two questions posed to the candidates:

What would you hope to accomplish as director of ACS? Most important, I want to see an appropriate balance between the interests of various groups within the society in terms of allocation of resources. At the same time, I would actively study developing technologies and try to understand the ways in which they might impact the society, favorably or unfavorably. To maintain contact with the membership, particularly from Region V, I intend to establish a special e-mail box, and--insofar as possible--make use of ACS's Web resources.

What specific changes, if any, in the ACS organization or programs would you propose to achieve your goals? As I indicated, ACS is blessed with an abundance of talented and interested members. As director I would attempt to balance the interests of different groups in terms of member needs and desires on the one hand, and the available resources on the other.

Top

Wichita Falls-Duncan Section. Cameron University, Lawton, Okla.

Date of birth: 1942

Academic record: Northeastern Oklahoma State University, B.S., 1965; Oklahoma State University, M.S., 1969; Texas Woman's University, Ph.D., 1975

Honors: Henry Hill Award, ACS Division of Professional Relations, 1996; Oklahoma State Teachers Association, Oklahoma Science Teacher of the Year, 1999; Cameron University Phi Kappa Phi Promotion of Excellence Award, 1998; Cameron University Faculty Hall of Fame Award, 1996, Distinguished Service Award, 1995, Outstanding Advisor Award, 1993, Student Government Outstanding Professor Award, 1986; Oklahoma Chemist Award, 1992; Sigma Xi; Sigma Pi Sigma; Phi Kappa Phi; Iota Sigma Pi; honorary member, Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Kappa Delta; Delta Kappa Gamma; Cameron University Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Faculty Award, 1978; Phi Kappa Phi Meritorious Service Award, 1989, 1981; Phi Kappa Phi Alumni Award, 1980; Outstanding Young Women of America, 1978

Professional positions (for past 10 years): Cameron University, professor, 1978 to date; Cameron University Research Center, hard science facilitator, 1988-92; University of Oklahoma, adjunct professor of environmental science and civil engineering, 1990-91; visiting professor, summer 1990

Service in ACS national offices: Director, Region V, 1997-2000; councilor, ex officio, 1997-2000; Board Committee on Professional Relations, 1997-2000, chair, 1999; Board Development Committee, 1998; Society Committee on Education, consultant, 1999-2000; Committee on Chemical Safety, committee associate, 1996-2000; Committee on Membership Affairs, committee associate, 1995; Committee on Economic & Professional Affairs, 1994, consultant, 1999-2000; Committee on Economic Status, 1984-93, vice chair, 1989-91, secretary, 1988, 1985-86; Committee on Local Section Activities, 1982-83, secretary, 1983; Joint Task Force on Employment Services, 1984-91; Task Force on Industrial Sabbaticals, secretary,1987-89; Task Force on Certification & Licensing, chair, 1989-92; Task Force on Revitalizing Student Affiliate Chapters, 1989; Task Force on Student Affiliate Adviser's Manual, 1990

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1972. Wichita Falls-Duncan Section: councilor, 1985-2000, 1980-83; alternate councilor, 1984; chair, 1979; chair-elect and Program Committee chair, 1978; secretary-treasurer, 1977; Nominating Committee chair, 1980; historian, 1980-81; National Chemistry Week Committee chair, 1987-96; Education Committee chair, 1980-81; Committee on Professional Relations chair, 1992; Public Relations, 1985-92; Long-Range Planning, 1978-95; Pentasectional Meeting Planning Chair, 1996-97, 1985-86, 1980-81. Oklahoma Pentasectional Meeting: chair, 1986, 1981; Southwest High School Teacher Regional Award Committee chair, 1984; Southwest Regional Program Committee, 1998. Division of Professional Relations: chair, 1997; chair-elect, 1996, secretary, 1990-95; member-at-large, Executive Committee, 1987-89; Cameron University ACS Student Affiliate Chapter, sponsor, 1982 to date

Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Institute of Chemists; American Association of University Women; American Council on Undergraduate Research; Higher Education Council of Oklahoma; Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education; Organic Chemistry; and Professional Relations.

Related activities: Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, national past-president, 1998-2001, national president, 1995-98, national president-elect, 1992-95, national vice president, 1989-92, national regent, 1980-89, Board of Directors, 1980 to date, Budget Committee, 1989-2001; Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Foundation Board of Trustees, 1980 to date; science adviser to the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs; American Institute of Chemists, national board of directors, 1992-93; national Poly-Ed Scholar, 1992-93; University of Texas, Dallas, visiting scientist, summers 1987, 1986; Oklahoma Collegiate Conference on Chemical Education, chair, 1987; Bicentennial Conference on Chemical Education, Exhibits Committee chair, 1982; Chemical Education, chair, 1977; Listed in Who's Who In America, Who's Who Among American Women, American Men & Women of Science, Who's Who in Science & Engineering, Who's Who Among International Business & Professional Women, Who's Who Among American Teachers; more than 75 scientific papers and publications; service on numerous Cameron University faculty groups

Chemistry In The New Millennium:As we approach the new millennium, it is fitting that we examine the progress chemistry has made since its emergence from alchemy. Is the chemistry profession where we want it to be? I think not! The news media often classify chemistry as the villain of the environment; bright students choose other professions; chemists are frequently forced into unplanned retirement or midcareer changes, choosing more lucrative and presumably respectable occupations. For 23 years, I have been actively involved in addressing these problems at the local, divisional, and national levels. I am a strong proponent of the slogan that my students and I proposed for National Chemistry Day: "Chemistry, The Solution To The Future," and ACS is a vital component of that solution. That slogan takes on an even greater meaning as we enter the new millennium. For the past four years I have served as your regional director, representing your interests on the board and working to make ACS a better society. There is still much to be done, and I would like to continue as your representative on the board, to work with you and the ACS staff to improve our profession. Chemistry must be viewed as the basis of better living, both for its practitioners and the nation.

Do I have the experience? I am a full-time educator, involved for 31 years with B.S. students, giving them a realistic picture of chemistry and hearing their views. I have served as a job placement service for many of them, celebrating their joy when the job market was good and crying with them when it was poor. As a member of a faculty with one of the largest undergraduate chemistry programs in Oklahoma, another responsibility has been to help place my students in graduate and professional programs and then to follow through with their placement as Ph.D. chemists. I have kept abreast of current employment trends. My seven years as a member of the ACS Advisory Committee on Employment Services provided me the opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with one of the most important member services ACS provides. My activities spanning from chairing a local section and serving as an ACS Student Affiliates chapter faculty adviser, a division officer, and in various capacities in other ACS units have provided me with an in-depth understanding of members' needs and problems. Four years' experience on the ACS Board of Directors and 20 years of service on the national board of directors of another organization (with more than 120,000 active members) has prepared me for service at the highest level.

Is experience enough? All candidates have experience and ideas. Unfortunately, in the past ACS has not always responded rapidly to our members' changing needs. An example is a 1947 ACS report that determined that our members wanted actions on professionalism. Only after a wave of mass terminations in the chemical workforce in 1972 did the society direct more attention to this critical area. Even experienced leaders became frustrated with endless debates following study after study. One must have enthusiasm, determination, and perseverance to break the inertia. I am willing to devote the time and energy required to respond when the need arises.

Quo vadis ACS. I am a firm supporter and believer in the positive aspects of our society. I won't waste my thousand words by reaffirming my obvious support for our established programs in education, meetings, publications, and so on. Rather, I will highlight some problems of major importance and approaches to their solutions that I will continue to pursue as your regional director.

Public image. Our members can do more to promote the public image of chemistry than a multi-million-dollar public relations campaign, and at a fraction of the cost. The society must continue to seek more effective ways of supporting and involving local sections and divisions in this effort. The regional director through regular contact with local section and division leaders can assist and support their actions. Enthusiasm is indeed contagious, but it needs continuous nurturing.

Industrial and B.S. chemists. I am very concerned with the job-related problems of industrial and B.S. chemists. Active participation in the many facets of the society has made me well aware of the benefits of ACS membership. However, to many of our members, existing ACS programs appear to have limited value. We must continue to provide services and support to help our members keep abreast of rapid changes occurring in our profession and help ensure job stability. Industrial and B.S. chemists make up a majority of our members and unfortunately an even larger majority of those who do not join ACS because of the perceived lack of programs to serve them.

Working together. Individual directors must work with the local sections and divisions to represent all ACS members' interests. They must have vision beyond the borders of their own circle. As your regional director, with your support and assistance, I will

 Establish and maintain continuous and close contact with ACS members in our region through sectional and divisional leadership.

 Provide information about pending actions and ask for input.

 Use every opportunity to demonstrate that ACS is an organization of, by, and for its members.

 Represent the members in my region and make sure that their interests are addressed at the board level.

The problems that chemistry and chemists faced at the close of the 20th century threaten the future of our profession. Unless we face these early in the 2lst century, they will not only continue to haunt us but will magnify. We must make sure that chemistry will continue to play a major role in future industrial development. All entities of ACS must work together to make the ACS not only the largest scientific organization related to a single discipline, but the largest scientific organization serving its members the best. With your help, my experience, AND unbroken determination, we will continue to work to solve major problems of ACS and the chemistry profession.

Top

Memphis Section. University of Memphis

Date of birth: 1937

Academic record: Oberlin College, B.A., 1960; University of Michigan, Ph.D., 1965

Honors: Council for Chemical Research (CCR) Malcolm E. Pruitt Award for Promotion of University-Industry Relations, 1994; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), fellow, 1987; National Institutes of Health Special Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, 1972-73

Professional positions (for past 10 years): University of Memphis, provost, 1992 to date; Auburn University, dean, College of Sciences & Mathematics, 1987-92

Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Budget & Finance, 1999-2001; Council Policy Committee (nonvoting), 1992-94; Society Committee on Education, 1991-99, chair, 1992-94; Committee on Science, 1985-93, chair, 1988-90; Task Force on Scholarship in Chemistry, cochair, 1992-93; Task Force on Academic Professional Guidelines, 1989-90; Task Force on Conflicts of Interest, 1990; Task Force on National Meeting Program Support Allocation, 1990; Task Force on National Meeting Program Review, 1989; National Chemistry Day Advisory Board, 1987; Petroleum Research Fund Advisory Board, 1976-84; Editorial Advisory Board, ACS Monograph Series, 1979-82

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1964. Memphis Section: councilor, 1994-2001; Auburn Section: councilor, 1991-93;Washington-Idaho Border Section : chair, 1972-73; chair-elect, 1971-72; secretary, 1969-70; alternate councilor, 1978-87

Member: AAAS, member-at-large, chemistry section, 1992-96; CCR, Governing Board, 1986-93, chair, 1990-91; Council of Scientific Society Presidents, 1990-92. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education, Inorganic Chemistry

Related activities: National Association of State Universities & Land Grant Colleges, Executive Committee, Council on Academic Affairs, 1998-2000; Syracuse Project Advisory Board on Discipline-Specific Scholarship (chemistry), 1994-98; AAAS-American Association for Higher Education Project 2061 Blueprint Advisory Panel, 1993; Carnegie Foundation Task Force on the Assessment of Scholarship, 1993; chair, Teacher/Scholar Role Committee, National Science Foundation Workshop on the Role of Professional Societies in Two-Year College Science, Mathematics & Engineering Education, 1992; NSF Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program, Review Committee, 1990; Advisory Committee, "World of Chemistry," Annenberg/Corporation for Public Broadcasting project, 1987-89; NSF Selection Committee for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Teaching, ACS representative, 1989; Review Committee, NIH, Minorities Access to Research Careers Program, 1980-84, 1977, chair, 1982-83; consulted with American Enka, Dow, Marathon Oil, Miles Laboratories, and Monsanto; published 80 journal articles

ACS is doing very well. It does not need major changes. ACS needs to continue its commitment to science education, to emphasize its outreach mission to promote the goodness of chemistry, to remain proactive in incorporating technology for publications and chemical abstracts, to maintain the financial solvency that allows us to pursue new ventures, and to continue to address the individual needs of its members. I have leadership experience in all these areas, and I am well positioned to be an active, broadly based member of the board of directors who understands the greater context in which chemistry plays a central role.

Education is paramount to the mission of ACS. It is the foundation of our future. ACS has been taking a progressively stronger leadership role in science education. ACS leadership in precollege science education is internationally recognized, and its advice is sought by many as the nation struggles to come to grips with this most important issue that will have a major impact on our future.

Successful involvement of ACS with precollege education impacts higher education by providing better prepared students. At the college level, ACS has become more involved in how we teach chemistry and how we entice the best students to pursue science. Interfacing chemistry with other disciplines and curriculum reform are examples of growing areas of ACS participation in science education.

Over the years I have been deeply involved in our growing commitment to education. As board director I would encourage and facilitate cooperation among the various components of the society in furthering our impact on science education. My extensive work with the Committees on Education and on Science and the ACS Education Division provides me with an in-depth appreciation of the broad cross section of the society that needs to be involved.

The highly successful program for undergraduates at national meetings is bringing more students into the mainstream of chemical research and education. I strongly support this program and believe it will continue to play an important role in our mission.

The public, which supports higher education through tuition and taxes, questions anything they do not understand. It is paramount that we communicate the role of research in addressing societal needs. It is particularly important that the role of research in helping prepare students and providing the basis for new discoveries and benefits to society be emphasized. This is a primary mission for me in my role as provost as I communicate to governing bodies and the public and would be part of my commitment as a board director.

My extensive experience in helping fund and produce the successful Annenberg/Corporation for Public Broadcasting "World of Chemistry" television series and public education tapes with the Council for Chemical Research (CCR) places me in an excellent position to provide leadership for ACS in the area of public communication. My long-term service in leadership roles on the Petroleum Research Fund Advisory Board, the Committee on Science, and CCR has given me a broad perspective on the continuing challenge we face in promoting the central and fundamental role of chemistry in providing a better and safer world for all of us.

Communication of the critical role played by chemistry in society is also being done through our public outreach activities. As a member of the advisory board that developed the first National Chemistry Day, I have followed with particular interest and participated in the growing impact of National Chemistry Week and related public relations activities. I will continue to support this important mission.

I am proud of the role played by ACS in providing the world's leading communication network for science. The national and regional meeting structure, the journals, and Chemical Abstracts are showcases.Through the years I have used and helped improve these information sources and would continue to do so. The rapid evolution of information technology provides a continuing challenge and opportunity for creative advancement of our communication network. We must stay at the cutting edge.

Minority representation in the sciences is still low. I have a long-term commitment to bringing more minorities into the mainstream of science, starting with my role as chair of the National Institutes of Health Minority Access to Research Careers Review Committee. I was involved in the seminal stages of setting up programs in ACS to address minority representation. As a long-term supporter of Project SEED, having hosted students in my laboratory and having made a major personal commitment, I view Project SEED and the ACS Scholars Program as key to bringing the underrepresented into the mainstream of science.

My extensive experience in all phases of the academy, including leadership roles in three comprehensive universities, will continue to be of great value in my various leadership roles in ACS. My close association with key people in industry through seven years in various leadership positions in CCR, including chair of the governing board, has also proven invaluable in my work with ACS. I will capitalize on close ties with industry and CCR in the commitments I have summarized here.

ACS at times hesitates when it should move decisively. We are at times concerned with detail when we should be dealing with substance. We become territorial when we should be sharing common goals. Yes, like the nation, we function as a democracy and by definition are somewhat cumbersome. But we can be more proactive and take a stronger leadership role in science and education. Our ability to help this nation set a course in these most challenging of times depends on this.

These are exciting times to be a member of ACS. We are fortunate to be chemists at a time when, more than ever before, chemistry is at the heart of so much of our achievements. We have so much of which to be proud, but we need good leadership and committed members to stay the course. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to serving you.

Washington Section. American University, Washington, D.C.

Date of birth: 1938

Academic record: University of Delaware, B.S., 1960; Purdue University, Ph.D., 1964

Honors: Virgil Payne Award, ACS Monmouth County, ACS, 1977; Charles Gordon Award, ACS Chemical Society of Washington, 1996; ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, 1996; U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Mentoring, 1998; American University Faculty Award for Outstanding Service, 1998; fellow, Association for Women in Science, 1997; Distinguished Alumni Award, Purdue University School of Science, 1996; Sigma Xi; Iota Sigma Pi; Sigma Delta Epsilon; Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Service Award, Washington, 1979; American Association for Advancement of Science, fellow, 1987; Distinguished Alumni, University of Delaware, 1984

Professional positions (for past 10 years): American University, professor, 1979 to date, chemistry department chair, 1991 to date; National Science Foundation, staff associate, Division of Undergraduate Education, 1986-98

Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Copyrights, 1996-99; Committee on Publications, committee associate, 2000; Committee on Admissions, 1991-96, 1981-89; Committee on Chemical Abstracts Service, committee associate, 1990; Committee on Budget & Finance, 1987-89, committee associate, 1986; Committee on Economic Status, 1979-87; Women Chemists Committee, 1974-79, chair, 1976-78; Canvassing Committee, Garvan Medal, 1974-79, chair, 1976-78; Professional Programs Planning & Coordinating Committee, 1976-78; ACS Nobel Laureate Signature Award, Canvassing Committee, 1980-81, chair, 1980-81; Project SEED Decennial Celebration Committee, 1977-81; Advisory Committee Information Service for Government, 1983-84; James Flack Norris Award Selection Committee, 1992-94; ACS Presidential Task Force on Graduate Education in Chemistry, 1994-95; Task Force on Compensation for Unemployed Inventors, 1977-78; Minority Scholars Selection Committee, 1995; career consultant, 1990 to date; ad hoc committee to write Women Chemists, 1980, author, 1995, 1990, 1985; ACS Tour Speaker, 1976 to date

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1960. Washington Section: Alternate councilor, 1990-2001, 1982-87; chair, 1995; chair-elect, 1994; Education Committee, chair, 1986-88; Professional Relations, 1985. Monmouth County Section: Alternate councilor, 1972-74; chair, 1974; chair-elect, 1973; treasurer, 1970-72. Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting: general chair, 1995; Steering Committee chair, 1996-97

Member: American Institute of Chemists, executive committee, board of directors, 1986, secretary, 1986, director-at-large, 1981-85, Bylaws Committee, chair, 1984-86, Organization & Rules Committee, chair, 1981-83; District Institute of Chemists, president-elect, 2000-01, president, 1978-79, secretary, 1976-77; Iota Sigma Pi, national vice president, 1976-78; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), member, Electorate C Nominating Committee, 1988-90, Council Delegate of Electorate Committee, 1992-94, Committee on Council Affairs, 1992-95, Commission on Professionals in Science & Technology, AAAS representative, 1979 to date, executive board, 1981-83, president, 1981-82; Council for Chemical Research, American University delegate, 1992 to date; alternate, 1984-91; Governing Board, 1997-99; chair, Administration Committee, 1997-2000; Council for Chemical Research, representative to Task Force to Improve the Image of Chemistry, 1995-96. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education, History of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Professional Relations

Related activities: American University,dean, faculty affairs, 1981-85, vice provost, academic affairs, 1982-85, vice provost for academic service, 1979-82, associate dean, graduate research, 1976-79, associate professor, 1974-79, director academic administration, 1974-76, National Science Foundation Science Resources Studies Advisory Panel, Directorate for Scientific, Technological & International Affairs, 1988-90; published 48 journal articles, 10 book chapters and three books and has had over $3.8 million in grants in support of students and research

I am honored to be a candidate for director-at-large of the ACS Board of Directors. For more than 40 years I have been active in many aspects of ACS and believe I will bring a different perspective to the ACS Board. My major career has been in academic administration, but I have also held positions in government and industry.

ACS has a very diverse membership both in terms of degree levels and the background of its members. It is important that the board of directors work to continually adjust ACS programs and services to meet the needs of its different members. Of equal importance, the society must also make sure that its members are aware of the many services and materials offered by the society. As an ACS tour speaker, I have visited many sections around the country and often found that members did not know the breadth of services offered by ACS or the useful information ACS has available. Retention of our members, particularly of younger members, is a continuing problem for the society, and we must do our best to involve these members in the many ACS activities.

As the largest scientific society devoted to a single discipline, ACS is a very special organization and has provided leadership for decades in programs, in services for members, and in knowledge communication. C&EN provides weekly communication with all of the members, furnishing information about chemical scientists and chemists. C&EN is the leading source of job advertisements for chemists at all degree levels and for all areas of employment. C&EN also serves as a way of communicating with ACS members about regional and national meetings, committee activities, and news about ACS members. However, we need to find ways to communicate more effectively within the limitations of the magazine about the many other activities of ACS.

I have been involved for the past 25 years in working with the ACS office that carries out the studies on the salaries and status of our members. Analysis of the data every five years supplies not only comparative data for that particular year, but also is a picture of the continual change in the chemical profession. The data indicate that, as new interdisciplinary fields emerge, chemists are well prepared to take jobs in these areas. The society programs and services have followed its members into these new interdisciplinary areas of chemistry, but it is essential that the society take a leadership role in supporting the new areas of chemistry.

In education, ACS has been the impetus for many major curriculum reforms at the high school and college levels. We need to do more to support high school teachers and get them more involved in ACS, particularly at the local level. High school teachers have the first impact on students when they are beginning to make career choices, and they need to be well informed.

Several years ago I was a member of a task force that surveyed graduate chemistry departments, including polling the graduates. I found it interesting to see how the various graduate chemistry departments met the needs of graduate students. Many of our ACS members were attending a graduate school in their local region and expected to work in that region when they completed their degrees. The targeted graduate programs provided by many of the smaller graduate programs served those students well.

There is another group of students who hope to become faculty members at a college or university who need a different kind of graduate experience. For many decades that group has been about one-third of the graduate student population in chemistry. With ACS meetings and journals it is perhaps that segment of the graduate student population that is served best by ACS. However, the majority of graduate students go into industry after their graduate work, and unfortunately many graduate schools do not provide adequate information for those students. ACS has many materials and services related to careers, résumé writing, and interviewing that many graduate students are not aware exist.

As a career consultant working at the Employment Clearing House at national meetings, I am continually disturbed at how little the young members of ACS know about our society. I think the ACS staff in Washington needs to increase its support of regional meetings, including getting more publicity out to the students and young members of the society about what will be happening at the regional meeting in their area.

ACS needs to be constantly vigilant about the image of chemistry and chemists among the general population. Many of our members work as volunteers in their local communities with students and with public outreach. ACS must be continually supportive of that effort. As the U.S. population becomes more diverse, the society must develop ways to reach communities where the first language is not English. Chemistry has its own language, which is not understood by the majority of the general public, and achieving understanding with non-English speaking people makes the task more challenging. We need to make sure that our new residents understand the significance of educating their children about the importance of the chemical sciences and mathematics.

Support for scientific research and education by our local, state, and federal officials is an important aspect for the strength of the chemical sciences. ACS has a strong program at the federal level to inform our elected officials of the need for support of the scientific enterprise. With new technologies and developments we need to be more concerned at the local level that our state and local officials have an adequate appreciation of the relevance of chemistry. ACS needs to provide materials for our members to use to communicate with their local officials.

As a member of the board of directors, I would be prepared to work with the other members of the board, ACS professional staff, and the members of ACS to meet the challenges that ACS and its members will face in this century. I appreciate your support.

Top

New York Section. C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Brookville, N.Y.

Date of Birth: 1934

Academic record: Regis College, A.B., 1956; Tufts University, M.S., 1958; Boston College, Ph.D., 1966

Honors: Outstanding Service Award, ACS New York Section, 1981; Sigma Xi; Sarah Berliner Fellowship, American Association of University Women, 1974-76; Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute, Germany, 1966-67

Professional positions (for past 10 years): Long Island University, professor, 1976 to date; chair, Department of Chemistry, 1999 to date, 1988-96, 1976-81

Service in ACS national offices: Director-at-large, 1995-2000; councilor, ex-officio, 1995-2000, 1989-91; Board of Directors, chair, 1996-98; Board Executive Committee, 1996-2000, chair, 1996-98; Board Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, 1999-2000, chair, 1999; Board Committee on Planning, ex officio, 1999-2000; Board Committee on Pensions & Investments, 1997-2002; Board Committee on Audits, 1990-2001; Board Committee on Compensation, 1996-2002; Board Committee on Planning, 1996-2000, 1993-94, 1989-91, chair, 1996-98; Board Committee on Property Development, 1993-94, chair, 1993-94; director, Region I, 1989-91; Board Committee on Professional & Member Relations, 1991; Chemical Abstracts Governing Board, 1996-97; Centcom Board of Directors, 1996-2000; Governing Board for Publishing, 1997-98; C&EN Editorial Board, 1996-2000, chair, 2000; Committee on Publications, 1998-2000, chair, 2000; Committee on Chemical Abstracts Service, committee associate, 1990-91; Council Policy Committee (nonvoting), 1993-95, 1990-91, 1986-88; Board of Trustees, Group Insurance Plans for ACS Members, 1985-90, chair, 1989-90; Society Committee on Budget & Finance, 1989-99, chair, 1993-95, 1990-91; Society Committee on Education, 1989; Committee on Committees, 1983-88, chair, 1986-88, secretary, 1985; Committee on Local Section Activities, 1980-82; Committee on Chemical Education, Committee Associate, 1979; ad hoc committee on the International Chemistry Celebration 1993-96.

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1957. New York Section: Councilor, 1993-95, 1977-88; chair, 1980; chair-elect and Program Committee, chair, 1979; Councilor Coordinating Committee, 1986-88; Bylaws Committee, 1985-88; Long-Range Planning Committee, 1993-97, 1986-87; Metrochem Committee, 1985-87; Outstanding Service Award Committee, chair, 1985; Awards Committee (Nichols Jury), 1980-82; Nominations Committee, chair, 1980-82; Long Island Subsection: Board of Directors, 1993-96; Nassau-Suffolk Subsection: Chair, 1975-76; chair-elect, 1974-75; Board of Directors, 1973-74

Member: New York Academy of Science, Sigma Xi. ACS Divisions: Chemical Education, Organic Chemistry

Related activities: Member, Chemical Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, 1999 to date, 1995-97; Executive Committee, 1999 to date; Finance Committee, chair, 1999 to date; published 36 papers and three books

It is an honor and privilege to stand for reelection to the board of directors of the American Chemical Society. ACS is an impressive and remarkable organization with many generous volunteer members and an extensive array of programs. If elected, I will continue to represent your concerns as we together shape the future direction of the society and address the challenges facing ACS.

Membership--Call to Action.Our members are our most valuable resource. One of my goals is to increase the number of members who actively participate in ACS activities. First we must ensure that our programs are responsive to the needs of all member constituencies--industrial, academic, and government. Then we can make our programs and activities available to all of our members by utilizing the latest technology and the exciting new developments provided by the Internet. The board of directors recently approved funding for the enhancement of our technical capabilities to ensure that ACS becomes the premier Web presence for chemical information for our members, as well as the general public.

As the world's largest scientific society, ACS must assume a leadership position in providing access to online publishing, professional and employment services, meeting information and registration, and educational materials, such as online continuing education short courses. By utilizing the Internet we can reach out to researchers, teachers, students, and anyone who needs information about chemistry and allied fields. The Internet will enable our members, especially those who cannot attend national meetings or who currently do not participate in the many activities of ACS, to access our programs from their desktops.

As former chair of the board of directors, I have had the unique opportunity to participate in many local section and division activities. I intend to continue to be accessible and respond to the concerns of our members.

 Public Perception--Strengthening Our Image. We all recognize the need to improve the public perception of chemistry. ACS, as the world's largest professional scientific organization, has a responsibility to present chemistry and chemists to the public in a positive, honest, and objective way. We have made great strides in our public relations efforts, both at our national meetings and through our publications. We are reaching the mass media more effectively than ever before. Public outreach activities, such as National Chemistry Week and the National Historic Chemical Landmark programs, have proven to be immensely successful, especially at the local section level. These and other public relations activities are excellent vehicles for bringing the positive aspects of chemical science to the public, as well as involving large numbers of our members. As a member of the Board Committee on Public Affairs & Public Relations, I will continue to help guide our public outreach efforts directed toward making the public aware of the contributions that chemistry and chemists have made and will continue to make in improving the quality of their daily lives.

I intend to support programs that are directed toward the restoration of the profession of chemistry to the position it deserves and to the image it requires if we are to encourage the next generation of chemical scientists.

 Education--Tomorrow's Workforce. ACS has many successful education programs at all levels. But, with the number of students choosing careers in chemical science declining, we need to strengthen our programs to attract the best and brightest into chemical professions. We must continue to review our approved undergraduate curriculum to provide educational programs needed to put chemistry, chemists, and chemical scientists in key positions in interdisciplinary areas, such as materials science and biotechnology. I will continue to support activities directed toward innovations in undergraduate education in chemistry, as well as work with the newly created Office of Graduate Education. In addition, we must partner with our sister scientific societies to improve the mathematics and science curriculum at the K-12 level, as well as providing ongoing professional development of teachers.

 Government Affairs--Having Our Voice Heard. We now face many challenges and opportunities as a scientific society in working with federal and local governments. The role of government is evolving, and changes in laboratory regulations, educational standards, patents, and R&D funding indicate that the society will be called upon with greater urgency to find solutions and answers to these challenges. We must continue to play an active role in advocating for adequate funding for research by involving more of our members in such grassroots programs as the Legislative Action Network, where members can interact with legislators on issues of importance to our discipline.

 Publications--Preserving Our Preeminence. ACS has a preeminent publishing program administered through our Publications Division and Chemical Abstracts Service. Its viability is essential not only to maintain our outstanding reputation, but also to support society activities. In this rapidly changing digital age, ACS is in a good position to take advantage of the challenges and opportunities these technological advancements offer. As current chair of the Joint Board-Council Committee on Publications and former member of the Governing Board for Publishing, I have and will continue to ensure that ACS maintains its leadership position in publishing, as well as supporting our successful member programs.

Service to ACS. I have had extensive participation on various ACS committees and boards in such areas as C&EN, Chemical Abstracts Service, publications, planning, public affairs and public relations, audits, investments, budget and finance, insurance plans, education, local sections, and compensation. This has provided me with a broad understanding of ACS. Currently, I am serving on a presidential task force to review the society's support to local sections and divisions. We are considering such issues as allocation and council representation, and I intend to ensure that the concerns of all of our members are addressed.

I hope that my goals and experience justify your confidence in me. I will be honored to continue to work as a member of the board of directors for the benefit of ACS and its members.

Top

Chicago Section. Columbia College, Chicago

Date of birth: 1928

Academic record: Lincoln University, B.S., 1951; DePaul University, M.S., 1956; University of Illinois, Ph.D., 1965

Honors: Henry Hill Award, ACS Division of Professional Relations, 1997; Distinguished Service Award, ACS Chicago Section, 1991; Public Affairs Award, ACS Chicago Section, 1986; Major Robert H. Lawrence Jr., Memorial Lecture, Bradley University department of chemistry, 1997; AlliedSignal Special Recognition Award, 1988; Merit Award, Chicago Association of Technical Societies, 1986; University Fellowship, University of Illinois, 1963

Professional positions (for past 10 years): Retired, AlliedSignal Research Center, 1993 to date, research specialist, 1981-93; adjunct professor of science, Columbia College, 1993 to date

Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Science, committee associate, 2000; Committee on Nominations & Elections, 1994-99, vice chair, 1999; Committee on Minority Affairs, 1993-99; Council Policy Committee (voting), 1988-93; Board Committee To Facilitate Planning, 1992-94; Committee on Public Relations, 1987-95, consultant, 1996-97; Committee on Project SEED, 1981-88, chair, 1983-85; Committee on Economic Status, 1978-83; Committee on Program Review, 1975-77; Region V Councilors Caucus, chair, 1998 to date; Kids in Chemistry Task Force, 1996; National Chemistry Week Task Force, 1996-99

Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1957. Chicago Section: councilor, 1974-2000; alternate councilor, 1971-73; chair, 1976; chair-elect, 1975; Public Affairs Committee, 1973 to date, chair, 1988-98, 1978-86, cochair, 1998 to date, 1985-87, 1973-75; Chicago School Board Liaison Committee, 1993-96, 1979-84; National Historic Chemical Landmark Committee, chair 1994-96; Illinois Legislative Science Counselors, chair, 1973-79; member, Board of Directors, 1970-74; Long-Range Planning Committee, chair, 1970-71; Project SEED coordinator, 1969-75; Program Committee, chair, 1969-70

Member: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos & Native Americans in Science, Catalysis Society, Illinois Academy of Science, Chicago Chemists Club, National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science. ACS Divisions: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Petroleum Chemistry, and Professional Relations

Related activities: Chair, Percy L. Julian 100th Anniversary Symposium & Meeting, ACS Chicago Section, 1999; cochair, Percy L. Julian 100th Anniversary Observance, 217th ACS national meeting, spring, 1999; chair and symposium organizer, 20th Anniversary of Project SEED, 1988; Illinois Attorney General's Hazardous Waste Task Force, 1983-84; organizer and presider, ACS Petroleum Chemistry Division, Symposium on Impact of RCRA on the Petroleum Industry, 1984; member, Governor's Task Force on Science & Technology, 1978-79; coauthor, Report on the State Science, Engineering, and Technology Plan for the Illinois Executive Branch; delegate, Illinois White House Conference on Libraries & Information Science, 1978-79; presider, Symposium on Petroleum Products & Characterization, Spectroscopy Forum, Chicago Section, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, 1973; 10 publications and eight patents

It is a great honor to be chosen as a candidate for director-at-large of the American Chemical Society. I have been a councilor for a quarter-century, serving the society, the Chicago Section, and divisions in various capacities during that period. I am pleased that I was an active member of council and involved in my local section during the period when the society began to meet the challenges of the past 25 years in response to member and societal needs. As a part of my contribution to this effort, I helped to organize one of the first local section Project SEED committees in 1969 and Public Affairs committees in 1973, served on the Committee on Economic Status, and supported the effort to establish the Division of Professional Relations.

A significant part of my time and effort has been involved with issues of science and public policy, public relations, and public and member relations. I have helped to launch and been personally involved with many of the programs that the society has established over the past several years to foster better relations with the public, improve the image of chemistry, and increase diversity of governance and membership. I am confident that my experience with these and other programs can help the board with problems facing the society as we enter the 21st century.

The society has shown an ability to address the issues of change when presented with a fairly definite set of choices. Some of the issues that we are now facing and will face increasingly in the future are somewhat more ambiguous and the remedies are not as immediately obvious. Also, some of the issues from the past are still with us, albeit in somewhat different form. Among the issues that I see before us are the following:

Membership Issues. Industrial chemists have neither participated in the various programs nor enjoyed benefits relative to their numbers. Several years ago, steps were taken to bring some relief to this situation. Although there has been improvement, I do not believe enough chemists have benefited, especially younger chemists. The society must have a stronger effort to attract and retain younger chemists, both nationally and locally. This requires renewed and creative efforts in programming, assignments, and appointments. Similar efforts must be made to bring more minorities and women into the governance of the society. Although total membership has grown somewhat due to concerted efforts in this direction, similar efforts must be devoted toward retention and renewal if we hope to experience long-term net gains in our ranks.

Public Relations and Communications. We must have more and improved interactions with the public. "Chemicals" is still a "dirty word" in the lexicons of too many people. Some of this can be improved by working with the media. We have used this approach to bring about some significant improvements in the way science is treated in the media over the past 10-15 years. One program that is very effective is the "Science Reporters Workshop," an ACS-sponsored program that exposes science reporters to a short course in science education. The increased emphasis on pressroom activities at national meetings has also added to an increased awareness of science issues on the part of reporters. We need to involve local sections and divisions to a much greater extent than before in reaching the media.

Public Affairs. This area comprises our interactions with governmental bodies at the national, state, and local levels. We have traditionally had a strong program at the national level through our Office of Legislative & Government Affairs. During the past several years, there has been increasing cooperation with local sections in order to expand these programs to the state and local level. I applaud this expansion and look forward to additional efforts in this direction.

Continuing Education. Lifelong learning must become a reality in deed as well as in word if chemists are to stay competitive in today's environment of mergers, acquisitions, and globalization. When job stability means keeping skills current and relevant, our programs of continuing education should be made more readily available to chemists seeking to upgrade and maintain their skills. Local sections need to have a greater involvement in continuing education than they have had in the past, both on their own and in cooperation with the national office.

Education. The society has traditionally had a strong educational program at the college and secondary level. We are now involved in K-8 education, cooperating with other scientific societies in order to see that chemistry is a part of the general science curriculum. This is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that children acquire the necessary knowledge and do not develop "technophobia" at an early age. We also need to continue to emphasize the development of "student-friendly" curricula to remove the intimidation factor felt by many students.

New and Developing Areas.There are many science and technology issues that affect chemists and chemical engineers and that have not been adequately dealt with within the chemical community. The area of biotechnology readily comes to mind. Many of these areas are crosscutting and overarching. These issues might be best addressed by working with other science and technology related organizations.

I have the necessary experience and determination to give effective and productive service as a member of the board of our society. In addition to my work with ACS, I have been actively involved with social organizations for the betterment of the community, such as library councils, youth councils, and community service organizations. I am presently board president of a social service organization with a budget of $40 million and 600 employees. Several years ago, I was the only scientist among a group of 400 delegates to the Illinois White House Library Conference. I want to use my background of experience and accomplishment for the greater good of ACS and society as a whole. I would be honored to receive one of your two votes.

[Previous Story] [Next Story]

Top

Chemical & Engineering News
Copyright © 2000 American Chemical Society