This report captures key actions and decisions from the ACS Council meeting on March 25 and the Board of Directors meetings held March 20–22, 2026, offering an overview of developments impacting the Orlando Section. Prepared by Laura Sessions and Nicole Lapeyrouse, Orlando Section Councilors.
Election Results
Council selected Laura Sremaniak and Lisa McElwee‑White as candidates for 2027 President‑Elect. They will appear on the ballot in the fall 2026 national election, along with any petition candidates.
Four candidates were announced for Director‑at‑Large (2027–2029): Mick Hurrey, Beth Lorsbach, William Provine, and Carolyn Ribes. Two will be elected this fall.
Committee and governance updates
Council approved renaming and updating duties for the Committee on Budget and Finance to the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, reflecting the growing complexity of ACS finances.
The committee preference form is open to all members interested in serving on an ACS committee in 2026 through July 6: https://www.acs.org/about/governance/committees/committees/information/preferences.html
Membership and global growth
Council approved creation of a new International Chemical Sciences Chapter in Sri Lanka.
The 2027 dues and benefits were approved with no changes from 2026.
Financial health
ACS reported strong financial performance in 2025, with $50.7 million in net revenue and continued long‑term growth. Over the past 25 years, revenue has more than doubled, with a fourfold increase in unrestricted net assets. ACS receives 58% of revenue from outside of North America and is active 56 different jurisdictions.
Meetings and programs
Spring 2026 programming emphasized collaboration, with strong focus areas (more than 300 sessions) in the four community programming tracks of Pharma, Data Science/AI, Sustainability, and Startup. As of March 24, there were 13,521 registrations (12,475 in-person and 1,046 online).
Actions of the Board of Directors Meeting
Board highlights
The ACS Board approved a new Advocacy Strategy to support science and scientists in a non‑partisan way. Key areas of focus for 2026 are available at https://www.acs.org/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html.
Student and trainee support
This spring, ACS launched Catalyst Scholarships, that will provide $10,000 per year to 200 undergraduates.
A $1.4M graduate student success grant supported 74 graduate students who lost funding near degree completion last year.
Your Orlando Section Councilors are here to support ACS members across our seven‑county region. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions, concerns, or ideas – we’d love to hear from you.
With kind regards, Laura and Nicole