The 257^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society was held in Orlando, Florida  March 31 to April 4, 2019 and was attended by 15,605 registered individuals. The Council meeting was held on April 3.

Actions of the Council

Election Results

Candidates for President-Elect, 2020

• The Committee on Nominations and Elections presented to the Council the following nominees for selection as candidates for President-Elect, 2020: Magid Abou-Gharbia, H.N. Cheng, Carol A. Duane, and Christopher J. Welch..  By electronic ballot, the Council selected H.N. Cheng and Carol A. Duane as candidates for 2020 President-Elect.  These two candidates, along with any candidates selected via petitions, will stand for election in the Fall National Election.

Other Council Actions

Amendments to the ACS Constitution and Bylaws

• The Council approved the Petition to Streamline the ACS Governing Documents [Constitution Articles I-XIX, Bylaws I-XIV, and Standing Rules I-IX], which will reorganize the fundamental governing documents of the Society: the Constitution and Bylaws, and create a third document: Standing Rules. These three documents will function as a hierarchy. The Constitution should define; the Bylaws should authorize; and the Standing Rules should operationalize. Additionally, an Amendment was voted upon, and passed by recorded vote:
  • That language proposed as Standing Rule II, Sections 2 a, 2 b, and 2 g be moved to the Bylaws as new Sections 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c of proposed Bylaw III with appropriate renumbering of the other sections of Bylaw III and Standing Rule II.
• The Petition will become effective if and when the proposed changes to the Constitution are approved by the Membership of the Society, and if and when the Board of Directors approves the Petition. Because the changes to the ACS Governing Documents are substantial, the Council authorized the ACS Secretary and General Counsel and the Committee on Constitution & Bylaws to correct minor technical mistakes in the Petition.

2020 Member Dues

• The Council voted on the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and Finance (B&F) to set the member dues for 2020 at the 2019 rate of $175.

Council Special Discussion

• ACS President Bonnie Charpentier led a special discussion on ACS Relevance to Current and Future Members: Challenges and Opportunities. Councilors had been asked prior to Orlando to discuss the ACS value proposition with their local sections or divisions and bring that input to Council. Councilors provided many recommendations and suggestions including increased support for local sections and industry members, helping student members transition into their professional careers, and implementing a monthly payment tool for ACS dues.  These, and all the other ideas and input submitted, will be shared with the Committee on Membership Affairs and the ACS Membership Division for further research or implementation. 

Highlights from Committee Reports

Councilor Divisor

As required by the Society’s Bylaws, the Council Policy Committee has set the divisors for allocation of Councilor seats among Local Sections and Divisions for 2020 to 2023.  Official notification of the Councilor divisors and the number of Councilors permitted for each Local Section and Division will be sent to the respective Local Sections and Divisions prior to May 1st as required in the Bylaws.

Budget and Finance

In 2018, ACS generated a net from operations of $41.1 million, which was $13.3 million higher than 2017.  Total revenues were $571.6 million, increasing 6.4% – or $34.2 million – over 2017.  Expenses ended the year at $530.5 million, which was $20.8 million or 4.1% higher than the prior year.  These results were attributable to strong performance from the Society’s Information Service units (CAS and ACS Publications) and a continued emphasis on expense management across the ACS. 

Additional information can be found at www.acs.org.  At the bottom of the page, click ‘About ACS’, then ‘ACS Financial Information.’  There you will find several years of the Society’s audited financial statements and IRS 990 filings.

Membership

The ACS ended 2018 with 151,012 members, a net membership growth of one-tenth-of-one-percent. This is the first membership growth ACS has recorded in the better part of a decade. Of the 25,000 new members who joined in 2018, about 20% were incentivized by market testing initiatives. Without these new members, ACS would have seen continued declines.

Council voted to extend the provision of the international dues discount test based on World Bank country income levels for an additional three years (August 2019 – August 2022).

As a side note, your Councilor is  a member of the Membership Affairs Committee and is assigned to the Benefits and Engagement Subcommittee.  The discussion is continuing on whether a “one size fits all” approach best serves the membership.  A major question continues to be, do members feel that the membership benefits justify the dues?  Are you aware of the benefits available to you?  Please see https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/membership-and-networks/acs/benefits/personal.html

Resolutions

• The Council passed several resolutions:
  • in memory of deceased Councilors;
  • in gratitude for the officers and members of the Orlando Section, host for the 257^th National Meeting, the divisional program chairs, symposium organizers, and ACS staff for the planning and execution of the meeting.
    
    

If you have any comments or questions regarding membership or benefits, please contact your Councilor, Darlene Slattery at dslattery1@cfl.rr.com or call her at 321-632-2535.

The 258^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society was held in San Diego, CA  August 25 – 29, 2019 and was attended by 12,409 registered individuals. The Council meeting was held on August 21rst. 

Actions of the Council

Election to Committees

By electronic ballot, Council elected four individuals  for a three-year term (2020 – 2022) and one person for a one – year term on the Council Policy Committee.  Five people were elected to the Committee on Nomination and Elections and five were elected to the Committee on Committees. 

Other Council Actions

Continuation of Committees

• On the recommendation of the Committee on Committees, and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the continuation of the Committees on International Activities and Professional Training, contingent on approval by the Board of Directors.

Establishment of an International Chemical Sciences Chapter

• On the recommendation of the Committee on International Activities, and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the creation of an ACS International Chemical Sciences Chapter in the Republic of Georgia, contingent on approval by the Board of Directors.

Redistricting of a Local Section

• On the recommendation of Nominations & Elections, the Council voted that the Pittsburgh Local Section be transferred from District II to District III in order to bring District III’s member population into compliance with bylaw requirements.

Highlights from Committee Reports

Nominations and Elections

Ballots for the 2019 fall national election will be distributed starting on September 30^th, with a voting deadline four weeks later on October 25^th.  ACS members eligible to vote and with an email address on file will receive an electronic ballot with the option to request a paper ballot. Those members with no email address on file will be sent a paper ballot with the option to vote electronically. The ACS election vendor, Survey & Ballot Systems, will send three email reminders during the voting period to those who have not voted as of the reminder dates. N&E encourages all ACS members to vote for President-Elect and the Constitutional Amendment. Election information may be viewed at acs.org/elections.

Budget and Finance

The Society’s 2019 financial performance through July 31^st yielded a Net from Operations of $30.1 million.  This is $10 million favorable to the Approved Budget, and $1.7 million less than the same period in 2018.  Total revenues are right on budget at $338 million.  Total expenses are $308 million, which is $10 million favorable to budget.

The committee considered two 2020 program funding reauthorization requests, and on its recommendations, the Board subsequently approved funding for the ChemIDP and the International Student Chapters Programs in the 2020 Proposed Budget.

The committee considered new program funding requests for 2020 as well. The Board subsequently approved funding for the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education Resources pilot for inclusion in the 2020 Proposed Budget.   

The Society is expected to end the year in compliance with each of the five Board-established financial guidelines. Additional information can be found at www.acs.org, at the bottom of the page, click ‘About ACS’, then ‘Financial’. 

Additional Information for the Membership

The Society is currently undergoing a process to update the By-laws and to make governance more nimble and responsive to the needs of the members.  A significant step in this process is the vote mentioned above to be held in conjunction with the annual election of the National ACS President.  All members are strongly encouraged to review the changes to be made and to make their voices heard by voting.  This first step is in preparation to more changes that will come in the near future, including potentially adding categories of members that will allow each person to select a membership that will best serve his/her needs.

If you have any comments or questions regarding membership or benefits, please contact your Councilor, Darlene Slattery at dslattery1@cfl.rr.com or call her at 321-632-2535.

The 255^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society was held in New Orleans, LA  March 18 – 22 and was attended by 16,585 registered individuals. The Council meeting was held on March 21.

Actions of the Council

Election Results

Candidates for President-Elect, 2019

• The Committee on Nominations and Elections presented to the Council the following nominees for selection as candidates for President-Elect, 2019: Harmon B. Abrahamson, Luis A. Echegoyen, Thomas R. Gilbert, and Mary Virginia Orna.  By electronic ballot, the Council selected Luis A. Echegoyen and Thomas R. Gilbert as candidates for 2019 President-Elect.  These two candidates, along with any candidates selected via petitions, will stand for election in the Fall National Election.

Other Council Actions

Amendments to the ACS Bylaws

• The Council approved Petition on the Composition of Society Committees [Bylaw III, Sec. 3, e, (3), (4), and (8)], which will change the requirement for Councilors on Society Committees from at least two thirds (2/3) to a majority, and remove the requirement that the Chair and Vice-Chair of a Society Committee must be Councilors.
• The Petition for Election of Committee Chairs [Bylaw III, Sec. 3, c, (1); d, 3, (3), (8); e, (3), (8); g, (3); i (3)], which would allow the voting members of all ACS committees to select their own Chairs, failed to gain the approval of Council.

2019 Member Dues

• The Council voted on the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and Finance to set the member dues for 2019 at the fully escalated rate of $175. This rate is established pursuant to an inflation-adjustment formula in the ACS Constitution and Bylaws.  While the dues increase was approved, for the first time, the proposal generated much debate and ultimately a recorded vote was requested.  Approximately 25% of the Council opposed increasing dues.

Distribution Formula for Division Funding

• The proposed formula for allocating dues funds to divisions, recommended by the Committee on Divisional Activities, was recommitted to the committee.

Budget and Finance

In 2017, ACS generated a Net from Operations of $28.6 million, which was $4.8 million higher than 2016.  Total revenues were $553.1 million, increasing 5.0% or $26.4 million over 2016.  Expenses ended the year at $524.5 million, which was $21.6 million or 4.3% higher than prior year.  This was attributable to strong performance from the Society’s Information Service units (CAS and ACS Publications) and a continued emphasis on expense management across the ACS. 

Additional information can be found at www.acs.org.  At bottom, click ‘About ACS’, then ‘ACS Financial Information’.  There you will find several years of the Society’s audited financial statements and IRS 990 filings.

Membership

The ACS ended 2017 with over 150,000 members. While this means that ACS remains the world’s largest scientific society, this number represents a continuing decline in overall membership for the sixth year in a row.  The Committee on Membership Affairs is committed to working with Council, the Board of Directors, the Committee on Budget and Finance, ACS staff, and other stakeholders to halt this trend and return ACS to a growing and engaged membership.

As a side note, your Councilor is now a member of the Membership Affairs Committee and is assigned to the Categories, Dues and Process Subcommittee.  This subcommittee is looking at various potential ways to increase and retain members.  A major question continues to be, do members feel that the membership benefits justify the dues?  Are you aware of the benefits available to you?  Please see https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/membership-and-networks/acs/benefits/personal.html

If you have any comments or questions regarding membership or benefits, please contact your Councilor, Darlene Slattery at dslattery1@cfl.rr.com or call her at 321-632-2535.

The 256^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society was held in Boston, MA August 19 – 23 and was attended by 14,235 registered individuals. The Council meeting was held on August 22.

Election Results:  Elected Committees of Council

• By electronic ballot, the Council elected Ella L. Davis, Lissa A. Dulany, Lisa Houston, and Martin D. Rudd for three-year terms (2019-2021), and Will E. Lynch for a one-year term (2019) on the Council Policy Committee (CPC).
• By electronic ballot, the Council elected Allison Aldridge, Christopher J. Bannochie, Mary K. Engelman, Silvia Ronco, and Frankie K. Wood-Black for three-year terms (2019-2021) on the Committee on Nominations and Elections (N&E).
• By electronic ballot, the Council elected Rodney M. Bennett, Jacqueline A. Erickson, Judith M. Iriarte-Gross, Donivan R. Porterfield, and Carolyn Ribes for three-year terms (2019-2021) on the Committee on Committees (ConC).

Other Council Actions

Amendments to the ACS Bylaws

• A recommendation by the Committee on Membership Affairs that Council approve the Petition on International Chemical Sciences Chapters achieved the two-thirds majority required to amend Bylaw XI, Section 3 accordingly (additions underlined; deletions struck through): 

Affiliations of SOCIETY Local Sections or Divisions shall become effective upon authorization by their governing body, approval by their respective Council committees governing Local Sections and Divisions, and by confirmation by the Council Committee on Constitution and Bylaws acting for the Council, that the provisions of Section 1 of this Bylaw are met.

The changes will become effective upon confirmation by the Board of Directors.

• A recommendation by the Committee on Membership Affairs that Council approve the Petition on International Chemical Sciences Chapters achieved the two-thirds majority required to amend Bylaw IX, Section 4 accordingly (additions underlined; deletions struck through): 

An International Chemical Sciences Chapter shall receive no allotment of funds from the SOCIETY and shall not be entitled to elected representation on the Council. A Chapter may assess its members local Chapter dues to be expended for its own purposes in harmony with the objects of the SOCIETY.

The changes will become effective upon confirmation by the Board of Directors.

Membership Affairs

As of August 21, ACS had 149,584 members, which is a decline of only eight-tenths of one percent from the over 150,000 members in 2017.  This year-to-date figure represents an increase of over 1,200 members when compared to the last two years.  It was noted that five of last seven months have been respectively the best months for membership since at least 2014.  The current membership count positions ACS for a strong close to the year, and there is cautious optimism that total membership will rise for the first time since 2011.

Continuation of Committee

On the recommendation of the Committee on Committees, and the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the continuation of the Committee on Chemical Safety, subject to concurrence by the Board of Directors.

Special Discussion

President Dorhout introduced and led a special discussion on what role(s) ACS should play in preventing sexual harassment in the sciences.  He highlighted several recent articles, workshops and studies that have called attention to the issue, notably a symposium, “Science of Sexual Harassment” organized during the ACS National Meeting in New Orleans (Spring 2018) by the Women Chemists Committee and Chemical & Engineering News; and a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus study report: “Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine” (2018). He directed Council’s attention to existing ACS codes and initiatives to address sexual harassment, and offered items for discussion and possible action:

• More signs/information at National Meetings regarding our policies and supporting information
  • Trained volunteers at national meetings for reporting sexual harassment
  • A webinar on preventing sexual harassment for local sections or divisions

A summary of the discussion and additional information will be sent to Councilors at a later time.

Action of the Board of Directors

In light of the recent financial performance of the technical-meeting component of the national meetings, the Board voted to approve an advance member registration fee of $490 for national meetings held in 2019 (i.e., the current advance member registration fee escalated to account for inflation only).