Council Speech - Spring 2007

On behalf of Madeleine Jacobs and Flint Lewis, I am happy to forward your remarks presented to the ACS Council on March 28, 2007, as reported by the stenographer.

          Regards,

          Christi Pearson
          Office of the Secretary and General Counsel
          American Chemical Society
          202/872-4464

  1. DR. SAWREY:  The third nominee is Thomas H.
  2.          4       Lane.
  3.          5               MR. LANE:  Good morning.  Madame Chair,
  4.          6       Madame President, members of the Board, my fellow
  5.          7       Councilors.  I am thrilled to be here this morning
  6.          8       and to have this opportunity to become better
  7.          9       acquainted.
  8.          10                   Let me begin by reaffirming my
  9.          11     commitment to the American Chemical Society and to
  10.          12     our vision.  I believe that our vision is a powerful,
  11.          13     specific and directional statement.  Simply put, our
  12.          14     vision is about helping people.  But in order to help
  13.          15     people, they must first trust us.
  14.          16                   The public face of chemistry in many
  15.          17     sectors of our society is tarnished.  Too many fear
  16.          18     the ubiquitous chemical.  Too many reject decisions
  17.          19     predicated on data.  And too few support critical
  18.          20     funding initiatives necessary for innovation.  Our
  19.          21     younger generation is being affected by our dulled
  20.          22     image.  And too few of them understand the importance
  21.          23     of chemistry.
  22.          1                     Unfortunately, legislation is also being
  23.          2       affected by our public image.  And that is
  24.          3       detrimental to the chemical enterprise.  In order for
  25.          4       the American Chemical Society to deliver on our
  26.          5       vision, we must continue to innovate, to find new
  27.          6       ways to collaborate, and most critically, we must
  28.          7       develop relationships within our global community.
  29.          8                     Fellow Councilors, I pledge to continue
  30.          9       our efforts on the Hill that help support and shape
  31.          10     policy and that help assure funding for innovation.
  32.          11     I pledge to develop relationships in our global
  33.          12     community.  And I pledge to find ways to polish the
  34.          13     face of chemistry and reignite an interest in science
  35.          14     which will help assure a scientifically literate
  36.          15     workforce in the 21st Century.
  37.          16                   Friends, I'm here today to seek your
  38.          17     permission to advance to candidacy.  I offer my 33
  39.          18     years of experience in chemistry and my positive and
  40.          19     productive relationship with this Society as evidence
  41.          20     that I have the background, capability and
  42.          21     determination to lead the Society forward as its
  43.          22     President.  With your support, I pledge to work
  44.          23     closely with Council, the Board, and our membership
  45.          24     to help make our vision a reality.
  46.          1                    Let me close by saying that I am fully
  47.          2       committed to what may lie ahead.  I have the support
  48.          3       of my family and my CEO.  Ladies and gentlemen, it's
  49.          4       time that I ask each of you for your support, for
  50.          5       just one of your two votes so that we may begin to
  51.          6       refine the face of chemistry together.  Thank you.
  52.          7                              (Applause.)
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