I am proud to be a chemist – improving people’s lives! I am equally proud to serve this great Society. Thank you again for that privilege.
I write this report only a few weeks into the New Year. The pace has been sonic and the rewards enormous. It has been a real pleasure to meet so many of our members; to listen to their dreams, doubts, or dilemmas. It is reassuring to know that our membership remains committed to and involved in the American Chemical Society. However, we have work to do. Our total membership numbers have slipped below 160,000 and the majority of the growth is occurring outside of the United States. Let me be clear, growth through global expansion is wonderful and I encourage and support the initiatives of the International Affairs Committee. However, we are not serving all of the potential members of this Society who live within our borders. Simple estimates would suggest that only about 30% of chemists who qualify for membership are members. I would like to ask you, to join me, in focusing some of our collective energy to rebuild the membership of the Society – both domestic and abroad. Ask your local sections to set a goal – an aggressive goal to grow your local section membership by 5% by the end of 2009. Experiment with new approaches, share your results, and grow!
The Board-Presidential (Benham, Bursten and Lane) Task Force on Education chaired by Professor Richard Zare and has been assembled and charged with;
The Task Force is considering recommendations in the following areas: primary education (pre-K through 8); secondary education; tertiary (13 through 16) education at two- and four-year colleges and universities; creative formal and informal education programs designed to recruit, educate, support, and retain highly qualified teachers at all levels (pre-K through graduate); graduate and professional degree programs as well as post-graduate programs; continuing professional development; informal educational institutions such as museums of all kinds; public understanding outreach through academic institutions, the media, public presentations, programs sponsored by civic and special interest groups, and so on that are also a source of updated knowledge for interested nonscientists. The Task Force has met by phone and in person as they begin to address the formidable challenge placed before them. Expect to hear more as this dedicated group begins to formulate their strategy.
During these difficult economic times I would like to ask each of you on Council to remind your local sections of the tools and resources that can be found at www.acs.org/careers. Members who have been recently displaced from the job market may qualify for ACS dues suspension while they seek employment. They can also post a resume and hone new skills by participating in one or more of the ACS Leadership Development courses. Career consultants, help with interviewing skills and resume preparation are also available.
In closing, I would like to thank Drs. Katie Hunt and Bruce Bursten for their counsel and friendship during our time together in the presidential succession. My first year has been an incredible learning experience. The entire Board of Directors has been supportive, positive, and generous with their experiences. I am honored to serve as your president.