ACS COMMITTEES
Community Activities Committee gears up for 20th anniversary of NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK
LAST MONTH, during the ACS national Chemists Celebrate Earth Day (CCED), meeting in Chicago, more than 100 elan environmental awareness campaign ementary- and middle-school-aged chilheld annually on April 22, and assists with dren packed into a room at the Peggy the Salutes to Excellence volunteer-recNotebaert Nature Museum to do hands-on ognition program. It also cosponsors the experiments in green chemistry. In one ChemLuminary Awards, presented annuactivity, kids poured muddy water through ally during the ACS fall national meeting. compacted sand and silt and watched the In addition, the committee publishes two water come out sparkling clean. In another newsletters a year. activity, kids learned how different types of The committee works closely with the plastics are separated during the recycling ACS Office of Community Activities on process. these programs and continues to seek opThe event is one of several public outportunities for partnerships within and reach programs organized annually by the outside ACS. ACS Committee on Community Activities CCA began as a task force in 1987. It and supported by the Education Division. was organized informally to hear plans CCA's mission, according to its stratefor National Chemistry Day. As National gic plan, is to "provide community-based Chemistry Day turned into National Chemprograms and activities to improve the istry Week in 1989, the task force's role also public's recognition and appreciation of expanded. Over the next 15 years, the task the contributions of chemistry." force evolved into a very active group, working with ACS staff in planning for NCW. In One of the committee's most successful addition to NCW programs is National planning, the task Chemistry Week force helped plan (NCW), which takes COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY and implement other place annually durA C T I V I T I E S AT A G L A N C E public outreach acing the fourth week tivities and programs, of October. This year, Chair such as CCED. NCW is celebrating Ingrid Montes, University of Puerto its 20th anniversary. Rico, Rio Piedras In recognition of The theme, generthe task force's growated by CCA's theme Committee Website ing role in the society team, is "The Many chemistry.org/committees/cca.html and in the communiFaces of Chemistry," ty, the ACS Board in and it will emphasize Membership 2003 made the task chemists and their 2 0 full members, seven associates, force into a commitcareers. three consultants, seven liaisons tee. Last fall, during the national meeting from other committees, seven liai"This is going to in San Francisco, the sons to other committees, and one be a very busy year," board approved the says committee ACS staff liaison committee's request Chair Ingrid Montes, to change its status who is also a profesClassification from an Other Counsor of organic chemJoint Board-Council Committee cil Committee to a istry at the UniverJoint Board-Council sity of Puerto Rico, Subcommittees Committee. Rio Piedras. She says Program Support & Promotion, Volplans are underway unteer Engagement & Recognition, The new status to expand the celEvaluation & Technology gives CCA more ebration to regional visibility within the meetings, student Inception society and opens affiliates, and ACS Established by ACS Board of opportunities for Chemistry Clubs. partnerships with Directors in 2 0 0 3 other ACS commitCCA sponsors WWW.CEN-0NLINE.ORG
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tees, says staff liaison BUBBLY Montes (right) gets Judith Jankowski. The sudsy during change in status also the community helps the committee outreach event in diversify ethnically Chicago. and geographically and recruit members who have a variety of outreach experiences, Jankowski says. CCA is organized into three subcommittees. The Program Support & Promotion Subcommittee provides direction for NCW and CCED. The Volunteer Engagement 8c Recognition Subcommittee develops ways to recruit, retain, and recognize volunteers through such efforts as encouraging interaction between ACS local sections and student affiliates chapters and improving awareness of the nomination process for the ChemLuminary Awards for NCW. Finally, the Evaluation 8c Technology Subcommittee assesses the effectiveness of CCA's programs and explores alternative technologies, such as podcasts and blogs, to enhance member awareness and participation. Montes says some of her goals this year are to coordinate an outstanding NCW anniversary celebration, provide materials and resources to coordinators earlier than in previous years, incorporate more Web and alternative technologies into the programs, increase collaborations with other ACS committees and divisions, and do more outreach in minority communities. During the community outreach event in Chicago, Montes noticed Boy Scouts who were giddy with excitement as they blew bubbles. She couldn't resist getting in on the fun; after all, participation is the best way to show the community that you care.—LINDA WANG
