Professional Service
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really inspiring to see the dedicated services a genuprofession can command. Employees of a profeessional organi5ntion l i e the AMERICANCHEMIC&SOCIETY have the unusual privilege of observing every faeet of this remarkable phenomenon. Ironically, some of the most impressive contributions are made where no public recognition is possible or expected. But like the iceberg, with seven eights of its bulk hidden beneath the uncommunicative sea, these are the foundations that must be laid down if the visible edifioe is to endure. S t r i k i i examples are legion in the editorial operations of this publication. We will never forget an episode in the review of an extremely technical paper offered by a foreign contributor. The topic was of major importance in the field of distillation knowledge, but the mathematics was formidable and the terminology did not follow American conventions. We finally enlisted the aid of an eminent chemical engineer at one of our most distinguished technological schools. He replied that he had spent Bo hours in studying the manuscript, that he was not sure he followed all of it, but he could recommend the contribution's serious value for the literature. He suggested, further, that the authors convert the terminology to the conventions more familiar to our audience, so that a larger number of readers would be ahle to make practical use of the information contained in the paper. Professional service was the only possible motivation for his toil. The job to be done o5ered neither personal recognition nor a penny of financial return. We continue to be amazed by the staggering amount of work involved in preparing our annual reviews covering the unit operations, unit processes, and materials of construction. Last year they occupied 302 pages and cited a total of 7498 references. The prestige of authorship certainly could not socount for the efforts expended. The authors already had such outstanding reputations that one more paper to their credit offered Little seffish incentive. But we hope that this tangible proof of their readiness to serve the profession without expectation of personal gain has added luster to their name as well as to the traditions of our profession. The steadmess of their service also beapeah its character. In the 9-year history of these reviews, 22 of the 41 sections are still b e i contributed by the original authors. Coin of this assay produces notable effects on those who deal with it daily. Those on the editorial staff who subsequently prove their worth first appear struck with a feeling of great personal inadequacy. How can an o r d i i human b e i i be partner to such eminent company? How can one presume to advise the contemporary great in our profession? This sense of humility remains or even grows as time pas-.
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But gradually the recognition arrives that much more than one's personal resources can be enlisted to meet the seed. All doors unlock to the call for service to the profemion. The professional man is grateful for the privilege of serving. This is a strong statement, but the editors' own experimces show that it is almost literally true. When a staff member learns this fact by personal experience, his proper part in the operation becomes clear and his skills develop. It is his essential task to heed the problems or opportunities and to draw upon the almost limitless rem u r w available to meet them. He comes to realize that'hi appeals are received in the name of a broadly shared professional allegiance. From this platform it becomes his simple duty to make requests that would be sheer presumption if advanced on a pemnal basis. This situation has a most interesting influence on the stafi member's view of his own function:. He suddenly discovers his esaential loyalties rest primarily in n professional mission, and apply only incidentally to his superiors, to his organization, orevenhispersonalambitions. He will, of coum, follow the judgment of his superiorsas to the best course to follow in reaching specific objectives. But' he is quite ready to make demands 011 himself or his organization fully &8 exacting as those he makes to other members of the profession. A few times persons have been employed who apparently had no desire to yield themselves so completely to the dictates of this professionalmission. It is amusing and a little pathetic to see the speed with which they fad themselves another j o b t h a t is only a job-when they realize what is expected of them. In many more instances new employees who had no better original appreciation of what was expected of them have risen to the challenge. One of the most inspiring sights we have observed is this transformation of attitude. In such a person the symptoms are plain. Gradually, he will stay late occasionally or work on week ends, with almost &D. apologetic air, to complete a scheduled assignment. A draft will be read one more time to see if a few better phrases can be substituted, a p m f double-checked to catch the last sible error. Suggestions begin to flow for better wn handling the work, 'or for improvements in the caliber of work. After all, if he asks this much of the outside contri utor, can he himself do less? If thew comments constitute any eulogy, it is addresse the inspirational qualities of the true profeeSon. Ed' are ordiiry mort& whose human stature is em evident at times. But editors in the service of a have the rare privilege of seeing the profession a We would be less than our bretlnw if we rema
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