SECRETARY'S
how to cultivate
Democracy-ACS Style
taste You can't sweet-talk contaminated gas out of your product or process. Soda water, hydrogenated foods and dry ice producers learned long ago that activated carbon gas purification is an essential step in producing a palatable product. How clean are your bubbles?
how to paint out the smell Filters, fabrics and containers do double duty when coated with activated charcoal paint. Sprayed or brushed on it adsorbs odors instead of producing them. Can be washed off after saturation. Try a quart or a tank car.
activated carbon
We supply a complete line of activated carbons for every purpose; design and prefabricate complete purification, separation, and recovery systems to meet your particular needs. Write for Bulletin J-105 and recommendations on your specific application. Barnebey-Cheney, Columbus 19f Ohio.
Barnebey Cheney 62
C&EN
JAN.
9,
1961
The governing documents of many national scientific, educational, and professional organizations have been studied by ACS staff from time to time. On the basis of these studies, the statement has been made that the American Chemical Society is operated at least as democratically as any other society and more so than many. W e believe this with utmost sincerity; the statement has never been challenged by those who have studied the facts. In spite of this, members we believe to be uninformed often make contrary comments. For instance, shortly after the ballots were mailed for election of President-Elect and regional directors, a letter signed by six members of the Society protested the "undemocratic way in which you have us vote for the ACS President and regional director." A few days later a letter from a IOCPI section officer classified one of the ACS Bylaws as a "bunch of foolishness" and asked ACS staff to see that it was changed promptly. The practices challenged were set by the Council after extended consideration; staff has no responsibility except to follow Council instructions. The discouraging part of these letters is the accusation that headquarters staff has made these "undemocratic" rules or that we are responsible for them. Furthermore, they demand that we "make the necessary changes." The American Chemical Society is much more democratic than these comments imply. It is difficult to devise a procedure for election to a national society office that could be more democratic; every member has the privilege of proposing candidates and of voting. In certain national organizations comparable to the American Chemical Society, the president is not elected by the members but indirectly through another body comparable to our Council. The ACS democratic procedure starts long before election. Every member has the right ( and he is urged to use it) of proposing nominees for office. These are presented to the Council Committee on Nominations and Elections and, from the list of proposals available, this committee selects a slate of officers believed, after study,
OFFICE
to be best qualified for the positions. If the members are dissatisfied with the choices, they may nominate others by petition. Thus, if candidates do not suit the members, only they are responsible. If members believe that ACS elections are not as democratic as they should be or that our operating procedures are unnecessarily burdensome or bureaucratic, it is up to them to see that changes are made. Complaints without accompanying action are meaningless. If the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws are not satisfactory, changes can be made through petitions by members of the Society. If there are those who wish to initiate an amendment and do not have a copy of Bulletin 5, "Constitution, Bylaws, and Regulations of the American Chemical Society," they should contact the secretary of their local section or ACS headquarters at 1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington 6, D.C. The ACS is anxious to receive suggestions from members. Staff knows, perhaps better than others, that operations can be improved and that from a wide variety of proposals many excellent ideas are developed and implemented. However, not all suggestions can be accepted as transmitted because they ignore related aspects. This is one reason why the ACS has a committee system for discussing member proposals. Every Council standing committee holds open meetings twice a year (watch for publicity about March 1) at which time a variety of ideas are discussed in open forum. The committees recommend action on those believed to be in the best interest of the Society. The American Chemical Society is truly democratic in that its operating rules are determined by the members. They can make such changes as they want. Some outsiders who have studied the organization of the Society feel that it is too democratic, that administrative freedom for prompt action is lacking. Staff members have not felt handicapped. They wish to serve the members, to meet their needs and wishes. They are willing to abide by the wishes of the majority. We hope we are doing so.
