ASSOCIATIONS
THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE T h e Unseen B u d g e t Currently the budget of the ACS is approximately $4 million. This is the amount of money received from advertising, subscriptions, dues, sales of miscellaneous publications, interest, etc. which is spent on production of journals, administration of the Society, and many activities for the benefit of chemists and chemical engineers. This is the amount which flows through headquarters and for which it must account. Yet, it doesn't begin to cover the true cost of executing the Society's program. The material accomplishments of the ACS have been made possible hy the work of its members. Xo one knows, not oven the persons involved, the tremendous amount of time spent by local section and division officers and members, by committees, and by other individuals in organized work for the profession through Society channels. One can't list here all the categories into which these assignments fall but it is possible to look at high spots and from them get some idea of the whole.
Division officers and the symposia, chairmen whom they draft are responsible for the scientific and technical program at all national meetings and interim national symposia. This means the assembly and processing of some 2500 papers annually. In this connection one must not overlook the efforts of the authors, some of whom prepare material that would not otherwise be assembled for publication and make special· trips for presentation. In local sections, monthly programs must be arranged for nine months, more than 1250 such events annually. Special events and subsection meetings raise this total easily to over 1300. T h e speakers who donate their time for these meetings collectively make a big contribution. Then, think of the thousands of hours given to preparation and presentation of some 75 local, weekly radio and television programs. Membership drives are demanding on the time of many persons. Special assignments on a national basis always have been executed willingly and effectively; the special Diamond Jubilee celebration, the building of the National
Scientific Register, and vocational counseling are examples. The ACS committees, more than 50 in all with 350—400 members, are not equally active. Yet, collectively their members spend an immense amount of time on Society business. The Committee on Admissions meets almost every week. The Committee on Manpower convenes each month. The Committee on Professional Training gets together four times a year and each meeting lasts three to five days. Then, there are quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors, one lasting two days. The Board's Standing Committees must give much time to ^heir assignments; one met for three consecutive days last summer. Demands on the President's time .ire great outside his duties as a Director. Employers, too, get into the act. Some permit employees to carry out some of the foregoing on business time. One contributed the duplicating of a report written hy an employee. Another assisted in an analysis of data through use of company machines. This list is indicative, not complete. The widespread interest in the Society and the desire to aid in its program which the foregoing connotes is gratifying. Without this help, the ACS would be impotent in certain of its important activities. Collectively it represents services of large dollar value. This is the unseen budget which finances a significant part of the Society's program. You Still H a v e T i me
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An organization as big and important as the ACS needs the best possible officers. It has been fortunate in the past in the high caliber of those selected. However, w e must protect the future. The critical years ahead make wise selections now imperative if our Society is to continue to render its maximum service to its members and to the nation. The Committee on Nominations and Elections needs all the suggestions that members can make in order to have a comprehensive list from which to choose nominees. This matter has been publicized previously (C&EN, Jan. 5, page 80; Jan. 26, page 356 ). T h e officers for which nominations must be made are: PresidentElect; Director-at-Large; Regional Director, First District; Regional Director, Third District; and the Council Policy Committee. Eligibility requirements and the names of present incumbents were given in C&EN, Jan. 12, page 174. All suggestions should be accompanied by a biographical sketch of the individual and a statement of the reasons why he is deemed worthy of selection. Names and supporting statements should b e sent not later than March 2 to W. O. Milligan, Department of Chemistry, Rice Institute, Houston, Tex.
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