ANALYTICAL C H E M I S T R Y Walter J. Murphy, Editor -
Closer Cooperation at the local Section National level
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but surely the number of local sections of the AMCRICAX CHEMICAL SOCIETYwhich have established subsections or subdivisions of analytical chemistry continues to grow. Analysts have demonstiated that they are capable of leadership by taking the initiative in the formation of these subsections. Other groups with specialized interests are following this pattern within the local section framework. Properly handled, the growth of subsections will make it possible for the Society to supply new services to the membership a t the local section level. At the present time there ale 20 scientific and technical divisions in the Society. There is a strong likelihood that another one dealing with market research and chemical economics will be formed in the near future, and more divisions may be authorized as the horizons of chemistry and chemical engineering TT iden still further. The divisions are responsible for the development of the programs presented a t national meetings of the Society. Much of the success of the Society can be traced directly to the outstanding abilities of its unsung heroes-the divisional officers. The principal object of the Society is to provide ways and means of disseminating widely the results of original research ’ are in chemistry and chemical engineering, and the dil isions the medium by n-hich this major objective is carried on. Divisions are so much a part of the AMERICAS CHEMICAL SOCIETY that many of the younger members believe that the divisional setup has existed from the very inception of the Society. Hojvever, it n-as not until 1909 that the first division was authorized, and only after many bitter disputes and after numerous committees had investigated the problem. Several of the local sections today hare more members than the parent Society had in the first decade of the twentieth century. It seems logical for many local sections to follow the divisional pattern, m-hich has proved so successful a t the national level. Khile analysts have every reason to be proud of the extent to which the idea of subsections or subdivisions has caught on, there are still many large and medium-sized sections d i e r e the formation of an analytical group is possible and indeed necessary, if analysts are to be attracted to the Society in still greater numbers. We hope to see many new subsections formed within the local sections, catering to a wide spectrum of specialized interests. We hope that the analysts will continue to show the way in this expansion of local section structure. A third hope is for closer cooperation between the Division of Analytical Chemistry and the subsections catering t o needs of analysts a t the grass-roots level. The Division of Analytical Chemistry now performs several n-orth-while services for local sections. Provision of a list of LOWLY
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specialids n-ho are n illing to speak before local sections on subjects of interest to analysts is but one example of nhat can be done in the viay of closer cooperation. Imaginative minds \rill think of many others. The Division of Analytical Chemistry is most desirous of cooperating with local section groups sponsoring meetings-inminiature 01 regional meetings. Much practical help in the preparation of such programs is available for the aqking. There is strength in numbers. Today the Division of Analytical Chemistry has a membership of appr oximatelj 1000. Conservatively me estimate the number of analysts qualified for both ACS and divisional memberships a t 25,000. Obviously the division, nith only one tmenty-fifth of it. potential membership, has a long way to go before it can be said to have the active support of the majority of analytical chemists in this country. If the Division of Ana1ytic:il Cheniistry and the subsection groups were brought togethei in a closer alliance, we are confident that the division membership would expand rapidly. The effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the divisions of the Society is a matter that rests entirely in the hands of the membership of the AVERICAX CHE&fic.%L SOCIETY.The present program of the Division of Analytical Chemistry can be expanded and the number of services performed for analysts greatly increased, if each analyst will but give the division financial support. The support requested is very nominal$1.00 per year. We suggest for discussion the ides of forming a committee of representatives of the Division of Analytical Chemist1y and of the subsections on analytical cheniistiy now estahlished in local sections. Perhaps the chairmen of these subdivisions may find it possible to attend the Atlantic City meeting next fall. Such a committee could well explore ways and means of bringing about cooperation and coordination of efforts, with the purpose of providing better services to the profession of analytical chemistry, using that term in its broadest sense. The field of analysis is developing a t such a rapid pace that specialization is inevitable. Indeed, we have had considerable giowth of specialization in the past decade or two. The AMERICAX CHEMICAL SOCIETY has all the necessary attributes to serve these specialized groups. The time has arrived when thought should be given to bringing thece groups together rather than encouraging further fission. If we can establish stronger analytical groups in all large and medium-sized local sections of the Society, we can look to closer cooperation between these groups and the Division of Analytical Chemistry. A workable pattern has been evolved and all that is needed now is inspired leadership in those sections where subsections have not as yet been formed.
