ACS News
Four in special election for director Four nominees are vying for the vacancy in the position of director-at-large on the ACS Board of Directors, created by the election of Dr. William J. Bailey as 1974 President-Elect. They are Dr. James D. D'lanni of Goodyear Tire; Dr. Eugene N. Garcia of California State College, Dominguez Hills; Dr. Raymond P. Mariella of Loyola University, Chicago; and Dr. Lockhart B. Rogers of Purdue University. Dr. D'lanni and Dr. Mariella were nominated by the Council Committee on Nominations and Elections; Dr. Garcia and Dr. Rogers were nominated by petitions.
Only voting councilors will receive ballots for this election. Ballots will be mailed to them today, Jan. 14. Biographical information on the four candidates and statements of their views on questions of importance to the future of ACS follow. The questions, developed by the Council Committee on Nominations and Elections, are: 1. What would you hope to accomplish as President (or director) of ACS? 2. What specific changes, if any, in the ACS organization or programs would you propose to achieve your goals? The following items of some current
1956-71; Institution of the Rubber Industry, London (fellow); American Institute of Chemical Engineers; American Institute of Chemists; Akron Rubber Group; Chemists' Club.
James D. D'lanni Rubber Division. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio. Date of birth: March 11, 1914. Academic record: University of Akron, B.S., 1934; Procter & Gamble Co. fellow, University of Wisconsin, 1937-38, Ph.D., 1938. Honors: Alpha Chi Sigma; Sigma Xi; Distinguished Award of Council of the Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies (ACESS), September 1973. Professional positions (for past 10 years): director of research, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 1966 to present; assistant director of research, 1965; associate director of research, 1963-64; chemical products liaison, 1961-63. Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1934. Akron Section: chairman, 1952-53; vice chairman, 1951-52; councilor, 195356, 1945-50; Program Committee, chairman, 1951-52; representative to Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies, 1948-49. Division of Rubber Chemistry: chairman, 1964; vice chairman, 1963; councilor, 1961-75; alternate councilor, 1959-60; Program Planning Committee, 1961-62; Program Committee, International Rubber Conference, 1958-59; division representative, International Conferences on Rubber Science and Technology Committee, 1962 to present; director-at-large, 1957; Committee on Committees, 1957-61; Nominating Committee, 1969-71, 1966-68, 1960-61, 1958-59, 1954, chairman, 1964-65; Files & Records Committee, chairman, 1949-60; 25-Year Club, chairman, 1964 to present; Charles Goodyear Medal Committee, 1968-71. Service in ACS national offices: Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs, 1966-73; Committee on Corporation Associates, 1971-73; Joint Board-Council Committee on ProfessionWide Pension Plan, 1967-71; Board of Directors PFP (Pensions for Professionals), 1971 to present; Council Policy Committee, 1966-71; Subcommittee on Non-ACS
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C&EN Jan. 14, 1974
concern may be useful in formulating your comments: • Balance among scientific, professional, and member-oriented activities. • Role of ACS in public affairs. • How can ACS attract more younger chemists? • Communications among members, Council, directors, and staff. • ACS publications, especially the role of C&EN in the Society. • How can the Council best serve the Society? • Is the Council too large or too small? Properly representative?
Dr. Dlanni's views
James D.
D'lanni
Awards and Nominations, 1966-71, chairman, 1970-71; Subcommittee on Manpower, 1967-68; Council Policy Development Subcommittee, 1966-67; Ad Hoc Steering Committee on the Pilot Program for the Training of Chemical Technicians, 196873; Committee on Professional Relations and Status, 1962-65; Subcommittee on Trade Secrets, 1965; Subcommittee on Transferability of Employment Rights, 1963-65; Subcommittee on National Meetings Symposium, 1963. Member: American ordnance Association; University of Akron Committee on Research and Scholarly Investigations, 1968 to present; American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics; Atomic Industrial Forum; Industrial Research Institute; advisory board, Frontiers in Chemistry, Lecture Series, Case Western Reserve University,
The American Chemical Society can provide the technical knowledge to help solve some of the most critical problems facing the country today— shortages of energy and raw materials. Dr. Bloch, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasized this ability in his letter to President Richard Nixon, as reproduced on the cover of Chemical & Engineering News, Nov. 26, 1973. The Board and the Council, as well as appropriate divisions, committees, and staff, should respond promptly to the challenge of solving these national problems. Chemists and chemical engineers, working through our Society, have an unusual opportunity to demonstrate to the American people the solidarity of our profession and the ability to respond successfully to national problems that have a large chemical component. Obviously, the entire problem cannot be solved by ACS members alone. I am particularly impressed with the possibilities of the Committee of Scientific Society Presidents, initiated by ACS President Alan Nixon. Such an organization could have a significant impact on such matters as national science policy and safety of nuclear power plants (two subjects already under discussion), and I would urge continuing support of this organization. Relations with the public and the Government are an area of growing im-
portance to the Society. As a member of the joint Board-Council Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs, I am very much aware of the contributions of staff, committee members, and task groups to a number of worthwhile and timely projects. The report "Cleaning Our Environment—The Chemical Basis for Action," already recognized worldwide as a definitive, authoritative study, will be updated next year in a second edition. The recently published "Chemistry in the Economy" provides a massive amount of well-organized data that acquaint the reader, whether in the university, government, industry, or the general public, with the contributions of chemists and engineers to the modern economy. Other important studies are under way or planned on "Chemistry in Medicine" and "Energy and the Environment." The committee also has given much consideration to such important topics as the establishment of a national R&D policy, and the development of R&D incentives by the Federal Government to maintain a high level of employment and keep us competitive in the world economy. These and other attempts to inform public officials and the general public of the activities of chemists and their contributions to society should be expanded and maintained on a continuing basis. Staff in Washington, D.C., should be increased to cover more completely activities in all areas of the Government that affect chemists. The recommendation of 1974 PresidentElect William J. Bailey to establish a system of legislative counselors selected primarily from ACS councilors to advise each of the members of Congress on chemically related matters is an excellent one that I hope will be implemented soon. It is particularly valuable because a substantial number of our members will become familiar with the legislative process and make contributions to it, at substantially no cost to the Society! The question of the proper balance among scientific, professional, and member-oriented ACS activities probably always will be with us and cannot be answered to everyone's complete satisfaction. The important thing is to maintain clear channels of communication among members, the Council, the Board, and staff. Changes in recent years initiated by the Council, and subsequently approved by the Board, are evidence that communications are good and that the Society is a democratic institution. To the extent that funds are available, various aspects of P E P [Professional Enhancement Program] have been put into effect. Symposiums on public and professional subjects have been scheduled at national meetings, with good attendance. The Division of Professional Relations was organized and after a good start its probationary status was removed at the last national
meeting. When I review the range of ACS activities, as conducted by the members through its committees and divisions, staff, and publication activities, I conclude that a reasonable balance has been achieved and the ACS member is getting good value for his membership dollar. Our publication and educational programs are recognized universally as outstanding ones, and I believe they should be maintained as a prominent part of the Society's activities. Most members would probably approve of using more space in Chemical & Engineering News to report Society news from all sources—national, local, divisional, and staff. Questions are often raised about the Council—its size, role, committee work, and many others. It does not seem to me that any major changes in these areas are necessary now. Local sections and divisions should elect or appoint the strongest possible representatives to the Council and permit them to serve long enough to become involved in committee work or other national projects. I would like to see every councilor receive a specific assignment, whether on a committee or on projects involving the staff in Washington. We should also encourage the selection of a larger number of younger
councilors for balanced representation of all age groups in the Society. Much attention is now given to activities relating individual members to their employers—stimulation of employment, salary studies, the supplydemand picture for chemists and engineers, guidelines for employers, vesting of pension benefits, and investigation of complaints against employers. Our members should recognize that the resources within the Society are limited, and that any significant expansion of professional activities would require additional funds through dues increases. We should continue to push for dues increases to finance activities of this nature, but under no circumstance can I visualize ACS's functioning as a collective bargaining agency for its members. Our Society has an outstanding record in its contributions to science, education, government, industry, the public as well as to its individual members. With greater financial resources it could do even more. If elected to director-at-large, I will do everything I can to see that the Society's activities are organized to benefit its individual members, as well as to discharge our responsibilities to the various segments of society that can benefit from our specialized knowledge and skills. Dr. G a r c i a ' s views
Eugene N. Garcia Southern California Section. California State College, Dominguez Hills, Calif. Date of birth: Oct. 27, 1925. Academic record: Gonzaga University, A.B., 1948; University of San Francisco, M.S., 1 9 5 1 ; California Institute of Technology, 1 9 5 2 - 5 4 ; University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D., 1961. Honors: Sigma Xi. Professional positions (for past 10 years): chairman, health science programs, California State College, 1973 to present; partner, Program Media Associates, 1970 to present; assistant professor of biochemistry, California College of Medicine, 1 9 6 1 69. Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1951. Southern California Section: councilor, 1 9 7 2 - 7 4 ; chairman, 1970; c h a i r m a n elect, 1969; c h a i r m a n , Awards & Nominations Committee, 1972; chairman, Long Range Planning Committee, 1971; Operation Interface, codirector, 1970, director, 1969; chairman, Program Committee, 1969; chairman, Hospitality Committee, 1968; c h a i r m a n , High School Chemistry Contest, 1967. Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Professional Relations, 1973; Subcommittee on Local Section Liaison, 1973; Committee on Technician Activities, 1973. Member: American Association for the A d vancement of Science; National Society for Programmed Instruction, vice president in charge of national convention, 1 9 6 9 - 7 0 , president, Los Angeles chapter, 1 9 6 8 - 6 9 ; New York Academy of Sciences: California Association of Chemistry Teachers, president, 1973, southern section chairman, 1972.
I think ACS should move in the direction of more emphasis and concern for the individual member. The advancement of chemistry for its own sake is unrealistic, dehumanizing, and borders on the idolatrous. We should be concerned with the advancement of the chemist since what helps the chemist to be a better scientist and a better member of society will ultimately benefit the world of chemistry as a whole. We need to improve our professional status as chemists both from the aspect of monetary compensation and fringe benefits as well as employer consideration of the chemist as a human being and not as a mere nut or bolt that is dispensable and disposable at a moment's notice. I would like to see Eugene
N.
Garcia
further extension in the Society's Guidelines for Employers to provide for chemists working for government contractors. Furthermore, I think we should be more aggressive in getting national licensing of chemists for those occupations where licensing would be in the public interest and for its protection, and would also enhance the job status of the chemist. I fully support the legal aid loan program recently initiated by the Board. We also need to improve our professional status in the eyes of the general population by providing visible evidence that we as chemists really are concerned with our environment and the well being of humanity. I would like to see chemists in ACS take the lead in the determination and observance of health and safety standards for such items as carcinogens, the flammability of materials, and the disposition of radioactive wastes. Moreover, we need to show the public that we can communicate our concerns about scientific matters in mutually understandable terms. We should offer membership in the Society to any person who is willing to support our goals but who does not meet our present entrance requirements. For example, it is difficult to recruit members from among qualified high school chemistry teachers when we maintain barriers against the entrance of many of their colleagues. Yet these teachers are significant factors in the education and molding of attitudes of chemists. To offset the fears of those who look upon such wide open membership as a dilution of our professional elitism we should seriously consider a system for designation of "professional" chemists by certification. We should also open up participation in the activities of the Society to more members and allow ordinary members a greater voice in the direction of Society activities. For instance, Council members should be directly elected by the general members whom they are to represent. Local section committees should be encouraged to work in closer association with the corresponding Council committees. Further, individual members should be encouraged to make personal contact with their legislators on all matters in which we as chemists can have relevant input. To achieve greater involvement, there should be more communication among members, officers, staff, and Council. More Society news should be published in the official Society publication. If C&EN cannot do this then I think that its operations should be examined and action taken in keeping with the best interests of the members and not merely those of a few individuals. An organization remains viable only if it can attract young people to carry on its activities. ACS will attract young chemists when they see the Society taking positions and making con30
C&EN Jan. 14, 1974
tributions to society that they can respect and support. I am not so egotistical that I think that I have the answers to the problems facing ACS today. Nor do I think that I alone am interested in doing something about these problems. But I do think that being aware of the problems in terms of where we are and where the needs of society and of ACS are moving, I can at least look at the proper alternatives to attempt a solution. Perhaps the one thing I would most like to see changed in the Society is the mental habit of rigidity: holding on to programs and practices simply because they are traditional. I would like to see a more flexible attitude—the mental ability to look at new and untraditional alternatives without a predisposed negative bias. We should not be saying, "It's never been done before," but rather, "Is it worthwhile doing?"
Raymond P. Mariella Chicago Section. Loyola University, Chicago, III. Date of birth: Sept. 5, 1919. Academic record: University of Pennsylvania, B.S., 1 9 4 1 ; Carnegie Institute of Technology, M.S., 1942, D . S c , 1945; University of Wisconsin, Eli Lilly postdoctorate fellow, 1945-46. Honors: Sigma Xi; Phi Kappa Phi; Alpha Chi Sigma; Phi Lambda Upsilon; Lambda Chi Sigma; Sigma Delta; M c C o r m a c k Freud Honorary Lectureship in Chemistry, at Illinois Institute of Technology, May 1961; Award of Merit, Chicago Technical Societies Council, 1962. Professional positions (for past 10 years): Loyola University, dean of the graduate school, 1970 to present; Executive C o m mittee, Council of Graduate Schools, 1971 to present; Executive Committee, Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools, 1971 to present. Professor and chairman, department of chemistry, 1 9 5 5 - 7 0 . Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1942. Chicago Section: councilor, 1 9 5 6 76; c h a i r m a n , 7 / 1 9 6 0 - 6 1 ; chairman-elect, 7 / 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 ; vice c h a i r m a n , 7/1957-58; Board of Directors, 1 9 5 4 - 5 6 ; Membership Committee, vice-chairman, 1 9 5 2 - 5 4 ; N o m inations Committee, vice-chairman, 1952; Tellers Committee, c h a i r m a n , 1951; Program Committee, vice-chairman, 1 9 5 0 - 5 1 ; Hospitality Committee, vice chairman, 1947-48. Chairman, Great Lakes Regional Meeting, 1966. Service in ACS national offices: Council Policy Committee, 1 9 7 2 - 7 4 ; CPC Subcommittee on Long Range Planning, 1972 to present; Ad hoc Committee on Professionalism, 1 9 7 1 - 7 2 ; Council Policy Committee Subcommittee to Study the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Current Tax Status of the ACS, 1 9 7 0 - 7 1 ; Committee on Professional Relations, 1966-71, chairman, 1 9 7 0 - 7 1 , secretary, 1969, Program Subcommittee, 1968, Subcommittee on Professional Orientation, 1 9 6 8 - 6 9 , c h a i r m a n , 1969, Symposium Subcommittee, chairman, 1 9 6 6 - 6 7 , Subcommittee on Employment Agreements, 1966. Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Association of University Professors.
Dr. M a r i e l l a ' s views
I believe in a strong ACS. This means continued reinforcement of our journals, and the strengthening of our meetings at the national, regional, and local levels, so as to assure adequate dissemination of knowledge and avenues of expression. Under no circumstances must we relax the support of our publications which clearly single out ACS as the leader in this country. My position on professionalism is quite clear. For over 20 years I have given much time and expended much energy to improve the position of chemists and chemical engineers and to clarify the image of chemistry to the public. As a past chairman of the Committee on Professional Relations, I have fought vigorously to defend the rights of chemists and have tried to help chemists help themselves. It was my privilege to present to the Council the "Guidelines for Employers," which has been an important instrument in reducing the abuse of chemists. The "guidelines" were many years in planning and represent the work of many dedicated ACS members who are not "Johnny-come-lately" into the field. My immediate predecessors as chairmen of CPR, Joe Stewart and Henry Hill, were strong defenders of professionalism, and my successors, Sam Gerber and Al Zettlemoyer, have been and are very active in that area. On the Council floor I asked for the creation of a Committee on Economic Status; a Committee on Public Relations; for continuing study of the supply of and demand for chemists and chemical engineers. I was the first chairman of CPR to be allowed to read the names of the companies involved in major layoffs and to single out those companies that did not comply with the "guidelines." This was a privilege not easily won. Raymond Raymond P. P. Mariella Mariella
The Committee on Professional Relations proposed "Pensions for Professionals," which finally is beginning to gather steam and may eventually blanket many ACS members with security heretofore not possible. ACS has made available life insurance, accidental death insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, and is looking into unemployment insurance. I feel that ACS has responded in a positive way to the many professional demands made upon it and will continue to progress in this area. ACS needs strengthening in one area and that is in the field of government relations. There needs to be better communications between the chemistry profession and those who make the laws and appropriate money. I am strongly opposed to those who, under a so-called "banner of professionalism," which often is no more than creeping unionism, have caused ACS members to be polarized into adversary positions. We must unify, and instead of being deluded by fancy slogans and catchy phrases, and instead of fighting among ourselves, we should join ranks to overcome the problems that confront us.
Lockhart B. Rogers Purdue Section. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Date of birth: July 16, 1917. Academic record: Wesleyan University, A.B., 1939; Princeton University, A . M . , 1940, Ph.D., 1942. Honors: ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry sponsored by Fisher Scientific Co., 1968; Alpha Chi Sigma; Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Lambda Upsilon; Sigma Xi; Stephan Dal Nogare Plenary Lecturer, M ARM 1972. Professional positions (for past 10 years): professor, 1961 to present; head, analytical chemistry division, Purdue University, 1961-68. Service in ACS offices: Member ACS since 1941. Purdue Section: councilor, 1 9 6 7 - 7 5 . Northeastern Section: c h a i r m a n , 7 / 1 9 5 7 6 / 1 9 5 8 , chairman-elect, 7/1956-6/1957; councilor, 1961, 1953-58; Nominations Committee, chairman, 7/1958-6/1959; Program Committee, c h a i r m a n , 7 / 1 9 5 6 6 / 1 9 5 7 . Division of Analytical Chemistry: chairman, 1962; chairman-elect, 1 9 6 1 ; secretary-treasurer, 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 ; Fellowship Committee, c h a i r m a n , 1 9 7 1 - 7 3 . Division of Chemical Education: Examinations C o m mittee, 1 9 6 5 - 6 7 ; Curriculum Committee, 1 9 6 8 - 7 2 ; Visiting Scientist Program, 1964 to present; Committee on Quantitative Examinations, c h a i r m a n , 1 9 6 2 - 6 6 . Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Nominations and Elections, 1 9 6 8 - 7 5 ; Committee on Local Section Activities, 1954-58, Subcommittee on Annual Reports, 1955; Canvassing Committee, ACS Local Section Public Relations A w a r d , 1956-58; Canvassing Committee, ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry sponsored by Fisher Scientific Co., 1 9 6 1 - 6 3 ; advisory board, Analytical Chemistry, 1 9 6 1 - 6 3 . Member: Electrochemical Society (chairman and councilor of the Boston Section, former editor of the Theoretical Division for the Journal of the Electrochemical Society): American Academy of Arts & Sciences; National Research Council C o m mittees: Analytical Chemistry, 1 9 6 3 - 6 8 ;
Army Research Office (Durham), 1 9 6 3 - 6 6 ; Advisory Committee for Analytical Chemistry Division, National Bureau of Standards, 1963-72 (chairman, 1967, 1969, 1972); Institute of Materials Research, National Bureau of Standards, 1969, 1972; member of subpanel assisting the Westheimer Committee for the Survey of Chemistry; chairman, ad hoc Advisory Committee to AFOSR Chemistry Program, 1967; chairman, Advisory Committee to Analytical Section, General Chemistry Division, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, 1973 to present; member, Advisory Committee to Analytical Chemistry Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1967 to present; advisory board, Separation Science, 1965 to present.
Dr. Rogers' views
There are several areas into which I would plan to channel effort. Although the problems are not new, some of my ideas may help the Society move toward solutions. More important, I plan to seek means for stimulating others to generate even better ideas. Employment. During the past five years, mass layoffs and involuntary early retirements have forced the Society and its members to re-examine goals, to reorder priorities, and to provide both manpower and money to perform the most essential ones. Now, the energy crisis may precipitate additional unfavorable actions. For the short range, the Council should continue its efforts toward extending the contents of the guidelines for employers (and employees) while the Board of Directors seeks ways to persuade more employers to accept them. To that end, more publicity should be given to those employers that avoid layoffs and to those that either fail to follow them or, worse yet, refuse to divulge any information. Similarly, the Board should explore means for "selling" employers on earlier vesting of retirement benefits so as to improve portability. For the longer term, the Board should encourage employers to adopt more widely a variety of practices that will provide on-the-job revitalization and modernization of their chemists through special courses, academic-type leaves, and job rotations. Layoffs of chemists should then be less attractive, and any released chemist should be able to locate new employment easier. Interface with the general public. The Board should take steps to stimulate chemists into much more vigorous action on two fronts. First, I believe that chemists must develop both individual lectures (or essays) and complete courses (or books) that deal with the chemical aspects of broad societal issues. Unlike most existing material, the new material would be addressed to mature adults who have no interest in fundamentals of chemical bonding or structure—or in the use of mathematics beyond calculations that involve dollars and cents. Second, I want to explore ways of stimulating the writ-
Lockhart B. Rogers Lockhart
B.
Rogers
ing of short nontechnical papers on timely issues that would be sent to the staff in our Washington office. Some might be sent directly to the public press; others might serve as background for future releases by the staff. In short, I strongly believe that chemists must work harder to reach the craftsman, the humanist, and the politician—most of whom have neither a significant background in chemistry nor any desire to acquire one before forming an opinion. Some chemists believe that the appointment of a Cabinet-level scientist is a necessary first step for turning favorable public attention and more money in our direction. While I am not opposed to those efforts, I view such an appointment not so much as a means for influencing the public but, instead, more as a symbol that we have succeeded! Membership. One issue that has sharply divided the Society in recent years has been the question of qualifications for membership. The gloomy employment picture and the certification of degree programs have invariably been interwoven. To me, these are related, but separate, issues. Frankly, I should like to see the Society try to combine the best features of a wider membership and of certification. One possibility would be to open the Society to technicians and teachers who do not have a formal degree in chemistry. (There is already a mechanism for admitting some scientists from specialties other than chemistry.) At the same time, the Society would be prepared to provide several different types of certification—especially for those who work directly with the general public, but also for those who desire certification. Another possibility would be to encourage another organization, such as the American Institute of Chemists, to Jan. 14, 1974 C&EN
31
handle certification and related professional matters. For example, the record shows that, more than 20 years ago, AIC proposed a model contract for employers and also a code of ethics for the professional chemist. However, I firmly believe that the individual chemist, the Society, and the profession will benefit most if a satisfactory means can be found for broadening the membership base while spelling out details for certifying different types of practitioners in the area of chemical science. Council. Some members view the Council as serving only to protect the status quo. In contrast, I believe it is better described as a ponderous body that represents an extremely wide variety of views and interests. Its slowness of response is primarily the result of two factors. First, there are only two meetings each year. Second, the procedures under which it operates include checks and balances designed to allow councilors to become informed at one meeting and then to consult with members "back home" before the issue comes up for its first, but not necessarily final, vote. To shorten the response time, I support the idea of interim meetings. Certainly, such meetings on an informal basis have been carried out among councilors in a given region with enthusiasm and moderate success. Further speed should also result if the Council itself could meet more frequently. The trade-off, of course, involves the manpower spent at the additional meetings and the staggering cost of the extra travel expenses. Younger chemists. First, I believe that local sections and national divisions should actively enlist the participation of younger chemists. Second, I should like to see a formal survey made, taking special efforts to secure replies from recent graduates who are not members of the Society, so as to learn what features would make membership highly appealing to them. Chemical & Engineering News. I am interested in weighing the arguments for and against weekly publication. Although I consistently scan nearly every page of each issue, I am not convinced that less frequent publication would fail to serve adequately the official needs of the Society. Additional information. Before concluding, I wish to point out that I am a member of the Council Committee on Nominations and Elections that formulated the list of names from which the two "regular" candidates in this election were selected. Just before Thanksgiving, when asked if I would be willing to have petitions circulated in my behalf, I delayed giving permission until several chemists had been consulted, all of whom found no objection to such an action on my part. Nevertheless, I am explicitly drawing attention to my membership on that committee so that each individual can judge my decision to be a candidate before voting. 32
C&EN Jan. 14, 1974
Resolutions concern election methods New and proposed regulations concerning ACS elections are the subject of resolutions by the executive committees of two West Coast local sections—the Southern California Section and the California Section. The Southern California resolution protests the action of the Council in Chicago this fall (C&EN, Sept. 17, 1973, page 28) making it tougher for petition candidates for President-Elect and for director-at-large to get onto the ballot. The California resolution concerns proposed guidelines covering the conduct of ACS elections. An official set of such guidelines was discussed at the Chicago Council meeting when it was endorsed by the two then-declared candidates for President-Elect. These guidelines were published in C&EN (Sept. 17, 1973, page 30). The almost 300-page agenda for this Council meeting also included another set of guidelines. This set had no official status, it was neither mentioned nor discussed at the meeting, and it was drawn up by a councilor who requested anonymity. Southern California Resolution WHEREAS the Executive Committee of the Southern California Section firmly believes that the American Chemical Society must move toward more democratic procedures in order to encourage membership participation in their Society, and WHEREAS there has been no abuse of the use of the petition by the members in the past, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Southern California Section wishes to register its disapproval of the Council action in amending Bylaw V, Sections 1(c), 2(b), and 3(e). (Meeting of Aug. 28, 1973.) Motion, presented and carried, executive committee of the Southern California Section of the American Chemical Society at its regular meeting, Oct. 3, 1973. Note: The action referred to above would increase the number of signatures required to place a name on a national ACS ballot. President-Elect and director-at-large, currently requiring 150 names from at least three sections to qualify would require, under the new rules, 1% of the membership of the Society—something in excess of 850 signatures from 15 sections taken from five of the six geographic regions of the Society and distributed to be 1% of each of the membership of those five geographic regions. California Resolution
WHEREAS the Executive Committee
of the California Section firmly believes that the American Chemical Society must move toward the use of more democratic procedures by giving the members a greater opportunity to participate in the affairs of the Society and, WHEREAS Chemical and Engineering News presented only one set of proposed election guidelines as if only that set of guidelines possessed the qualities of "fairness and dignity" (C&EN, Sept. 17, 1973, page 30) and, WHEREAS the suggested guidelines published in C&EN call for a complete ban on publicity (other than a statement by candidates in C&EN, occasional local section forums and that generated by "personal letters") and for the withholding of mailing lists, and WHEREAS in the last two to three years the average member has begun to take a healthy interest in the Society and such guidelines would be a step backwards—snuffing out interest and returning to a previous condition of apathy—and WHEREAS the way to assure fair treatment for the candidates is not to deny privileges equally but to provide opportunity equally. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the California Section endorses the following alternate guidelines substantially as they appeared in the official Council agenda and encourages their adoption by the Society: Election Guidelines 1. It is essential that the stands on issues, opinions, and views of the candidates for any office in ACS be given the greatest dissemination possible within the Society. The basic principle is that each candidate be guaranteed the opportunity if he or his supporters so desire to bring his views and plans to the attention of the electorate. For this reason: a. Each candidate for any office will be asked to submit a statement which in the candidate's opinion is pertinent to the election. The statement—if submitted—will be printed in the official publication organ of the Society covering the geographical territory eligible for voting for the candidate in that particular election. The statements for national candidates shall be sent to all appropriate local section and division publications to publish if they so desire. b. Local section and division publications are not under obligation to publish the statements. However, they may not leave out any candidate's statement in preference for that of another, if submitted. They may not publish a summary or abstracted form of the statement unless the candidate agrees to the shortened form. c. Publications of local sections
