lABOJïATOM ÎFF/C/MCy
7Ύ
Some 1957 High Lights
MiNt-lAB :Prigt^naliy i n t r o d u c e d ^'Àddîti^ai,
by ^Acé
assembl ïes
ο nef
in'l^SO 'ieo^n'iaro^:-.
N^·
Send f e r N e w Supplement A— Β describing t h e A l l - N e w ACE " M i n i - L a b " Also in stock at our M i d w e s t e r n Division, Louisville, K y . , Box 9 9 6 .
ttj . · . · . ' ^ M i d w e s t e r n p i vision ν "v':t : i';i ; - ; ;;
J^JX>UIÎ5VILÎ^
56
C&EN
AUG.
SECRETARY'S OFFICE
5.
1957
Ea-ch year the staff of the Office of the Executive Secretary prepares a midyear accounting on t h e state of the Society. It is presented t o the Council and "the B o a r d of Directors as part of agenda for their September meetings. Sometimes it has been published with the minutes of these meetings b u t then it is stale. Some of its content appears early the following year in the annual report. Consequently, it has been decided not to print this interim report in 1957 but rather to summarize high lights serially on this page. Pu hlic recognition of accomplishments always is gratifying. Early 1957 involved such an event—presentation to the ACS of a Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Achievement A w a r d for "Significant Contributions to the Public Interest." It recognized "the Society's effective and diversified program in secondary school education," reaching into a. majority of the communities of the nation. Gratification of the staff must be s h a r e d with local sections, the Division of Chemical Education, several standing committees, a n d thousands of individuals whose efforts led to results justifying this recognition. The ZExecutive Secretary is especially pleased t h a t this particular program was singled o u t because of t h e large number of m e m b e r s and constituent parts of t h e Society involved in its implementation. He has stated frequently that the major strength of the Society lies in cooperative effort and t h e willingness of members t o give generously of themselves to implement worthwhile activities. Any a w a r d would b e gratifying hut one involving a form of implementation u n i q u e to this organization i s much m o r e so. Otrviously those involved h a v e not considered this award as an e n d in itself. ACS activities relating to education are a t a h i g h e r level now than in 1956. The Division of Chemical Education has expanded its program of visiting scientists in chemistry and is sponsoring more summer institutes for chemistry teachers. Both of these activities receive financial support from the National Science Foundation. Local sections a r e making a start in educational television. T h e ACS has been called on for advice in connection with a. foundation-sponsored project for the teaching of chemistry with films. T h e most significant new development in 1957 is a greatly accelerated interest in purely professional matters. This i s evident in m a n y ways—the num-
ber of items appearing in local section publications, the frequency of requests for information about speakers in this field for meeting programs, letters asking about proper local activities, a n d an increase from 2 0 to 31 in the nuinber of such local section committees. Currently there is increasing concern a b o u t legislative matters. For example, seven sections in CaliFornia have formed a joint coordinating committee to collect information of i n t e r est and value t o ACS m e m b e r s w i t h i n the state, especially from t h e State Legislature and from other professional organizations. Such information will be disseminated to local sections. T h e Committee on Professional Relations and Status has u n d e r considération other proposals in this broad field. This increased interest in professional matters is encouraging. T h e only cause for concern is that local interest may develop on tangential lines before a comprehensive Society-wide program can b e developed. Work w a s started on t h e latter a year ago b u t currently is static because necessary staff service requires more manpower. In a midyear report to the Council a year a g o , w e stated that in early 1956 substantial progress h a d been m a d e toward an organization a n d Facilities more adequate for the discharge of the great responsibilities of the Society. W h a t was then presented in connection with organization of applied journals, and amplified in the annua.1 r e port, has met all expectations, a n d more. Since then, little has b e e n accomplished in reorganization of t h e Office of the Executive Secretary b e cause of inability to obtain t h e n e c e s sary manpower (a situation familiar t o many). O n e s t e p was fully i m p l e m e n t e d , establishment of a Local Section d e l a tions Office. This will be printed near its first birthday. During t h e past year, the tempo of operations has h e e n intentionally restrained in o r d e r to permit accumulation, analysis, a n d assimilation of background informationSessions w i t h executive bodies of EL few local sections have been a p a r t of information assembly and orientation of personnel. The services of this office to local sections and the Society will increase in the year ahead. W h a t has been accomplished has proved the soundness of the plan. ( More in later issues )
^^^^s^^-^^l^s^g^
