ACS NEWS September 13, 1971
News, Reports, People, Meetings
Society gets mediocre rating in local section survey Members want ACS to assist government bodies and take strong public stand on science-related issues About one out of every four members of ACS is highly dissatisfied with the present operation and programs of the Society, according to the findings of a survey made by the Eastern New York Section. In contrast, however, the survey reports that about 20% of the members are highly satisfied. Based on a scale of one (highly dis satisfied) to 10 (highly satisfied) ACS rated about half (5.37)—"something less than a vote of confidence," the survey says. On the same one to 10 scale, members responding to the na tional survey conducted for ACS by National Analysts last year rated ACS at 5.85 (C&EN, Nov. 23, 1970, page 53). The section's canvass was one of at least 10 such samplings of member opinion made by ACS local sections around the U.S. in the past year or so. The final report of the study made by the long-range planning committee of the Eastern New York Section ana lyzes the data obtained through its own "every member canvass" together with the results of surveys of 10 other local sections. "In essence ACS is viewed as excel lent when it comes to advancing chem istry as a science," the report states, "but criticism is voiced in that it fails to fill the needs of chemists as people or provide much of a focus for chem ists and chemistry as a social force in society." Younger members of the section, un der 35, were more dissatisfied with ACS than the average of 568 people responding to the questionnaire. Slightly more than 28% of the 162 younger members of the section rated ACS at three or below on the one to 10 scale. ACS was rated at only 5.2 by the younger chemists. Issues. The question answered af firmatively by most members surveyed asked, "Should ACS actively assist governmental bodies on science-re lated issues?" Strongly answering yes
For other news of special interest to ACS members, see: Alcoholism in industry
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Wage-price freeze
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to this question were 75.9% of the members; 18.4% were of an interme diate view and 5.7% strongly dis agreed. Of the members under 35 years of age, 82.2% strongly agreed. Some members believe that ACS should be strongly involved with sci ence-related public issues. Sixty-seven per cent strongly approve of ACS's taking a ". . . strong public stand on science-related issues involving chem istry (pollution, pesticides, and the like)." According to the survey, "Comments indicate that there is a strong desire for ACS to aid in informing the mem bership as to what is known scientifi cally on many science-related public questions . . . and to then give the pub lic a balanced scientifically sound eval uation of many of these problems— in areas of environmental protection, consumer protection, and on questions of public health. "There is considerable concern," the report says, "that the great amount of hokum perpetrated upon the pub lic today, both by attackers and the attacked, must be counteracted. Mem bers feel that chemistry is deeply in volved in many public problems and that chemists ought to have a say . . . ." Professionalism. Interpretation of responses to questions about profes sional affairs at the local section and the national level occupies several pages of the survey report. The sec tion's younger members were more in favor of ACS professional activities than the average of all of the respon dents by about 10%. To the question, "Should ACS (national and local sec tions) actively promote the economic well-being of its members?" 71.8% of the younger chemists strongly agreed, and 59.8% of the total members sur veyed agreed. The Kansas City Section found 70% agreement with the statement: ACS should lobby like ΑΜΑ. Similar questions by the DallasFt. Worth and Syracuse Sections brought a 65% and a 62% yes response. "While there is little desire for un ionism at present, there is indeed a strong desire for ACS involvement in employment-related issues," the sur vey said. The California Section
asked: "Do you think ACS sufficiently supports the professional needs of its members? 14% said yes, 84% said no. Do you think such support should be provided by ACS? Yes, said 94% of the respondents. The Orange County survey revealed that 60% of the mem bership agreed with the statement: ACS should be more actively con cerned with the salaries and employ ment stability of chemists; 57% agreed with the statement: ACS should be more concerned with the working con ditions of chemists . . . . Change. "The mood of the member ship for change is quite evident in the results of the survey," says Gordon L. Nelson, chairman of the section's com mittee that conducted the survey. "The contention of some that mem bers are highly satisfied with ACS at present is just not the case. . . . If ACS is to effectively meet the member needs, such surveys are important. Of more importance, however, is what is done with them . . . . but at some point concrete action in response to member desires must follow," Dr. Nel son adds. "The desires of members are not static, the membership will grow or decline on the basis of how effectively ACS responds."
Politicians alerted to meeting The ACS national meeting in Wash ington, D.C., this week was brought to the attention of Congressmen earlier this month in a letter from ACS Ex ecutive Director Frederick T. Wall. "Much of the discussion at the meet ing will focus on the impact of chem istry on national policies and on the responsibilities of chemical scientists for helping solve some of our national problems," Dr. Wall said. The letter accompanying sections of the final program of the meeting men tioned briefly ACS's interest and involve ment in national problems related to chemistry, such as environmental im provement and other aspects of the meeting. The letter also mentioned symposiums entitled "Science as Viewed by Policy Makers" and "Scien tists, Politics and the Environment," and discussions of the impact of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 on the chemical profession.
SEPT. 13, 1971 C&EN
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