ASSOCIATIONS
THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE Getting Acquainted One c f the reasons sometimes given for resigning from the ACS is a failure to make contacts with professional associates. Many who remain comment o n shortcomings in this activity. This i s more of a problem in large sections than it is in the smaller units where almost everyone is acquainted. Where it exists, i t is serious, because one of the important responsibilities of any professional society is to provide opportunities for getting t o know other members and thereby to set the stage for "swapping" useful knowledge or rendering mxitual aid. Every activity that helps t o break down personal reserve and to provide a chance to meet other chemists and cHemical engineers is worth encouraging. Several local sections have devised novel ways of accomplishing this and some are herewith passed along. W. F. O'Connor, former chairman of the Social Committee of t h e New York Section, invented the game of "stockroom" which is played as follows; The name cards supplied to members a t the begin-
ning of the meeting are stamped with a variety of items found in the chemical laboratory. At the conclusion of the formal meeting those present are asked to examine their name cards and deposit themselves in the corresponding stockroom bins in various parts of the room with their fellow test tubes, beakers, etc. The bin containing the largest number of items is then entertained at the expense of the section for a short social hour. Under this plan, there obviously is general mixing in the preliminary stages. This breaks the ice and sociability continues in the various "bins." A. H. Tenney, current chairman of the Social Committee, has introduced another idea that promises to be popular. He has arranged for informal discussion groups to meet in various parts of the room at the conclusion of the formal meeting. Under the leadership of some member, each group spends as much time as it wishes in getting acquainted and discussing matters of mutual interest. A topic may be selected for consideration representing some phase of the subject covered
by the speaker. For example, in connection with a talk on "Chemistry and Drugs," different groups discussed the following topics informally: antibiotics, antimalarials, antihistamines, chemotherapy in the nucleic acid field, and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. The Pittsburgh Section has the philosophy that if members once become acquainted and interested in the local section they will continue to attend meetings and contribute to their success. To ensure a good start, all new members and thrir wives are entertained by the Newcomers Committee at the home of the chairman, Emerson Venable. These parties are planned specifically to get every new member acquainted with every other new member present and with the officers of the section. Judging from results during the past two or three years, there is reason to believe the plan has been unusually successful. We should like to report other usable ideas. The 1950 annual report of one local section included the following statement: "In spite of the strenuous efforts oi our Entertainment Committee during the past few years, we have been unable to arrive at any type of social program which meets with the active support of more than a small proportion of the members." We hope that items such as this will help to alleviate the type of statement reported. If you have a plan of proved success, tell us about it. Minute M e n
6 Cubic Feet of Controlled A i r W h e n humidity a n d t e m p e r a t u r e a r e important h e r e is a cabinet that provides about 6 cubic f e e t o f controlled air . . . both t e m p e r a t u r e and humidity maintained within 1 ° F w e t bulb as long a s the unit is o p e r a t e d . The air is constantly circulated a n d uniform conditions a r e maintained automatically; h e a t e d b y an electric coil, cooled b y a coil of w a t e r (or other coolant), humidified b y a s p r a y chamber, d r i e d by a mechanical device needing no a t tention. Units a r e a v a i l a b l e with t e m p e r a t u r e ranges from 4 0 ° F to 1 4 0 ° F.
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REGULATOR
Constant Temperature and Humidity Cabinets N o w in use b y many prominent l a b o r a tories in f o o d , research, paint, p h a r m a ceutics, etc.—names on request. Write f o r bulletin a n d tell us your requirements.
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Technology
Two weeks ago on this page in an item "Strength through Contacts" we described in some detail the Representatives Committee of the North Jersey Section. The Minute Men of the Chicago Section are a similar body although their continuing assignment is somewhat less diversified. The aim is to have every member of the ACS in the territory in direct contact with one Minute Man. The section's area is divided into 22 districts of approximately equal chemical population. The captain in charge of a district appoints as many squad leaders as necessary. Originally organized for the purpose of recruiting members, the scope of the group has been increased. Now the Minute Men serve essentially as the liaison between the individual member and the section administration. They may serve as prodders in obtaining questionnaire returns or pollsters when opinions are needed or as a relay station for comments or criticism. Any type of organization which facilitates transfer of information between the administration and the individual member, in both directions, is to be commended. Real service and accompushment are not possible without free and uninhibited exchange of opinions and facts. /S&C
