Dear Local Section Leader,
It's been nearly six months since we introduced the ACS Speaker Directory, a valuable resource designed to simplify your event planning process. We would truly appreciate your feedback on how you have been utilizing this tool. Please take a moment now to complete a brief five-question survey and receive a chance to win a $50 gift card. Your input is invaluable as we strive to improve the directory and ensure it serves as an effective tool for your local section.
In addition, I want to highlight the ACS Local Section Innovative Project Grant, a fantastic funding opportunity for you. The grant provides a chance to secure up to $3,500 to bring your innovative projects to life. Don't miss out on this chance and apply before the June 30th deadline! Find more information about the grant below.
Beth Lorsbach,
Chair, Local Section Activities Committee
The June 30 deadline to submit your proposals for the 2023 Fall Innovative Project Grant (IPG) is fast approaching. This is your chance to secure funding of up to $3,500 for exciting new activities and programming within your Local Section! Before you start working on your proposal, we highly recommend taking the following steps:
- Pay a visit to our website and check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section. It contains crucial information about funding eligibility, including details on budget allocations, support letter policies, safety requirements, and more.
- If you have any outstanding Final Report Forms for previously-funded IPGs, please make sure to submit them promptly. This will help streamline the application process for your current proposal.
- It's important to consider how your section's proposal can reach a wide range of your membership. Think about ways to engage and involve as many members as possible.
For additional information and to access the application form, head over to our IPG website. Don't let this fantastic opportunity slip away! Take action now and submit your proposal before the June 30 deadline. If you have any questions or concerns, please email lsac@acs.org.
Find Your Next Speaker: The ACS Speaker Directory
The ACS Speaker Directory is a new resource for our component group leaders to access a wide range of speakers for their in-person, hybrid, and asynchronous events. The directory provides users with access to over 500 speakers who are available to present technical science talks, lead career development & professional advancement presentations, explore general interest, popular science topics, and more. LSAC is actively recruiting interested speakers to join the directory. This member benefit is open to all ACS members who want to share their passion for chemistry, gain visibility and grow their professional networks. Users may access the directory at www.acs.org/speakerdirectory. (ACS ID and login required)
Beware of Phishing Attempts
Fradulent email (Phishing) scams targeting ACS Local Sections and Divisions persist, with reports from treasurers of fraudulent emails requesting electronic fund transfers, invoice payments, or urgent payments. These emails may appear authentic, with requests seeming to come from trusted ACS colleagues. To avoid falling victim to such scams, exercise caution when clicking links and be wary of emails requesting sensitive information or electronic fund transfers (EFT) requests. Look for clues to fraudulent requests, such as incorrect return email addresses, poor grammar, or misspellings.
As a preventative measure, it is recommended that local sections/divisions establish a two-step authorization/confirmation protocol. If you receive an email requesting a wire transfer, seek secondary confirmation of the request through another direct means of communication.
Unfortunately, such scams are expected to continue, and scammers will likely continue to evolve their methods and approaches. It is essential to remain vigilant and contact your IT security department if you suspect a fraudulent email. Do not initiate contact with the sender of an identified fraudulent email. If you receive a suspected email targeting your local section or division, forward it to abuse@acs.org.
More information about phishing and cybercrime may be found here:
- https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber
- https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ComplaintChoice/default.aspx
- https://www.cisa.gov/be-cyber-smart/report-incident
Did you know as an ACS member you can serve on an ACS Committee as part of your Membership? Choose topics based on your passion and interests from Science Education and Public Policy to Professional Development, Public Outreach, STEM, DEIR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect) and MORE. With 30+ Society Committees to choose from, there is something for everyone. The Committee Preference Form opens on April 3 and closes on July 3.
ACS Leadership Workshops in San Francisco
The ACS Leadership Development program is your opportunity to learn essential skills to strengthen your competitive edge in today's global economy. At the 2023 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, we are offering seven leadership workshops. You can sign up for workshops when you register for the Fall Meeting.
Sign up for a summer session of Transforming Microaggressions into Microinclusions
The final sessions of Transforming Microaggressions into Microinclusions are available now through July for Zoom, Sign up for a summer session of Transforming Microaggressions into Microinclusions with the last two offerings occurring live and in-person during ACS Fall 2023 in Hilton Union Square (San Francisco, CA). Learn how to define and spot microaggressions, how they impact those that are affected, and how to gently respond as a bystander if you see it happen in real time. These are the very last offerings of this course - so be sure to register for a virtual or in-person session today!
LinkedIn Learning: CEUs, Certification Prep & More
The ACS LinkedIn Learning (LIL) benefit promotes constant learning to help build the tools and skills needed for career success. In addition to thousands of courses on a variety of professional topics, LIL offers Certification Preparation/Assessment and Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) developed in partnership with trusted providers, like Project Management Institute, CompTIA, Microsoft, Six Sigma, AWS, and more. LIL also offers fully developed learning paths, taught by experts in their fields, to help build in-demand skills valued in the workplace, including Python, public speaking, Microsoft Excel, and project management. Learn More and Activate Your LinkedIn Learning License. Questions? Contact linkedinlearning@acs.org.
The Committee on Chemists with Disabilities has dedicated matching grant funds for regional and local events to encourage event coordinators to implement accommodations for participants. This can be initiated by sending an email to CWD@ACS.org and we encourage coordinators of regional and local ACS events and programs to contact us!
Registration for ACS Fall 2023 is Now Open!
Register and join us from August 13 - 17 for ACS Fall 2023! We’ll be in-person in San Francisco at the Moscone Center or virtually globally. The theme, Harnessing the Power of Data, will be at the core of programming for the hybrid event. You can receive exclusive rates and benefits by booking your hotel through ConferenceDirect, the official housing service provider for ACS Fall 2023! Premium package ACS Members receive up to $400 in meeting registration discounts. Standard and Basic Package Members can upgrade to save! Register Now >>
2022 Membership Demographics Report: Now Available
Knowing who make up the ACS membership and their intersectionalities of identities helps ACS better serve its members by tailoring products, programs, and services. To learn who is part of the ACS membership community, read the 2022 Membership Demographics Report. Read the Report Here.
Connect With Your Local Chemistry Community at ACS Regional Meetings!
ACS Regional Meetings feature technical programming to help you stay current on the latest research and connect you with your region's chemists. Registrations are still open for the Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM), June 9 – 10, the Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM), June 14 -17, the Central Regional Meeting (CERM), June 20 – 23, and the Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM), June 28 -30. Abstracts are now being accepted for the Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting (RMRM), September 15 – 17, the Joint Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Meeting (MWGLRM), October 18 - 21, and the Southeastern Regional Meeting (SERMACS), October 25 – 28.
The ACS Office of Research Grants will accept proposals for Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) grants approximately one month earlier in the fall compared to previous years. Proposals supporting fundamental research in the petroleum field will be accepted from noon on August 14 to 5:00 pm EST on September 8, 2023. These proposals must focus on fundamental petroleum research, including research related to petroleum-derived materials in one of ten specified subject matter areas. It is important to note that while the PRF Trust imposes restrictions, PRF currently funds various topics of interest in sustainability and green chemistry. These topics include new catalysts and the upgrading/utilization of methane and carbon dioxide. For more information on supported research areas, interested individuals are encouraged to contact a PRF program officer or prfinfo@acs.org.
Grant programs are available for new professors starting their first tenure track position, as well as established tenured or tenure-track professors exploring a new research direction. Separate grant programs exist for qualified professors in non-doctoral departments. Additionally, the eligibility period for Undergraduate New Investigator Grants in non-doctoral institutions has recently been extended to 5 years from the start date of the first tenure track appointment. Furthermore, starting with proposals submitted in the Spring 2023 submission window, the value of the ND (New Direction) grant has been raised from $110,000 to $125,000. Applications are made through a web-based portal, and additional information can be found at www.acsprf.org.
Stanley C. Israel Award: Now accepting applications for the Stanley C. Israel Award
ACS Committee on Minority Affairs and the Office of DEIR is excited to announce applications for the Stanley C. Israel Award are now open. The award will provide those working to advance diversity in the industry financial support to continue their work. Applications open until August 1. Click the link to learn more. Apply Here.
ACS Bridge Career Kick-Starter Workshop
In collaboration with the Genentech Foundation, the ACS Bridge Project is pleased to offer a FREE in-person Career Kick-Starter Workshop on November 3rd – 5th, 2023 at the Genentech headquarters in San Francisco, CA. This 2-day workshop will consist of five interactive learning modules, stimulating discussions with a diverse panel of professionals, and one-on-one career consultations with a career adviser. We encourage ACS Bridge Fellows, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences to apply. Learn more here.
Committee on Committees (ConC): Update on the ACS Committee Review Process
ConC is conducting a review of all 31 Council-related committees with the assistance of McKinley Advisors, an external consulting group with deep knowledge of ACS and other organizations in the non-profit space. ConC would like to provide an update about this initiative:
November-February
- Interviews were conducted with all thirty-one committee Society Committee Chairs and two of their committee members. An electronic survey was sent to members of ACS, Council, Governance, and Council-related committees.
- Membership from council-related committees, councilors, members of governance, and other ACS members were invited to participate in an electronic survey.
- McKinley completed its benchmarking research.
Results from the interviews, surveys, and benchmarking will provide insight about perceptions of ACS committee experiences, successes, and challenges as well as best practices for DEIR, strategic alignment, performance and engagement, and experiences with governance transitions. This information will be used to create potential committee models.
March
- Focus groups composed of ASC stakeholders will evaluate the committee models.
Mid-June
- ConC will be provided with actionable recommendations to enhance and improve its Council-related committee bodies.
ConC believes the recommendations from McKinley Advisors will help us ensure our committees are following general governance best practices, are inclusive, have the efficiency required in decision-making (including avoiding overlapping committee jurisdictions), and most importantly continue to maximize the volunteer experience. The adoption of the recommendations from this review will be contingent on the approval by the Council, with the ultimate approval by the ACS Board of Directors.
Newest Legacy Leaders honored during ACS Spring 2023
Herb Golinkin James Landis
New members of the ACS Legacy Leaders were honored at ACS Spring 2023 in Indianapolis during the Senior Chemists Breakfast. ACS CEO Al Horvath presented a Legacy Leader pin to 63-year ACS member Herb Golinkin (pictured at left with Horvath). Golinkin is a member of the Chicago Section and one of 12 new inductees to the program who was present in Indy. Horvath also presented James Landis with his pin, having been recognized in 2020 during a virtual Legacy Leader ceremony. Landis is a 45-year ACS member in the Detroit Section. ACS Legacy Leaders are ACS members and friends who want to make a lasting impact on the field of chemistry by including ACS in their wills. To learn more about how you can join this esteemed group, go to www.acs.org/legacy or contact Mary Bet Dobson at m_dobson@acs.org.
Correction: In the April issue, this article ran with incorrect membership and local section information for Golinkin and Landis. It has been corrected above.
CWD is excited to announce our 2023 Spring ACS CWD Travel Award Winner Woo-Young Kang. Currently a Ph.D. candidate under the direction of Professor Boone M. Prentice in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida. Research interests in proteomics, mass spectrometry instrumentation, and gas-phase ion chemistries, including ion/ion, ion/electron, and ion/photon reactions. He is a self-advocate Autistic chemist and a member of Disability Ambassador at the University of Florida.
Sharpen your Leadership Skills
As a Local Section or Division Officer, your leadership leaves lasting impressions on new and potential ACS members. As the newest generations of chemists become increasingly diverse, it is up to us as leaders to create and maintain a welcoming culture. To help with that, you have exclusive access to the course Transforming Microaggressions into Microinclusions. You will learn how to identify microaggressions, how they impact others, and how you can intervene as a bystander. Over 90% of ACS volunteers that have taken the course would recommend to a colleague! Sign up using your ACS ID. Email diversity@acs.org for questions.
Career Resources for Industrial Scientists
Help spread the word about a valuable resource for ACS industry members! The ACS Industry Matters newsletter offers exclusive interviews with industry professionals, as well as an insider's guide to working in the chemical industry. Each issue is filled with insightful answers to your questions as a chemical professional and is designed to help you grow and succeed. Explore more and subscribe here.
The ACS Governing Documents require that require that every four years, the Council Policy Committee (CPC) establish a divisor to determine representation at Council by Local Sections and Divisions. The divisor will be set by CPC at its meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 27, 2023, and will determine the number of Councilors each Local Section and Division will be entitled to for 2024-2027.
At the most recent meeting of the Council Policy Committee, its Working Group on Future Council Representation recommended that CPC select a divisor for 2024-2027 that is aimed at reducing the size of Council while staying compliant with the Governing Documents. This, combined with fluctuations that can and do occur in annual member counts, will result in some Local Sections and Divisions experiencing a loss or gain of Councilors from the current period (2020-2023, which was based on membership counts as of December 31, 2018).
Official notification of the Councilor Divisor and the number of Councilors permitted for your Local Section or Division for 2024-2027 will be sent to you no later than May 1, 2023, as required by the Governing Documents. This decision could affect elections conducted in 2023. Please do not finalize any Councilor slates for 2024 until after you receive CPC’s determination. For more information, read the memo or email secretary@acs.org.
Consider making advocacy part of your local section’s sustainability efforts! To encourage ACS members to get involved in sustainability policy issues, the ACS Committees on Environmental Improvement (CEI) and Chemistry & Public Affairs (CCPA) have created a jointly-administered ACS ChemLuminary Award.
The new CCPA-CEI ChemLuminary Award for Outstanding Promotion of the Society’s Sustainability Position S... recognizes local sections for outstanding activities to advocate for, promote, or develop awareness of the Society’s policy statements related to environmental and sustainability issues. Has your local section done government affairs advocacy in 2022 that fits the bill? Self-nominate for the new award! Visit our webpage for more information.
It's that time of year again when most local section elect new officers. Please take a moment to review your local section bylaws to ensure that you conduct elections in accordance with established procedures. An election-only list must be requested from ACS to ensure that only eligible ACS members are participating in your election. Request your election-only list at least 10 days prior to ballot distribution. Questions?
Make Sure Your Candidates Are Eligible to Serve!
Per ACS Governing Documents, only MEMBERS can hold an elective position of the SOCIETY or serve as a Councilor or Alternate Councilor. Community Associates cannot serve in any position of the SOCIETY and Local Section. Local Section bylaws may allow STUDENT MEMBERS, Society and/or Local Section Affiliates to hold an elective position or serve as a committee chair in the Section. Failure to abide by the ACS Governing Documents and bylaws can jeopardize the validity of all decisions made by the unqualified person serving in the position. Check the bylaws! If you need to amend your bylaws, email bylaws@acs.org.
The Committee on Public Relations & Communications can make suggestions to your group to help spruce up their digital footprint. Our team of communications aficionados can craft a customized PR plan to increase visibility and connection with your members. We can offer advice on web design, social media, newsletters, programming, networking, and more. If you’re interested in a consultation, contact CPRCMakeovers@gmail.com. Submissions are due each year by May 1 and November 1.
Learn how your local section, technical division, or fellow international chapter can be more engaged with ACS communities worldwide in this C&EN article published by Sergio Nanita, Chair of the Committee on International Activities.
For those planning event activities for your respective units, please be mindful of any potential risks and liabilities that may arise. This is especially important if the event involves minor children, taking video and/or photographs, use of commercial music, physical/outdoor activities, working with vulnerable populations, or use of volunteers outside of the unit.
It is good practice to have participants sign a liability waiver/release before partaking in the event/activity. Should you have any questions or need further guidance, please contact ACSLegal@acs.org.
ACS is excited to announce that all members of the ACS community will now have access to ACS Link networking platform. ACS Link provides you with a new way to connect virtually with individuals in the global ACS community who are around the corner, or around the world! This benefit is now included in your current benefits package. Have a question? The ACS community might just have the answer.
Please use this form to submit a request for a Certificate of Insurance and send the completed form to businessinsurance@acs.org to ensure prompt handling of these requests. Certificate requests should be submitted at least 30 days before an event. Requests and/or questions may be sent to ACSLegal@acs.org.