We are pleased to announce that ACS Community Connection, the online service for annual report and event submissions is now available for the 2022 Local Section Annual Reporting cycle. Please bookmark the Annual Reporting web page for easy access to the Community Connection login page, user guides and other important resources. All 2022 and 2023 local section officers may access Community Connection with their ACS ID and password. The chair of your local section may designate additional non-officer volunteers (e.g., Community Activities Coordinator, YCC Chair, Webmaster, etc.) to access and complete your group's annual report and event forms. To assign a non-officer access to Community Connection, please send the non-officer's name, local section affiliation and ACS ID to connection@acs.org. The deadline for submitting your completed annual report and ChemLuminary self-nominations is February 15, 2023. Your local section's 2023 allotment will be released to your treasurer following your local section annual report submission.
LSAC is proud to partner with ACS President, Judy Giordan and launch the ACS Speaker Directory to provide ACS local section leaders with access to a wide range of speakers for their in-person, virtual, hybrid, and asynchronous events. As Judy noted in her C&EN Comment, the aim of the virtual Speaker Service is to support all local sections with cost-effective and easy access to a diverse group of global speakers who want to share their expertise and passion for chemistry on a wide variety of topics. If you are interested in signing up to be a speaker, Register today!
ACS Pre-Spring Meeting Webinar for New Councilors and Alternate Councilors
The ACS Council Policy Committee is hosting a Pre-Spring Meeting Webinar for new Councilors and Alternate Councilors on Thursday, February 9 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide you with information on your role in Governance as you plan for the ACS Spring Meeting 2023 that will be held in Indianapolis. If you are a new Councilor or Alternate Councilor, please send an email to cpc@acs.org to receive registration details.
Submit a nomination for a 2023 ACS ChemLuminary Award! ACS’ annual ChemLuminary Awards honor outstanding programming, outreach, and operations of ACS local sections, technical divisions, regional meetings, and international chemical science chapters. Officers may submit ChemLuminary Awards nominations through Community Connection as part of their ACS Annual Reports, due February 15. Visit ACS ChemLuminary Awards for the complete list of awards and nomination guidelines.
Explore the Meeting Program for ACS Spring 2023!
Register and join the global chemistry community for the hybrid ACS Spring 2023, March 26 – 30, in Indianapolis, IN, or virtually. The theme, Crossroads of Chemistry, will be at the core of programming for the event. Explore the Meeting Program to check out technical sessions, career development, networking, student programming and more, ACS Spring 2023 has something for everyone!
Image Resources for spreading the word you're participating in #ACSSpring2023 are available. Let your peers and colleagues know that you are attending and encourage them to join us!
Nominations for 2023 ACS Fellows Opened on February 1
Nominations for 2023 Class of ACS Fellows opened on February 1, 2023. Nominations will be accepted online at www.nominatefellow.acs.org until April 1, 2023 (11:59 PDT).
The American Chemical Society Fellows Program recognizes members of the ACS for excellence and leadership in both of two areas: (1) science, the profession, education, and/or management, and (2) volunteer service in the ACS community.
We look forward to receiving your nominations and for the opportunity to recognize chemical professionals who are making an impact. Please visit the Fellows webpage or download the 2023 Fellows information sheet for more information.
Submit Your ACS Fall 2023 Abstracts
Submit your abstracts for oral and poster presentations for ACS Fall 2023. The theme, Harnessing the Power of Data, will be at the core of programming. Sessions for the hybrid meeting (in-person & virtual) will be held in San Francisco, CA and virtually, August 13 - 17, 2023.
Those who wish to submit an abstract will have the option of selecting a virtual or in-person abstract submission. Visit the website to find a list of the programming divisions and planned symposia open for submissions. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, April 4.
How AMAZING is algae? Discover this and more during Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, April 16-22! Join Chemists around the world for a week of engaging experiments, interactive resources, and Illustrated Poem contest incorporating this year’s theme “The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae.”
- Plan an event
- Volunteer for an event
- Host an Illustrated Poem contest
IUPAC Global Women's Breakfast 2023: Breaking Barriers in Science
Join the global chemistry community in:
- Building active networks of people of all genders
- Overcoming barriers to gender equality
- Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about hosting or attending events on February 14, 2023 as ACS celebrates the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast.
The ACS Council Policy Committee is hosting its 2023 New Councilor Orientation Program for all newly elected Councilors and Alternate Councilors on Saturday, March 25 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. A special networking reception with Committee Chairs will follow at 6:00 p.m. This program provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet with other ACS leaders and learn how to get involved with ACS committees. Special remarks will be given by the ACS President. If you are a newly elected Councilor or an Alternate Councilor, please RSVP let us know if you are planning to attend.
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.
As we approach year’s end, the American Chemical Society wishes to thank donors from around the world who faithfully supported ACS Education Programs in 2022. When we ponder how chemistry has shaped our world during our lifetime, we can only imagine the impact that the next generation of scientists will make as they build on our legacy. Thank you for empowering students to join our ranks and make discoveries that will continue to transform our world.
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.
Reminder to Send Annual Tax Returns
Attention all Local Sections officers! This is a reminder that a copy of your annual tax return must be sent to the ACS Tax Office at Tax@acs.org. This is a requirement per the ACS Governing Documents and your bylaws. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Microaggressions are seemingly small statements or behaviors that can have a huge negative impact on your group's DEI efforts. However, it can be challenging to navigate those discussions in a non-confrontational way. The course, Transforming Microaggressions into Microinclusions, is continuing in 2023. Register to learn more about what microaggressions are, how they can undermine inclusion efforts, and how to address them in real-time. There will be 9 two-hour sessions held virtually between January and May. Register today to secure your spot!
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.
Chemists know how influential their work is to society, but not everyone is aware of these secrets. So tell someone! The ACS National Historic Chemical Landmarks program helps do just this. And now those who speak Arabic or Mandarin can learn about the development of penicillin in the respective languages. There are also six landmarks translated into Spanish.
The DEIR Educational Resource Guide contains a non-exhaustive list of resources meant to provide further enrichment and education on common DEIR topics and terms, such as allyship, microaggressions, unconscious bias, and more. It is meant as a starting point for those interested in learning more about DEIR issues. To learn more about the Office of DEIR check out our website or contact us at diversity@acs.org.
With an American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) membership, you'll get access to our vast community of teachers who will share their time-tested teaching strategies to help you overcome everyday classroom challenges. Combine that with our massive library of quality classroom resources including lesson plans, demos, and videos and you'll have the tools you need to share your passion of chemistry with your students. Join the AACT community today!