MILWAUKEE SECTION
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Councillors' Report

NOTE: This is the summary report as appears in the print edition of the Amalgamator. When the full report is submitted, it will be posted in place of this summary.

The main issues considered by the Council at this meeting included several items.

1. The slate for the next ACS Presidential Election was set by vote of the councilors. From four potential candidates, two were selected. They are F. Sherwood Rowland from the University of California – Irvine and Isiah M. Warner from Louisiana State University. A third candidate, E. Ann Nalley from Cameron University, will also appear on the ballot because she filed the correct petitions with sufficient member signatures.
   
   
2. President Charles Casey, of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, presented information about the Academic Employment Initiative (AEI) program. At the National Meeting in Philadelphia there will be a special poster session associated with the Sci-Mix event (Monday evening) at which postdoctoral fellows (or advanced graduate students) interested in applying for tenure track positions can present their current and future research. Members of faculty search committees can visit with these individuals during the session so that they have more information about candidates who apply for tenure track positions in their departments. Other academic disciplines routinely use national meetings as part of the hiring process, and the AEI initiative is designed to help facilitate such utility within ACS National Meetings as well.
   
   
3. The Council discussed the possible enhanced alliance relationship with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). This group may obtain joint membership status with ACS and other possible collaborations between the two groups may be devised. Any relationship will NOT be a merger or acquisition of the group, but enhanced cooperation between the two societies may occur on several levels including partnerships in (1) programming (joint meetings at local, regional and national levels); (2) membership and (3) operational issues – including membership services. Any members who have concerns or interests about this enhanced partnership should feel free to contact the councilors - Dimitri Gorjestani (dimitrig@prodigy.netinsert) or Tom Holme (tholme@uwm.edu).
   
   
4. The issue of changes to the ACS bylaws to allow electronic balloting was brought before the council for it's first reading. These potential changes will be up for action at the council meeting in Philadelphia. Allowing electronic ballots does not require their use, but once again, your Councilors are eager to hear from you. If you have comments, questions or concerns about the use of electronic ballots in future ACS elections (at all levels) please let us know.
   
   
5. The council approved the fully escalated dues for 2005. The annual dues will increase from its current $120 to $123.
   
   
6. The council was also presented with a petition that will allow secondary teachers of chemistry to gain admittance to the ACS based on their credentials as chemistry teachers. There is no expectation that a large number of teachers will join, but this petition (which will be an action item in Philadelphia as well) provides a more apparent mechanism for them to qualify for members.