ACS Spring Council
Meeting Report
The Spring 2024 National Meeting of the ACS was held in-person in New Orleans and virtually from March 17 – 21, 2024.The theme of this meeting was “The Many Flavors of Chemistry”. Dr. Mary Carroll, ACS President, presided over the Hybrid ACS Council Meeting on March 20, 2024.
The Chicago Section was represented at Council by the following ten councilors: Paul Brandt (Public Relations and Communications), Mark Cesa (Ethics), David Crumrine, Russell Johnson (International Activities), Fran Kravitz (Council Policy), Josh Kurutz (Chemists with Disabilities), Margy Levenberg (Meetings & Expositions), Milt Levenberg (Senior Chemists), Avrom Litin (Analytical Reagents), and Tim Marin (Constitution & Bylaws).
Election Results:
By electronic ballot, the Council selected Rigoberto Hernandez and Laura Sremaniak as candidates for 2025 President-Elect. These two candidates will join Mukund Chorghade, a petition candidate, to stand for election in the fall 2024 national election. Councilors selected Katherine L. Lee and Matthew Grandbois as District I candidates; Lisa M. Balbes, Mark C. Cesa, and Silvia S. Jurisson as District V candidates; and David Wu and Hooi-Ling Lee as International District candidates. Ballots will be distributed to members residing in District I, District V, and the International District around October 1, 2024, for election of a Director from each District. In November, the Petition to Add International Representation on the Board of Directors was approved and ratified. As a result of its implementation, there is a reduction of the total number of Directors-at-Large (DAL) on the Board of Directors from six to five beginning in 2025. The Committee on Nominations and Elections announced the selection of the following candidates for Director-at-Large for the 2025-2027 term: Christopher J. Bannochie, Natalie A. LaFranzo, and Sergio C. Nanita. Council elected Debbie C. Crans to the Committee on Nominations and Elections (N&E) for an unexpired term of less than one year (2024) and a subsequent full three-year term (2025-2027).
Committee Reports and Key Actions:
On the recommendation of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the Petition to Remove Inconsistencies and Add Missing Provisions. The petition clarifies language about membership on the elected committees of Council and adds a provision for filling a vacancy in the position of Director-at-Large. On the recommendation of the Committee on Committees, Council approved the Petition to Amend the Duties of the Committee on Budget and Finance to better reflect their charge of making recommendations on the Society’s budget for approval by the Board of Directors. The petition also removes an outdated provision to reflect that the funding of the official organ of the Society has been made independent from dues revenue. The Committee on Committees announced that the opening of the online preference form to all ACS members began on March 1 and will run through July 1. Members interested in serving on an ACS Committee in 2025 should go to CMTE.acs.org to complete their preferences. On the recommendation of the Committee on Divisional Activities, Council approved changing the name of the Division of Biological Chemistry (BIOL) to the Division of Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (BIOL).
Summary of Governance Issues and Actions:
- On the recommendation of DAC, Council approved an amendment to the distribution formula for Division funding. This will allow a greater amount of funding to be distributed to Divisions.
- On the recommendation of the Committee on International Activities (IAC), Council approved the creation of International Chemical Sciences Chapters in Egypt and Guangdong, China, subject to the concurrence of the ACS Board of Directors.
- On the recommendation of the Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC), Council approved changing the name of the Auburn Section to the East Alabama/West Georgia Section.
- On the recommendation of the Committee on Membership Affairs (MAC) and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the Petition on Dues and Benefits to change the name of the Schedule of Membership to the Schedule of Dues and Benefits.
- On the recommendation of MAC and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the 2025 Schedule of Dues and Benefits.
