ACS Fall 2024 Council Meeting
Report
The Fall 2024 National Meeting of the ACS was held in person in Denver and virtually from August 18 – 22, 2024. The theme of this meeting was “Elevating Chemistry”. Dr. Mary Carroll, ACS President, presided over the Hybrid ACS Council Meeting on August 21, 2024. A total of 11,569 registrations (10,245 in‐person and 1,324 online) were observed.
The Chicago Section was represented at Council by the following ten councilors: Amy Balija (Membership Affairs), Paul Brandt (Public Relations and Communications), Mark Cesa (Ethics), Kenneth Fivizzani (Economics and Professional Affairs), Russell Johnson (International Activities), Fran Kravitz (Council Policy), Josh Kurutz (Chemists With Disabilities), Ilana Lemberger, Margy Levenberg (Meetings & Expositions), and Milt Levenberg (Senior Chemists).
Election Results
By electronic ballot, the Council selected Donna Friedman, Matthew Grandbois, Diane Grob Schmidt, and Kimberly Woznack for three-year terms on the Council Policy Committee (CPC). Sheila Murphy was elected for a two‐year term from 2025 – 2026. The Council elected Allison Aldridge, Mary Engelman, Katherine Johnson, Daniel Rabinovich, and Brian Mathes for three‐year terms on the Committee on Committees (ConC). Peter Dorhout, Holly Davis, Kevin Edgar, and Donivan Porterfield were elected for three‐year terms on the Committee on Nominations and Elections (N&E).
Highlights from Reports and Key Actions:
• On the recommendation of CPC, Council approved the Petition for Global Representation on Council, as amended on the Council floor. This petition allows for the creation of Global Electoral Zones for the election of Councilors by ACS members living outside the territory of existing Local Sections. The petition was amended to count these Councilors elected by Zones with Councilors elected by Local Sections for the purpose of calculating the number of Councilors elected by Divisions as shown in the equation below. This petition will be referred to the ACS Board of Directors for confirmation.
| Councilors elected by Local Sections + Councilors elected by Zones |
= | 80 |
| Councilors elected by Divisions | 20 |
• On the recommendation of ConC, and with concurrence of CPC, Council approved the Petition to Amend the Name of the Committee on Technician Affairs (CTA) to the Committee on Chemical Technical Professionals (CTP). This change recognizes the fact that the term “technician” does not adequately reflect the variety of titles used for these positions across the broader chemical enterprise.
• On the recommendation of ConC, and with concurrence of CPC, Council approved continuance of the Committees on Ethics (ETHX); Nomenclature, Terminology and Symbols (NTS); and Project SEED and, subject to the concurrence by the ACS Board of Directors, the Committees on Chemical Safety (CCS); Chemistry and Public Affairs (CCPA); Community Activities (CCA); Minority Affairs (CMA); Professional Training (CPT); Science (COMSCI); Senior Chemists (SCC); Women Chemists (WCC); and Younger Chemists (YCC).
• On the recommendation of the Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA), Council approved the Academic Professional Guidelines. The guidelines were amended as requested by the Committee on Ethics (ETHX) to reflect the shared responsibility and accountability with the academic institution, faculty, and other mentors in creating a safe environment and the Chemical Professional’s Code of Conduct.
• On the recommendation of the Committee on International Activities (IAC), Council approved the creation of the following three International Chemical Sciences Chapters, subject to the concurrence of the ACS Board of Directors: Bangladesh, East and Northeast India, and West India
• The Committee on Constitution and Bylaws (C&B) reported the certification of bylaws for a total of 11 units with five Local Sections: Columbus, Permian Basin, Inland Northwest, Midland, and Pensacola; three Divisions: Divisions of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (COLL), Environmental Chemistry (ENVR), and Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (BIOL); and three International Chemical Sciences Chapters: Switzerland, Egypt, and Guangdong, China.
• The Committee on Younger Chemists (YCC), in celebration of its 50th anniversary, encourages early‐career chemists to join ACS. Through September, new members could join ACS for a 50% discount off their first year of annual dues.
