American Chemical Society
Committee on Divisional Activities 1155 SIXTEENTH STREET, N.W.
Dr. Kevin J. Edgar, Chair WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 Phone 202-872-8072 Fax 202-776-8299 division@acs.org
Dear ACS Division Officer,
We would like to ask for the assistance of your division in supporting the new strategic goals of the American Chemical Society. In January, the Society released a new “Strategic Plan for 2008 and Beyond” on the Web at www.acs.org/strategicplan. This plan was approved by the Board of Directors in December, and represents the culmination of a multi-year consultation between the Board, governance, members, and other stakeholders. Now, it is time to begin moving forward with execution of the plan.
We would encourage you and your division’s leadership to carefully consider the strategic plan, especially its six goals, and how your activities could help to make progress on them. The Executive Committee of the Committee on Divisional Activities recently reviewed the plan and agrees that it provides a clear place for the divisions to contribute, in particular, through advancement of two of the six goals:
. Goal One: ACS will be the indispensable professional and information resource for members and other chemistry related practitioners and
. Goal Two: ACS will be a preeminent global scientific community that engages members and other scientific professionals to advance science education, research, knowledge, interaction, and collaboration.
We hope that all divisions will support the ACS goals by joining DAC in pursuit of the following major initiatives in 2008:
. DAC will continue its efforts to bring innovative programming to national meetings through its involvement with the Multidisciplinary Program Planning Group (MPPG). Themes have been identified for the 2009 meetings and the group is currently creating ideas for symposia and special events. The meeting in Salt Lake City will feature Nanoscience while the Washington DC, meeting will focus on the Globalization of Chemistry, and in particular on the Chemistry of CO2, and the Chemistry of National Security.
How can divisions help? Divisions can make a difference by seeking opportunities to collaborate with DAC and MPPG in creating new programming and leading the Society towards its goal of being the indispensable resource for members. Program organizers will be sought from the divisions and divisions will be asked to develop programming related to the theme. Divisions can also partner with external entities to bring new opportunities to meeting attendees and make more professionals aware of the benefits of attending ACS meetings and holding membership in ACS.
. DAC will be spearheading a new task force that will investigate how the divisions can serve their members throughout the year by providing them with new and different venues for the dissemination of scientific content. Our goal is to respect the individuality and integrity of each division while creating a community of knowledge among the divisions that will help ACS be recognized as the primary source of scientific information.
How can divisions help? Divisions will be asked to identify their needs in this regard, provide expertise related to their past efforts, and offer to pilot some of the new techniques that will become available.
. As a result of a request from the Committee on Grants and Awards, DAC will develop a proposal to committees in Philadelphia regarding the creation of an ACS Fellows Program. A working group has been formed and they are charged with designating what will constitute a Fellow and setting criteria for reaching that level. We plan to present the proposal at the Philadelphia national meeting.
How can divisions help? Divisions can participate in this effort by providing feedback on the proposal and identifying candidates for this recognition. If the proposal is accepted, divisions will play a major role in identifying the people who will be honored with this designation. It will be a chance to bring prominence to your division and the valuable work that your members do.
. Many of our divisions are developing strategic plans and the areas of globalization and member benefits are high priorities for them. We will facilitate conversations among the divisions by sharing best practices and common goals so that we can leverage the efforts of individual divisions toward a greater end.
How can divisions help? If you have not recently developed a strategic plan for your division, now is the time to do so! ACS staff provides assistance for facilitation and logistics. Contact them at division@acs.org to find out more. Once you have a plan, participate in discussion forums and attend conferences where division leaders assemble to share ideas and create new visions for the Society. Make your plans a part of your Executive Committee meetings and share progress with your members via your website.
. DAC will reinstitute the Division Status Subcommittee to assist divisions in reaching their goals and to help ensure the continued health of all divisions. We will also consider a petition from the Catalysis Secretariat to form a probationary division and a petition from the Division on Chemical Technicians to change their name to Division of Applied Chemical Technology and Science, Inc, with an acronym of ACTS.
How can divisions help? Divisions can provide critical feedback to both CATL and TECH during the processes. We also need to hear how you feel the new Division Status subcommittee can specifically help your division. It is important for the divisions to be fully engaged in the process as we all work towards the future of ACS.
As a strategic partner with the divisional community, DAC would welcome your additional ideas or suggestions where divisions could work together to serve our members and our mission better. Likewise, the Board and its Planning Committee would welcome your thoughts about what the Society should include in future strategic plans. While we don’t expect a large change in strategic goals each year, the Board does intend to allow the strategic plan to evolve annually as the environment changes, member and stakeholder priorities change, and we make progress in achieving our goals. You can email DAC at division@acs.org and the Planning Committee at strategicplan@acs.org. If you have an idea that is broadly applicable, please share it with both groups.
We are excited about our future and that of the Society. We look forward to working with you and other members of your division as we work to advance our Vision of “Improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.”
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Edgar Judith L. Benham Chair, Divisional Activities Committee Chair, ACS Board of Directors
