HI All:

I've included our summary of the virtual Council Meeting held in August.  Please let Frankie or me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Debbie

Debbie M. Decker, ACS Fellow

DCHAS Councilor

Programming Co-Chair

Retired Chemistry Dept. Safety Manager

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

(916)616-7548

 

260^th ACS National

Meeting - Fall 2020 San Francisco - Council Meeting Summary of Governance Issues and Actions

Attended by:  Councilor Frankie Wood-Black and Councilor Debbie M. Decker

Council met virtually on August 19^th, 2020, with over 400 in attendance online.  The Board of Directors met virtually on August 13 and 21, 2020. The Committee on Nominations and Elections, charged with organizing and facilitating the virtual Council meeting, did an excellent job of training and educating attendees on how to interact with the technology, to cast votes and offer comments on various agenda items.

This summary is taken from the Councilor Talking Points document, provided by ACS.

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The Council meeting was held virtually due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic that continues to affect our personal lives and our work. Councilors were urged to take into account their own actions and habits to make their own communities safer. Councilors were advised to use their positions as members of the scientific enterprise to spread helpful messages and encourage the safe practice of mask wearing, physical distancing, and limiting exposure within your communities.

The continuous and ongoing struggle in this country to create a safe and equitable society for all was brought to Council's attention. The ACS encourages inclusivity and opposes discrimination in scientific learning and practice. Councilors were urged to take active roles in dismantling any barriers that may deter or impede their colleagues in their research or careers. Councilors and guests were encouraged to review the ACS statements on diversity and reflect on how to implement these in their local sections and divisions.

Actions of the Council

Election Results: Elected Committees of Council

=A7 By electronic ballot, the Council elected Elizabeth M. Howson, Zaida C. Morales-Martinez, Margaret J. Schooler, and Jeanette M. Van Emon for three-year terms (2021-2023), and Mark D. Frishberg for a one-year term (2021) on the Council Policy Committee (CPC).

=A7 By electronic ballot, the Council elected Martha G. Hollomon, Diane Krone, Sarah M. Mullins, Andrea B. Twiss-Brooks, and Javier Vela for three-year terms (2021-2023) on the Committee on Committees (ConC). (Ed. Note:  Debbie M. Decker and Harry J. Elston were nominated for this Committee)

=A7 By electronic ballot, the Council elected Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner, Kevin J. Edgar, Neil D. Jespersen, Julianne M. D. Smist, and Linette M. Watkins for three-year terms (2021-2023) on the Committee on Nominations and Elections (N&E).

Other Council Actions

Key Actions

=A7 On the recommendation of the Committee on Committees, and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the Petition to Clarify Amendments to the Standing Rules and disbanded the Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Abstracts Service, contingent on approval by the Board of Directors.  Ed. Note:  There was much discussion about the recommendation to disband the CCAS, both in the District VI Caucus Decker attended and at Council.  From the presentation by ConC, it was obvious this Committee had outlived its usefulness, even after multiple attempts at reorganization and attempts to work with CAS, which were rejected by CAS.  CAS will continue to report through the Joint Board-Council Committee on Publications.

Establishment of an International Chemical Sciences Chapter

=A7 On the recommendation of the Committee on International Activities, and with the concurrence of the Council Policy Committee, Council approved the creation of an ACS International Chemical Sciences Chapter in Israel, contingent on approval by the Board of Directors.

Resolutions

The Council passed resolutions:

=A7 In memory of deceased Councilors;

=A7 Acknowledging Luis Echegoyen's service as ACS President.

Highlights from Committee Reports

Nominations and Elections

Ballots for the 2020 fall national election will be distributed starting on September 28th, with a voting deadline four weeks later on October 23rd. ACS members eligible to vote and with an email address on file will receive an electronic ballot with the option to request a paper ballot.

Budget and Finance

The Society's 2020 financial performance through July 31st yielded a Net from Operations of $55.7 million, or $25 million greater than the same period in 2019. Total revenues are $354 million, 5% ahead of last year, and total expenses are $298 million, or 3 percent below last year. Unrestricted Net Assets increased to $466 million.

The most direct revenue impact to the Society related to the COVID pandemic has been to meeting related revenues with the termination of the in-person Spring National Meeting and termination of the in-person Green Chemistry Conference. Significant effort has been devoted to expense management. The Society expects to meet its budgeted net contribution of $41.3M.

Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting Attendance

The theme of the 260th ACS National Meeting was "Moving Chemistry from Bench to Market." As of August 19th, registration for the Meeting, broken down by Category was:

Member: 3,494

Student Member: 1,638

Unemployed Member: 25

Non-Member: 945

Student Non-Member: 375

Total: 6,477

Virtual Presentation Uploads

All Inclusive (SciMtgs): 1,735

Virtual Platform Only: 1,655

Temporary Access Option: 640

Presentation Uploads: 4,067

Other Society Business

• The Board heard reports from the three members of the Presidential Succession on their current activities, as well as those planned for 2020-21, particularly the presidential symposia and endorsed symposia for Fall 2020 Virtual National Meeting.

• The Board held a strategic discussion on ways to turn the ACS Core Value of Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect, one of the most important strategic issues facing the Society today, into a prioritized action plan for the coming years.

• The Board received an update on the development of a re-envisioned Professional and Leadership Development Portfolio.

• The Board received an initial debrief, led by the Chief Executive Officer, of the first-ever virtual ACS National Meeting and Exposition. There will be a complete review and assessment of the event from multiple perspectives in the weeks to come.

• The debrief noted above provided a lead-in to and context for a status update from the Task Force on the Future of Meetings.

• The Board offered a resolution in memory of Nina I. McClelland, a member of the ACS Board of Directors (1996-2004) who also served as its Chair (2001-2003).

Board Approval of Council Action

• The Board of Directors voted to confirm the amendments to Bylaw XI, per the Petition to Clarify Amendments to the Standing Rules approved by Council on August 19.

• The Board of Directors voted to confirm the disbanding of the Joint Board-Council Committee on Chemical Abstracts Service in accordance with Council action on August 19.

• The Board of Directors voted to authorize the formation of the Israel International Chemical Sciences Chapter in accordance with Council action on August 19.