A narrative History of the section has been uploaded here thanks to our NETS-ACS Historian, Bob Maleski. Check out the narrative history at the link above or head over to the History page to learn more about the history of the section.

On April 21, 2021 at 6:00-7:30 PM EDT the Northeast Tennessee Section of the American Chemical Society will hold its annual awards ceremony virtually via Zoom. Section members should watch their e-mail for a link to the Zoom meeting.

Awards to be presented at this year’s annual awards ceremony include ACS Member Service Awards, the NETS-ACS Salutes to Excellence Award, the National Chemistry Week Recognition Award, The NETS-ACS Chemical Technician Award, NETS-ACS Outstanding Chemistry Student Awards, and the NETS-ACS Distinguished Member Award.

ACS Membership Awards are awarded annually to 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-year members of the ACS, recognizing them for their long service to the ACS and to science in general. This recognition is a small token of appreciation to many people who have dedicated their lives to science.

Salutes to Excellence is an outreach program that gives ACS local sections, international chemical sciences chapters, technical divisions, regional meetings, and national committees an opportunity to underscore outstanding accomplishments or achievements of service by external partners who have made a positive impact on everyday life or who have helped contribute to greater public awareness of chemistry. 

NETS-ACS Outstanding Chemistry Student Awards are given to outstanding chemistry students from area institutions. Selection is based on overall grade point scores and excellence in their academic achievements.

NETS-ACS Distinguished Member Award is given in recognition of a section member, selected by the Executive Committee, for their technical contribution and achievement in the field of chemistry, and outstanding contributions to chemistry education and/or perception of chemistry with the community.

NETS-ACS Chemical Technician Award is presented annually to a chemical technician who has demonstrated an extremely high degree of professionalism. Criteria used to judge the award include technical skills, communication skills, safety, reliability, leadership, teamwork, publications, and presentations. Additional professional and community activities are also considered.

For more information on section awards the criteria for selection please visit the Resources page of the NETS-ACS website.

Councilor Talking Points from the Spring 2021 ACS Virtual Council Meeting.

Please enjoy the great videos sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company, American Chemical Society (ACS), Museum of Science, Boston (MOS), National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) and National Science Foundation.

Magic of Chemistry – National Chemistry Week Demonstration

National Chemistry Week 2020 Adhesives

Science Elites | Shawn Dougherty | Excited Egg 2020

Science Elites | Stephanie Clendennen | 2020

Science Elites | Shawn Dougherty | FireAway Firefly | 2020

Science Elites | Shawn Dougherty | Car Kinetics 2020

Science Elites | Shawn Dougherty | CO2 to Rescue 2020

Science Elites | Shawn Dougherty | UVBead Bracelets 2020

We truly appreciate the sponsorship from:

On October 22nd and 23rd, the Northeast Tennessee Local Section of American Chemical Society (NETS-ACS) and Eastman Chemical Company will host the 29th annual award-winning National Chemistry Week (NCW) celebration. Over 36,000 children had participated in this event since its inception in 1991. For the past eleven years we’ve successfully had T-shirt artwork design contests and received numerous inspiring drawings from local artists as young as 10 years old. The NCW T-shirt committee is having a contest again to design an artwork to be printed on the T-shirts that over 1,300 local 4th graders will be wearing at the event!!!
Design suggestions:

1. Artwork will be printed on white T-shirts
2. The design reflects this year’s theme, “MARVELOUS METALS”
   Rewards to the winner:
3. YOUR DESIGN AND YOUR NAME will be printed on 1300 T-shirts
4. 1300 4th grade students from the region will be wearing your design at the event
5. Winner certificate signed by the president of NETS-ACS
6. Two free T-shirts
7. An Eastman TritanTM water bottle
   Please submit your designs to Liu Deng (ldeng@eastman.com, 423-229-4677) by September 20th. Multiple entries are welcome. For questions or designs from previous years, please contact Liu Deng as well. Thank you!
   
   NETSACS NCW T-shirt committee

The following summary is provided to help Councilors report to their Local Sections and Divisions on key actions of the ACS Council meeting held April 3, and Board of Directors meetings held March 29-31, at the 2019 spring national meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Actions of the Council

Election Results

Candidates for President-Elect, 2020

• The Committee on Nominations and Elections presented to the Council the following nominees for selection as candidates for President-Elect, 2020: Magid Abou-Gharbia, H.N. Cheng, Carol A. Duane, and Christopher J. Welch.  By electronic ballot, the Council selected H.N. Cheng and Carol A. Duane as candidates for 2020 President-Elect.  These two candidates, along with any candidates selected via petitions, will stand for election in the Fall National Election.

                                           President-Elect, 2020^a

Nominee	1st Round	2nd Round
Magid Abou-Gharbia	72
*H.N. Cheng	145	191
*Carol A. Duane	125	177
Christopher J. Welch	82

^a424 valid electronic ballots were cast, with 213 being the majority. The results of the first preference vote totals are shown in the 1st round column. No nominee attained a majority. Following the procedures approved by Council, second-preference votes were distributed in the subsequent round. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were declared elected as candidates.

Candidates for Districts II and IV

• The Committee on Nominations and Elections announced the results of the election held prior to the Orlando meeting to select candidates from the list of nominees for Directors from District II and District IV on the Board of Directors for the term 2020-2022.  By internet ballot, the Councilors from these districts selected Christina C. Bodurow and Dawn Mason as District II candidates; and Rigoberto Hernandez and Lisa Houston as District IV candidates.  Ballots will be distributed on or before October 1 to all ACS members in District II and District IV for election of a Director from each District.

DISTRICT II^a

Nominee	1st Round	2nd Round	3rd Round
*Christina C. Bodurow	39
Mark E. Jones	2	12
*Dawn Mason	12	24	29
Angela K. Wilson	3	15	22

DISTRICT IV^a

Nominee	1st Round	2nd Round	3rd Round
Lissa A. Dulany	12	14
James C. Carver	9
*Rigoberto Hernandez	27	30	35
*Lisa Houston	22	26	35

^a The results of the first preference vote totals are shown in the 1^st round column. No nominee attained a majority. Following the procedures approved by Council, second-preference votes were distributed in two subsequent rounds. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were declared elected as candidates.

Candidates for Directors-at-Large

• The Committee on Nominations and Elections announced the selection of the following candidates for Directors-at-Large for 2020-2022 terms:  Harmon B. Abrahamson, G. Bryan Balazs, D. Richard Cobb, and Dorothy J. Phillips.  The election of two Directors-at-Large from among these four candidates and any selected via petition will be conducted in the fall.  Ballots will be distributed to the Council on or before October 1, 2019.

Other Council Actions

Amendment to the ACS Constitution and Bylaws

• The Council approved the Petition to Streamline the ACS Governing Documents [Constitution Articles I-XIX, Bylaws I-XIV, and Standing Rules I-IX], which will reorganize the fundamental governing documents of the Society: the Constitution and Bylaws, and create a third document: Standing Rules. These three documents will function as a hierarchy. The Constitution should define; the Bylaws should authorize; and the Standing Rules should operationalize. Additionally, an Amendment was voted upon, and passed by recorded vote:
  • That language proposed as Standing Rule II, Sections 2 a, 2 b, and 2 g be moved to the Bylaws as new Sections 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c of proposed Bylaw III with appropriate renumbering of the other sections of Bylaw III and Standing Rule II.
• The Petition will become effective if and when the proposed changes to the Constitution are approved by the Membership of the Society, and if and when the Board of Directors approves the Petition. Because the changes to the ACS Governing Documents are substantial, the Council authorized the ACS Secretary and General Counsel and the Committee on Constitution & Bylaws to correct minor technical mistakes in the Petition.

Council Special Discussion

§  ACS President Bonnie Charpentier led a special discussion on ACS Relevance to Current and Future Members: Challenges and Opportunities. Councilors had been asked prior to Orlando to discuss the ACS value proposition with their local sections or divisions and bring that input to Council. Councilors provided many recommendations and suggestions including increased support for local sections and industry members, helping student members transition into their professional careers, and implementing a monthly payment tool for ACS dues.  These, and all the other ideas and input submitted, will be shared with the Committee on Membership Affairs and the ACS Membership Division for further research or implementation. 

2020 Member Dues

• The Council voted on the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and Finance (B&F) to set the member dues for 2020 at the 2019 rate of $175.

Continuation of Committees

• The Council approved the recommendation of the Committee on Committees that the Committee on Nomenclature, Terminology & Symbols be continued; and that the Committee on Senior Chemists be continued, contingent on approval by the Board of Directors.

International Chemical Sciences Chapter

• On the recommendation of the Committee on International Activities, the Council approved the establishment of ACS Pakistan International Chemical Sciences Chapter, subject to confirmation by the Board of Directors.

Resolutions

• The Council passed several resolutions:
  • in memory of deceased Councilors;
  • in gratitude for the officers and members of the Orlando Section, host for the 257^th National Meeting, the divisional program chairs, symposium organizers, and ACS staff for the planning and execution of the meeting.
    
    

Highlights from Committee Reports

Councilor Divisor

As required by the Society’s Bylaws, the Council Policy Committee has set the divisors for allocation of Councilor seats among Local Sections and Divisions for 2020 to 2023.  Official notification of the Councilor divisors and the number of Councilors permitted for each Local Section and Division will be sent to the respective Local Sections and Divisions prior to May 1st as required in the Bylaws.

Online Preference Forms for Councilors

All Councilors, including new Councilors, were reminded to complete their online committee preference form for 2020 committee assignments. The committee preference form is open through June 7, 2019. The online form may be found at https://www.yellowbook.acs.org (log in required).

Nominations and Elections

The Committee on Nominations and Elections solicits Councilors’ input regarding qualified individuals for President-Elect and/or Directors for future consideration.  Suggestions may be sent to nomelect@acs.org.

Budget and Finance

In 2018, ACS generated a net from operations of $41.1 million, which was $13.3 million higher than 2017.  Total revenues were $571.6 million, increasing 6.4% – or $34.2 million – over 2017.  Expenses ended the year at $530.5 million, which was $20.8 million or 4.1% higher than the prior year.  These results were attributable to strong performance from the Society’s Information Service units (CAS and ACS Publications) and a continued emphasis on expense management across the ACS. 

Additional information can be found at www.acs.org.  At the bottom of the page, click ‘About ACS’, then ‘ACS Financial Information.’  There you will find several years of the Society’s audited financial statements and IRS 990 filings.

Membership

The ACS ended 2018 with 151,012 members, a net membership growth of one-tenth-of-one-percent. This is the first membership growth ACS has recorded in the better part of a decade. Of the 25,000 new members who joined in 2018, about 20% were incentivized by market testing initiatives. Without these new members, ACS would have seen continued declines.

Council voted to extend the provision of the international dues discount test based on World Bank country income levels for an additional three years (August 2019 – August 2022).

Orlando Meeting Attendance

As of Tuesday, April 2:

Attendees            7,887

Students               6,019

Exhibitors               869 

Expo only                 404

Guests                    426

Total                    15,605

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Actions of the Board of Directors

The Board’s Executive Session

The ACS Board of Directors met in Executive Session March 29-30, and considered and responded to a variety of key strategic issues facing ACS, ACS members, and the global chemistry enterprise.

The Board’s Committees and Task Forces

The Board received and discussed reports from its committees on Executive Compensation, Professional and Member Relations, the Joint Board-Council Committee on Publications, the ACS Governing Board for Publishing, and the Next Generation ACS Leadership Program Task Force.  In particular, the Board received an extensive briefing and approved several recommendations from its Committee on Executive Compensation.  The compensation of the Society’s executive staff continues to receive regular review from the Board.

On the recommendation of the Joint Board-Council Committee on Publications, the Board voted to approve the reappointments of Editors-in-Chief for several ACS journals.  Those reappointments will be announced in C&EN once the appointed individuals have been notified and arrangements for their continued service have been made.

On the recommendation of the Committee on Professional and Member Relations, the Board approved screened lists of nominees for the 2020 Priestley Medal and the ACS Award for Volunteer Service. The Board will select the recipients of these latter two awards from these screened lists.

The co-chair of the Next Generation ACS Leadership Program Task Force gave an update on the efforts of the task force. The task force has reviewed and considered the history of ACS leadership efforts since 1965 in preparation for offering key considerations and principles for providing ACS members with the means to develop as individuals, professionals and ACS volunteers. Next steps include continuing to gather feedback from various ACS entities and constituencies, and to develop a framework for professional development that is reflective of the ACS core values (focus on members; professionalism; diversity, inclusion and respect; and safety and ethics).

The Executive Director/CEO Report

The Executive Director and CEO briefed the Board on issues relating to the Focus on Members as a core value of the Society as well on ACS financial performance, Operational Excellence, and upcoming events and activities.  His direct reports then engaged in strategic discussions with the Board relevant to the activities, opportunities, and challenges of the Membership and Society Services Division, the ACS Publications Division, and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS).

Other Society Business

As is customary, the Board heard reports from the Presidential Succession on their current and planned activities for 2019.  The Board also reviewed a proposed schedule for the Board retreat, meeting, and related activities in conjunction with the Central Regional Meeting in Midland, Michigan, June 3-9, 2019.

The Board’s Regular Session

The Board held a regular session on March 31, which featured a presentation from Dr. Susan Butts, Chair of the Working Group on Immigration and Work Visas, entitled Workforce Immigration and its Relationship to the U.S. Economy, Innovation, and Global Competitiveness.

Prior to the presentation, the Board Chair gave a report on Board actions and issues from its Executive Session. Members of the presidential succession and the Executive Director & CEO also offered brief reports on their activities.  The officers provided more extensive reports on their activities and/or future plans as part of their written and oral reports to the Council.

Contact the Board

Your Board of Directors is elected by and acts in the best interests of the members of the Society.  Please contact them with your comments, concerns, ideas, and suggestions at secretary@acs.org. 

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR COUNCILORS

The following is a list of URLs and email addresses for supplemental information offered in oral reports at the Council meeting. 

Officers

Bonnie A. Charpentier, President                           b.charpentier@acs.org

Luis Echegoyen, President-Elect                             l.echegoyen@acs.org

Peter K. Dorhout, Immediate Past President        p.dorhout@acs.org

ACS Offices

Office of Secretary & General Counsel                  secretary@acs.org

Membership Special Discussion                              engage@acs.org

Committees

Budget and Finance                                                  www.acs.org  à About ACS à Financial Information

Constitution and Bylaws                                           www.acs.org/bulletin5

bylaws@acs.org  

Nominations and Elections                                      nomelect@acs.org

Resources on the Web

Committee Preference Forms                             www.yellowbook.acs.org

Highlights of ACS Achievements                      www.acs.org/acshighlights

Governing Documents                                              www.acs.org/bulletin5

              New Faculty Workshops                                           www.acs.org

                                                                                                     “New Faculty Workshop”

Local & National Career Fairs                                  www.acs.org/careerfair

ACS Career Consultants                                            https://goo.gl/2sppC9

                                                                                      careers@acs.org

Safety Resources                                                        safety@acs.org

                                                                                      www.acs.org/safety

Safety Webinar                                                    https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/acs-webinars/professional- development/safety-culture/video.html

The report is linked here: Council Report Washington DC 2017.

Talking Points

• Councilor – Summary of Governance Issues and Actions
• Actions of the Council
• Election Results
• Candidates for President-Elect, 2018

§ The Committee on Nominations and Elections presented to the Council the following nominees for selection as candidates for President-Elect, 2018: Bonnie A. Charpentier, Mark D. Frishberg, Anne M. Gaffney, and Willie E. May. By electronic ballot, the Council selected Bonnie A. Charpentier and Willie E. May as candidates for 2018 President-Elect. These two candidates, along with any candidates selected via petitions, will stand for election in the Fall National Election.

President-Elect, 2018^a

Nominee	1st Round	2nd Round	3rd Round
*Bonnie Charpentier	200	210	242
Mark D. Frishberg	73	80	–
Anne M. Gaffney	26	–	–
*Willie E. May	132	141	158

Candidates for Directors-at-Large

§ The Committee on Nominations and Elections announced the selection of the following candidates for Directors-at-Large for 2018-2020 terms: Kenneth P. Fivizzani, Wayne E. Jones, Bonnie A. Lawlor, and Barbara A. Sawrey. The election of two Directors-at-Large from among those candidates and any selected via petition will be conducted in the fall. Ballots will be distributed to the Council on or before October 1, 2017.

Other Council Actions

Amendments to the ACS Bylaws

§ A recommendation by the Council Policy Committee to approve the Petition for the Removal of Officers and Councilors (Bylaw III, Sec. 1, i; Bylaw VII, Sec. 1, c; Bylaw VIII, Sec. 4, d) failed. The wording was too vague.

§ The Council approved the Petition on the Rights of Affiliates (Bylaw II, Sec. 1, a, 2, a, 3, b, (3) and (4)).

Procedures for Removal of a Councilor or Alternate Councilor

§ The Council voted to approve the Procedures for Removal of a Councilor or Alternate Councilor, contingent upon approval of the Petition for the Removal of Officers and Councilors. As the petition subsequently failed, given the interdependence of the petition and related procedures, the procedures will not take effect.

2018 Member Dues

§ The Council voted on the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and Finance to set the member dues for 2018 at the fully escalated rate of $171. This rate is established pursuant to an inflation-adjustment formula in the ACS Constitution and Bylaws.

Distribution Formula for Division Funding

§ On the recommendation of the Committee on Divisional Activities, the Council approved a formula for allocating dues funds to divisions, effective with allocations for 2017 division performance.

Extension of Market Data Collection Test: International Chemical Sciences Chapters

§ On the recommendation of the Committee on Membership Affairs, the Council voted to extend the provision of $15 commissions to International Chemical Sciences Chapters which recruit new members.

Continuation of Committees

§ The Council approved the recommendation of the Committee on Committees that the Committee on Project SEED be continued; and that the committees on Chemists with Disabilities, on Public Relations and Communications, and on Women Chemists be continued contingent on approval of the Board of Directors.

Resolutions

§ The Council passed resolutions in memory of deceased Councilors; in gratitude for the officers and members of the California and Santa Clara Local Sections, hosts for the 253rd National Meeting; the divisional program chairs, symposium organizers, and ACS staff, for the planning and execution of the meeting.

Special Discussion

The Council conducted a special discussion, “ACS Yesterday and Today: Paving the Way to Tomorrow,” to gather input for the Joint Board-CPC Task Force on Governance Design. Forty Councilors approached the floor microphones to share observations, comments, and suggestions to assist the task force in identifying opportunities and issues for governance improvement. The task force offered three questions to guide the discussion: What should the Society and its governance do differently to achieve its objects? If you could change one thing about ACS governance, what would it be? What should the task force leave “as is”? A poll conducted at the conclusion of the discussion revealed that 57% (222) of the Councilors disagreed that the current governance structure, processes and procedures are already optimal to achieving the objects of ACS in the 21st century, 16% (54) agreed, and 27% (104) needed more information. Three-hundred and six (84%) said they would be willing to provide additional input and feedback to the task force. They will be contacted by the task force in the coming weeks.

Nominations and Elections

The Committee on Nominations and Elections solicits Councilors’ input of qualified individuals for President-Elect and/or Directors for future consideration. Suggestions may be sent to nomelect@acs.org.

Membership

As of December 31, 2016, the ACS membership was 156,129, which is 0.5% less than on the same date in 2015. The number of new members who joined in 2016 is 23,700. The Society’s overall retention rate is 83.5%. The Committee on Membership Affairs also reported that the number of international members has increased to 27,388, exceeding the committee’s target by 5%. Retention of graduate students increased by 2% to 76.2%.

San Francisco Meeting Attendance

As of Tuesday, April 4:

Category	Attendees
Attendees	9,797
Students	6,914
Exhibitors	1,198
Expo only	475
Guest	466
Total	18,850

Petitions to Amend Constitution and Bylaws

New petitions to amend the Constitution or Bylaws must be received by the Executive Director no later than May 3 to be included in the Council agenda for consideration at the fall 2017 meeting in Washington, DC. Contact C&B with any questions or requests for information at bylaws@acs.org.

“LCA: Putting the Numbers Behind Sustainability”
By: Randy Waymire and Rebecca Glaspie
Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Location: Eastman Lodge, Room F

Description: Does sustainability sound fuzzy and difficult to quantify? What product is greener? What is the most environmentally friendly choice? There is a tool for scientists to quantify potential environmental (and soon social) impacts of processes and products called Life Cycle Assessment. Join us to learn more about quantifying sustainability with some real world examples of its use!