The meeting was opened by President Casey at 8:00 a.m.

A moment of silence was observed for deceased Councilors.

Council heard short presentations from the nominees for President-Elect of ACS. The Council chose F. Sherwood Roland and Isiah M. Warner. In addition, a petition candidate, Ann E. Nally will also be on the ballot. They will run in the fall and one will be elected by the membership.

President Casey reported on his activity, including having a focus on some major topic for each National Meeting.

President-Elect Carroll reported on his efforts in getting the word out on the benefits of chemistry.

Past-President Reichmanis reported on her activities, including the potential for a strategic relationship with other organizations such as the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Chairman of the Board, James Burke, welcomed Madeline Jacobs as the new Executive Director. Dr. Burke reported on the quality of Publications, Chemical Abstracts and Meetings. After a few years of challenges due to the recession, the Board now feels ready to move forward.

Executive Director Jacobs reported on her 91 days as Executive Director. [Note: This Councilor has been impressed with Director Jacobs¹ visibility at the National Meeting.] Jacobs underscored some of the points in the Society¹s Strategic Plan. [I have a copy of the Strategic Plan if anyone would like to see it.]

The Society Committee on Budget and Finance reported that the Society ended the year (2003) with a net deficit of only $64,000. This was much better than that budgeted for the year. The dues escalator was approved and dues for 2005 will be set at $123 (a $3 increase).

The Society Committee on Education is working with Government Affairs to produce a policy paper on creationism.

Council selected Connie Murphy for a vacated position on the Committee on Committees, and Roger Parker for a vacancy on the Committee on Nominations and Elections.

A discussion of the relationship of ACS and AIChE was held. The Society will try to partner with AIChE in several different areas as starters. It appears that ACS has had much more open discussion about this issue than has AIChE.

The Council voted to dissolve the Probationary Division of Laboratory Automation.

The Committee on Professional Activities ran workshops and at this meeting there were 1,281 candidates and 1,579 interviews for 271 positions. Unemployment for chemists ranges around 3%, which is a high number for chemists.

Twenty-nine Local Sections applied for $38,000, which was distributed to 18 of them.

There were over 14,000 attendees at the Anaheim National Meeting. Student attendance remains high in spite of rising registration costs for students.

Last year, there was a 1% drop in Society membership to over 159,000 members. This year, a slight rise is expected.

The meeting was adjourned at about 11:05 a.m.

If you are interested in further details of any of the agenda items, I have an agenda book with written reports in my office.

Respectfully submitted,

Frank D. Blum, Councilor

South Central Missouri Section, ACS