The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by President Walter.
Four candidates (D. H. Busch, M.C. Caserio, G. A. Crosby, J. I. Legg) for the President-Elect position gave a short campaign speech. Council selected D. H. Busch and G. A. Crosby by ballot to be candidates for election in the fall.
In the fall, Council members will select two Directors-at-Large from: C. G. Gutierrez, N. I. McClelland, E. M. Pearce and R. L. Soulen. If Local Section members have any input for me on these candidates, I would appreciate it.
President Walter spoke about the role of Council in the governance of the Society, particularly as it relates to the work done by the Society Committees.
President-Elect Wasserman spoke about his interests in reforms and guidelines on campaigning for national offices.
Past President Anderson spoke about his role in improving the presence of chemistry in NIH. NIH will be holding its first Chemistry Symposium in many years.
Chairman of the Board Shields reported that the Society Committees have all responded with suggestions resulting in the development of the Strategic Plan. A second congressional fellowship has been added. These people work in a U.S. Senator's or Representative's Office.
Executive Secretary Crum reported that all of the Society's major activities are on track and news coverage for this meeting has gone well. He reported that the state of the Society was the best he had seen in his 15 years of service.
The Council adopted a bylaws petition on changes in the operation of the Committee on Local Section Activities.
Budget and Finance reported that ACS had $3,700,000 more favorable to the budget than expected. Increased meeting attendance and advertising revenues accounted for some of this. The escalator for dues increase was estimated to be $3.00 for next year. Chairman McClelland reported on the shortfall of dues funds to cover member services (dues paid about 90% of membership service in 1978, but only 25% in 1998). Arguments for and against dues increases were made with lengthy discussion. By show of hands (264 to 95), the dues increase carried. [I voted to raise dues.]
Two Local Sections did not file their 1996 Annual Reports and thus forfeited their allocations.
Meetings and Expositions reported that there were 9,126 registrants, 10,117 total attendees, and 4,129 papers presented. The Spring 2000 Meeting has been moved from Las Vegas to San Francisco.
Membership in ACS is currently 155,595.
The Younger Chemists Committee has made a video to be distributed to Local Sections on the importance of membership in ACS.
In 1999, there will be an International Chemistry Celebration to bolster the perception of chemistry.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:35 a.m. I have a detailed meeting agenda in my office if you would like further information. Also, feel free to discuss these or other ACS items with me.
Respectfully Submitted,
Frank D. Blum