Council was called to order at 8:00 am.

Council selected two candidates from a slate of four for the position of President-Elect. Council selected Mike Strem and Bill Carroll for the fall election that will be held as a popular vote of the membership.

Nominations and Elections announced that the candidates for Director selected by District V (our District) were Judith Benham (3-M) and Ann Nalley (Cameron State University, OK). The voters in our District will select the Director in the fall.

President Reichmanus reported on programming relative to homeland defense and the Societyıs efforts to ensure that science was an important component of our governmentıs efforts.

President-Elect Casey reported on his activities including his support for the Petition on Local Section and Division support.

Immediate Past President Pearce reported on three challenges: i) diversity and the ³Silver Circle² (retirees), ii) reinventing chemical education and iii) Division and Local Section support.

The Chair of the Board of Directors McClelland reported on a variety of Board activities including the development of a new strategic plan and an Executive Director search. She also spoke about the temporary assessment that could be invoked upon passage of the Bylaws changes and the Boardıs plan to reduce or eliminate it as soon as possible.

Executive Director Crum reported a good attendance of 14,576 people at the meeting in spite of the travel restrictions by some organizations. Financial markets are continuing to provide lower income than we had in previous years. After many years, Frank Young, the Societyıs Chief Financial Officer, will retire this summer. It was pointed out that Chemical Abstracts Service and Publications provided substantial net revenue in support of Society programs.

The petition to change the funding for Local Sections and Divisions was passed by Council by voice vote. The proposal to change the Constitution will be submitted to the membership by mail ballot in late spring or summer.

Council voted to continue a number of committees.

The Committee on Budget and Finance reported an operating budget of about $400,000. Investment losses and lower than expected advertising revenue were partially responsible for this. Council accepted the 2004 dues escalator of $4 so that the 2004 dues will be set at $120.00 (plus a $2 temporary assessment set by the Board due to the Local Section and Division petition).

The Society Committee on Education has been involved in a variety of activities and expressed concern about suggested changes in the registration fee structure for students at national meetings.

Local Section Activities reported on their activities and the Council approved their distribution formula as required by the petition.

Meetings and Expositions reported a total of 14,576 attendees, with 11,705 meeting, 741 guests, 629 expositions only, and 1,501 exhibitors from 290 companies. A Task Force on Programming reported on the need for ³even programming² and the requirement for others in the Society to co-sponsor their national meeting programs with Divisions.

Membership Affairs (MAC) reported that at year-end 2002, 161,144 members belonged to the Society. This was 1.4% lower than last year. MAC is trying to revise the Bylaws so that pre-college persons can easily qualify for membership.

The Divisional Activities Committee (DAC) reported that it has begun its review of annual reports. DAC now has a new meetings subcommittee. The Council approved the distribution formula for Division allocations.

The Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs reported that 96 employers interviewed for 496 positions. There were about 1,000 applicants and 1,000 interviews scheduled.

I have an agenda book in my office with more information and would be happy to discuss any of these or other items with you.

I currently serve on the Society Committee on Budget and Finance.

Respectfully submitted,

Frank D. Blum, Councilor

South Central Missouri Section, ACS