Council was called to order at 8:00 am.

Council selected committee members for the Elected Committees of Council (Committee on Committees, Nominations and Elections, and Council Policy Committee).

President Reichmanis reported on the activities of the Society relative to terrorism, communications, and her travels on behalf of the Society.

President-Elect Casey reported on his focus on the challenges faced by Chemists and Chemical Engineers. He plans to try to focus National Meeting programming around central themes.

Immediate Past-President Pearce reported that his focus on reinventing chemical education has been taken up by the Society Committee on Education. The need to make progress on Chemistsı cooperation and diversity in the American Chemical Society was noted.

Chair of the Board McClelland reported on Board activities including the possible merger of AIChE, an internet venture opportunity and the ACS Prospectives Program. Dr. McClelland is about to finish her term on the Board of Directors.

Executive Director Crum gave his last report to Council and discussed his management style and a bit of history of his tenure. A brochure on his over 40 years of service to the Society was distributed.

Council members were recognized for their years of service in the Society.

Budget and Finance reported that the Society was expected to end the year with a $3.1 M deficit ($1.9 M unfavorable to budget). ACS investments have done well in the latest quarter. The Fund Balance Ratio (unrestricted net assets/annual budget) is currently about 40% (within the ACS guidelines).

The Society Committee on Education has focused on ³Exploring Molecular Vision.²

Local Section Activities presented awards to New Jersey, St. Louis, Cleveland, Nashville, Peoria, and Indiana-Kentucky Border Sections. The National Chemistry Week topic for 2004 will be ³Earthıs Atmosphere and Beyond.² They also reported that a new innovative grants program has been initiated. The name change of one of the local sections was approved.

The New York meeting had 14,030 total attendees with 10,640 registrants, 556 guests, 885 expos only, and 1,949 exhibitors. There has been a problem with authors submitting the same paper to more than one division. For 2004, the meeting fee will be $285. A problem of meeting registrants booking outside of the ACS block was also noted.

Membership Affairs reported that there were 156,374 members as of June, which is a slight increase over last yearıs. World points and discounted rental car programs have been added to the Societyıs credit card program.

Divisional Activities reported that there are about 125,000 divisional members. The Chemistry & the Law, Colloid & Surface Chemistry, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry Divisions were recognized for outstanding service to their members.

Chemical Abstracts Services reported that active links to Elsevier journals will be included in its products.

The 7th edition of Chemical Safety for Academic Institution Publications has been published and is available in hard copy or .pdf format, which is free, for ACS members.

A new International Chapter (Hungary) was established.

The meeting was adjourned at about 11:30 a.m.

A copy of the agenda book is available in my office with more detailed reports. I currently serve on the Society Committee on Budget and Finance.

Respectfully submitted,

Frank D. Blum, Councilor

South Central Missouri Section, ACS