The American Chemical Society is the world's largest scientific society and its Akron Section is one of the society's 188 local sections. The ACS Akron Section serves Summit, Stark, and Portage counties, including the cities of Akron, Canton, and Kent, in the state of Ohio.
Summer/Fall 2001
Happy Holidays
The section extends its thanks to all members who participated in any of its year 2001 program and activities, and looks forward to the participation of even more members in the year 2002. If you haven't been an active member before, resolve to attend a general meeting or join a committee in the coming year.
Election Results
The winners for the 2002 ACS Akron Section positions of Chair Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer are Sid Patel, Brad Weedon, and Terry Hogan, respectively. The winners for the 2002 to 2004 ACS Akron Section positions of Councilor and Alternate Councilor are Ann Bolek and Jim Duddey, respectively. The newly elected officers, who will begin their terms on January 1, will be joined by Anoop Krishen, Liam Guiney, Jim Visintainer, and Dan Jones in the positions of Chair, Past Chair, Councilor, and Alternate Councilor, respectively.
General Meeting
The December general meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Thursday evening December 13, 2001 at Tangier in Akron. John Guiney of the National Weather Service speaks on Hurricane Forecasting. The schedule is networking at 5:15, dinner at 6:00, award at 7:00, and presentation at 7:10. The program is free and open to the public. This is the section's annual Spouses Night and Past Officers Night, and is also a joint meeting with the AIChE Akron Section. The Distinguished Service Award will be presented. Dinner costs $14 for members and guests and $7 for students. Dinner reservations are required by noon on Monday December 10; please send e-mail to Ann Bolek or call 330-972-6264.
Jim Duddey
At the December general meeting, the Glenn H Brown Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Jim Duddey. Jim has served the Akron Section for over 30 years, in the roles of Chair-Elect, Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, and for the past nine years as Councilor. Jim's Councilor position has put him on several influential National ACS committees and he has been instrumental in the evolution of the purpose of these committees from information disseminators to active program providers. In addition to the above mentioned offices, Jim has always been active on several committees each year, and continues to support the Akron Section with his participation and guidance. Please join the Section in honoring Jim for his dedication.
Ken Scott
Kenneth W Scott died after a long illness on November 9 at the age of 76. Ken was Chair of the ACS Akron Section in 1963 and a Chair of the Akron Polymer Lecture Group. He worked for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for thirty-two years, retiring as Manager of Tire and Process Research.
Otto Elmer
Otto C Elmer died on October 16 at the age of 83. During his career he had been deeply involved in professional activities, particularly through the ACS Akron Section, and served as Chair of the section in 1970, as Treasurer in 1966, and as Councilor or Alternate Councilor for two entire decades, from 1971 through 1990. He also lead committees and activities of section, served as President of the Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Chemists, and supported career days and science fairs in the Akron area. Perhaps Otto's greatest achievements were founding the group known as the CEOs (Chemists, Engineers, and Others), a group that is still thriving to this day, and the long running annual Akron Polymer Conference.
Dr Elmer was born in Vienna, Austria and came to the United States in 1941. He graduated from Bluffton College with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry in 1943 and from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1948. Otto began his career with Texaco in New York as a research chemist, and ended his career with GenCorp in 1983 as a senior research chemist and group leader with 30 years of service. After retiring, he was a lecturer at The University of Akron and a Research Associate at Kent State University. He was the author of several scientific papers and the holder of many patents. Otto was a member and leader of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, served on committees in the church, and was recently named an honorary Elder.
Committee Meeting
The December Executive Committee meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Tuesday December 4, 2001 at 5:30 pm in the University of Akron Knight Chemical Laboratories. Members of the committee who cannot attend are urged to submit reports to Laura Beal. Other issues can be addressed to Liam Guiney.
Akron ChemLine
The December issue of the Akron ChemLine newsletter was posted on this web site on November 27 and was mailed through the postal service on December 2.
General Meeting
The November general meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Wednesday evening November 14, 2001 at Tangier in Akron. Geoffrey Coates of Cornell University speaks on Plastics from Corn - No longer a Field of Dreams. The schedule is networking at 5:15, dinner at 6:00, and presentation at 7:00. The program is free and open to the public. This is the section's Akron Section Award Night. Dinner costs $14 for members and guests and $7 for students. Dinner reservations are required by noon on Monday November 12; please send e-mail to Ann Bolek or call 330-972-6264.
Award Address
The award address for the Akron Section Award will be given on Wednesday afternoon November 14 in Goodyear Auditorium of the polymer science center at the University of Akron. Geoffrey Coates of Cornell University will lecture on Combinatorial and Rational Methods for the Discovery and Development of New Polymerization Catalysts. The schedule is refreshments at 3:30 and lecture at 3:45. The program is free and open to the public.
Annual Elections
The ACS Akron Section is conducting its year 2001 annual elections. The individuals involved are: for Chair-Elect, Sid Patel; for Secretary, Brad Weedon and Alex Lubnin; for Treasurer, Terry Hogan and Tanya Young; and Councilor and Alternate Councilor, Jim Duddey, Roger Crawford, and Ann Bolek. Many thanks to these dedicated individuals who are willing to take time from their professional and personal lives to lead the section and serve the membership. Eligible members of the section should have received their packet of election materials by November 16. Packets were mailed to the same addresses used for the Akron ChemLine. Questions can be directed to Valerie Woodward.
National Chemistry Week
Celebrating Chemistry and Art is the topic for National Chemistry Week, to be held November 4 to 10, 2001. Chemistry is a part of everything! It is the science people use to explore what things are made of and to explain how they change. This year, NCW has the theme Celebrating Chemistry and Art. Chemistry plays an important role in all of the arts. In theater, for example, chemists help produce better kinds of makeup to create exciting special effects. Chemists influence the sound a musical instrument makes by improving the materials the instrument is made form. Ballet dancers now have stronger, longer-lasting pointed shoes because chemists created new materials and glues. The activities used for NCW will be visual art experiments. We will explore chromatography, newspaper inks, crystals, stain glass art, fresco paintings, and sculpture. Even though NCW is officially the first week in November, the Akron Section does programs throughout the year. If you are interested in helping, or presenting a program in your child's classroom, you can do this whenever your schedule permits. Several activities at libraries, scouting events, and schools are being planned for NCW. Also, two training sessions are being planned for high school and college students. If you are in helping (or being trained), please contact Pam Lane. She can be reached at 216-447-5501 or by email at pam.lane@noveoninc.com.
Committee Meeting
The November Executive Committee meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Tuesday November 6, 2001 at 5:30 pm in the University of Akron Knight Chemical Laboratories. Members of the committee who cannot attend are urged to submit reports to Laura Beal. Other issues can be addressed to Liam Guiney.
Akron ChemLine
The November issue of the Akron ChemLine newsletter was posted on this web site on October 16 and was mailed through the postal service on October 22.
ACESS Banquet
The annual banquet of the Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies will take place on Thursday evening November 1 at Tangier in Akron. Frank Kelly of the University of Akron will speak on How will Polymers Impact our Future. Sandy Auburn of the Greater Akron Chamber will be the master of ceremonies, George Newkome of the University of Akron will be the honorary banquet chairman, and Kathleen Sparrow will receive the Distinguished Award of Council. In addition, the ACS Akron Section will be awarding three scholarships. The schedule is cash bar at 5:30, dinner at 6:30, and presentation after dinner. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for students and must be purchased by October 31; contact Jan Ruthenburg at 330-535-8835 or Mike Buza at 330-864-4398.
General Meeting
The October general meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Wednesday evening October 17, 2001 at Noveon Research Center in Brecksville. William Zoller of the University of Washington speaks on Nuclear Waste in the Former Soviet Union. The schedule is networking at 5:30, dinner at 6:30, and presentation at 7:30. The program is free and open to the public. This is a joint meeting with the ACS Cleveland Section. Dinner costs $15 for members and guests and $7 for students. Dinner reservations are required by noon on Friday October 12; please send e-mail to Ann Bolek or call 330-972-6264.
Polymer Symposium
A special Outstanding Alumni Award and Symposium will be held to honor Nissim Calderon on October 12 at the University of Akron in the Goodyear Polymer Center auditorium. Speakers include Joseph Kennedy, Adel Halasa, Russell Livigni, and Nissim Calderon. Call 330-972-7542 for more information.
Editorial Note
We have had some criticism over the last several years that our elections are not truly elections, but merely an approval of a roster of candidates, as we normally have only one candidate per office (with few exceptions). The percentage of voting returns diminishes each year, reflecting that general discontent. The Executive Committee would be thrilled to present the section with a true election ballot, with two or more candidates for each office, but we have not always been able to encourage members to volunteer for offices. Keep in mind that the Section cannot exist without these officers. The Akron Section has been quite active in the past ten plus years, with numerous nominations for national level outreach and excellence awards (including a Best Local Section nomination for 1999), and winners of Rubber Division and Project Seed awards, and it exhibits quality worth keeping. However, maintaining this level of quality, service, and activity requires volunteer efforts from the membership. Please strongly consider answering the call of the Nominations and Awards committee to run for elected office, or even to serve as a committee chair; the experience will benefits you and the Section. This Section belongs to you, the members, and we need your support to continue our tradition of excellence in many arenas.
Section Elections
The positions of Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Councilor, and Alternate Councilor are open for calendar year 2002. All positions take effect at the January 2002 Executive Committee meeting. The Chair-Elect will also serve as the Program Chair for planning the 2003 technical program (9 meetings). All of these officers are expected to attend the monthly Executive Committee meetings (January-May, September-December). Detailed job descriptions and further information can be found on the Akron Section web site (http://membership.acs.org/a/akron/, click "About Us" then "Offices") or from Valerie Woodward at 216-447-5408 or valerie.woodward@noveoninc.com. If you have suggestions for these positions, please direct them to Valerie Woodward (info above) or Jim Hermiller at 330-796-3786 or jhermiller@goodyear.com. We would like to have your suggestions by October 15, 2001, and nominations will be accepted from the floor at the October 17 General Meeting (joint with Cleveland Section at Noveon in Brecksville).
Committee Meeting
The October Executive Committee meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Tuesday October 2, 2001 at 5:30 pm in the University of Akron Knight Chemical Laboratories. Members of the committee who cannot attend are urged to submit reports to Laura Beal. Other issues can be addressed to Liam Guiney.
Akron ChemLine
The October issue of the Akron ChemLine newsletter was posted on this web site on September 25 and was mailed through the postal service on September 28.
Family Picnic
The annual ACS Akron Section family picnic will be held on Thursday evening September 20, 2001 at the Brushwood Shelter in Furnace Run MetroPark in Richfield. The shelter is located approximately two miles west of Brecksville Rd on Townsend Rd, and will be available from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Dinner will consist of deli sandwiches and other picnic fare and will be served at 6:00 pm.
There are hiking trails available for before-dinner hikes. We will also be previewing this year's National Chemistry Week activities, "Celebrating Chemistry and Art". After searching high and low, ethyl rubbing alcohol has finally been procured, so bring your white T-shirts and try T-shirt chromatography. If you have any favorite permanent markers, bring those along too. Bring your family and friends or the neighborhood kids and enjoy a fun, relaxing evening of chemistry. The cost is $5 for adults and children over age 12, $3 for children age 5 through 12, and free for children under age 5. For more information send e-mail to Ann Bolek or call 330-972-6264.
Committee Meeting
The September Executive Committee meeting of the ACS Akron Section will be held on Tuesday September 4, 2001 at 5:30 pm in the University of Akron Knight Chemical Laboratories. Members of the committee who cannot attend are urged to submit reports to Laura Beal. Other issues can be addressed to Liam Guiney. This is the first meeting after summer break.
Akron ChemLine
The September issue of the Akron ChemLine newsletter was posted on this web site on September 3 and was mailed through the postal service on September 7.
High School Teachers
The Akron Section desires to be a better provider of professional services to area high school chemistry teachers. Some of the resources available to the section include subscriptions to Chem Matters and the Journal of Chemical Education, activities associated with National Chemistry Week, involvement in Kids and Chemistry, the services of local college ACS Student Affiliates, and participation at the local level in the Project Seed and Chemistry Olympiad programs. Anyone with ideas or interest should contact Chuck Galloway or call 330-655-7633.
Employer Changes
Two of the Akron area's best known employers of chemists and technical professionals, including several of the chemists who are currently leading the ACS Akron Section, have undergone transformations in the spring of 2001. BFGoodrich Performance Materials, a company with significant operations in Brecksville that obtained its independence from BFGoodrich on February 28, became Noveon on May 23. And the polyester business unit of Shell Chemical Company, which was once the polyester division of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, became M and G Polymers USA on June 1, following its divestment a year earlier. Noveon is a global producer and marketer of technologically advanced specialty chemicals for a broad range of applications, and is now owned by the venture capital firm of AEA Investors. M and G Polymers USA is a producer of polyesters for food and beverage packaging, and is now owned by the private Italian chemical company Mossi and Ghisolphi Group. These two changes, along with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's initiative to increase employee turnover, have led to a total of five members of the Executive Committee of the ACS Akron Section changing their employment affiliations.
Congratulations
The most recent annual report of the American Chemical Society contains a feature on Akron's own Liam Guiney. The piece is titled "Liam Guiney has an unusual profession for a chemist." Liam made an unusual transition from being a forensic chemist for the Drug Enforcement Agency in Miami to being a financial advisor for Prudential Securities in Akron. He is quoted as saying "I have a better understanding of some of the technologies and what they're trying to accomplish ... so when I get down to looking at balance sheets, doing cash flows, and figuring out if the technology makes sense, I get an overall - not just a financial - perspective on it." Liam is the year 2001 Chair of the Akron Section.
Officer Search
Although October seems far away, it is never too soon to start thinking about running for office in the Akron Section. The Nominations and Awards Committee asks each of you to think about becoming more active or staying active in the section by considering an officer position for 2002. Positions open are: Chair-Elect (will become Chair in 2003 and is Chair of the Program Committee in 2002), Councilor (three year term 2002-2004), Secretary, and Alternate Councilor (three year term 2002-2004). If you are not interested in running for office, but you know someone who might be, please let us know. Job descriptions are available on the web site or from the Nominations and Awards Committee. In either case, please contact Valerie Woodward or Jim Hermiller. Remember that the section is only as viable as its active members are.
New Job Service
The ACS is launching a new service for job seekers and employers that may be of interest to members of the Akron Section. Job Spectrum is accepting resumes and job ads at www.jobspectrum.org. Beginning June 1st, members will be able to search for jobs and apply online for free. Employers will be able to search for resumes, and until August 31st employers can also post free job ads. JobSpectrum.org is an online career and employment connection.
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