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State Capitol Day is an opportunity for ACS members from Illinois to meet with state policymakers. This is a chance to build relationships and introduce the resources and expertise of ACS members to Illinois' officials. The event will focus on state government affairs and will provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about the ACS Office of Legislative and Government Affairs and ways they can become involved in government relations. The afternoon will focus solely Illinois' K-12 science education policies.

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss such issues as the quality of science education, professional development for science teachers, and certification requirements. ACS national staff will set appointments with key committee members for participants. Staff will also send information to participants about ACS Public Policy Priorities, your state legislators, and how to make appointments to visit with them.

This State Capitol Day is spearheaded by National ACS, which asserts that the ability of ACS, its local sections, and members to ensure that state laws and regulations are based on sound science and are supportive of chemists and chemistry is key to the development of quality state policy. For more information, the IL-IA Section contact is Sally Rigeman, Augustana College Chemistry, 639 Thirty-eighth Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296, (309) 794-3469, email chrigeman@augustana.edu. Nationally, contact Debora J. Fillinich, Office of Legislative and Government Affairs, American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036, (800) 227-5558 ext. 4476, email d_fillinich@acs.org. Currently, no Iowa State Capitol Day is planned.

A call goes out to IL-IA section members who typically attend the Great Lakes Regional Meeting (GLRM) and would like to have a larger impact on this annual meeting. Our Section is searching for a representative to sit on the Steering Committee for this meeting. This Committee meets once annually, at the GLRM.

Such a representative can benefit the Section both by promoting the meeting to Section members and by playing a role in defining future meetings so that they best meet the needs and interests of Section members.

As GLRM Steering Committee Representative, your responsibilities include the following:

• Attend the annual GLRM Steering Committee meeting, held at the GLRM, and submit a brief (one page) written report of highlights of this meeting to the IL-IA section Executive Committee upon your return
• Represent the interests of the Section, to the best of your ability
• Submit items, such as upcoming GLRM meeting announcements, to the section Secretary for inclusion in the section newsletter
• Plan for a three-year commitment to this position

There is opportunity for additional involvement by taking a more active role, but that is at your discretion.

Support from the local Section includes reimbursement for the cost of Advance Registration for the meeting (typically about $75) if you desire this. The Section cannot pay for your travel expenses for this trip.

The GLRM is typically held in early June of each year, at various locations. The 2001 meeting will be June 11-13 in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information on ACS Regional Meetings and Steering Committees, go to http://www.acs.org/meetings/regional/index.html

If you would like to serve as the Section's representative or you have any questions, contact Lisa Fields, (319) 264-6039, lmfields@muscanet.com