FROM THE CHAIR
One of the things that the ACS asks us to do when we take over as a Chair of a Local Section is to set goals. I won’t bore you with all the lofty goals that I have set; however, I would like to talk about three of them here.
For the first, please find a request elsewhere in the Valchemist this month asking you to allow us to communicate with you electronically. I want to try very hard to bring the section into the 21st century in terms of communication. Many members have asked me why we don’t announce our dinner meetings by e-mail. Because of privacy issues, the national office cannot simply provide us with your e-mails; we must get permission from you to use them. So at this time, the only way we can contact most of you about these events is through the Valchemist. Unfortunately, cost has forced us to decrease its publication from four to three times a year. This means that often events are announced far ahead of when they actually take place. In addition to meetings, there may be other business items that we would like to inform you about more quickly than the Valchemist can. Please send your e-mail address to Jon Sanborn (jasanborn@amherst.edu) so that we can serve you better. We promise not to clutter your mailbox will unnecessary chatter!
My second goal is to fill all of the positions on our Executive Board and to round out our committees. Vacant positions include alternate councilor, career program coordinator, hospitality and membership, public relations (CT). We have an active Board with many experienced members who can give you help. In addition, the national office of the ACS lends all sorts of support. Why find something that interests you and join us? You’ll find yourself in interesting company and make lots of new contacts.
The third goal is to provide the membership with what it needs and wants. In addition to our spring Awards Luncheon honoring high school students, college students, and fifty-year members (this year on Saturday, April 23), we usually have at least four meetings a year, often dinner meetings. This past year we had a wine tasting in addition to several well-received speakers. But this is your organization, and we want to know what kinds of programs you would like to have.
The survey included in this issue is designed to help us with goals 2 and 3. Please fill it our to help us in our programming and to help us identify members who would like to become more active.
Jane Knox, Chair