Local Sections and The Future: A Peek at Some Behind-the-Scences Activity

The Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC) has initiated a process to take a detailed look at our sections, our membership, and our society to see how LSAC might help sections assess the future and best serve member and society needs. This process is to truly examine the American Chemical Society (ACS) experience at the local level. As the profession, the society, and the practice of chemistry continue to evolve, LSAC hopes to advance conversation about how local sections can best meet the needs of our diverse audiences as we go forward into the 21st century.

LSAC and staff from the Membership Division and the Office of Local Section Activities, with support from the ACS Board of Directors, began discussions in early 2006 with Mr. Jon Hockman, of Dare, Dream, Do, to facilitate this process. Mr. Hockman specializes in studying organizational structure and developing strategic plans, in our case, to ensure a great future for local sections and the society. At the Spring 2006 ACS National Meeting in Atlanta, LSAC sponsored a series of focus groups, which brought together a variety of constituencies, including section officers, corporation associates, graduate students, and undergraduates to discuss local sections and their value to the member experience. As one might imagine, the responses were as diverse as the 189 local sections. From networking to leadership opportunities, outreach to technical activities, the value of what the local section brings to the membership is varied but valued. What struck me with the initial conversation was the pride that many members felt about their section and the opportunities and value that are uniquely local. Whether it was a single outreach event or a regional meeting, the benefits that sections provide to the community cannot be matched.

These focus groups provided us with a framework for an intense weekend of outside-the-box dialog, the 2006 Local Section Summit, which was held in Washington, DC in May. Thirty-two volunteers came together from San Diego to Boston, from our biggest section to one of our smallest. Also in attendance were fifty-year members and Student Affiliates, inactive members to board of directors. We discussed, debated, and anticipated the future to establish a consensus of what the local sections bring to the membership experience. We even learned that “lunkhead ideas” can bring significant change if allowed to grow. The overarching theme was that local sections connect chemistry and the community at a level and understanding that cannot be delivered elsewhere.

As we continue to share our thoughts, the guiding principle to consider for our sections is that we are here to serve our membership and the public. Given that, some ideas to ponder include the following: a) Meeting participation does not necessarily correlate to involvement in today’s culture (members want something that brings value, which might not necessarily be an open meeting). b) We must embrace all cultures and be as inclusive as possible in designing our section and programming. (Where does technology play a role? What about networking activities and small bite-size responsibilities?) c) Ask the younger chemists what they would like and give them the resources to run with their ideas.

Where are we heading? While the focus groups and summit have given us some initial ideas, LSAC will continue the dialog with all of you as we take strides in providing great service for our society, our local sections, and our membership. I remind you that this process has just begun. The goals are straightforward. However, the task is challenging: To understand how local sections can best adapt and position themselves to take advantage of new and future opportunities while improving still the great membership service and public outreach that we provide.

Take a few minutes to review the summit post-report. Publicizing the value of our local sections to membership is vital, and the time is now!!! Please send your ideas and comments to us at olsa@acs.org.

Will Lynch, Chair
ACS Committee on Local Section Activities

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