Tour Speakers—One of the Oldest Activities of Local Sections
Did you know that there are some 200 volunteer speakers in the LSAC Speaker Service? These are the people who have expertise on a variety of subjects and enjoy sharing their knowledge with other local sections. Have you ever considered becoming a tour speaker? Opportunities abound. More>>

Yorke E. Rhodes, Chair
Local Section Activities Committee

Invite ACS’ Executive Director To Speak to Your Local Section in 2005
When I was Editor-in-Chief of Chemical & Engineering News, I wrote an editorial in which I paraphrased the famous comment of the late Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O’Neill. O’Neill was renowned for this line: “All politics is local.” My version, of course is: “All chemistry is local.” Local sections are a perfect example of that statement, because it is at the local section level where the work of ACS begins. Local sections are the grassroots and one of the key foundations of ACS. And it is from local section members that I often receive terrific suggestions and ideas. Since 1993, I have visited about four local sections a year. The year so far has brought me to Jacksonville, Georgia, and Chicago; I’m scheduled for talks at the Portland, Oregon, and Maryland local sections later this year. I’m now taking requests for talks/visits in 2005. If you would like me to give a talk at one of your local sections, please contact me at executivedirector@acs.org.

Madeleine Jacobs
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
American Chemical Society

There’s More Than ONE Election This Fall!
Local section elections will take place in 180 of 189 ACS local sections this fall! Here are some crucial steps to follow in order to keep your election squeaky clean! More>>

Establishing and Enhancing Local Section Awards Programs
The work of the ACS, especially at the local section level, is done by a group of volunteers, and it is important to recognize their contributions. As it becomes harder to recruit volunteers, establishing programs that reflect our appreciation for their contributions may help attract other volunteers. More>>

Chemists in the Library: Invigorating Science Literacy with Resources for Community Engagement
Engagement, empowerment, and enrichment are among the goals of Chemists in the Library. Find out how to motivate libraries to become involved with the promotion of chemistry. More>>

ChemShorts for Kids
“ChemShorts” is the title of a regular column in the Chicago Local Section’s newsletter. In the column Dr. Kathleen A. Carrado provides guidelines for K-6 students to conduct simple chemistry experiments. More>>

Look Through the Portal to See the Future of Local Section Web Sites
By taking a bold step in Web site design for a local section, Akron has opened a wide range of possibilities for its membership and guests. Visit the site and take a look around. More>>

OLSA Web Page Redesigned!
The home page for the Office of Local Section Activities was recently redesigned be more “task oriented.” Column headings (with resources listed below) were added for specific functions such as “Filing an Annual Report,” “Planning a Meeting,” “Developing Leadership Skills,” to name a few. Navigating the site is easy, since many of the pages have also been redesigned with common navigational elements. The new design also eliminates the need for some secondary pages, thus making the overall site more efficient. If you haven’t already done so, please visit the page and bookmark it for ready access.

2004 Local Section and Community Activities Catalog is Now Available!
This years catalog adds 10 new items including Periodic Table Scopes, “Bobble-Head” Mili Pins and Chemistry Lab books to name a few. The catalog contains recognition items for your volunteers and products specifically designed to enhance your NCW, Chemagination, Chemists in the Library, and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day celebrations.