Local section officers benefit from building on a common vision and plan for the local section. The new ACS Strategic Plan provides a template for thinking about some new opportunities for local sections. The Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC) is ready to help local sections explore new or adapted programming locally in support of the Strategic Plan.

At the ACS spring national meeting in New Orleans, a great deal of discussion extended beyond the many successful technical programs and symposia to intense reflection on what we can do with the new ACS Strategic Plan. The Board of Directors has actively sought input into the plan, and you can still provide your thoughts and reflections on the mission, vision, and goal statements via the comment links at http://www.acs.org/strategicplan. I would encourage you to do so, and it can be valuable to review the six goal statements in the context of what your local section can do in support of the plan.

Many local sections have a traditional set of activities and programs with which they engage the local section and division members in their area. These may range from National Chemistry Week and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day activities to regional award dinners and technical symposia. It is easy to continue doing the same thing every year, in many cases with the same group of local section volunteers. This is relatively easy and provides a level of comfort for the organizers and can lead to success year after year.

The ACS Strategic Plan provides a new opportunity for local sections. The Board has challenged all ACS members to identify something they can do in support of the goals in the plan. LSAC is compiling a list of potential activities, and we will be rolling out these ideas and incentives to local sections in the coming year. But, we believe strongly in the value of many heads working on a problem. What ideas can your section come up with? For example, Goal 4 of the plan states that ACS will be a leader in communicating to the general public the nature and value of chemistry and related sciences. In its annual report, one local section described an effort to solicit areas of expertise from members to create an experts list on its website. In this way, local media, government, and education groups could identify ACS members in their community who could help to bring an expert’s perspective on chemistry-related issues. This is just one idea—I am certain that your local sections can come up with many more.

In support of your innovative programming ideas, LSAC wants to remind you of the upcoming July 1 deadline for the Innovative Program Grant (IPG) applications. Through this program, local sections can receive up to $3000 to bring new programming ideas to fruition within the section. These can be completely new ideas or adaptations of successful events and practices in other local sections that are new to your section. For more information on the IPG program, or to see examples of successful applications, please visit the Local Section Innovative Project Grants page on acs.org.

ACS local sections are communities of members. Their success depends on finding both new and traditional opportunities for us to come together and share in that community. Thank you for all of your volunteer efforts in support of bringing your community together.

Wayne E. Jones Jr., Chair
ACS Committee on Local Section Activities

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