Minutes

Orlando Section, ACS

Executive Committee Meeting

 September 8, 2007 

The meeting was called to order at 9:50 am by Chair, Nahid Mohajeri.  In attendance were Nahid, Darlene Slattery, Clovis Linkous, Carol Peterson, Ardell Thurow, Charlene Hayden and John Shewchun. 

After introductions, Nahid gave a report on the Science Café.  She reported that Dr. James Fenton of FSEC have presented a talk on energy at the Books-a-Million on Merritt Island.  We had alternative energy toys that were used to pull in people and we had advertised within the store.  A good crowd attended and we raffled off a toy fuel cell car and gift certificates for the book store.  Most of the money for the event was spent for a flip chart for the presentation.  It was suggested that we could have bought a flat screen monitor to use with a computer to use for future presentations.

Nahid asked for volunteer to set-up another Science Café.  No one volunteered.

Nahid reported that the award winners from our previous year’s annual awards were asked to do something as a volunteer for the Section but we weren’t too successful in getting them to carry through.

An announcement was received from National for the annual Innovative Project funding competition and Nahid submitted one for taking students to Kennedy Space Center.  She received a call from National wanting more information.  A second call was received asking for more input, including a request to insure that there would be a chemistry component.

Darlene reported on the Avogadro Award. Again this year, all of the State Sections had supported the award.  Unfortunately, no one from the Orlando Section attended the State Fair and so obtaining information was difficult.  The winner, a young lady from Edgewood Junion/Senior High in Brevard, was very slow to respond to requests for an abstract to share with the other Sections.  It was eventually received and would be distributed.

Clovis reported that he had heard from Rudy at FIT with a request for speakers. 

A discussion on how to get more seniors out to events and Charlene suggested that providing free food might encourage them to attend.

Clovis gave a report on FAME.  The Hydrogen Symposium was a success.  We had two invited speakers, the cost of whom we absorbed as our contribution to FAME.  Additionally, Clovis had gone to Gainesville and made a video recording of an interview with John Bockris, a pioneer in the field of hydrogen energy.  The video was very well received by the audience and John Petrovic, our invited speaker representing DOE, asked for a copy of it to share with DOE.  It was provided.  John and Charlene suggested that the video also be posted on U-Tube, a suggestion that was well received.

It was suggested that an effort be made to get more people to agree to receive newsletters electronically.  It was agreed that a request would be made in the next newsletter.

Darlene reported that the solicitations for the annual awards had been sent.  Responses had not yet been received but it was early.

Nahid reported on the 2007 Olympiad.  There was limited participation, with only students from Brevard. However, one student was recognized nationally for outstanding effort. 

Regarding the upcoming NCW, National wants the Sections to make a big deal out of it because it is the 20^th anniversary of the event.  Nahid reported that we would continue the Creative Molecule contest, have a poster contest and read to children.  It was suggested that we try to get more of the community colleges involved in the activities.

Nahid said that she was interested in arranging a tour of a citrus facility for students.  Charlene said that she thought it would be an interesting activity to do for the general membership.

Nahid reported that the Earth Day activity had been a huge success.  It was held at the Enchanted Forest in Titusville and Randy did a great job on the demonstrations.

It was reported that the next meeting would be a tour speaker on Sept. 24.

As it was time to begin the nominations process for our annual elections, Darlene (as Chair-elect) would head the committee. 

Ardell reiterated that he was still planning into looking into hosting a meeting at his work place. 

Charlene said that she was looking into having an activity at Daytona Beach CC in which they would have past ACS President Bill Carroll as a speaker.  She asked if the Section was interested in supporting the activity by contributing to the cost of bringing in Dr. Carroll and then having him speak at a Section Meeting.  It was agreed that it would be pursued.

Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned.