Outstanding Performance 1999-2005
People with a passion for science, math, engineering and technology.

Job Descriptions

The Executive Committee of the Illinois Heartland ACS consists of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Councilor and Alternate Councilor. The Coordinators of major Activity Teams (Outreach, Project SEED, Younger Chemists, and High School Chemistry Contest) may be present. Board meetings are open to the membership.

Old Bylaws 1993
Proposed BYLAWS for the Illinois Heartland 2007

Chair

The Chair of the Illinois Heartland ACS leads a dynamic team of members that connect chemistry to the community.

The supervision, coordination and overall direction of section activities are the primary and ongoing functions of the Chair of the Illinois Heartland ACS. The chair provides leadership for the section officers and activity coordinators (committee chairs) and delegates authority and responsibility as broadly as possible.

The Chair presides at all section meetings and all sessions of the executive committee. The executive committe meets frequently to monitor and assess the progress of current activities. An important duty of the office is the timely submission of the annual report and self-nomination of activities for ChemLuminary Awards.

The Chair makes all appointments to activity teams (standing committees). The chair provides guidance, supervision and assistance with respect to the specifc activity team assignments.

The Chair serves as coordinator and host for speakers.

Chair-elect

The newly-elected Chair-Elect is expected to attend the Local Section Leadership Conference (usually last weekend in January). The three-day conference, sponsored by the ACS Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC), provides section management, leadershop tools and program ideas/activities for new section officers. The Illinois Heartland ACS covers the costs of the conference fee and travel.

The chair-elect, when the chair is unable or not present to preside, serves as Chair.

The Chair-Elect serves as the Program Chair and has the principle responsibility for planning and arranging the section's meeting schedule for the next year (the year in which they shall serve as chair). The Chair-Elect may serve as host for speakers. Local section meetings are vital ingredients of section operations and their content should be dictated by the interests and needs of the local membership. It is essential that the section, through its chair-elect, place a strong emphasis on the selection of high-caliber speakers focusing on topics of current interest. Utilization of the ACS Speakers Bureau is a cost-effective program to bring nationally recognized speakers to the Illinois Heartland.

The Chair-Elect is usually responsible for obtaining outside funding for special activities through ACS or other granting organizations.

Past Chair

The Immediate Past-Chair assembles and submits the Annual Report for their term of office by February 15.

The immediate Past-Chair serves as the chair for Awards. The Past-Chair shall solicit and oversee all awards activities such as, but not limited to, student awards (high school, collegiate, and post-graduate), teaching awards, ACS membership awards, and service recognition awards. This includes sending announcements to relevant institutions soliciting nominations and arranging for certificates or plaques to be made.

The Awards committee shall consist of Past-Chairs (preferred) or other members of the Illinois Heartland nominated and appointed by the Executive Committee.

The Past-Chair has primary responsibility for organizing the Annual May Awards & Recognition Banquet and the Chemist of the Year Awards Dinner & Presentation.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer of the Illinois Heartland ACS.

The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all funds paid to the Illinois Heartland ACS and shall disburse funds upon receipts approved by the Executive Committee or the Chair when authorization by the Executive Committee to give such approval.

The Treasurer maintains accurate financial records for the Illinois Heartland ACS and prepare periodic reports on its fiscal condition. The Treasurer prepares future budgets in consultation with the Chair-Elect and Executive Committee.

The Treasurer administers the endowment funds and periodically reviews investments. The Executive Committee shall appoint a team to advise the Treasurer.

For the Annual Report (due annually February 15), the Treasurer shall make a report to Illinois Heartland ACS and its members showing the financial condition of the Section at the close of the preceding fiscal year, and all the financial transactions of the Section for that year.

The Treasurer shall perform all the usual duties pertaining to the office including the particular duties required by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society and the Bylaws of the Illinois Heartland ACS. The Treasurer prepares and files IRS Form 990 and other necessary IRS forms on or before the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the taxable year. The Treasurer obtains reimbursement, as appropriate, from the Society for expenses for Councilor travel to national meetings.

Secretary

The Secretary has a broad range of responsibilities.

The Secretary shall have custody of all the books, records, and properties of the section, except those specifically belonging to some other officer.

The Secretary shall maintain the membership list and records including downloading the e-roster and activity sheet from ACS on a monthly basis. Electronic communication is the preferred method of communicating with Members.

The Secretary shall develop a newsletter which will be sent to all members notifying members of all meetings at least 1 week prior to such meeting.

The Secretary is also responsible for recording and maintaining a complete file of minutes from general and executive committee meetings and writing regular section correspondence.

The Secretary shall perform all the usual duties pertaining to the office, including the particular duties required by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, and the Bylaws of the Illinois Heartland:

  • On or before December 1, the names and terms of office of the councilors and officers should be submitted to the ACS Executive Director. This ensures that the complete list of information is available for consideration in making national committee appointments.
  • The secretray submits the biographies (Curriculum Vitae) of the councilors and alternate councilors to the ACS Records Office.

Councilors

The Councilor and Alternate Councilor are elected for a 3 year term and represent members of the Illinois Heartland ACS at the National Meetings. The Councilor attends Council and participates in the legislative function of Council. The Councilor is eligible to be a member of ACS National Committees. The Councilor and Alternate Councilor are a member of the Illinois Heartland Executive Committee and participate fully in activities. The Councilor shall report periodically to the Illinois Heartland ACS on issues relevant to Members. The next Councilor election will be in 2008 for the 2009-2011 term.
The Illinois Heartland American Chemical Society is building a sustainable, high achievement organization of networked, caring professionals following a shared vision.