December Issue (1.3 Mb) of The Midland Chemist
Update from 2012 Chair, Gina Malczewski
As we end one year and more into a new one, we as members of the Midland Section ACS should be proud of all the events and activities we sponsored or co-sponsored in 2011, all of which will be highlighted in our annual report. We also thank Pat Cannady for his leadership in 2011 and look forward to his continued involvement in 2012. Looking forward, I would like to announce the following:
New Board meeting schedule: Please note that the monthly Board meetings in 2012 will be held (mostly) on the first Monday of the month at the MCFTA, in the Board Room at 7:00-9:00 PM. This new schedule allows us to avoid National ACS meetings, spring break, and holidays. The few exceptions for location will be held in the Lecture Room (right across the hall from the Board Room, downstairs at the MCFTA). I am introducing conference calling, so please feel welcome to participate in any meeting, whether you can come in person or not (we will try to send any slides ahead if we know who’s interested). The conference calling information is as follows, and up to 25 callers will have simultaneous access. Phone (toll free) 866-299-7945, and enter the participant code 9837036# (you will hear a prompt). Conference calling will begin with the February 6 meeting, since the January 9 meeting is in the Lecture Room and there is no phone available there. However, the Lecture Room holds 90 people, so we have more than enough room for everyone who wishes to attend in person.
Changes to the Handbook: A couple of years ago, changes were initiated to our Section’s Roles and Responsibilities document (also known as the Handbook), but they were never completed. I plan to complete this task, and will be requesting that each committee chair or appropriate leader be responsible for updating his/her section. Suggested changes to the Handbook can also be submitted by other interested members; the document is located on our website under the Administration tab. As a start, revised wording has just been approved for the Awards section. Since nomination season is about upon us, you should know that award distribution depends on you as a member to come forward with a nomination letter (and perhaps solicit others) that details the worthy attributes of your nominee; we are also asking Directors to take a more active role in this process. Stay tuned for details and deadlines.
Committee chairs/members: We are seeking volunteers, especially for Publicity positions, and are fortunate to have capable role models to help whoever is interested. We have plenty of other options, too, if you have been bitten by the volunteer bug. I plan to have a meeting of committee chairs at 6:00-7:00 PM (before the Board meeting) on January 9. If you are already designated/committed as a chair, please plan to attend; we will discuss budgets and accounting, among other things.
Google calendar: We will also be trying harder to keep the Google calendar on the website updated, so please check there for events!
If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by e-mail (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) or by phone (989-496-4158). I’m looking forward to working with all of you in 2012!
YCC and ACS Student Members Announce Events, January 14 and February 25
The Younger Chemists Committee and ACS Student Members would like to announce a couple of fun events coming up in January and February. We are kicking off a series of events for the purpose of finding new members, getting past members reinvigorated, and generally rounding up chemist types to create a network weave.
On Saturday, January 14, we will attend a Saginaw Spirit Hockey game, and on Saturday, February 25, we will get together to do some curling. To indicate your interest in attending these events, get tickets, or for any questions, please contact Dale (lecap1dj@cmich.edu), Marilyn (tourn1m@cmich.edu), Adam (adam.tomasik@dowcorning.com), or Wendy (wcflory@dow.com).
Saginaw Spirit Hockey Game, Networking and Membership Event, January 14
YCC members, ACS Student Members, and the Midland Section ACS are inviting you to attend a Saginaw Spirit Hockey game at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, on Saturday, January 14, 7:00-9:00 PM. We have reserved the Eagles Nest Suite to comfortably enjoy the game and we will provide lots of yummy game food. Tickets are $5 for ACS members and family, and $10 for non-ACS members and family. Come out and show your support for the Saginaw Spirit Hockey team who will be battling the London (Ontario) Knights that evening, and don’t miss out on what is sure to be a great time!
The Dow Event Center is located at 303 Johnson Street, Saginaw, MI 48607. For tickets or questions, please contact Wendy (wcflory@dow.com), Adam (adam.tomasik@dowcorning.com), or Marilyn (tourn1m@cmich.edu) as soon as possible.
Outreach gearing up for 2012
We were extremely busy in 2011, and we already have a number of items on our plate for 2012. Please consider volunteering; we need Publicity assistance, and inventory and organization of our supplies is an ongoing process since we are always getting and using supplies. Upcoming events to look forward to include:
Kids Day at the Mall, 1/28/12, Midland Mall, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Theme: Go Green–Recycle This!
Girl Scout Mmmmolecules: Fun with Food Chemistry, 2/4/12, Location TBD, 12:00-3:00 PM
Educators Day with the Saginaw Spirit, 2/28/12, The Dow Events Center, Saginaw, Theme: Our Health, Our Future
SPARK Day at Hemmeter School (Saginaw), 3/2/12, Morning event, Theme: 25 Years and Still Cooking
Bringing Michigan Pure Science to Life in the Classroom, 3/8/12, Michigan Science Teachers Association meeting, Lansing
Pittcon Education Week, 3/9/12-3/13/12, Orlando, Florida, Teacher training and student demos, Theme: A Passion for Polymers
Earth Day, 4/21/12, MCFTA, Recycling theme
As always, contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) if you have any ideas or wish to participate.
National Engineers Week Program and Banquet, February 23
The 2012 National Engineers Week Program and Banquet will be held on February 23 at the Bavarian Inn Conference Center in Frankenmuth. It will be hosted by the Mid-Michigan Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Saginaw Valley Engineering Council (SVEC) Member Societies, of which the Midland Section ACS is included, are encouraged to make this event one of your monthly meetings. It also is an appropriate time to present awards such as Engineer of the Year, Young Engineer of the Year, and Outstanding Service Award. In addition to such awards, the program for the evening will be Student Chapter Presentations on SAE Projects. Students from Baker College, Central Michigan University, Kettering University, and Saginaw Valley State University will make presentations and show their designs.
The Program Chairman is Mark Pope of the SAE. All persons (and spouses) who are members of any of the SVEC member organizations receive the member rate, which is $25. For retirees (and spouses) it is $20. Students are $18, and non-members are $30. Online tickets are available at the following website: www.midmichigansae.org/index.shtml. Contact Eldon Graham (graham@svsu.edu), Secretary, Saginaw Valley Engineering Council, if you have any questions.
October 6 Biofuel Event Presentations Now Available Online
The Midland Section of the ACS and the Midland Center for the Arts co-sponsored a panel discussion on the subject of biofuels on October 6. Professor Bruce Dale of Michigan State University presented his research on the possible social and environmental impact of biofuels. Mr. Russ Harding, Senior Environmental Policy Analyst, at The Mackinac Center for Public Policy shared his insights on the policy arrangements for biofuels. These two presentations are now being made available online, thanks to both speakers.
2011 Fall Scientific Meeting Photo Gallery
A link to over 55 photos taken at the 2011 Fall Scientific Meeting held on the campus of Alma College on October 22nd can be found. Check it out and see if you can find yourself in some of the photos. Thank you to Jeff Turk for taking the photos and organizing the 2011 FSM photo gallery.
Midland Section Wins 2011 ACS ChemLuminary Award
The 13th Annual ChemLuminary Awards celebration was held at the ACS National Meeting in Denver, on August 30. Approximately 400 chemists were there to recognize local sections, divisions, and regional meetings for their tireless work throughout 2010.
The Midland Section won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Local Section – Medium Size Category. Midland Section 2010 activities that were acknowledged during the awards ceremony included SciFest, attended by 1000 people, and which highlighted 35 science exhibits and a science camp for children; Earth Day which featured 13 exhibitors at the Midland Center for the Arts, attracting 500 people; and the accomplishments of local academic members and technicians that were recognized at a Spring banquet. Midland Section Councilor, Wendy Flory, attended the ACS National Meeting in Denver and accepted the award on behalf of the Midland Section.
Latest Issue of The Midland Chemist (Vol. 48, No. 6, December 2011)
The latest issue of The Midland Chemist, the primary communications medium of the Midland Section ACS is available in pdf file format.
Upcoming Dates and Events
January 9 (7:00-9:00 PM) – ACS Board meeting, MCFTA Lecture Room
January 14 (7:00-9:00 PM) – Saginaw Spirit Hockey game, Dow Event Center, 303 Johnson Street, Saginaw. For tickets or questions, please contact Wendy (wcflory@dow.com), Adam (adam.tomasik@dowcorning.com), or Marilyn (tourn1m@cmich.edu) as soon as possible.
January 28 (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) – Kids Day at the Mall, Midland Mall, Theme: Go Green–Recycle This! Contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) for more information.
February 4 (12:00-3:00 PM) – Girl Scout Mmmmolecules: Fun with Food Chemistry, Location TBD. Contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) for more information.
February 6 (7:00-9:00 PM) – ACS Board meeting, MCFTA Board Room (in person), or via conference call at phone number: 866-299-7945, participant code: 9837036#
February 23 (6:00-9:00 PM) – National Engineers Week Program and Banquet, Bavarian Inn Conference Center, Frankenmuth. Online tickets are available at www.midmichigansae.org/index.shtml. Contact Eldon Graham (graham@svsu.edu), Secretary, Saginaw Valley Engineering Council, if you have any questions.
February 25 (6:00-9:00 PM) – Curling fun event. To indicate your interest in attending, or for any questions, please contact Dale (lecap1dj@cmich.edu), Marilyn (tourn1m@cmich.edu), Adam (adam.tomasik@dowcorning.com), or Wendy (wcflory@dow.com).
February 28 – Educators Day with the Saginaw Spirit, The Dow Events Center, Saginaw, Theme: Our Health, Our Future. Contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) for more information.
March 2 (Morning event) – SPARK Day at Hemmeter School, Saginaw, Theme: 25 Years and Still Cooking. Contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) for more information.
March 5 (7:00-9:00 PM) – ACS Board meeting, MCFTA Board Room (in person), or via conference call at phone number: 866-299-7945, participant code: 9837036#
March 8 – Bringing Michigan Pure Science to Life in the Classroom, Michigan Science Teachers Association meeting, Lansing. Contact Lisa Thackery (lisa.thackery@dowcorning.com) or Gina Malczewski (gina.malczewski@dowcorning.com) for more information.
Erratum
Please note that the month identifier for the October 2011 (Vol. 3, No. 10) and November 2011 (Vol. 3, No. 11) monthly e-mail updates were incorrectly posted as being July. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. Please make a note of this in any hard copy material you may have printed and saved for archival purposes.
