Project SEED Mentors Needed

If you conduct laboratory research in chemistry or a chemically related science, your organization is invited to apply to participate in Project SEED, the American Chemical Society's social action program. This program places economically disadvantaged high school students in academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. The program was established in 1968 to help high school students expand their career outlook and to provide opportunities for students who historically lack exposure to scientific careers.

First time participants would be students who have finished their sophomore or junior year and have had a year of chemistry. They would receive a fellowship award of $2,500. Each student does a research project in chemistry or a related field under the direct supervision of a scientist/mentor. The students must be economically disadvantaged and must be enrolled in high school and be recommended by a high school teacher.

Although the researchers/mentors receive no financial remuneration from the ACS, chemists and their departments are willing to participate in the Project SEED experience. Their willingness is derived from SEED's positive aspects in terms of developing an understanding in young people from diverse cultural backgrounds, the enthusiasm a young student brings to the research group, and the opportunity to serve the community in which their institution is located.

If you would like to participate, an application needs to be submitted to the national ACS by February 5, 2007. Lew Allen coordinates the program for the Rochester Section and would be happy to answer any questions and provide assistance in completing the brief application. You may contact him at (585) 586-9983 or by e-mail at lallen10@rochester.rr.com.

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - January 2007

MINUTES OF THE ROCHESTER LOCAL SECTION MEETING
January 22, 2007

Attendees: Anne Marie Lanzafame, Dick Cobb, Tim Wilson, Deb Janes, Mark Heitz, Mary Ann Mendel, Jim Reynolds, Lew Allen, Joan Williams, Richard Hartman, Steve Locke

Meeting minutes taken by Anne Marie Lanzafame
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by Dick Cobb at Kodak Bld 28, CR151-C

1. Introductions taken around the room
Note: We will meet every other month, rather than monthly.

2. Review of 2007 Activities List (attached)
· We have several vacant committee chair positions which need to be filled. Please contact Dick Cobb if you have an interest in chairing a committee. Some of the vacancies include: Harrison Howe, Social Events, Public Relations
· Earth Day: Would anyone be willing to work on this? Tim & Deb are currently investigating it, but help would be appreciated.
· Steve Locke will be taking over the Teacher’s Award. The award winner can be nominated for the regional award, so we should follow their guidelines.
· Financial Audit: Jim Reynolds chaired the audit committee. The audit is complete and a report will be ready for the annual meeting on February 9th.
· Would anyone like to look into putting together a NERM organizing committee for 2012? Please contact Dick Cobb if you are interested.

3. A review of the Executive Committee for 2007 and their responsibilities.

4. Review/approval for the updated Local Section Handbook.
· There was 1 change made, under Harrison Howe: from “the LS Chair will serve on the committee” to “a member of the executive committee will serve on the committee”. Otherwise, the handbook is similar to last year.
· Note: The YCC needs to be added to the handbook.
· Unanimous vote to approve the handbook.

5. Review of 2007 Section Activities.
Points of interest:
· The annual dinner meeting is Friday, Feb. 9th at Rick’s Prime Rib. Dr. Catherine Hunt will be the keynote speaker. She will also be the keynote speaker for the Kodak Technician’s Symposium on the same day. She will have a short breakfast meeting with Kodak managers and some TAG board members that morning, give the keynote address for the symposium, then meet with Todd Pegano at RIT.
· Steve Locke is having trouble pinning down some locations for the HS Awards Nights. A letter from the LS chair to Canandaigua High School might help.

6. Review of 2007 Timeline
· Please change the deadline for newsletter articles to the 25th of each month. Jim Reynolds is the contact for the newsletter.
· Please keep reviewing the timeline and be sure to add dates, where appropriate.

7. Budget Review
· A request that committees please stick to their prospective budgets. Expenses in excess of a committee’s budget must be approved by the Executive Committee.

8. Misc items:
· Steve Locke gave an overview of his progress to date in planning the 2007 High School Awards Nights. Volunteers are needed. The awards event has taken place for ~20 years. Steve gave a 40 min presentation at the STANYS conference in Ellenville, NY and many of the downstate teachers present gave positive feedback regarding the program.
· Jim Reynolds sent out the 1st electronic newsletter on Jan 1st. He will try to feature small, local companies. Please sent suggestions/information to Jim.
· Richard Hartman is thinking about hosting a future Coffee & Chemistry session on biofuels.
· We should focus more on membership: Who is leaving & Why? Welcome new people. Jim will send the membership Excel files to Ben Miller (membership chair).
· Mary Ann Mendel will look into the requirements for PR Chair.
_________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10pm. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 13th at 5:00pm in Kodak Bld 28.

Votes taken:
· Dec meeting minutes were approved by unanimous vote.
· Unanimous vote to approve the Section Handbook (attached).
· Unanimous vote to accept the treasurer’s report (attached).

National Chemistry Olympiad

Dear Fellow Chemical Educator:

As Chemistry Olympiad Coordinator for the Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society, I am pleased to announce that we will be participating in the 2007 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). The primary goals of this program are to stimulate all young people to achieve excellence in chemistry and to recognize outstanding chemistry students, teachers and schools.

Students competing in the USNCO are eligible to be selected as members of the United States team for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). As in past years the U.S. will send a team of four students to compete against other nations at the IChO. This final team of four is chosen after an intensive two-week training camp (June 3-17) at the U.S. Air Force Academy attended by the top 20 U.S. students taking the exam. The team members participate in both theoretical (written) and laboratory examinations over several days. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the highest achievers. In addition, the IChO provides students the opportunity to interact with their peers from other countries. The 2007 IChO will be held July 15-24 in Moscow, Russia.

We would like to encourage your school to participate in this program. The identification of the four-member U.S. team begins at the local level. It is the responsibility of the Rochester section to nominate students from this area to take the USNCO examination on Saturday, 28 April 2007, at McQuaid Jesuit High School from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. To identify these students we will conduct a preliminary screening of students through teacher recommendations. In a one-page recommendation on school letterhead, please explain why (based upon grades, effort, attitude, class rank, SAT scores) you feel the student should be chosen to participate in this rigorous 4¾ hour exam. Students must be U.S. citizens who will graduate no earlier than the spring of 2007 and have a date of birth after 31 July 1987. If selected, the student must attend all sessions at the U.S. Air Force Academy. You may recommend up to two students per high school. Please send recommendations to Brad Bovenzi, McQuaid Jesuit High School, 1800 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618, by 16 March 2006. All students who participate will be recognized at one of the three ACS Student Awards Nights in May.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for helping the ACS to promote chemical education.

Sincerely,

Brad Bovenzi
McQuaid Jesuit High School
bbovenzi@mcquaid.org
585.473.1130 x129

January 2007 Meeting Agenda

Note: Due to the weather this meeting has been postponed until Monday, January 22.

Executive Committee Meeting Agenda
Monday, January 22, 2007
C.R. 151-C / Building 28 / Kodak Park
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

· Welcome from the 2007 Chair
· Introductions around the room
· Review and approval of 2007 Committee & Activity Appointments
· Leadership roles for Members-at-Large, Councilors and Alternate Councilors
· Review and approval of updated Local Section handbook
· Review of 2007 timeline
· Review of 2007 budget

Message from the Chair - January 2007

Hello and Happy New Year!

It is an honor to be able to serve as Chair of our Local Section in 2007. I do hope you try to attend the Annual Dinner Meeting that is taking place on Friday, February 9th at Rick’s Prime Rib House. I am excited that ACS President Katie Hunt will be coming to Rochester to meet and talk to our members. Let’s have a great turnout for this event!

We have a lot going on this year – and a lot of changes being made. Many are in answer to the surveys that our members sent in. Some changes are addressing the changing demographics in our region and changes all around us. And some are in line with the many changes taking place within the American Chemical Society itself.

It is an honor to have been selected to serve on the ACS Governance Review Taskforce, beginning in 2006. This gives me the chance to see firsthand what the new direction of the ACS will be. It also offers me the chance to help prepare our Section and our members so we are ready for those changes or enables me to see how our Section can help transition to those changes.

My main focus in 2007 will be twofold – communications and membership value.

Even though the elimination of the old “Chemunciations” newsletter was a smart business decision, I know many of you feel this decision cost us a connection between our members and the leadership of the Section. Thus, we are going to increase communications in 2007 with:

• A mailed New Years letter by me, as Chair, laying out the year ahead,

• A mid-year post card update mailed to each member,

• A new monthly electronic newsletter called “The Chemunicator”,
  

• An improved and expanded Local Section web page, and
  
  
• This blog, which will be frequently updated with my latest reports, Councilors' reports, meeting minutes, available job openings, and other items of interest to our community.
  

If we do not have an e-mail address for you or if you have changed your e-mail address recently, we must be notified so that we can successfully keep you in the loop. To join our e-mail distribution list, please visit the Rochester ACS home page and look for the sign up box.

We also plan to address membership value in two ways:

• Expanded opportunities in which you can get involved as a member and better information about those opportunities, and

• Charging non-members more for Local Section events that members and their guest.

Please take the time to look at where we have volunteer opportunities and our schedule of events for 2007. There’s a lot going on and we’d love to have the chance to be with you and work with you!



D. Richard Cobb
2007 Chair
Rochester Section, ACS

d.richard.cobb@kodak.com
585-477-4903