Speech to ACS Council, March 26, 2003

Madame President, Members of the Council:

Difficult times like these hold both challenge and opportunity. As a Society, I believe our path forward is clear. We must rededicate ourselves to our infrastructure:

To strengthen our divisions and local sections;
Our publications, meetings, and employment services.

We must choose new initiatives carefully:

To engage the new generation and not just to educate it; and,

We must reach out to other chemical organizations:

To create alliances that speak with one voice to the public
On the benefits of science and its value in service.

Our challenge is to steward our resources wisely in service to members; Our opportunity is to leave a stronger Society for our Younger Chemists of today, and the even younger chemists of the future. This is my agenda.

The next President of ACS must lead by example in revitalizing the personal engagement of members.

I, as most of you, became more involved in ACS because someone took a personal interest and challenged me to make a difference. Since that time, I've had the opportunity to work with the Budget and Finance committee, and to chair both International Activities and a Board Task Force on collaboration with the American Chemistry Council. The work and the people have been exhilarating.

I believe that there are more members out there who would follow our same path. If the 700 of us in this room convinced five uninvolved members to invest ten minutes-just ten minutes--voting in the national election, turnout would increase by 15%.
But more importantly, some of those 3500 people will

Take another look at ACS;
Offer some new ideas;
Pick up where we eventually leave off.

Our challenge is declining involvement; our opportunity: the magic touch of personal action. Each of us possesses that magic touch.

In the end, the American Chemical Society is about people. I have been blessed because my company supports my involvement with ACS. It has encouraged me to be a voice for chemistry:

In the classroom, the hearing room and the board room;
In the United States and with the United Nations.

I have:

Brought industry and chemistry to students from grade school to grad school;
Discussed tough topics with grandchildren and grandparents alike;
and found them skeptical at times but always hungry to learn more.

The public is our challenge. It is also our opportunity.

The ACS President can be the most visible face and most credible voice for chemistry. But it means:

Seeking out members and listening to them;
Engaging nonchemists to address their concern
and to pique their curiosity.
Setting the example. Making it personal. Living it day to day.

Difficult times like these surely hold both challenge and opportunity.
And we create the future when we accept the challenges, embrace the opportunities and make them our own.

So, in that spirit, I am asking respectfully, but directly for one of your votes. In return I offer enthusiasm, energy and my personal commitment to work with you to increase the value of ACS to its members and to Society at large.

http://www.billcarroll.org