Section elections for 2013 officers

Electronic balloting continues to be a win-win for the Section: greater participation participation, less cost to you in stamps and mailbox excursions, automatic tabulation of results by survey platform. Please continue (or start) to show your interest in the Section’s governance and vote this year.

Every eligible member with an email address on file will receive a personalized message no later than October 10th, and likely much sooner. The link in your email gives you access to the voting platform and assures that we receive ballots only from eligible voters, and only one from each.

If you have blacklisted email from surveymonkey.com and you wish to participate in this year’s balloting, please remove that filter for a couple of weeks. Then, if you have not received your voter email by October 10, please let us know. Email election@stlacs.org: please provide your full name, email address, and (if not too much trouble), your member number from a recent issue of C&E News.

You will have until October 31 to cast your ballot. Please vote! Even though most positions are uncontested, casting a vote is a great way to tell the members who work so hard on Section business that you care about what they do. You will be able to access these candidate biographies during the voting process.

Candidates for elective office:

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Chair-elect

James J. O’Brien, Professor, University of Missouri–St Louis Department of Chemistry

Service to the Section: Program Committee Chair (1997-1999); co-sponsor of Career Day for High School students (2001-present); Midwest Award coordinator (2003-present); Co-chair of the Midwest Regional Meeting (2011).

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Secretary

Sean D Dingman, New Business Development Manager, Sigma-Aldrich, SAFC Hitech Business Unit

Service to the Section: Secretary (2012); participated in several local ACS functions, including YCC and speaker events; Treasurer, St Louis Section YCC (1999).

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Treasurer

Vic Lewchenko, IT consultant, Technisource

Service to the Section: chemistry merit badge clinic presenter (2007-2009, 2011); Treasurer (2011-2012).

Other ACS service: president, student chapter, Drexel University.

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Councilor (vote for up to two)

Alexa Serfis, Professor and Associate Chair, Saint Louis University Department of Chemistry

Service to the Section: Chair succession (2005-2007); Councilor (2009-2012); National Chemistry Week Coordinator (1995, 2001, 2002); Alternate Councilor (1997-2000); Director (2003, 2008, 2009); Fundraising Committee (2008-2012); Awards Committee Chair (2002-2004); Undergraduate Research Symposium Chair (1999, 2003); Science Fair Awards Chair (2001); Outreach Volunteer: National Chemistry Week Demonstrations, Science Fair Judge, Boy Scout Merit Badge Clinic, Girl Scout clinic (1994-2012).

Service to the regional ACS: Chair, Undergraduate Programming, Midwest Regional Meeting (2000); Organizer, Leadership Development program, Midwest Regional Meeting (2012).

Service to national ACS: Committee on Local Section Activities, associate (2010); full member (2011-2012); ACS Peer Mentoring Workshop, Washington, DC (2000).

Lisa Balbes, Balbes Consultants LLC, technical writer/editor

Service to the Section: Treasurer (2005-2006); WebMaven (1996-2004); Director (2000); News Media Coordinator (2000-01); Midwest Regional Meeting Exhibit Chair (2011); Councilor (2007-present); Career Resources coordinator (2003-present); Chair succession (2001-03), Counselor (2010-present); E Ann Nalley Midwest Regional Award for Volunteer Service (2012).

Service to national ACS: member Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA) (2007-present, chair 2011-present); CEPA Professional Program Development Subcommittee Chair (2008-2010); CEPA Subcomittee on Standards and Ethics (2008-present); ad hoc member Council Policy Committee (2011-present); Career Management and Development Certified Master Facilitator (2002-present).

Regional/divisional service: Professional Relations Division newsletter editor (2007-present); Professional Relations Division Executive Commitee member-at-large (2008-present); Career Committee, CINF Division Chair (2006-08); WebMaven, COMP Division (2000-08).

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Alternate Councilor (vote for one)

Ben Outlaw, organic synthesis chemist, Baker-Petrolite (retired)

Service to the St Louis Section: Associate Photography Editor, Chemical Bond (1974); Photography Editor, Chemical Bond (1975-1976); Associate Editor, Chemical Bond (1977); Editor, Chemical Bond (1978); Business Manager, Chemical Bond (1979-82); St Louis Award Committee Chair (1982); Treasurer, (1983-1985); Professional Activities Committee Chair (1986); Chair succession (1987-1989); Director (1989-1991, 1994-1997); Investment Committee (1990-1992); Publicity and Public Relations Committee Chair (1992-1994; 2011-2012); Alternate Councilor (1993-1995, 2010-2012); Chair Nominating Committee (1995); Fundraising subcommittee (2008-2012).

Service to the Houston Section: Director (1999); Chair succession (2000-2002); Alternate Councilor (2003); Councilor (2004, 2006-2008).

Service to national ACS: Local Section Activities Committee associate member (2007-2008).

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Directors (vote for up to four)

Jeff Cornelius, Professor of Chemistry and Head of Division of Chemistry, Math, and Natural Science, Principia College

Service to the Section: Education Committee Chair (2001-2006); Undergraduate Research Symposium Chair (2000, 2004); Secretary (2007-2009); Chair succession (2010-2012).

Bill Doub, US FDA/Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis

Service to the Section: High School Program Committee (1998); Chemical Bond photographer, assistant editor, and business manager (1998); Membership Chair (1998); Investment Committee (1998); Director (1996-1998, 2011-2012); St Louis Award Chair (1981, 1997); Treasurer (1993-1994, 1999-2001); Midwest Award Chair (1981); Alt Councilor (1992); Awards Committee Chair (1992); Program Committee Chair (1991, 1995); Chair succession (2008-2010).

Steve Kinsley, Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory Lecturer, Washington University

Service to the Section: Publicity and Public Relations Chair (2002-2005); Chair succession (2006-2008); Director (2009-2012).

Brent Znosko, Associate Professor, Saint Louis University Department of Chemistry

Service to the Section: Professional Activities Chair (2006-present); New Members Subcommittee Chair (2012); Director (2012); session organizer or co-organizer, Midwest Regional Meeting (2006, 2008, 2012); Chair of Undergraduate Programming, Midwest Regional Meeting (2011); Boy Scout Chemistry Merit Badge volunteer (2006-present); faculty advisor to ACS Student Chapter at SLU (2006-present); ACS webinar speaker (2012).

Lisa Balbes: a volunteer’s volunteer

We are delighted to announce that our own Lisa Balbes has been named the 2012 E Ann Nalley Midwest Regional Award winner for volunteer service to the American Chemical Society. Dr Balbes’ efforts on behalf of the ACS were described as “exceptional” by members of the Midwest Region Awards Committee.

Most of you know Lisa as the long-serving, if not long-suffering, Career Services coordinator for the Section. She keeps the LinkedIn group updated on local job opportunities, and cain’t say no to an invitation to any career-oriented program (such as several in the Career Management series sponsored by YCC). But Lisa does so much more at the regional and national level.

She is a frequent flyer at regional (not just Midwest) and national ACS meetings, where she is often a presenter and résumé reviewer for career workshops. She is an ACS national tour speaker and a Certified Master Facilitator on matters career-y. She has served as Chair of the Career Committee of the Chemical Information (CINF) Division and as webmaven for the Computational Chemistry (COMP) Division. There’s more, of course, and surely more to come, but you get the idea.

We’re the St Louis Section and we approve this message! Join us in a hearty “huzzah” for Lisa’s most recent acclaim.

Two important awards seek outstanding nominees

For a true professional, approbation is one of the strongest motivators. Both of the following awards recognize true professionals outside the “traditional academic” (read university teaching and research) track. If you work with someone who sounds like a Chemical Science & Technology winner … or … if you know of a great high school chemistry teacher — a colleague or perhaps your child’s teacher — these are outstanding opportunities to let them know you noticed. Don’t hold back; nominate!

Chemical Science & Technology Award

The St Louis Chemical Science and Technology Award is presented to a chemist in the St Louis area who has demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and scientific contribution. Criteria used to judge the award include technical proficiency, presentations, coaching/teamwork, and additional professional activities. The award will consist of a plaque, a $500 honorarium, and dinner for the awardee and a guest at Recognition Night in March, 2013.

To be eligible, the nominee should have an Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree in chemistry or a chemistry-related curriculum. The nominee need not be a St Louis Section–ACS member to be eligible.

Letters of nomination must be received by December 21, 2012. The nominating letter should address the criteria above. A current work address, phone number, fax number, and email address should be provided for the nominee.

To submit a nomination, contact the Chemical Science and Technology Award coordinator, Adrienne Mazdra, 314.513.4035 or amazdra@stlcc.edu.

High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year

The St Louis Section–ACS is seeking nominations for the 2013 High School Chemistry Teaching Award. This award is to recognize, encourage, and stimulate outstanding teachers of high school chemistry within the St Louis Section. The award winner will receive a $500 check and a plaque, presented at an awards dinner and program next April.

Please consider nominating a teacher in the Greater St Louis Area who exemplifies excellence in the teaching of high school chemistry. The nomination packet must include the following items:

From the Nominee:

1. the Nominee Information Form
2. your current teaching assignment including course titles and grade levels. What is your involvement in extracurricular activities?
3. on a separate sheet, a statement of not more than 500 words in which you present your teaching philosophy or otherwise describe your commitment to the profession.
4. a curriculum vitae or résumé that includes a list of honors, professional activities, and additional evidence of service to the profession; limited to no more than two pages of activities within the last five years.

From the Nominator:

5. the Nominator Information Form
6. nominator recommendation of not more than 1,000 words. This statement should clearly demonstrate as many of the following attributes as possible:
   · the quality of the nominee’s teaching: unusually effective methods of presentation should be emphasized
   · the nominee’s ability to challenge and inspire students
   · extracurricular work in chemistry or a chemical science by the nominee, including science fairs, science clubs, and activities that stimulate the interest of young people in chemistry and related sciences
   · a willingness to keep up-to-date in the field, as evidenced by the pursuit of a higher degree in chemistry or a chemical science, enrollment in refresher courses and summer institutes, regular attendance at scientific meetings, membership in professional organizations, and other means of self-improvement
   · evidence of leadership or active involvement within the profession
7. at least one, but not more than three, letters of support; one must be from the teacher’s current principal or supervisor. Additional letters of support may be sent by colleagues, members of the American Chemical Society who are familiar with the nominee’s achievements, or former students and parents of former students.

Please submit the nomination packet by December 1, 2012. The nomination packet may be submitted electronically or by snail mail to Sandra Mueller, ACS High School Teaching Award Chair:

Sandra Mueller
John Burroughs School
755 S Price Road
St Louis, Missouri 63124
314.993.4040 x362
smueller@jburroughs.org

NCW on the horizon

Mole Day is upon us. You can pay homage to Amadeo Avogadro on Tuesday, October 23, while you’re out for your run at 6:02 am, or heading home to enjoy 500 mmol or so of your favorite potent potable at 6:02 pm. Sandwiching Mole Day, of course, is the 25th annual National Chemistry Week, October 21–27. This year’s theme is Nanotechnology: The Smallest Big Idea in Science. The capstone event in St Louis is the NCW Chemistry Expo on October 27th at the St Louis Science Center from 10 am to 4 pm. If you’d like to help with the outreach, contact Greg Wall, 314.435.6487 or gwall37@msn.com. Either way, though, bring the family; it’s definitely a kid-friendly day.

Board of Directors

St Louis Section–ACS Board of Directors meets the second Thursday of each month, usually at the Glen Echo Country Club ( map). Meetings are open to all members, and all are encouraged to attend. Elected officers and chairs of major committees vote on questions put to the Board; others in attendance have voice but no vote.

If you want to attend for dinner, please contact the section Chair at least a week in advance. Usual cost of the dinner is $24 ($12 for post-docs and unemployed members). Members wishing to become active in section activities are welcomed for their first dinner as guests of the section.

Date: Oct 11
Social hour: 5:30 pm
Dinner: 6:30 pm
Business meeting: 7:15 pm
Future meetings: Nov 8, Dec 13 (Continuity Dinner)

Saint Louis University

Seminars are on Fridays at 12 noon in Carlo Auditorium, Tegeler Hall, unless noted otherwise. Refreshments follow. For more information, contact Ryan McCulla, rmccull2@slu.edu.

Oct 5
Zhen Huang
Georgia State University
TBA

Oct 12
Arthur Winter
Iowa State University
TBA

University of Missouri–St Louis

Mondays at 4 pm in 451 Benton Hall, unless otherwise specified. Refreshments 15 minutes prior to seminar time. For more information, contact the Chemistry Department, 314.516.5311.

Oct 1
Al Sattelberger
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Energy research at Argonne National Laboratory

Oct 8
John Tanner
University of Missouri–Columbia
Structural studies of proline catabolic enzymes

Oct 15
Joel Miller
University of Utah
Organic-based magnets: New chemistry and new materials for this millenium

Oct 22
Bruce Hinds
University of Kentucky
Dramatic nano-fluidic propeties of carbon nanotube membranes as a platform for protein channel mimetic chemical separations

Oct 29
David Krich
Wayne State University
Methodology development and physical organic chemistry: A powerful combination for the advancement of glycochemistry

Washington University

Seminars are in McMillen 311 at 4 pm unless otherwise noted. For information, contact: Liviu Mirica, mirica@wustl.edu.

Oct 4
Daniel Seidel
Rutgers University
Redox-neutral reaction cascades and new concepts for asymmetric catalysis

Oct 10, Brookings 300 at 1:30 pm
Russell Schweickart (former astronaut)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The challenges of space

Oct 11
John Herbert
The Ohio State University
Structure and spectroscopy of the hydrated electron: From bulk to clusters