The Chemical Consultants Network (CCN) is a topical group of the Philadelphia Section. It was organized in December, 1994, and has held monthly meetings since February, 1995. It is run by a Steering Committee consisting of its elected officers, committee chairmen, and two members at large. We believe that CCN is the first and only organization for consultants within the American Chemical Society. The name "Chemical Consultants Network" was adopted to reflect the purpose of the group, to enhance members' opportunities to use their professional expertise as consultants.
SUMMARY:
During 1996, CCN held ten monthly meetings with an average attendance of 35 - up from 25 in 1995. In addition, an all-day symposium for consultants was organized within the 1996 MARM at Villanova with 40 in attendance. (Details of the monthly programs and the May MARM symposium are given in Appendix 1 and 2.)
Work to set up a computerized database and telephone consultant referral service was redirected towards a website project. The website became a reality late in the year, under the name www.chemconsultants.org. The purpose of the website is to function as a self service consultants resource for potential clients. Other information, such as meeting notices and this report, will also be included.
During the year, membership grew from 90 to 160. (In the two years of its existence, CCN has grown from 24 to 160!) The membership is about half chemists and half chemical engineers. Most of them reside in an area from Wilmington, DE to Princeton, NJ, although there a few members from as far as Florida and the West Coast. Meeting notices are published in the publications of the Philadelphia, Delaware, Princeton and Trenton ACS Sections, and the Philadelphia Section of AIChE.
The uniqueness of CCN has drawn national attention. CCN was mentioned in an a C&EN article on consulting in April (the first one ever), and also in ACSess. That publicity resulted in most of the members from outside our region, about 20 in all.
MISSION:
CCN has as its mission:
To form a volunteer organization to support members in expanding the meaningful use of their expertise, by:
MEETINGS:
Ten meetings were held in the evening, usually the second Wednesday of the month, at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. They consisted of a social hour, a dinner, a business meeting, and a talk. One of the meetings was held jointly with the Philadelphia IEEE Consultants Network. See Appendix 1 for the programs held in 1996.
An all day symposium for consultants was organized for the 1996 ACS Mid Atlantic Regional Meeting in May at Villanova University. The program consisted of talks in the morning, and a new ACS workshop for consultants, given for the first time there, in the afternoon. Details are in Appendix 2.
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES:
David H. Vahlsing will automatically succeed to the office of Chair for a two-year term on January 1, 1997. Treasurer and Secretary for the second year of their terms will be William Retallick and Wolf Karo, respectively.
The following 1997 officers were elected by a mail ballot in November:
| OFFICE | TERM ENDING | NAME |
|---|---|---|
| Chair-Elect | 12/98 | Henry Clancy |
| Member-at-Large* | 12/98 | Edwin Crow |
Committee chairs were Henry Clancy, Meeting Arrangements; Jerry Maffia, Member Services; and David Vahlsing, Publicity; Mark DeLuca, Website, and Thomas Happ, Education. The Steering Committee also serves as the Nominating and Program Committee. All committee chairs serve on the Steering Committee.
FINANCES: IN 1996, CCN instituted $25 dues to pay for the website and publicity, and to complement the annual ACS grant of $500 for program expenses. 100 members were paid up by the end of the year. Only paid up members will be listed on the website.
PLANS FOR 1997:
Ten monthly meetings are planned. The website will be improved and advertised. $25 dues will again be collected from CCN members to fund this service. We will continue to work with ACS and AIChE officials and committees to improve services for consultants at the National level, and we have applied to AIChE for financial support as one of their topical groups, similar to ACS.
Respectfully Submitted,
William C. Golton, Chairman