As one of my final tasks, I would like to provide some highlights from actions of your Board of Directors at their annual meeting in San Francisco. The four new Directors-at-Large were seated (B. Gates, S. Soled, Bob Davis, and Jingguang Chen). The Board discussed the question of creating student chapters in addition to local clubs. The Board encourages undergraduate students to get involved with the local catalysis club by contacting any one of the officers or club representative listed on the NACS website (www.nacatsoc.org).
- Prior to our elections of officers, we created a new officer role, that of Lead Trustee, who is in charge of guiding the investments of the Society. Further, in this time of rapid and electronic communications, most felt that the position of Foreign Secretary in addition to Secretary was superfluous, so we voted to eliminate the office of Foreign Secretary and distribute the work among other officers. In this regard, I want to especially thank W. Curt Conner for his many years of valuable service to the Society in the role of Foreign Secretary.
- The Board also agreed to direct our officers to control expenses to assure that they don’t exceed our income. There was a unanimous feeling that in supporting a number of educational missions, we, as a Society, should not spend more money than we can earn from investments and membership fees.
- The new NACS officers for 2009–2013 are President, Enrique Iglesia, Vice President, Bruce Cook, Treasurer, CY Chen, Secretary, H‑X Li, Communications Director, Edrick Morales, and John Byrne, Lead Trustee.
- The Board agreed to make it standard policy in future meetings (as has been the case for the last 2 NAM meetings) that recording meeting events through audiovisual or photographic methods is prohibited at all NAM events without consent of the presenter. Also, since dues collection and timely lists of local club officers is critical to the yearly operation of the NACS, payments of local club yearly student awards will be conditioned upon having a current membership list and up-to-date dues payments.
- The meeting Chair (Galen Fisher) of the 22nd NAM, operated through the Michigan Catalysis Society summarized their preparations for the June 2011 meeting in Detroit, Michigan. The Tri-State Club representative, Jürgen Ladebeck, summarized their early efforts in organizing the 23rd NAM meeting in Louisville, Kentucky in June of 2013.
With the successful conclusion of the 21st NAM in San Francisco, I want to personally thank the co-chairs (Enrique Iglesia, Bruce Gates, and Charlie Wilson) and their organizing committee for their tireless activities and their commitment.
John Armor