Topical Presentation:

“The Role of the Section Office in the Life of the Chicago Section”

 
Speaker: Jim Shoffner
Adjunct Professor and Consultant
Science Institute of Columbia College
Date: Friday, February ,23 2001
Location:   Ann Sather's Restaurant
(Same as main meeting)
Times:
Topical Group: 5:30-6:30 P.M.
Social Hour: 6:00- 7:00 P.M.
Dinner: 7:00 P.M.
Meeting: 8:00 P.M.

Abstract:

The first section office was established in 1923 as a part-time operation. This operation became full-time in 1929 when Olga Wagbo was hired as the first full-time secretary for the section. From that time to the present day, we have had full-time support for section activities, with sometimes as many as three full-time and 3-4 additional part-time employees during the period when we ran the National Chemical Exposition. The overall positive effect that this great resource of support has had on our programs and activities, as well as the individuals responsible for running the office will be highlighted.

I gave a similar presentation for the 100th Anniversary Symposium commemorating the founding of the Section at the request of Jim Doheny. I am dedicating this talk to the memory of Jim Doheny and Ellen Cozzens, both recently deceased; and in honor of Ron Sykstus, our most recent section executive director, now retired. We are, indeed, a greater, more outstanding section today because of the dedicated service over many years of these individuals.

Biography:

Jim received a PhD in organic medicinal chemistry from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1965. As an industrial research chemist, he carried out research in carbohydrate chemistry and organic process r&d for CPC International and UOP Inc. over a period of 35 years. After retirement from UOP in 1993, Jim Schoffner he joined the staff of the Science Institute of Columbia College as an adjunct professor and consultant in science education.

He has been active in ACS at the local section, division and national levels. Locally, he has been section chair, member of the board and served on and led many committees and task forces. Nationally, he has served on the committees on program review, economic status, project seed, public relations, council policy, nomination and elections, minority affairs and science, including serving as chair of SEED from 1983-85 and vice chair of N&E in 1999. He is presently a member of four divisions: organic, petroleum, industrial & engineering and professional relations. He was recently elected to a three-year term as director-at-large and will serve on the ACS board from 2001-03.

He has been very active in science and public policy issues for nearly thirty years, leading in the establishment of the public affairs committee for the Chicago Section in 1973. He has served on the Science Task Force of the Governor of Illinois and the Task Force on Hazardous Waste for the Attorney General of Illinois, and as a delegate to the Illinois White House Conference on Libraries. He has received awards and recognitions for his service to the society and the profession, including the Henry Hill Award in 1997 and the Chicago Section Public Affairs Award in 1986.





Updated 1/5/01