GEOC Newsletter: Spring 2000

Report from the Chair

I now end my tenure as Chair of the Geochemistry Division. During the last year we saw plans of several finally come to fruition: the Division established a medal and will publish a new journal (Geochemical Transactions). We have grown closer to the Geochemical Society, which was a particularly important goal of mine.

The Geochemistry Division of ACS serves the broad community of geochemists because there are dedicated scientists who find the time to perform volunteer service. Certainly the person who works the hardest is Ken Anderson, the past chair, who not only spearheaded new initiatives, but also fought a seemingly endless battle with the National ACS office to get recognition and just plain fair treatment. He deserves our gratitude, as do the other long-term volunteers, such as Michaele Kashgarian and John Schaumloffel. The division officers for 2000 include a mix of new names and old.

Pat Hatcher is stepping down as the councilor but has been involved with the Geochemistry Division since its inception. Teh Fu (Dave) Yen is also the retiring alternate councilor. Dave and Pat have served the Geochemistry Division of ACS across two decades and they deserve our gratitude.

I commonly stated during my tenure that it makes no sense for geochemists to be under-represented in the world's largest scientific society (ACS). The truth of this is self evident, but allow me to end my tenure by reemphasizing the fact that the Geochemistry Division of ACS is a wholly volunteer organization for the benefit of all geochemists.

Bill Casey