As we enter the month of February, I want to send a final reminder about the Annual Dinner meeting that is taking place Friday, February 9th at Rick’s Prime Rib House. It is indeed a special event when we can have 2007 ACS President Katie Hunt come to Rochester, and she will be offering a wonderful presentation that evening. Let’s have a great turnout!

So, we are off and running! I hope that you found the letter from me with information for the year ahead useful. We have also received many compliments about our new electronic newsletter. “The CHEMunicator” allows us to place timely and up-to-date information in your hands (or at least on your computer screen) on a monthly basis.

In 2007 we are offering two joint events with neighboring local sections that I would like to highlight.

The reservation deadline for this year's Annual Dinner Meeting featuring 2007 ACS President Dr. Catherine Hunt is Tuesday, February 6.

Please join your fellow Rochester Section members on Friday, February 9, to hear Dr. Hunt's vision for the future of the ACS and to witness the "gavel passing" from 2006 Chair Ben Miller to 2007 Chair Dick Cobb.

For reservations, please contact Joan Williams (585-477-0990, joan.williams@kodak.com) . Alternatively, you can make dinner reservations online and pay via PayPal from the Rochester ACS website.

Ever feel the desire to stack jello cubes? Ever wonder how many pennies you can stack on a piece of cardboard? Looking for an excuse to get out your old toys and play with a kid who has a great desire to learn about science?

Ever wish you had picked teaching as a career?

Wish no more. Volunteers are needed to help teach or assist a 4th-grade science class one hour per month in either a city or suburban school. No prior experience is necessary. An interest in science and a desire to share that interest with someone else are all that are needed.

For further information, please follow the link below or contact the Adopt-a-School Program Chair Katherine O'Brien (Katherine.O'Brien@xerox.com, 585-422-0251).

The popular Networking Mixers continue in 2007 on the last Tuesday of every month at MacGregor's Grill and Tap Room in Henrietta. The next event is planned for Tuesday, February 27 starting at 5:00 p.m.

Greetings. My name is Brad Bovenzi, and I am a chemistry teacher at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Brighton. As Chemistry Olympiad Coordinator for the Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society, I am pleased to announce that we will be participating in the 2007 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). The primary goals of this program are to stimulate all young people to achieve excellence in chemistry and to recognize outstanding chemistry students, teachers and schools.

We would like to encourage area high schools to participate in this program. The identification of the four-member U.S. team begins at the local level. It is the responsibility of the Rochester Section to nominate students from this area to take the USNCO examination Saturday, April 28, 2007 at McQuaid Jesuit High School from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. To identify these students we will conduct a preliminary screening of students through teacher recommendations.

The 52nd Annual Rochester ACS Section Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Saturday, April 21st at RIT.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Suzanne O'Handley (585-475-2751, sfosch@rit.edu).

If you conduct laboratory research in chemistry or a chemically related science, your organization is invited to apply to participate in Project SEED, the American Chemical Society's social action program. This program places economically disadvantaged high school students in academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. The program was established in 1968 to help high school students expand their career outlook and to provide opportunities for students who historically lack exposure to scientific careers.

If you would like to participate, an application needs to be submitted to the national ACS by February 5, 2007. Lew Allen coordinates the program for the Rochester Section, and he would be happy to answer any questions and provide assistance in completing the brief application. You may contact Lew at (585) 586-9983 or by e-mail at lallen10@rochester.rr.com.

The remarkable life story of pioneering African American chemist Percy Julian is the subject of a two-hour PBS/NOVA documentary to air Feb. 6 during Black History Month. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Julian won world-wide fame for his accomplishments in organic chemistry, especially in the synthesis of medicinal drugs. The program is entitled "Forgotten Genius." For more information, please see the ACS release at the link below.

The Rochester Section's Younger Chemists Committee welcomes bowlers of all skill levels to join them for a friendly bowling tournament. To even the playing field, players will be randomly assigned to teams. The cost is $10 and includes two games of bowling, shoes, chips & salsa, and unlimited fountain beverages. Trophies will be awarded!

Where: Olympic Lanes, 1350 Scottsville Rd
When: Saturday, March 24
Bowling begins at 1:00 p.m.

Please direct questions and RSVP to Matt Betush (585-275-7142, mbetush@mail.rochester.edu). Please RSVP by Friday, March 16th.

Michelle Bruzee of Xerox Corporation will host the first "Coffee and Chemistry" event of 2007. The topic is "All About IP", and will focus on best practices for writing invention disclosures, working with patent attorneys, and dealing with the US Patent Office.

Date: March 13, 2007
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Literacy Volunteers of Rochester
(in the Cooperative Extension Building)
249 Highland Avenue
Rochester NY