Funding Mini-Workshop

Stephanie Watson and Greg Milligan

Grants and Awards Subcommittee

Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC)

American Chemical Society

Greg joined the American Chemical Society in 1983. In 2004-2006 he served as Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair of the Puget Sound Section. Since 2007 Greg has served as Councilor. Since 2012, he has served on the Committee on Local Section Activities, and on the Grants & Awards subcommittee of LSAC. Since 2002 Greg has been employed as (now) Associate Professor of Chemistry at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

Stephanie Watson, Councilor from the Maryland Local Section, serves as LSAC’s Chair of the Grants and Awards (G&A) Subcommittee. She also represents LSAC on the Divisional Activities Committee (DAC). She had co-chaired the 2012 MARM meeting in Baltimore (May 2012) and chaired her local section. Dr. Watson is a surface analytical chemist in the Polymeric Materials Group in the Engineering Laboratory at NIST.

Plan Ahead

• Design Meeting/Activity

– At least 6 months in advance

– Develop a budget

• Include costs for:

– Speaker

– Venue

– Food

• See Handouts

• Ways to Share Costs

– Collaborate with:

• Neighboring ACS LS Sections/Divisions

• ACS Career Programs• Other Science Societies• Local Community

Organizations• Industry

– Choice of Venue

• Use local businesses• Example: winery or farmers

market events

American Chemical Society 2

LSAC Funding• ACS Website

– Membership and Networks

• Local Sections (left)

–Engaging Members (right)

» Grants and Awards

» Science Cafes

–Leadership Skills (right)

» ACS Leadership Development

» Scholarships

LSAC Funding

• Innovative project grants (IPG)

– Up to $3000

– One per year per section

• Easy application and follow-up report

– Activity must be:

• New to the applying local section

• Stimulate local section member involvement

• Pilot projects for a continuing section activity or use a unique upcoming opportunity for the local section.

– Lots of examples of successful ones…

LSAC Funding

• Northeast Wisconsin, "Ledge"-ndary Grape Chemistry of the Escarpment: Organize an all-day conference on chemical safety in conjunction with NCW, inviting safety experts to perform experiments safely and fun.

• Louisiana, Workshop on Chemical Safety: Organize an all-day conference on chemical safety in conjunction with NCW, inviting safety experts to perform experiments safely and fun.

LSAC Funding

• Detroit, Chemistry Kids "Hide and Seek" Web Page: Creation of an interactive chemistry-related children's game via a webpage featured on the local section's website.

• Nashville, Career Collaborations in the Chemical Sciences: Host a career networking event, in which attendees will ask STEM professionals questions about resume and interview tips, how to find the right job, and learn about ACS career resources.

LSAC Funding

• Kanawha Valley, Clickers: An Active Learning Technique: Implement Clickers, an audience response technology tool, to promote active learning and involvement of high school students and the general public in chemistry demos and presentations.

• Past Funded IPGs

American Chemical Society 8

If you were to repeat this program, what would you do differently?

•need better PR

•need more member volunteers

•need additional funding sources

•select a better time of the year to hold the event or program

 

Lessons Learned from IPG’s

LSAC Funding• Innovative project grants (IPG)

– Application-follow directions closely:• Information and Summary sheet (1 pg)• Full description of project including objectives, plan of action,

line-item budget, and evaluation plan (2 pg max).• Support letter or email from:

– Current local section chair (or Executive Committee member if the Chair is Project Coordinator).

– Co-sponsoring local sections, divisions, committees, or other community groups, if applicable.

• Check and mind all restrictions: honoraria, alcoholic beverages, meals for local section members, ACS membership dues, pass-through donations to other individuals or organizations

LSAC GRANTS

• For assisting with booking Online Speaker Directory speakers (travel expense reimbursement for 2013 bookings)

• Science Cafes

• Specialty grants with a specific focus are typically introduced after Spring national meetings

– Mini, Nano or Section Sustainability Programming

LSAC GRANTS

• Leadership Development Mini-Grant Local Sections Grants & Awards page

– Hold leadership development courses in your local section area

• Information from courses can be useful for LS leaders, but also other local businesses or universities

• Local Section Sustainability Programming Mini-Grant LS Sustainability Info

– Encourage local sections to develop programming that furthers the discussion of sustainability within the chemical enterprise (ACS Strategic Plan Goals #2 and #4).

• including (but not limited to) speakers at local section meetings, Science Cafés, workshops, educational programs, community events, or other innovative programming concepts.

– Grants of up to $500 are available on a rolling basis to enable sustainability related programming.

LSAC GRANTS

• Science Café Mini-Grant (Science Cafe info)

– Promote scientific literacy among local citizens while invigorating your Local Section and stimulating thinking among nonscientists about questions of the day that have a scientific underpinning.

• Provide a relaxed, open venue for nonscientists and scientists to discuss current topics.

• Often held in coffee shops, bars, restaurants or bookstores, anywhere people gather, increase science literacy in communities across America.

• Focus on a specific topic and can include a variety of approaches; a single speaker, a panel discussion, or include a video or trivia and can consist of a speaker or speakers and a group discussion.

• Bridging the Gap: Planning for Success Nano-Grant Local Sections Grants & Awards page

– Support LS infrastructure:

• focus on bylaw revisions, electronic elections, and budget development.

Other GRANTS

• Corporation Associates Local Section Grant (CorporateAssociatesGrant)

– The Committee on Corporation Associates has a funding program for ACS Local Sections to promote industry focused events at the local section level.

• Corporation Associates is soliciting grant proposals from ACS Local Sections for industry-related events in 2014. Events can range from job fairs with local chemical employers, résumé writing workshops, networking receptions, hosted panel discussions with industry leaders and other similar forums to benefit those local section members employed in industry.

• Upon review of a well-detailed event, Corporation Associates will fund local sections up to $1,000 to help subsidize the costs associated with producing and hosting these events.

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Special ACS Funds for Local Section Events

Innovative Projects Grants (IPGs), up to $3000, apply by Jan. 31 or June 30

Bridging the Gap: Planning for Success Nano-Grant, $250, apply by March 12, 2013

Science Café Mini-grant, $300, apply anytime

Leadership Development Mini-Grant, up to $3000, apply by May 15, 2013

Speaker Directory, $400 (travel expense reimbursement) limited funds available in 2013, apply anytime with receipts

Local Section Sustainability Programming, sponsored by the Committee on Environmental Improvement, $500, apply anytime

Corporation Associates Local Section Grant, February 15, July 27.