The month of January is past and what a wet month it has been. Despite theinclement weather, we had a very successful and entertaining seminar by Dr. Brent Gaylord of Sirigen this past month, highlighting the fascinating work he and his company are doing in high sensitivity fluorescence.

I’m very honored and privileged to serve as your Chair in 2010. Considering the success we had as a Section in 2009, I have quite an act to follow.

Happy holidays and a felicitous New Year!

We enter 2010 with renewed hope and aspiration, vowing solemnly to abide by our New Year resolutions. As we relax our belts from holiday feasting and consider the year past, as well as the year forward, perhaps we may consider how we can better our community and ourselves.

As we enter into Fall, one of the largest ACS outreach programs, National Chemistry Week, is just around the corner. National Chemistry Week is a program that brings chemists together with students, teachers and the public to improve public awareness for the role of chemistry in solving global challenges and improving the quality of our lives.

Seasons Greetings!

As 2009 draws to a close and the holiday season approaches for many, I want to extend my best wishes to each of you and your families, and express my appreciation for your involvement and support of the San Diego Section of the American Chemical Society in 2009.

Hope many of you enjoyed a very successful ACS National Meeting this August in Washington, DC, which attracted a record number of 14,000 professionals in chemistry-related fields around the world.

As the Romans would say, we’re in the caniculares dies, or the dog days of summer. The summer heat is upon us and many of you are taking family vacations to the mountains or beaches. Nevertheless, we here at the ACS San Diego Local Section have continued to work hard to bring you excellent programs and activities for the fall and winter.

Here at the ACS-San Diego Section we kicked off the summer season with the Annual Picnic on June 28th when about 100 members and friends got together for some great networking and family fun while enjoying the beautiful San Diego sunshine. Special “Thank You” to Tony Bottone who once again put together an excellent program.

We are very pleased that on May 21st, Debbie Tahmassebi, a Local Section Committee Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of San Diego, received a 2009 San Diego Science Alliance Partnership Award in the category of Volunteer, as a result of her exceptional efforts to enhance K-12 science education in San Diego County on behalf of ACS San Diego. Congratulations Debbie!

We are very pleased that on May 21st, Debbie Tahmassebi, a Local Section Committee Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of San Diego, received a 2009 San Diego Science Alliance Partnership Award …