Geochemical society

GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY The following is a message from President B. Doe. Two year Term for Geochemical Society President Many societies have terms for Presidents that extend beyond one year. The terms for Presidents of the American Geophysical Union, the U.S. National Committee of Geochemistry, and the Meteoritical Society are each for two years. George Wetherill has commented that it was difficult to work with the Geochemical Society when he was President of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (a four year term), because the one year terms of Geochemical Society Presidents were too short to accomplish anything in this increasingly complex world. Even if one develops a clear objective of what one wants to do as President whilst Vice-President, accomplishing that objective is very difficult. The first Council Meeting over which a President presides is normally at least halfway through the current one year term after which the transition to the next President begins. Past Chairman of the Organic Geochemistry Division, John Winters, agreed that his experience was similar. The Council therefore made a motion at its meeting of May 31st, 1982, that: "Beginning with the terms starting at the annual meeting of the Society in 1983, in conjunction with the Geological Society of American Annual Meeting, the terms of President and VicePresident shall be for two years each, The,President shall give a Presidential Address at the end of the term in the second year". It should be noted that the starting date is in 1983 so that the motion does not apply to the current President and Vice-President. As the change involves a change in the Constitution of the Society, it must be ratified by the membership. You are therefore requested to vote on the issue. Ballots will be in Geochemical News, issue no. 62, to be mailed September 1982, and must be received before March lst, 1983.

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