From this week's Chemical and Engineering News, a bit of interesting news from the American Chemical Society (no, really!):
The Board Committee on Professional & Member Relations (P&MR) met on June 3... The committee also discussed ways to better assist unemployed members in the short term while also educating students and faculty about current job realities and alternative careers over the longer term. P&MR agreed to launch a new effort to get members to help other members find jobs and to bolster the role of local sections in this area.
Peter K. Dorhout, ChairHey, folks, so far as I'm concerned, this is progress. Good stuff. Do I think anything will come of it? Well, we shall see...
The pessimistic side of me thinks this will result in more webinars on networking.
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction: Well, I guess the problem is now officially too big to ignore.
ReplyDeleteMy second reaction: It's likely that the problem is now too big to address.
Danny Elfman’s lyrics have perfectly captured the attitude of the people who work at the ACS towards industrial chemists’ job woes:
ReplyDeleteNothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Why should I care?
Did ya hear about Fred, he's unemployed
They threw him away like a useless toy
He went down the drain after 20 long years
No warning, no pension and nobody's tears
And I can't believe that anyone would
Wanna do such a terrible thing
But why should I care?
Why should I care?
Every time I look around this place
I see them scream but I hear no sound
And the terrible things happen down the road
To someone else that I don't even know
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Why should I care?
Maybe the ACS members need to unsettle the lives of the ACS bureaucrats
Wait a minute!! Is this a new nefarious ACS strategy (aka scam) at getting folks like me to become a member again? Not working. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteWill they include unemployed people on the committee? I hope it's not just a bunch of tenured professors.
ReplyDeleteWhat possible benefit does ACS membership give anyone, especially the un-employed?!?!
ReplyDelete"The committee also discussed ways to better assist unemployed members in the short term while also educating students and faculty about current job realities and alternative careers over the longer term."
ReplyDeleteSo the ACS membership is free [short term benefit] while ex-chemists transition to new jobs at McDonalds [alternative careers for long term]?