Royal Society of Chemistry (Royal Institute of Chemistry),  US Section.

An history.

This genesis for the U.S. section was a meeting in New York between Dr. Jack Davis who was a Vice-President of Bright Star Industries and Dr. Paul Stonehart.  It was decided that there was a significant membership of the Royal Institute of Chemistry in the United States who were not represented.  London was consulted and a list of potential members in the New England area was forwarded.  The first general meeting was held in 1972 at the Chemists Club in Manhattan, since both Jack Davis and Paul Stonehart were members, Jack Davis was to be President and Paul Stonehart Secretary and Treasurer.  One of the main functions was to represent members in either upgrading their professional standings by letters of recommendation or to explain the RIC qualifications to Universities or businesses, especially the significance of the qualifications, since equivalent qualifications did not exist in the US, because the RIC was an examining body.

The Section had no more than one meeting each year, sometimes meeting at the Salmagundi Club in Manhattan (Jack enjoyed that particular ambience) but in 1976, after 4 years of the Section being in existence, the powers that be in London were getting itchy as to what the Section was doing and wanted an accounting.  Sadly, in 1979, Jack Davis died and Paul Stonehart took over the triple roles of President, Secretary and Treasurer.

A special meeting was called at the Chemists Club in 1980, at which it was outlined that more support from the membership was needed in order to run it and to carry the load.  Immediately John Lyons, Keith Addy and Bob Sheldon stepped forward and the role of Treasurer was given to Keith Addy, and Secretary to Bob Sheldon.  In response to requests from London, the schedules for meetings were increased to two each year, swinging between New York and Washington, joining with the Washington Local section under the Presidency of Reg Roberton.

It was decided that the Presidency for any one person should not continue for more that two consecutive years, so that John Lyons followed Paul Stonehart, who in turn was followed by Bob Sheldon.  Due to the mobility of the membership it was concluded that past presidents should be defined as Presidents Emeriti and remain on the executive committee, so that their wisdom and experiences would not be lost and that they would be able to step in to replace any functioning officer in the event that officer was not able to perform the duties. 

In June 1980, the Section was informed that with the merger between the RIC and the Chemical Society, a Unification Charter was to be in effect, that of the Royal Society of Chemistry. 

Reg Roberton undertook to write a set of byelaws with which to govern the section, and was followed Bob Sheldon as President, who in turn was followed by Barry Kilbourn. 

In 1990, it was decided that an additional social event was needed to provide a venue for members in the New England region who might not be able or inclined to travel to Washington or New York City.  So a Garden party with a big barbecue made from the frame of a double bed was held at Paul Stonehart's place in Madison Connecticut.  By popular demand, The Garden Party became an annual event and subsequent garden parties were held at the homes of Sam Gerber and Barry Kilbourn.  These functions served a well-defined purpose, and that was to encourage members and their families who would not normally attend a society meeting, to become involved.  Since 1992 the Summer Garden Party has found a permanent home at Paul Stonehart's place with traditional British pub food (including cucumber sandwiches, pork & egg pies, roast chicken, sometimes bangers, once with hot steak & kidney pies, Branston pickle, twice with lobsters, sherry trifle, etc.), British beers, wine & soft drinks, which the membership considered to be soul food and an important part of our heritage.  A recent Garden Party (Millennium 2000) was celebrated with a 125 lb pig roast, accompanied by two mountain men to dress the pig and spit-roast it--Quite an event.
The following year on 13th October 2001, a steak barbecue was featured with HP sauce (or something close to it) in addition to the usual pub food. The next one is to be on 6th September 2003

A special event occurred in 1993 when, under the Presidency of Sam Gerber, the first meeting at the British Embassy was held in conjunction with the Washington ACS Local Section.  At that meeting, there was a sell-out crowd with a waiting list and even suggestions of a black-market and ticket scalping.  There were telephone enquiries as to whether anyone had died so that their ticket would become available?  The Joint meeting with the ACS at the British Embassy was repeated in 1999 under the Presidency of Debbie Schatzlein, who had the distinction of being the first woman President of the Section and will be held again in 2003.