There will be a Solid State and Materials Chemistry Workshop held at NSF in January 1998 to discuss new directions and research priorities in the field. As expected, there was considerable opposition from industrial chemists and others, who felt it excluded their lower paid colleagues. While very good points made on both sides, sentiment was weighted heavily against the proposal. Graduation refers to the date of the most recent degree in chemistry. MAC will consider this at the Las Vegas meeting.
Statistics indicate that if a person is a member for six years then they are a member for life.
Note that the graduated dues structure makes no distinction concerning employment status or type of position held. Since the issue remains viable in a modified form, she opted not to write the letter at this time, since an open letter might upset the present momentum toward the modified proposal. If the Executive Committee desires, Dunbar will submit a draft for co-signators. The letter would register the DIC's disappointment about the outcome of postdoctoral membership proposal in San Francisco and clarify our reasons for supporting it. The letter could be drafted to say that the DIC is willing to work on this in the next round and looks forward to a resolution that benefits all younger members.