THE IOTAN

May, 2000 No. 78

Iota Sigma Pi

National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry

Mentors Sought for

Minority Students

by Sharon Vercellotti, (Cl) Editor

Join Pathfinders and share your knowledge and experience with talented college and university students enrolled in science, engineering and mathematics programs at institutions that are a part of the Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE) program, funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Bowie State University in Bowie MD, Spelman College in Atlanta GA, Oglala Lakota College in Kyle SD, University of Texas at El Paso, and Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan PR are MEI awardees. MEI institutions have a history of awarding science, engineering, and mathematics degrees to African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans

Pathfinders form a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a promising undergraduate student and communicate via email, phone or letters on a regular basis, sharing your personal and professional experiences. They also attend the annual Model Institutions for Excellence conference to meet students from the six participating institutions. Pathfinders should be relatively new to their careers and familiar with the challenges of African- Hispanic- and Native-Americans.

For further information visit http://www.mieprogram.org or contact Nicole Martin at nicole.martin@twbg.com.

Attending the American Chemical Society Alumni Hour in San Francisco on March 27, 2000 were the following ISP members - Standing - Adeana Bishop (Cl), Susan Marine (Ra), Michelle Ellett (H), Sharon Vercellotti (Cl), Tina Trnka (S), Kim Schrum (MAL) and Alice Lee (S). Seated - Heather Marxen (MAL), Janet Clark (Cl) and Sara Gaucher (H).

Centennial Convention

in 2002

by Christine Rener, (AUI)

Now that we are getting used to the idea of "The Year 2000" it is time to start looking ahead to "The Year 2002"! In 2002, Iota Sigma Pi will celebrate its 100th year. In 1902, the first Iota Sigma Pi chapter, Hydrogen, was organized in Berkeley, California. The centennial will be celebrated through local chapter events as well as during the centennial convention. As Centennial Activities Coordinator, I will help coordinate local and national centennial events. Let's begin to share ideas for making 2002 a celebration of Iota Sigma Pi! Please send

me ideas (rener@carthage.edu) for local chapter events as well as suggestions for making the centennial convention special. Your ideas and suggestions will be published regularly in the Iotan so that we can all begin to plan for the exciting year 2002!

We are soliciting contributions for the celebration events. Please consider making a donation with your dues payment.

In this issue...

Convention News 2

Supplies and Information 3

Member News 4

Editors 5

Member Spotlight 6

National Council 7

May, 2000

Page

Iota Sigma Pi Convention Reporter News - Portland, June 1999

Reception and Poster Session

by Janet R. Clark, (Cl) National Secretary

The Reception and Poster Session was the kickoff event for the 26th National Triennial Convention of Iota Sigma Pi. Members and guests of ISP, as well as women from Association of Women in Science (AWIS), and Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science (SDE/GWIS) renewed or created new friendships while enjoying light refreshments. The focal points of the evening were the the diverse scientific and chapter activity/outreach posters set up around the Windows Skyroom at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Portland. Thirteen scientific posters and seven activity/outreach posters provided much enjoyment and discussion throughout the evening. Interesting science was intermixed with pictures of chapter initiates, past conventions and the excitement of learning a new hands-on demo for at the next science outreach project.

During the evening, several introductions were made. Pat Stoddard, president of Promethium, the host chapter of the convention, introduced Helen Haller, the National President of SDE/GWIS, Virginia Carson, National President-elect of SDE/GWIS, Linda Mantel, the National President-elect of AWIS. SDE/GWIS was holding their Grand Chapter Meeting at the Holiday Inn as well. Stoddard also introduced Linda Brazdil, national president of Iota Sigma Pi. Linda welcomed all delegates and guests to the convention, then introduced Susan Marine, vice-president of ISP. Susan worked closely with the Promethium chapter preparing for the convention, and she took this time to thank the Promethium chapter and present the chapter committee members with gifts of appreciation.

The center table contained an appetizing array of fruits, vegetables and other

hors d'oeuvres to snack upon while mingling. Tables with fresh begonia centerpieces were scattered about for small gatherings and discussions. One table also contained items that were bid upon during a silent auction. Proceeds from the auction benefited SDE/GWIS who provides financial assistance and support to women graduate and undergraduate students in science. The reception was a relaxing and enjoyable way to end, what was for most, a day of traveling. It also served to gear up the National Council and delegates for an exciting and memorable convention.

Japanese Gardens. Portland's Japanese Garden is considered one of the most authentic outside of Japan. Its careful use of plants, rocks and waterfalls provided a sense of serenity and beauty that inspired us to take the time to sit, think and relax. As we strolled through the pond garden (chisen-kaiywshiki) across a traditional zigzag bridge, we admired the lovely flat irises and the carp (koi); several of the fish were colored like calico cats. We wound our way up the natural garden (shukeiyen) stopping to contemplate the water falls and streams. Bonnie and Lily told us how to properly sit in the gazebo (azumaya), so as not to appear threatening; one sits sideways with one foot out and the other behind. From there we wound our way to the sand and stone garden (kare sansui) which had a simple pattern raked into the sand. We discovered the best way

Free Time Activities

A Visit to the Rose and Japanese Gardens

by Kathryn Thomasson, (MAL-R) Delegate

Free Time Activities

A Visit to the Rose and Japanese Gardens

by Kathryn Thomasson, (MAL-R) Delegate

To get to the Japanese and Rose Gardens, we first had to learn to ride the MAX, Portland's excellent light rail system. Bonnie Gordon figured it out for us. The MAX stopped in a tunnel 450 feet underground. The zoo and garden stop, which was decorated with a geological core sample , a mastodon, and the discovery of an ancient redwood species in China, was completed in September of 1998. Bonnie Gordon, Lily Ng, Michelle Ellet and Christine Hermann and I took the elevator up to the surface.

We caught a shuttle bus from the zoo to the gardens and walked through Rose Gardens finding the trail up the hill to the

to visit it was to climb up the path towards the Tea House and stop at a landing part way up the hill. Looking down at the rocks and patterned sand gave a much greater sense of whole. We finished the climb to the tea house which we could only look into and wish it were truly functioning. The most spectacular view was from the front because it looked out over the vista of Portland with the Cascade Mountains (the Pa

To get to the Japanese and Rose Gardens, we first had to learn to ride the MAX, Portland's excellent light rail system. Bonnie Gordon figured it out for us. The MAX stopped in a tunnel 450 feet underground. The zoo and garden stop, which was decorated with a geological core sample , a mastodon, and the discovery of an ancient redwood species in China, was completed in September of 1998. Bonnie Gordon, Lily Ng, Michelle Ellet and Christine Hermann and I took the elevator up to the surface.

We caught a shuttle bus from the zoo to the gardens and walked through Rose

Gardens finding the trail up the hill to the

c

ific rim subduction zone) in the background. From here we wound our way back to the entrance

Then we thoroughly toured the rose gardens. There, in addition to the spectacular varieties of roses, I especially enjoyed the street musicians playing guitar and dulcimer, the tall Siberian irises and the comfrey. Having Bonnie to explain the flora really enhanced the experiences. Bonnie and I lost Michelle, Lily and Christine somewhere in the rose gardens. We found our way back to the MAX stop via the shuttle bus and ran into several other Iotans returning from the zoo which had just closed.

Page February, 2000

Chapter Reports

by Christine Rener, (AuI), Delegate

Chapter Reports were presented by the delegates indicated. Brief highlights of the reports are provided. Contact the individual chapters for further information about their successful programs.

Argentum (Virginia) - Christine Hermann. The Argentum chapter, encompassing a large geographical area, meets twice a year for a picnic and an initiation banquet.

Aurum Iodide (Chicago) - Janet Ferroni. The Aurum Iodide chapter meets monthly for dinner and a speaker presentation. Members routinely serve as local science fair judges.

Chlorine (Southeast Louisiana) - Janet Clark. The Chlorine chapter holds regular meetings, local industry tours, and has developed an active outreach program, including "Super Science Saturday" and Teacher In-Service workshops. Chlorine will host an Iota Sigma Pi Alumni Hour at the American Chemical Society Meeting in New Orleans in August.

Cobalt (Indianapolis) - Stacy O'Reilly.

The Cobalt chapter has emphasized various activities, including outreach, rather than dinner meetings. The chapter continues to become more active through slow, steady growth efforts.

Fluorine (Cleveland) - Catherine Miller. The Fluorine chapter is engaged in a number of professional as well as social activities. Community service and scholarship fundraising are areas of chapter focus.

Hydrogen (Berkeley) - Sara Paisner.

The Hydrogen chapter was recently reactivated and has since formed a number of committees to coordinate active meeting program, outreach and recruitment efforts.

Members-At-Large - Bonnie Gordon. The MAL chapter communicates across the country via e-mail and a newsletter and is working together on a fundraising quilting project.

Neptunium (Houston) - Kathyrn Louie. The Neptunium chapter remains active in conjunction with other local organizations, participating in several outreach efforts.

Niobium (Corvallis) - Rebecca Hanson. The Niobium holds monthly luncheon meetings and maintains an active outreach program aimed toward junior high and high school students.

Promethium (Portland) - Bernice Gilmore. The Promethium chapter holds dinner meetings, publishes several books for use in outreach and educational programs, and has been preparing for the 1999 Triennial Convention.

Plutonium (Purdue U.) - Samantha Smith. The Plutonium chapter has been active through regular meetings, departmental programs, fundraising and many public outreach efforts, including the "Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics" workshops.

Radium (Cincinnati) - Lisa Milstein. The Radium chapter holds regular dinner meetings with speakers and gives several student awards.

Tellurium (Austin) - Julie Teetsov. The Tellurium chapter was recently reactivated and has actively engaged in programs, pooling resources with other local women's organizations. Programs include invited speakers, undergraduate mentoring, recruitment, outreach and social events. The chapter also participated in the development of a Women in Science graduate course.

Vanadium (New York) - Dawn Norman.

The Vanadium chapter has sponsored lectures, held breakfast meetings, gave laboratory tours to local high school students and are working on new outreach and recruitment efforts, including social events involving food!

Anne Sherren thanked all of the delegates for the inspirational chapter reports!

Sources of Iota Sigma Pi

Supplies and Information

Supplies

The publicity pamphlets: "Membership Information" and "National Awards". History, Constitution and Bylaws, Rituals of Iota Sigma Pi, Rules and Regulations, The Iotan, Speakers Bureau

Supplies Coordinator

Jeanne M. Buccigross

3891 Stillwell Rd.

Hamilton, OH 45013

Initiation

Membership Application

Report of Initiation Forms

National Secretary

Forming a Chapter

Procedural information and application forms

National Vice President

Charter Certificates

National Historian

Financial Reports

Financial Report Forms

National Treasurer

Awards

Awards criteria and nominations forms

Director for Professional Awards

Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award

National Honorary Member

Award for Professional Excellence

Director for Student Awards

National Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry

Anna Louise Hoffman Graduate Research Achievement Award

Gladys Anderson Emerson Scholarship

Dues

Dues statements and payments

National Treasurer

Chapter Operations

Changes in the Chapter Officers list

Forms for reporting local elected officers

National Vice President

Address Labels and Membership List

Change of address and member death

Records Chair

Historical Information

National Historian

***

See National Council listings elsewhere in The Iotan for officers' names and addresss.

February, 2000

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Member News

Fellowships Available at University of

North Dakota

The University of North Dakota has been selected to receive funding under the Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program (GAANN). Funding from federal and local sources will support six Fellows with stipends, tuition, fees, and allowances for books, supplies, travel, and research expenses. Students eligible for the program will be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have financial need, have excellent academic records, and are planning to pursue the Ph.D. degree in chemistry. Detailed information will be available on the web site in the near future. The department web site is http://www.und.nodak.edu/dept/chem/mainpage.htm

If you know of students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry refer them to Kathryn. Thomasson@ mail. chem.und.nodak.edu or the department chair, Harmon Abrahamson, at harmon_abrahamson@ onyx. und.nodak.edu.

Eggleston named 1999 Outstanding Early Career Scientist

Gillian Eggleston (Cl) was the recipient of the 1999 Outstanding Early Career Scientist, Mid-South Area. Eggleston received her award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for research to help the sugar cane and sugar beet industries. Working with sugar refineries and factories, Eggleston tackled the costly problem of the loss of sucrose during sugar processing. According to industry estimates, a sucrose loss of less than 1 percent during processing can mean millions of dollars in annual losses.

"This is a prestigious Agricultural Research Service award. I had to go to Washington (D.C.) to receive it," Eggleston said. Eggleston is a research chemist and lead scientist at the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans.

Angela Hoffman (Pm), reported that the hazelnut tree contains the anti-cancer compound paclitaxel, better known as Taxol, at the American Chemical Society in San Francisco in March. Hoffman, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Portland, Oregon, has found Taxol in more than 12 different species of hazelnuts, in yields up to one-tenth of that from the yew, the current source of the drug. Taxol is used in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. Hoffman suggested that because paclitaxel is found in all parts of the tree, including the currently discarded shells and tree cuttings, there might be economic utilization of these products. Having alternative sources of the drug could lower costs.

Sharon Vercellotti (Cl) was elected to a two year term as Chair Elect of the Division of Small Chemical Businesses (DSCHB). There are approximately 800 members of this American Chemical Society Division.

You May Be In the

Member Spotlight!

by Sharon Vercellotti, (Cl) Editor, The Iotan

We will have a random drawing from the roster to select the next lucky Iotan for the Member Spotlight. Chris Rener, Member Spotlight Editor, will mail you a notice with the information needed for your article approximately 4-6 weeks before each issue deadline. A picture would be appreciated, but is not necessary. This is voluntary, so if you receive a notice, please reply with permission to be featured. Thanks for your participation.

2000 Iota Sigma Pi

Student Awards

by Lily Ng, (F) Director for Student Awards

Gladys Anderson Emerson

Scholarship

Veronika Gagovic

North Central College

Undergraduate Award

Angel Chan

Western Illinois University

Anna Louise Hoffman Award

Laura Kaufman

University of California-Berkeley

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who have been involved in nominating them, especially to Anne Sherren and North Central.

More information on the award winners will be featured in the next issue of The Iotan.

Science Articles Needed

We need your science articles - up to 250 words. You may write about your own reseaerch or an article of interest. Send to our science editor, Dawn Norman, 4 Consulate Drive, Apt. 4B, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 (dawn319@juno.com).

Bookmark the Iota Sigma Pi web site.

http://chem-faculty.ucsd.edu/

sawrey/ISP

Page February, 2000

The most common mistake with press releases is putting the most important information at the end rather than at the very beginning where it belongs.

Please remember that you are not writing O. Henry-style literary pieces with surprise endings — Don't save the best for last! Put everything important (the five Ws and the one H, if applicable) in the first paragraph or two. This important information is called "the lead" and you always lead with the lead. A press release is written inverted-pyramid style, with the heavy stuff first and the less important information afterwards. In other words, expand on your lead after you make certain that your opening has all the vital facts.

Remember, too, that chronology is important only if you are creating a calendar. For a press release, you must forget chronology and use your most newsworthy item as the opening lead sentence, even if chronologically it would appear at the end.

Information provided by the American Association of University Women.

Where, should be answered by every press release. Why and How should be answered whenever appropriate. For When, include day of week as well as date (Saturday, Oct. 17,) and include a.m. or p.m. with the time (11 a.m. or 1 p.m., not 11 o'clock in the morning or 1 o'clock in the afternoon).

Proofread carefully, then proofread again. And again. Better still, have someone else proofread also.

Produce letter-perfect press releases—don't send it with strike-overs or with corrections inked in or XXXed out.

Photocopied press releases are fine, of course—just make certain that your photocopies are sharp and clear enough to pass for originals.

Tips for Producing Press Releases

Visibility is important for organizations in order to recruit new members and to inform the public its role. A good press release is essential in achieving visibility. Following are a number of tips.

All press releases should be typewritten, and if possible, only one-page long.

If you must use more than one page, put the word (more) in parentheses at the bottom of the first page. Then, at the top of the second page, again in parentheses, put (cont. —Your chapter, ISP).

Use double-spaced lines. If necessary to fit your release on one page, use one and one-half instead.

Use only one side of paper.

Include release date-the month, day and year.

Include the phrase "For Immediate Release" at the top—don't send it until it can be used immediately.

Include name and telephone number of contact person or persons.

Always remember to ask yourself the five Ws and the one H: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? Those first four, Who,What, When, and

The Iotan

Editor Sharon V. Vercellotti - sharon.vercellotti@v-labs.com

Feature Editors

Member Spotlight Chris Rener - rener@carthage.edu

Industrial Chemist Gretchen Shearer - gshearer@mccrone.com

Member Outreach Margaret Workman - mworkman@wppost.depaul.edu

Science Dawn Norman - dawn319@juno.com

Manuscripts for publication in The Iotan may be submitted to the Editor at the address listed elsewhere in this newsletter. Suggestions for articles for the Special Editors are appreciated. Feature articles and book reviews are acceptable. Documents should be on floppy disk, or emailed, typed, double spaced, and no longer than one page.

Deadlines for consideration for the November, February, and May issues, respectively, are September 15, December 15 and March 15. Manuscripts will not be returned and are subject to editing. Publication is based on editorial assessment of reader interest and space available.

Letters to the Editor are encouraged and may be published. Letters should be no longer than 250 words.

February, 2000

Page

grown produce reduces the amount of energy spent transporting produce across the country. Of course, eating a locally grown peach at the peak of the season is a guilt-fee indulgence in pure pleasure.

There is a mountain of evidence that all fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are protective against many diseases. So, treat yourself to lots of servings of a variety of these foods, and buy organic and locally grown when possible!

1. http://www.consumersunion.org/food/do_you_know1.htm

2. http://www.toxicology.org/President's%20Section/

The author is a postdoc at the Penn State College of Medicine, chair of her local section of the American Chemical Society, and a member of the American Society for Nutritional Science and the Society of Toxicology.

Elise A. Malecki

Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy

Penn State College of Medicine

PO Box 850

Hershey PA 17033-0850

717-531-4716, 717-531-5203 lab

717-531-5184

IOTA SIGMA PI

NATIONAL COUNCIL 1999 - 2002

President

Susan S. Marine

Miami University Middletown

4200 East University Blvd.

Middletown, OH 45042-3497

(513)422-1683 (h)

(513)727-3372 (w)

(513)727-3462 (fax)

mariness@muohio.edu

Vice President

Donna J. Nelson

Dept of Chemistry

University of Oklahoma

Norman, OK 73019

(405)325-2288 (w)

(405)325-6111 (fax)

DJNelson@chemdept.ou.edu

Secretary

Janet R. Clark

Exxon Research & Development Labs

P.O. Box 2226

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

(225)769-2089 (h)

(225)359-8551 (w)

(225)359-1138 (fax)

jrclark@erenj.com

Treasurer

Kathryn Louie

Dept. Of Pediatrics

Children's Nutrition Research Center

1100 Bates, Room 7060

MC 5-1000

Houston, TX 77030-2600

(713)799-8429 (h)

(713)798-7160 (w)

(713)798-7119 (fax)

louie@bcm.tmc.edu

Records Chair

Patricia A. Fish

May-Oct 1213 South Shore Court

Amery, WI 54001-5102

(715)268-4632

Oct-May 16588 Bear Cub Ct.

Fort Myers, FL 33908-4323

(941)466-8381

lapafish@hotmail.com

Editor

Sharon V. Vercellotti

V-LABS, INC.

423 N. Theard Street

Covington, LA 70433

(504)893-0533 (w) (h)

(504)893-0517 (fax)

sharon.vercellotti@v-labs.com

Historian

Anne T. Sherren

North Central College

P.O. Box 3063

Naperville, IL 60566-7063

(630)637-5193-(w)

(630)637-5121-fax

ats@noctrl.edu

Coordinator of Members-at-Large

Kathryn A. Thomasson

University of North Dakota

Chemistry Dept. Box 9024

Grand Forks, ND 58202-9024

(701)777-3199 (w)

(701)777-2331 (fax)

Kathryn.thomasson@mail.chem.und.nodak.edu

Director for Professional Awards

Christine K. F. Hermann

Box 694, Dept of Chemistry & Physics

Radford University

Radford, VA 24142

(540) 639-6705 (h)

(540)831-5413 (w)

(540)831-6615 (fax)

chermann@runet.edu

Director for Student Awards

Lily Ng

Department of Chemistry

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH 44115

(216)687-2467 (w)

(216)687-9298 (fax)

l.ng@popmail.csuohio.edu

Immediate Past President

Linda C. Brazdil

Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy

Office of Research and Evaluation

1500 W. Sullivan Road

Aurora IL 60506-1000

(630)907-5069 (w)

(630)907-5918 (fax)

brazdil@imsa.edu

Do you want to

become a speaker?

Iota Sigma Pi's Speakers Bureau listings are being updated. If you would like to be included, please contact Chris Hermann, Director for Professional Awards. Speakers are listed with their topics of expertise. The Speaker's Bureau can be distributed in your community and is on the ISP web site. This program promotes visibility for women scientists and ISP.

February, 2000

Page

The Iotan

Sharon V. Vercellotti, Editor

423 North Theard Street

COVINGTON LA 70433-2837

US

Please send news and information to

Sharon V. Vercellotti, Editor

(504)893-0517 - fax

sharon.vercellotti@v-labs.com

or to one of our feature editors

listed in the masthead

Wait!

News about you makes this publication interesting for other Iotans.

Please take a few minutes to jot down what you are doing.

1) Speeches, papers, symposia, invited talks

2) Publications, patents, grants awarded

3) New positions, appointments, promotions, awards, honors

retirements, postdoctoral research

4) Offices held in professional societies

5) Avocational achievements, miscellaneous

Items for "Resources" or "Chapter News" are also solicited. Send a photo of your activity. Please include your chapter name.

Page February, 2000