Document ag5w9MYK3emqJZEGjebBXym9

November 15, 1955 (342) MINUTES of the fifty-third meeting of the Directors of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. , held at the Union Club, New York City, on November 8, 1955, at 11:00 a.m. (EST), There were present: Messrs. V. G. Bartram Howard S. Bunn JohnD. Fennebresque Harry S. Ferguson JohnE. Gillis R. K. Gottshall Ernest Hart JohnR. Hoover JohnE. McKeen Ernest W. Reid William H. Ward Robert I. Wishnick J. Albert Woods M. F. Crass, Jr. Alternates: John T. Connor (for J. J. Kerrigan) Bert Gremers (for Robert B. Semple) R. B. Fiske (for Kenneth C. Towe) S. W. Jacobs (for J. Clarke Cassidy) Charles S. Munson (for John A. Hill) James G. Park (for O. V. Tracy) George Schneider (for JohnD. Fennebresque) Present by Invitation: Elliot Balestier, Jr. - The Visking Corporation J. C. Dart - Houdry Process Corporation William P. Drake - Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company J, M. Gillet - Victor Chemical Works Richard T. Kropf - Belding Corticelli Industries, Inc Marx Leva - Fowler, Leva, Hawes & Symington Robert K. Mueller - Monsanto Chemical Company John A. Scott - Sinclair Chemicals, Inc. After calling the meeting to order, the Chairman welcomed the guests and invited them to participate in the discussion. I- MINUTES OF MEETING. With reference to the October 11, 1955, meeting, at which a quorum was not present, it was announced that the Executive Committee had ratified toe minutes of that meeting at an earlier session. CMA 067287 (343^ II. TREASURER'S REPORT. Monthly Report. The financial report for the period October 1 - 31, 1955, was reviewed, and ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the report be accepted and placed on file. III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) Resignation of JohnD, Fennebresque. It was announced that a letter of resignation had been received from Mr. Fennebresque occasioned by his leaving Celanese Corporation of America to accept a position with another company. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the resignation be accepted with regret. (b) Election of Mr. George Schneider. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That Mr. George Schneider, Vice President, Celanese Corporation of America, be elected to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Fennebresque's resignation for the balance of the fiscal year. (c) Appointment of Alternates. The Board approved the appointment of: John T. Connor for J, J. Kerrigan, replacing Henry Gadsden John D. Fennebresque for Ernest Hart, replacing Paul L. Davies S. W. Jacobs for J. Clarke Cassidy (d) Membership Committee. It was reported that application had been received from Shea Chemical Corporation and that, in the opinion of the Membership Committee, the applicant is qualified for membership under the Association-'s By-Laws. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the application be approved subject to the 30-day notification to members provided under Article III, Section 4, of the By-Laws. (e) 5th Semi-Annual Meeting. Those present were handed copies of lHe preliminary printed program for the 5th Semi-Annual Meeting to be held at lbe New York Statler on November ZZ, 1955. Chairman Reid thanked members CMA 067288 (344) of his Committee, and the staff, for preparing what appears to be a most constructive and well-balanced program. A number of member prospects have been invited to this meeting as guests. (f) March 1956 Directors1 Meeting in California. It was reported that Messrs. Paul L,. Davies and George L,. Parkhurst had agreed to serve as an Arrangements Committee in connection with the March 15 - 18, 1956, Directors' meeting at Pebble Beach, California. Nineteen Directors and three alternates have already indicated that they will attend, and only one Director has definitely stated that he will not be present. The Arrange ments Committee plans to invite a number of chemical executives from the West Coast to participate in the meeting. IV. STAFF REPORT. (a) Chemical Progress Week. The Texas Chemical Council has voted to participate in Chemical Progress Week (April 23 - 28, 1956). Organization of company representation is well under way. Introduction of the paper covered popular book "The World of Chemistry" will take place initially during Chemical Progress Week, and member firms will be given an opportunity to purchase these books in quanitity at a reasonable price. (b) Unification of Packaging Committees. Consolidation of the packaging committees was initiated in 1950 with incorporation of the Glass and Wood Packages into the Miscellaneous Packages Committee. At meetings last week, the Metal and Miscellaneous Packages Committees voted to consolidate all small package activities into a unified "Chemical Packaging Committee, " subject to ratification by the Board of Directors. The new setup will provide for increased membership representation and greater efficiency, since a number of subcommittees will be appointed to handle major project classifications. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the foregoing unification measure be approved. (c) Dangerous Materials -- International Regulations. It was reported that the U. S. Coast Guard has rejected a State Department proposal calling for the international regulation of dangerous materials. Basis of Coast Guard action consisted in large part of material previously presented by MCA in written and oral statements. The rejection did not include symbolic labeling which MCA favors. (d) Canadian Representation on Committees. Mr. Bartram reported that on the basis of conversations between the Secretary and Canadian members, the way had been cleared for Canadian representalion on approximately 12 of the Association's technical and functional I cmmittees. CMA 067289 1 (345) (e) White House Conference. The Association's statement "Education for the Age of Science" has been completed, and copies were presented to those present. The statement in printed form will be distributed extensively to schools, member firms, and to public relations media. (f) Employment of Mr. C. A. Smith. Mr. C. Alphonso Smith has been employed by the Association as Director of Publications, succeeding Mr. W. E. Chace, who is now Director of Education. Mr. Smith has had extensive writing and publications experience both with Government and private industry. (g) Speeches. On October 24, Chairman Hoover addressed the Salesmen's Association of The American Chemical Industry on the subject "The Impact of the Chemical Industry on Today's Business." Mr. Crass will address the 20th Annual Meeting of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. on November 17, having as his subject "Air Pollution Abatement in the Chemical Industry. " On December 7, General Hull will deliver the principal address in Philadelphia on the occasion of the pre sentation of the Chemical Engineering Achievement Award to the Dow Corning Corporation. On November 7, Mr. Hoover made a film which will receive extensive TV coverage and school movie distribution next spring. Mr. Hoover's remarks were concerned with the importance of scientific education. (h) ASME Anniversary. The appointment of Mr. Granville M. Read, Chief Engineer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. , Inc. , as the official MCA representative at the 75th Anniversary meeting of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers was approved. (i) Chemical and Engineering News. The appointment of Mr. Crass as a member of the Advisory Board of Chemical and Engineering News American Chetnical Society) was approved. (j) Bulletin Mastheads. Those present were handed copies of the newly designed distinctive letterheads which will be used shortly for all of the Association's regular bulletins. (k) Chemical Exhibits. It was reported that the chemical exhibits such places as the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the Smithsonian in Washington, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago are anti quated and in poor physical shape. Recognizing that displays of this type ire seen annually by many millions of people, it has been proposed that the Public Relations Advisory Committee look into the matter and determine the approximate cost of rehabilitating these exhibits and bringing them up t date. CMA 067290 (346) ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the PRAC be instructed to appoint a subcommittee to study the field of science and industry museum exhibits on chemistry in order to determine the impact of such exhibits and their costs; and to report its findings to the Board of Directors, together with recommendations con cerning how such exhibits might be sponsored on an industry basis through the Association. __ V. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) Mechanical Technical Committee -- Terms of Reference. At the last meeting of the Board, those present approved organization of an MCA Mechanical Technical Committee as recommended by a special ad hoc group and staff, subject to terms of reference to be approved by the Board, prior to the meeting, all Directors were supplied with copies of a draft of such terms of reference, prepared by Counsel and cleared by the ad hoc committee and staff. Following discussion, it was ON MOTION duly made and seconded, unanimously VOTED: That the terms of reference as presented be approved and that the Secretary be authorized to proceed with organization of the committee. Copy of the terms of reference is attached to and made a part of these minutes. In discussion of the foregoing, it was the sense of those present that MCA activity in the field outlined be limited to the terms of reference as set forth above and that chemical end-products be specifically excluded from con sideration. This same viewpoint had previously been expressed by the Ad Hoc Committee referred to above. (b) Renegotiation. It was reported that the Renegotiation Board had officially extended the stock item exemption until expiration of the present Act on December 31, 1956. Acting on the invitation of the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, the Association on November 4 submitted a detailed brief, setting forth explicit reasons why MCA felt there was no necessity for continuing the Renegotiation Act beyond its expiration date. The statement was prepared by Staff Counsel with the assistance of an ad hoc group and cleared the Tax Policy Committee prior to its submittal. (c) International Chemical Employers Advisory Group. Mr. R. K. Mueller attended the October 28 - 29 meeting of this group in Brussels as *n observer, and presented a brief report with respect to the discussion the Brussels Meeting of items which may come before the next meeting f the ILO Chemical Industries Committee. CMA 067291 (347) (d) Chemicals in Foods. Mr. J. M. Gillet, Chairman of the Chemicals in Foods Committee, reported to the Board on the present status of chemicals in foods legislation, in accordance with the wishes of the Chemicals in Foods Committee as expressed at a meeting held on October 27. Following Mr. Gillet's report, there was general discussion by members of the Board, cul minating in an expression of confidence in the work of the Committee by the full Board. In addition to expressing its confidence in the work of the Com mittee, the Board instructed the Committee to continue with its efforts to seek a common meeting ground with the various food industry groups. Individual Board members offered to assist in any way that they could with leaders of the food industry, and it was agreed that they would assist in this manner when called upon to do so by members of the Chemicals in Foods Committee, Finally, it was agreed that the Board would take definitive action at its January 1956 meeting with respect to the nature of MCA's testimony at the forthcoming Congressional hearings. The Board also requested that Mr. Gillet submit an interim report to the Board at its December meeting, if developments in the next month indicate that a report at that time would be helpful. (e) Atomic Energy. (1) National Standardization, MCA has been invited by the American Standards Association to send a representative to a General Conference in Washington on December 8, 1955, at which time the general problem of whether or not nuclear standards should be considered will be discussed. In making its proposal, ASA mentioned specifically safety standards, disposal of waste procedures, specifications of reactor components and fuels, and standards in the field of chemistry, metallurgy, and fabrication of reprocessed fuels. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That Dr. L,. M. Currie, Union Carbide Nuclear Company, be designated as MCA's representative at the Conference. (2.) Atomic Energy Panel. The Secretary discussed the Panel on the Impact of the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, which was set up by the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy last April, and which is now conducting seminar discussions in Washington. It has been ascertained that many individuals have been invited to present : material to the panel, but that these individuals for the most part repre sent industries other than the chemical industry. Since the final report of the panel, to be published early next year, will be an official and important document, apprehension has been expressed that reference to the chemical industry and the part which it has played in nuclear CMA 067292 1 (348) developments to date might not appear in the report unless steps are taken to assure our participation in the panel's studies. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the appointment of an Atomic Energy Committee be approved, the scope of the activity of the Committee to be defined by the Board at a later date, and that the Secretary be instructed to proceed promptly with its organization, in order that the Committee may establish contact with the panel and be guided by such contacts in arranging suitable presentations. (f) Status of Alternates. The Association's By-Laws do not make specific provision for the appointment of Directors' alternates, and at the present time such alternates are not entitled to vote. At a previous meeting of the Executive Committee, the matter was discussed, and it was the con sensus that the appointment and voting rights of such alternates should be formalized in order that the business of the Board would not be hindered by the absence of a quorum at a meeting. It was agreed that Counsel would study the matter and report to the Board of Directors at a subsequent meeting. (g) Carnegie Tech Research Project. In Mr. McCurdy's absence, Mr. Ward reported further on the research projects of the American Petroleum Institute now being conducted under the direction of Dr. Frederick D. Rossini at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. MCA's current project is patterned after API Project No. 44 and is also under the direction of Dr. Rossini, API thinks very highly of Dr. Rossini's work. With reference to the future of the MCA project, it was agreed that the Research Advisory Committee should be requested to supply specific recommendations concerning (1) duration and cost of present project, and (2) duration and cost of subsequent work. There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. I APPROVED: JohnR. Hoover Chairman M. F. Crass, Jr. Secretary CMA 067293 Terms of Reference for the Mechanical Technical Committee The Board of Directors of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc., hereby resolves: (1) That, pursuant to Section 8 of Article V of the By-Laws of the Association, there shall be established, within the Association, a committee to be known as the Mechanical Technical Committee. (2) That the members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors from among technically qualified personnel of member companies, selection of the members of the Committee being conducted in a manner which will assure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the members of the Committee do not at any time, taken collectively, represent in numbers or volume of production a predominant position in any major segment of the chemical industry. (3) That the Mechanical Technical Committee is authorized to select its own Chairman and other officers and to adopt such other procedural rules as may be necessary or desirable within the framework of these Terms of Reference. (U) That the Mechanical Technical Committee shall keep and file with the Board of Directors adequate minutes of its meetings, and , shall keep adequate written records of its other operations and , proceedings which shall be available to the Board at its request. (5) That the Mechanical Technical Committee is authorized to perform i the functions set forth below, and such additional functions as may be 1 specifically authorized by Resolution of the Board of Directors, subject to the exercise of supervision over the performance of such functions . by the staff and counsel of the Association: (a) To assist the Association in connection with the centrifugal pump project heretofore initiated under the auspices of the American Standards Association. (b) To conduct preliminary studies of other mechanical technical projects; subject to the approval of any such project by the Board of Directors as a condition pre cedent to the carrying out of any such project that needs to be carried beyond the preliminary study stage. (c) To submit reports to the Board of Directors concerning projects falling within the purview of (b), above. CMA 067294 2 (d) To assist the Association in the carrying out of projects approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with (b), above. (e) To assist the Association's staff in maintaining liaison with the National Bureau of Standards, the Commodity Standards Division of the Department of Commerce, the American Standards Association, the American Society for Testing Materials, the American Society cf Mechanical Engineers, and other such organizations, in connection with mschanical technical natters of interest to the members of the Association. Draft Agreed to by Counsel, Staff, and Ad Hoc Committee October 2?, 1955 I CN1A 067295