This petition above was sent to Robe1i C. Thorburn, Chairn1an, Standing Committee on Local Chapters (c/o General Electric Company, San Jose, California) with a 29 March 1960 cover letter1 from R.J.

Cloutier, Radiation Officer, which indicated that to handle the details of establishment of a Chapter, a forn1ing committee had been appointed, consisting of Roger J. Cloutier, Chairman, Joseph A. Lenhard, T.H.J. Bernett, G.R. Patterson, Jr., and A.F. Becher, with request that all c01Tespondence relating to the fonnation of this Chapter be directed to the Chairman.

Thorburn, in his 8 April 1960 reply, enclosed a fonn for a Chapter Charter as recommended for use by the Board of Directors, with the comment that he felt somewhat like “can-ying coals to Newcastle.”

An organizational meeting was called for 18 May 1960 at the ORINS (now ORAU) Special Training Building, Room 18, by the forming committee, signed by R. J. Cloutier (Chainnan), J.A. Lenhard, T.H.J. Bernett, G.R. Patterson, Jr., and A.F. Becher, then representing ORINS, ORO, ORNL, Y-12, and K-25.

Those present on 18 May 1960, signing the attendance sheet were:

T.H.J. Burnett, R.J. Cloutier, G.R. Patterson, Jr., A.F. Becher, J.A. Lenhard, C.M. West, M. Sanders, M.B. Edwards, Edmond Roberts, Jr., H.H. Abee, Adrian H. Dahl, Charles H. Miller, Fred F. Haywood, R.H. Boyett, Jack W. Youngblood, Newell D. Barker, Neil B. Schultz, William P. Ellis, Loy H. Sipe, B.F. Shinn, Dallas Yeager, James S. Brown, Jr., B.F. Rutherford, Art Schoen, Paul C. McRee, Paul R. Guinn, W.E. Muldrew, J.F. Jem1ings, J.G. Kelly, T.B. Bomar, Gorman S. Hill, Harry E. Marshall.

Roger Cloutier presided as Chainnan for the 18 May organizational meeting. Tom Burnett presented some views on Why a Local Chapter? – pointing to the benefits to be derived from becoming better acquainted with others in the field, exchanging views on radiation control practices, debating the differences that may exist in some of the technical or philosophical aspects of health physics controls, and the opportunities for development of the profession which can evolve from the interactions among groups who may have varying specialized interests.

Elected on 16 July 1960 were President Patterson, President-Elect Auxier, Secretary Burnett, and Treasurer Sutherland.

The first Nominating Committee, appointed 6 October 1960 by the Executive Council of the Chapter, consisted of J.A. Lenhard, N.B. Schultz, J.D. McLendon, A.H. Dahl, and G.F. Stone, by notification from Chapter President G.R. Patterson, Jr., in his letter dated 13 October 1960.

Thus, by the Record, was born in 1960 the East Tennessee Chapter of the Health Physics Society.

What is the task charged to the Chapter, its parent Society, and the International Radiation Protection Association, of which the latter Society is an Associate Member? This may need updating, but in 1956 “Health Physics” was defined by Claus2 as the task of working toward the provision for and implementation of protection to all living things against the potential hazards of radiation, while at the same time making it possible for the human race to enjoy all the benefits which may arise from the use of atomic energy.