The Egg Nog Gala is an annual Chemists' Club event held in December at the New York Academy of Sciences. Thanks to corporate sponsorship, the gala provides an excellent opportunity for current students and professionals from across the chemical process industries to connect and interact with each other. A long-standing tradition of the Chemists‘ Club, the Egg Nog Gala began in 1898.
The Egg Nog Gala is an opportunity for members to connect with other industry professionals and for students to promote themselves as well. The gala consists of cocktails, dinner, and a ceremony and presentation of the Winthrop-Sears award. The Winthrop-Sears award began in 1970 and is presented to an individual who has made major contributions to the chemical process industry and humanity.
The Egg Nog Gala is a respected event with many traditions, most notably the passing of the eggnog recipe. This ritual, almost as old as the Egg Nog Gala itself, is a rite of passage between the past president of the Chemists‘ Club and the current president in which a secret eggnog recipe is handed down to the incoming president. The new president is then able to prepare this secret recipe, which is then ceremoniously added to the eggnog and served to members of the party. Following the "spiking of the nog" ritual and with an eggnog glass in every hand, the gala can now officially commence.
Thanks to corporate sponsorship, student members are able to attend the Egg Nog Gala free of charge. The Chemists‘ Club stands out from other organizations due to the professional exposure it provides to its student members. Students are not only trusted with the responsibility of planning events but are also given the chance to learn how to interact with professionals that they may work with in the future.
Read more about the Winthrop-Sears Award here.
The first Egg Nog Gala was held in December 1898, the same year the Chemists‘ Club was created. From the first get-together at the original Chemists‘ Club House at 108 West 55th Street to its current location at the New York Academy of Sciences, the Egg Nog Gala has always been a highlight of the year.2 What began as a simple meeting and dinner for Chemists‘ Club members has now become a special event that brings together people from all stages of life and industrial backgrounds.4
In 1911, due to the growing demand, the Chemists‘ Club moved to a new clubhouse at 52 East 41st Street. This would be the club's home and location for many memorable Egg Nog Gala events until 1987. Rumford Hall was the auditorium on the first floor that hosted the Egg Nog Gala. Every December, more than 200 individuals converged in this great hall to mingle with fellow professionals and celebrate the end of another year.
After selling the Chemists‘ Building in 1987, the club used multiple locations in the coming years to host the Egg Nog Gala.5 From the newly leased premises at 40 West 45th Street in 1993, to the Women‘s National Republican Club on 51st Street and the Penn Club on 44th Street in subsequent years, to the current location at the New York Academy of Sciences, the gala continues to be a beloved annual event for its members.
In 2010, Roland Stefandl, the new president of the Chemists‘ Club, proposed a change in the club‘s policy to allow for student integration. He realized that for the continued success and growth of the club, current undergraduates and graduates in the chemical sciences needed to be added to the fold. In December 2012, with the support of the Dow Chemical Company, 50 students were able to attend the Egg Nog Gala free of charge.
Seeing the success of the party and the approval from both professionals and students, the Chemists‘ Club opened up membership to students at New York colleges and universities. New York University (NYU) was the first to organize a Chemists‘ Club university chapter, followed by the City College of New York, the Cooper Union, and Columbia University. Now, with the support of corporate sponsorship, student members are able to attend and help organize the Egg Nog Gala every December.4
The Egg Nog Gala is an annual Chemists' Club event held in December at the New York Academy of Sciences. Thanks to corporate sponsorship, the gala provides an excellent opportunity for current students and professionals from across the chemical process industries to connect and interact with each other.
Located on the 40th floor of the New York Academy of Sciences, Chemists‘ Club members and guests may enjoy great food, drink, and company, with an amazing backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. During this time, professionals have the opportunity to network with customers and industry members, and students are able to practice presenting themselves in a professional setting.
The evening gala starts with cocktails, followed by the eggnog ceremony and dinner. Every table combines professionals and students, allowing dinner to provide further opportunities for students and professionals to connect. During this time, the Winthrop-Sears award is presented to an individual who has made major contributions to the chemical process industry and humanity. The Chemists‘ Club proudly stands out from other chemical organizations due to the professional exposure it provides to its student members (dues free). Students are not only trusted with the responsibility of planning events; they are also given the chance to connect with professionals and learn how to promote themselves to others.
The Egg Nog Gala is a respected event with many traditions, most notably the passing of the eggnog recipe. This ritual, almost as old as the Egg Nog Gala itself, is a rite of passage between the past president of the Chemists‘ Club and the current president in which a secret eggnog recipe is handed down to the incoming president. The new president is then able to prepare this secret recipe, which is then ceremoniously added to the eggnog and served to members of the party. Following the "spiking of the nog" ritual and with an eggnog glass in every hand, the gala can now officially commence.
In recent years, new activities have been added to the Egg Nog Gala to update the celebration. For example, as guests leave the dining room after dinner to mingle, people are able to pick up desserts to enjoy as well. This adds to the holiday spirit that is felt by every individual who attends the gala. Finally, members and guests may enjoy specialty craft beers from around the world generously provided by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company.
The Winthrop-Sears medal, established in 1970 by the Chemists‘ Club to recognize an individual who has contributed to the chemical process industry and humanity, is presented during the gala‘s dinner every year. This medal is named in memory of two of America‘s earliest chemical entrepreneurs, John Winthrop Jr., widely considered to be the first chemist in America, and John Sears, founder of the Massachusetts salt industry. An honor for any individual and company, the Winthrop-Sears award offers an opportunity for the Egg Nog Gala to highlight and recognize an individual whose achievements contribute to the betterment of humanity.
Howe, H. E. (Ed.). (1928). The Chemists' Club of New York. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 6(20), 1-1.
Killeffer, D. H. (1957). Six Decades of The Chemists' Club. New York, NY: Chemists' Club.
Park, S. (2012, November 12). NYU opens first university chapter of Chemists' Club. Washington Square News, pp. 1-3.
The Chemists‘ Club: Fifty Years of History. (1948). Chemical Heritage Foundation.
The Chemists' Club: One Hundred Years in the Chemical Community. (1998). Chemical Heritage Foundation.
