A Proposal for the Expansion of DPOLY Motivation: Increase the breadth of Divisional focus to include soft matter materials research that has overlap in interests yet is not polymeric. What would change: * Our name (Division of Polymer and Soft Matter Physics) and our acronym (DPOSM); * Regular sorting categories expanded; * Membership increase anticipated at 20% ± 5%; * Broader range of Short Course topics What would not change: * Our prizes and awards; * Retain our current regular sorting categories; * Commensurate numbers of Fellows, meeting rooms at APS; * Co-sponsoring sessions with other Divisions (e.g. DBP).

Our Major Prizes and Awards Polymer Physics Prize To recognize outstanding accomplishment and excellence of contributions in polymer physics research. John H. Dillon Medal To recognize outstanding research accomplishments by young polymer physicists who have demonstrated exceptional research promise early in their careers. Frank J. Padden Jr. Award The Frank J. Padden, Jr. Award, consisting of a certificate and appropriate recognition, honors a graduate student for "Excellence in Polymer Physics Research.

Timeline: * Presentation and discussion at Business Meeting (30 minutes); * These slides & summary of Business Meeting remarks will be posted on our website as soon as possible; * Vote on proposal to APS Council in early April; * If 2/3 of membership who choose to vote approves then proposal to APS Divisional Council; * APS Council vote in early November; * Subsequent final vote by DPOLY membership; 2/3 of membership who choose to vote needed (Bylaws).

DPOLY The Division of Polymer Physics focuses on the physics of natural and synthetic macromolecular substances. DPOSM The Division of Polymer and Soft Matter Physics focuses on the physics of natural and synthetic macromolecular substances, as well as on areas in soft matter physics that involve materials: glasses, colloids, emulsions, foams, liquid crystals, gels, other network-forming and self- assembling substances, and complex systems.

2012 APS Sorting Category 1: Polymers and Soft Matter Physics (DPOLY) 01.1 Focus Sessions 01.2 Semi Crystalline Polymers 01.3 Liquid Crystalline Order in Polymers, Soft Matter and Complex Fluids 01.4 Polymeric Glasses 01.5 Polymer Melts and Solutions 01.6 Elastomers and Gels 01.7 Charged and Ion-Containing Polymers 01.8 Physics of Copolymers 01.9 Polymer Blends Polymer Composites Electrically and Optically Active Polymers Surfaces, Interfaces, and Polymeric Thin Films Friction, Adhesion, and Fracture of Polymers Biopolymers: Molecules, Solutions, Networks, and Gels New Experimental, Theoretical, and Computational Methods in Polymer and Soft Matter Physics

Subset of recent focus sessions ~ not co-sponsored * Crystallization in Multicomponent and Hybrid Systems * Directed Assembly of Hybrid Materials * Heterogeneous Colloids * Fluctuation-Induced Forces in Soft Matter and Polymeric Systems * Gelation and Glass Transition in Colloids and Soft Matter Systems * Soft Matter Physics of Drops, Bubbles, Foams and Emulsions * Nano to Meso-scale Structure in Ordered Soft Matter: Liquid Crystals and Liquid Crystal Elastomers * Crystallization in Confined Geometry * Hierarchically and Templated Ordered Systems * Glass Transition in Thin Films * Elastomers and Gels * Nano to Meso-scale Structure in Ordered Soft Matter: Liquid Crystals and Liquid Crystal Elastomers

2012 APS Sorting Category 2: Soft Condensed Matter Physics 2.1. Focus Topics 2.2. Colloids, Emulsions, & Foams 2.3. Liquid Crystals 2.4. Membranes, Micelles, and Vesicles 2.5 Gels and complex fluids 2.6. Disordered and Glassy Systems (including Jamming) 2.7. Granular Materials 2.8. Self- and Directed Assembly

Consider ~ * We are an active Division: typical year: 2.8 % APS membership; 11% March meeting abstracts this year:2.73% membership; 14.6% abstracts * Recent array of focus sessions indicate intellectual embrace of materials- oriented soft matter; * Focus sessions vary year-to-year  stability of regular sorting categories is needed to turn a perch into a home; * easier to choose sorting category for materials soft matter colleagues * ability to coordinate sessions and rooms * allow for somewhat broader audience at talks