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Sean Hower wondered: <<I was thinking about joining IEEEComSoc. Can
anyone who is a member give me a quick rundown on what you see as the
benefits of joining? I've read through their Web site, and I've
contacted the head of the local chapter for more information. What I
want right now is the tech writer's perspective, if any, on this org.>>
I'm not a member, but that's not to express any critical judgment of
IEEE; it's simply that I only have so much energy, and that energy is
currently devoted to STC. IEEE's PCS has a good journal, with lots of
practical advice presented in a more rigorous manner, and a good
newsletter, with even more practical advice but present more
informally. They're smaller than STC, but have an equally good
reputation.
I'd say that the overall quality of their publications is similar to
that of STC, but that they have a recognizably different "flavor"--one
that I'd be hard put to define, though IEEE members seem much more
heavily focused on computers and telecomm; STC seems more diverse, with
a healthy population of scientific communicators, policies and
procedures people, and other specialties including instructional
design. Have a look at the STC web site for examples of their SIGs
(http://www.stc.org/sig_links.asp). I'm not sufficiently familiar with
PCS to tell you how diverse they are; I do know enough of their members
to be able to say with confidence that they include many top-notch
people who are every bit as eager as STC members to provide advice and
assistance.
For what it's worth, many people belong to both professional groups,
and take advantage of the unique things provided by both
organization--and many of these unique things are the people (members),
who differ between the organizations. The key to getting significant
benefits, whether from STC or IEEE, is more than just the publications:
it's really the people. Thus, find out what your local chapter of both
organizations is doing, and who is involved in that chapter. (Note that
the chapter, like techwr-l, can be entirely virtual.) It's the human
interactions facilitated by the professional society that give you the
real bang for the buck, and you'll have to interact with these people
to obtain the maximum benefit.
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