TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Leonard C. Porrello
> Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 17:49
> To: Bill Swallow
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: STC is broken
>
> I hope you'll report back to share with those of us who no longer
belong
> to the STC.
My shallow and lacking take on the value of the STC to me, and of me to
the STC:
It's costing my company some number (I forget) of dollars to allow me
and three other writers at other offices to put "Member - Society for
Technical Communication" on our resumes.
Apparently, the company is not prepared to spring for a trip to the US
midwest (the annual conference) for any of us, let alone all of us, so
I'm not sure what the value is. Last year, I had one or two SIGs
selected, and got not a single e-mail, so this year I elected not to
select any. Not being an expert, I would not have jumped in without at
least getting a feel for what they were doing first - according to my
inbox, nothing. I forget if I'm a "member at large" or a member of the
local STCEO (STC of Eastern Ontario [Canada]), but the STCEO meetings
seem to fall on the same night as those of an organization that I
actually pay for out-of-pocket and am avidly interested in, so no
attendance at STCEO from me.
I get (and give when I can) support on this and other more specialized
mailing lists, so STC is no additional help there, and I'm no help to
them. Overall, I think that, by proxy (my employer's accounts-payable
dept.), I'm of some small financial help to STC. That's about the extent
of the relationship.
In a previous life (and a previous century) I was a member and attended
a couple of the conferences (back when there were travel and
professional-development budgets), and enjoyed it, and actually read the
printed publications that I received from STC. Then I dropped out for
about six years and resumed only a couple of years ago, possibly out of
nostalgia.
Certainly, I wouldn't mind a trip and a few days of stimulating sessions
and presentations, but not to the extent that I'd lay out a couple of
thousand of my own dollars to do it. If I get a few grand ahead in the
bank account, I'm buying a RANS Cruz or Citi crank-forward bicycle to
replace the 12-year-old hybrid wreck that I stopped riding last summer,
and another for my wife (who is also nearly of an age to appreciate that
sort of thing.... sorry Hon... :-).
So, where were we? STC relevance... er... um.... hang on, I'm
thinkin'...
Kevin
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission
may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected
from disclosure. If you have received this communication in
error, please notify us immediately by replying to this
message and deleting it from your computer without copying
or disclosing it.
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
