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Subject:Summary: Joining STC Outside Nth America From:Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- FS -dot- COM -dot- AU> Date:Tue, 24 Oct 1995 15:15:12 +0800
I asked if there was a chapter of the Society for Technical Communication
(STC) that specialised in international members.
Here's a summary of the many helpful responses I got. If I get anything
wrong perhaps someone from the STC administration could correct me.
"The Society for Technical Communication is a professional association
dedicated to promoting technical communication. Currently the Society has
17,456 members worldwide, with 110 chapters. The membership is composed of
about 15,800 members in the U.S., over 1000 members in Canada, and over 500
members who are neither from the U.S. nor from Canada.
Membership includes writers, editors, illustrators, printers, publishers,
educators, students, engineers, and scientists in all areas of technology."
There are chapters in France, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and
Taiwan.
Normally you get assigned to the chapter for your area, but "... a member
may request a specific chapter affiliation where more than one chapter is
in bounds" (membership form). You can also request "unaffiliated" status.
According to the Membership Directory there are 52 unaffiliated STC
members in Australia.
There is an Australian STC with branches in New South Wales, Victoria,
Queensland and South Australia. In fact, the annual seminar is in Sydney
on November 3 & 4. This is separate from the international STC. Not sure
why. I believe there's also one or more STCs in Britain.
Several people suggested I start my own chapter. I may do this one day,
though I'd like to try being just-a-member first. You only need 15
members to form a chapter -- see the STC (stc -at- tmn -dot- com) for details.
Once you join, there are various 'Professional Interest Committees' or
PICs. A couple of people told me about the International Technical
Communication PIC. Other PICs include: Consulting and Contracting;
Online Information; Quality; Usability; etc. No 'Beer and Skiing' PIC
unfortunately.
Thanks to Mark, Andrea, Geoff, Sandra, James, LaVonna, Connie, Angela,
Betsy, Nancy and Bonni for advice and encouragement.
Hope to see you all at a conference one year.
Regards
---
Stuart Burnfield (slb -at- fs -dot- com -dot- au) Voice: +61 9 328 8288
Functional Software Fax: +61 9 328 8616
PO Box 192
Leederville, Western Australia, 6903
