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Subject:Re: note taking -Reply From:Chris Hamilton <chamilton -at- GR -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 24 Jul 1996 16:29:37 -0500
I don't think the concern is about being above doing certain things. Goodness knows
I've done of lot of things as a technical writer that had nothing to do with my
title and I'm glad to do them. In my last job, I volunteered to take minutes and
create agendas for three sets of meetings. But there's a big difference between
minutes (which document the groups activities and are very useful) and
transcription, which is what I understood the requirement was. I think in many
situations, technical writers are perceived as people who can't do the technical
work so they write about it. My main concern would be whether this is a problem at
this job and whether the clerical work added to that perception. If it does, that's
something you'd probably want to avoid if you can.
At any rate, whether a certain viewpoint on this issue makes someone a prima donna
is kind of irrelevant. If you don't mind it or don't have a choice but to do it,
you'll do it. If not, you'll be at the Xerox at Kinko's with Eric.
Bill Sullivan wrote:
> OK, so they've told you to take meeting notes. What concerns me as an
> observer to this confab, and also as one who occasionally wonders
> where working standards are going in this country, are the moans of
> those (fortunately, only a few) who think they are too good for this
> sort of work. A professional, as I conceive the term, would ask: How
> can I use this to bring my professionalism to bear and perhaps do
> something positive for the situation?
> I applaud the posts of John Posada, Chris Thiessen, Arlen Walker, and
> especially Karla McMaster.
--
Chris Hamilton, Technical Writer
Greenbrier and Russel
chamilton -at- gr -dot- com
847.330.4146
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