NetWorks or, How to Make Professional Connections When You Live and Work in the "Sticks"

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What happens when you're a writer craving contact with other writers but there are none in sight?

In Western Massachusetts (that's west of 128, 495, and Worcester, but not as far as California!), we don't have a lot of computer firms or technological companies, so there are not a lot of technical writers (or jobs) floating around. Eileen Cahill and I, two senior members of STC affiliated with the Hartford and Boston Chapters, respectively, found that traveling to a meeting one or two hours away on a work night was difficult to manage on a regular basis. Although we participate in gatherings such as the InterChange Conference in Lowell, Mass., and the STC Annual Conference, these don't provide the on-going networking we were seeking.

Together with Jane Neumann, who says she is definitely not a tech writer, we decided to start our own monthly writing group for professional support and networking. By making it a general group rather than a technical one, we could draw on a larger audience.

We were able to use a local college meeting room which was comfortable and inviting. Later, when liability concerns caused the institution to charge for the room, we had to search for a lower-cost alternative. Although we tried meeting at various "offsite" locations, we were concerned that we would lose people if we met at a different place each month.

We finally discovered that a nearby mall has a public meeting room that can be reserved for free. It's central and easy to find, and, while not as cozy as the large-living-room atmosphere of the college meeting place, there's food, security, good lighting and plenty of parking.

Meeting nights are set by consensus. Our first year we met on Tuesdays; this year it's Thursdays. We check with the group once or twice a year to see if the night is still workable. The time is always 7-9 p.m. and we make a point of starting and ending on time.

Our format is, we think, a bit unusual: at each meeting, we all have a turn to introduce ourselves and tell what we do. This opening part of the meeting assists the connections that are made during the networking at the end of the meeting. People can announce openings at their companies or look for subcontractors to work with. Many interesting connections have been made through NetWorks.

Our first meeting was advertised as a discussion of the topics we were most interested in exploring together. This was so successful that we now use this brainstorming format at the beginning of each year. It also gives us a chance to draw on the group for presenters and people willing to find speakers.

Another feature of our meetings is "show and tell." Once or twice a year, everyone is invited to bring something he or she has been working on. We sometimes spend several meetings talking about the brochures, newsletters, manuals, proposals, and news releases (to name a few) that people bring. This also helps us find topics we want to explore further and people willing to lead the discussions.

In our three years, some of our topics have been marketing, writing promotional materials, software demos, producing a video, assessment of our own writing, public relations, composition and computers, newspaper writing, public speaking, writing training, and publishing books and articles. Offsite meetings at computer sales offices were arranged so that members without computers could obtain information about what to buy.

Once a year we have a purely social meeting, where we roll up our sleeves, kick off our shoes, and just have a good time. Even then, business cards are exchanged and we find new ideas for meetings and sharing information.

Our business part of the meeting is short, collaborative and informal -- the three of us take turns with note-taking, announcements and refreshments. We also share the task of sending meeting notices.

Money is not a major issue now that we have a free place to meet. People who plan to attend fairly regularly are asked to pay $10; others can pay $5 for the "mailing list only." Dues are primarily to defray the cost of monthly mailings. We ask for a new round of dues only when the treasury gets low. Our aim is to avoid large expenses like room rental or paid speakers, for that would raise dues and might limit membership.

Members fill in an ID sheet which we use as a resource when looking for someone willing to do a presentation or to refer us to a speaker. We plan to publish a directory of all who want to be listed.

Out of about forty regular members, we usually have fifteen attending a meeting. Our current membership includes technical writers, development writers, publishers, editors, graphic designers, freelance writers, data processing managers, system analysts, editors, journalists, public relations specialists, trainers, consultants, grant writers and desktop publishers.

Recently, we went "public" and advertised our group in several local papers. The turnout was gratifying.

Organizing and running a group has been an interesting experience for the three of us. We are delighted with the level of commitment and responsiveness of the group, and the diversity and wealth of resources that we all have been able to tap into.

NetWorks is an association of people involved in public relations, technical/computer documentation, marketing, fund raising, planning and development, training, journalism, editing, video production and publishing. We have a common interest in sharing ideas, information and resources.