By Amy M. Anson
The September issue of TieLine has some great ideas on how chapter leaders are promoting STC programs and services to members and nonmembers alike.
Some ideas that they have been implementing are described in this article.
Sending Email Announcements: Informing through emails about programs and events of STC chapters as well as those of related organizations has been effective. Emails about special deals offered to STC members and how nonmembers can join Society have been successful too.
Organizing Meetings Around a Theme: Some chapters have based their meetings on a common theme. This year, for example, the Twin Cities chapter developed the theme "Communicating Value" for its meetings.
Reaching Out to Students: Developing close relationships with local colleges and universities (such as through their English departments) to attract student interest is important to almost every chapter.
Keeping in Touch with Lapsed Members: The Phoenix chapter stays in touch with lapsed members by encouraging unemployed technical communicators who have not renewed their memberships due to lost jobs to stay active in the chapter. These people can attend meetings at the program-only rate, which lets them continue to network and possibly find jobs through chapter activities.
Forging Contacts with Related Organizations: Attending meetings of organizations that cater to technical communicators is a great way to spread the word about STC.
Educating the Community: Find ways to define the term "technical communication" to attract people who might not even realize that they fit into that niche.
Providing Incentives for Members: The Piedmont chapter maintains a "membership points" program. For every meeting members attend, guest they bring to a meeting, or contribution made to their chapter (such as contributing to the newsletter) members earn points. The member with the most points at the end of the year wins a prize. Last year's prize was a free license for a software program.
Persevering: Working persistently to promote the value of membership will eventually pay off! You also will discover what you yourself find valuable about the STC.
Chances are that you've already visited the STC Web site (relaunched October 1) and noticed the members-only portions of the site. Premium content, such as the jobs database, salary survey, member directory, and publications database are now available only to Society members. A restructured home page, however, lets nonmembers access information about Society activities and the benefits of membership. Back in September, STC members received either an email or a letter informing them of the new members-only section that included the instructions for accessing it.
Recommendations for the distinguished chapter service awards (DCSAs) and SIG service awards are great ways to acknowledge a fellow STCer's hard work and dedication. The first DCSA's were given out in 1989, while 2002 marked the inaugural year for the distinguished SIG service award. All chapter and SIG members are eligible for their respective awards (exceptions: current voting members of the chapter administrative council and current SIG managers). Two basic criteria should be considered in your nomination process: consistency of service over the time of membership and variety of service. SIGs are also encouraged to consider length of service to the SIG.
Each chapter and SIG may make at least one recommendation. You can find award guidelines at http://www.stc.org/. Recommendations must be made by November 30, 2002. Contact a Boston Chapter Council member to make a recommendation. Chapters make their own DCSA presentations, while the SIG service awards will be announced by the SIG advocate at STC's 50th Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas.
It's never too late when it comes to planning for school! STC is now offering scholarships for the 2003-2004 academic year. STC awards these scholarships to students enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate technical communication programs and studying for an academic or commercial career in technical communication. All scholarships are for the same amount and the money is paid directly to the school. They may be used for tuition or other expenses that the school will pay.
Applicants need not be STC members. They must have completed one year of postsecondary education before fall 2003. Students completing an undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for their first year of graduate school. More information can be obtained at http://www.stc.org/.
Please welcome these new chapters:
The Texas A&M student chapter has changed its name to the College Station student chapter.
These organizations show their dedication to high-quality technical communication through payment of special, tax-deductible annual dues. STC welcomes these newest sustaining organizations:
There are currently 58 sustaining organizations in the Society.
Amy Anson is a senior editor with Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass., and a former Boston Broadside managing editor. Her email address is grovest@earthlink.net.