#28977
Implementing a Community RSS Feed 
After implementing www.stc.org's RSS feed, I decided to develop one for my own chapter's site. I researched RSS, copied an .rss example file, tweaked the code, and was able to successfully implement a chapter RSS feed.
Flaherty, Brian. Tieline (2007). Design>Web Design>Community Building>RSS
#24094
La Imposibilidad de la Belleza: Reflexiones Sobre la Lógica de la Distinción en la Posmodernidad 
Queremos decir: el campo del diseño está muy lejos de erigirse como un lenguaje transgresor mientras continúe definiendo como único legítimo el modo de percepción que establece cierta disposición y cierta competencia. En otras palabras, mientras no se sincere un juicio que, de manera consciente o inconsciente, tiene por principio de intención la ruptura con el rechazo a lo ordinario, lo genérico, lo fácil e inmediatamente accesible, será imposible crear formas estéticas alternativas.
Almeida, Marta y Vazquez and Laura Vanesa. University of Alberta (2003). (Spanish) Design>User Centered Design>Community Building
#22880
Increasing Chapter Membership Through Public Relations
The Orange County Chapter of STC (OCSTC) set a goal of increasing membership by 20% in one chapter year, with increased public exposure and improved member services as the primary goal. PR Committee volunteers planned and carried out eight programs to increase corporate awareness and media coverage, improve intrachapter communications, and extend community relations. Chapter membership grew by 31% during that year and membership retention was above the International average. In addition to international recognition, committee volunteers gained professionally useful skills through their efforts.
Giles, Sandra J. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>Public Relations
#29947
In order for chapters to stay relevant to their members, they must provide intrinsic value to their members and show themselves as professional and authoritative leaders in the field of technical communication.
Opsteegh, Michael. Tieline (2007). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#11893
The Information Design of Community-Building
What turns a Web space into a virtual community or community network? Sandra Maddox writes an introduction to the subject.
Maddox, Sandra. EServer (2001). Design>Information Design>Community Building
#26496
It's about the Community Plumbing: The Social Aspects of Content Management Systems 
In the summer of 2003, we worked on creating a general description of Drupal--an open source content management system (CMS)--for the "About Drupal" page on drupal.org. While Drupal is clearly within the class of applications known as content management systems, we felt that to describe it with that term alone would not present a clear picture of the breadth and range of Drupal's capabilities. Thus, the final description ended up describing Drupal with a total of four characteristics, although notably not distinct content management; weblog; discussion-based community software; and collaboration. Why is it then that the term CMS alone would not suffice? The word "content" places much emphasis on the product over process; it fails to emphasize the social use of CMSes, a mislabeling which places too much emphasis on the content itself at the expense of the communication and collaboration the better of these systems implement. In order to better understand how CMSes are being influenced by the precepts of social software and their role in creating social networks online, this presentation will: explore Drupal's social software features, narrate its genesis as software serving a community; and explain the influence of the community itself on Drupal development and the software's influence on the community that creates and uses it. In composing this text, we draw on the coauthors' unique perspectives. One of us is the founder and lead developer of Drupal, and the other a researcher in Computers and Writing and a participant in the Drupal community.
Lowe, Charles and Dries Buytaert. Kairosnews (2005). Presentations>Content Management>Community Building>Collaboration
#30746
Lead Volunteers to Superstardom
Thanks to the Orlando Chapter, we now have a program that our volunteers enjoy. Whether or not you decide to do something like this for your community is up to you. But remember this: someone out in the world of STC has tried something. Rely on their expertise. You don't need to reinvent the wheel.
Haughton, Mel. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#31852
There is an aspect of leadership that’s just as important as knowing how to resolve conflicts. That is knowing when and how to listen. If we are leading a chapter or a SIG or a Society-level committee and one of our members raises an issue, we need to listen very carefully to what they have to say.
Farbey, David. Tieline (2008). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#29674
The Leadership Community Resource (LCR) is the STC's structure for providing support and guidance to STC communities. The LCR provides volunteer guidance, formal coaching and mentoring in specific leadership areas, support for communities in crisis, and resources for new and prospective leaders including an online Leadership Training course to help build a personal or community leadership plan.
#30215
One definition of leadership that I like is 'the ability to cause other people to act in desired ways for the benefit of the group.' Those of us who are managers often have the authority to make other people act for the good of a group, but that power doesn't make you a leader--it makes you a boss. The people who choose to follow you decide if they want you as a leader and thus want to achieve the goals of the group. In the long run, folks in a volunteer organization follow a leader because they believe it's in their own best interests to do so. Those interests could be recognition, advanced career possibilities, learning a new skill, altruism, or any number of other personal perks. Good leaders know how to tap into an individual's personal interests and feed those interests so the person both enjoys and gains from helping the group reach a goal.
Oestreich, Linda L. Tieline (2007). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#30280
Leading a More Successful Chapter
This leadership training workshop is designed to assist new and seasoned STC Chapter leaders with solutions to their chapters' most pressing problems. The agenda of this workshop is determined by the participants. Successful Chapter leaders will facilitate group discussion and roundtable problem-solving sessions.
Brinegar, John P., Steven M. Cascone and Roger A. Grice. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#25477
Links, Lives, Logs: Presentation in the Dutch Blogosphere
Few native English weblogs link to non-English weblogs in their blogroll and those English language weblogs that do link to non-English weblogs are usually written by non-native English speakers. The Internet may be transnational but many communities remain bound by barriers of language.
Schaap, Frank. Into the Blogosphere (2004). Articles>Presentations>Community Building>Blogging
#29427
Mail Your Newsletter with Less Labor and Cost
A lot of STC chapter and SIG mailings are done the old-fashioned way: envelopes stuffed by hand, and stamped manually or--occasionally--with a stamp machine. That's an awful lot of work, and expensive too. When I confronted this problem a few years back for my current employer, some research revealed a solution that eliminated the annual pressganging of volunteers to stuff envelopes and also saved us a fair bit of money.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (1999). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>STC
#31262
Did you know that every person you encounter has at least 250 people in his or her personal network? Imagine the possibilities if you were connected to a small percentage of those individuals. Multiply that by the number of friends you have, and you've expanded your networking opportunities exponentially.
Capps Powell, Joy. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Careers>Collaboration>Community Building
#29862
Holding competitions at regional and local levels enhances the value a chapter provides its members. This workshop, designed for chapter leaders and competition managers, provides a practical and well-tested plan for managing the chapter’s annual competition. Attendees will receive a complete package of samples, spreadsheet and document templates, and presentation slides that they can customize for their chapters.
Levander, Deanne K. and Preeti Mathur. STC Proceedings (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>STC
#21241
Managing Chapter Newsletters: Shooting for Best of Show
Newsletter editor is one of the most challenging and visible positions in your chapter. Now that you've accepted the job what should you accomplish over the next year? Never mind that, what are you supposed to do?! And how do you make sure this 'part-time, volunteer' experience doesn't n take over your life?
Disch, Cheryl and Cheryl Lockett Zubak. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Community Building>Newsletters
#28159
Managing Valuable Chapter Content
One of the ways that STC chapters can improve their value proposition to present and prospective members is to make available some of the best content that is created by and owned by the chapter members.
Kinder, Meredith and Sheila Loring. Carolina Communique (2006). Articles>Content Management>Community Building>STC
#30140
The Marathon of Chapter Presidency
This panel discussion becomes what the audience deems it to be. Each panelist is a past STC chapter president. Issues are audience-dependent but may include topics such as handling volunteers, managing money, recruiting members, and so forth. Join this informal discussion to share ideas, quandaries, and solutions for successfully leading a chapter.
Graham, Bonni, Mark Hanigan, Linda Oestreich, Jeff Staples and Carolyn Watt. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#25020
The Marathon of Chapter Presidency
This panel/discussion takes shape as the audience molds it. Each panelist is a past STC chapter president and has managed to successfully run the “Marathon of Chapter Presidency.” The past-presidents panel comprises senior members, associate fellows, committee managers, and other leaders of the society Issues are audience-dependent but may include topics such as handling volunteers, managing money, recruiting members, and so forth. Join this informal discussion to share ideas, quandaries, and solutions for successfully leading a chapter. All current, past, and potential chapter leaders are welcome.
Brogan, Barbara B., Steven M. Cascone, Mark Hanigan, Linda L. Oestreich, and Charlotte J. Ruenzel. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#21237
The Marathon of Chapter Presidency
This panel discussion takes shape as the audience molds it. Each panelist is a past STC chapter president. Issues are audience-dependent but may include topics such as handling volunteers, managing money, recruiting members, and so forth. Join this informal discussion to share ideas, quandaries, and solutions for successfully leading a chapter.
Blankinship, Ann, Barbara B. Brogan, LaVonna F. Funkhouser, Gary L. Higgins and Gary M. Smith. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#30592
The Marathon of Chapter Presidency: How to Compete and Win
Listen to and talk with past and present STC chapter presidents about the positive side of lessons learned in running a chapter. Each panelist will initially address a specific issue that he or she faced as chapter president. Issues vary but will include tips on getting volunteers, learning more about your chapter members, and maybe most importantly, reaping the benefits and joys of chapter leadership. Join this informal discussion and take some new, exciting ideas back to your home chapter.
Oestreich, Linda L., Steven M. Cascone, Mark Hanigan Carolyn L. Watt, John C. Hurd and Kathleen B. Aughey. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#18767
Meet the Special Needs Committee: Many Stories, One Mission
The STC Special Needs Committee was formed in 1998. Its charter is to research special needs in technical communication to find and publish ways in which we can leverage technology both to help technical communicators with disabilities practice our profession and also to help end users with disabilities access information in the products we prepare.
Voss, Daniel W. STC Proceedings (2002). Articles>Accessibility>Community Building
#23697
Many chapters have membership drives in the Fall. Not a big deal, something we’ve always done. However, today membership drives can play an important role in sustaining STC.
Baker, Jonathan W. MetroVoice (2002). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#24387
The Mentoring Program at Silicon Valley Chapter
The Silicon Valley Chapter STC began its mentoring program in 1999. We developed the program in response to the many requests we were receiving from students, members, and practitioners in the local area for mentors within the local STC chapter. I hope to help other chapters meet their members' needs by describing how the Silicon Valley chapter established its program.
Fisher, Lori H. Tieline (2001). Careers>Mentoring>Community Building
#24944
Methods of Providing Employment Information
STC Employment Information Committees provide information to employers and job seekers in a variety of ways. They help job seekers with job hunting skills and resume writing. They enable job seekers to register their names with job banks and to receive job postings. They enable employers to list job postings and to receive names of job seekers. Many different methods are used to provide this information: newsletter articles, resume seminars, job fairs and workshops, job-seeking counseling, networking at meetings, resume banks, job listings, job phone lines, electronic bulletin boards, and e-mail listings.
Masse, Roger E. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Community Building>STC
