The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an international professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication. It has hundreds of local chapters (also known as 'communities.'
#23561
STC's Transformation: A Roadmap to a Better, Stronger STC 
Over the years, the technical communication profession has changed: Our jobs and roles have changed. Business and economic models are changing. Technology has changed the way we work and communicate. Our world has become global. Now STC will change.
Teich, Thea. STC Transformation (2004). Articles>TC>Planning>STC
#19387
STC@50: STC Members Share Their Stories 
In commemoration of STC's 50th anniversary, several Society members share anecdotes about their experiences in STC and the technical communication profession.
Babcock, Elizabeth. Intercom (2003). Articles>TC>History>STC
#21212
Strategic Planning in a Nonprofit Organization: STC's Rochester Chapter Thinks Strategically 
Strategic plans are at the heart of successful organizations. This is also true for such organizations as STC chapters. In this article the authors discuss the processes used by members of the Rochester Chapter and the results achieved, when the chapter developed its first strategic plan in 1994.
Boyd, Mary C., Lori A. Marra and Sandra J. Swanson. Technical Communication Online (1997). Articles>Management>Planning>STC
#26256
Strategic Plans: Focusing Chapter Energy
If your chapter has never created a strategic plan, or if it has been a long time since plans were updated, it's a good idea to develop one now. Those first plans can require one or two years to create, but don't be intimidated by the commitment. The phases of the plan are easily broken down into small, manageable sessions for which you can set reasonable or flexible completion dates.
Silvi, Deborah H. and Jamie H. Diamandopoulos. Tieline (2005). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#19859
Strategies for Student Chapter Success
Students from the Cedarville College chapter of STC present seven factors that make their chapter successful. The Cedarville College chapter of STC received a Chapter Achievement Award at the 46th Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Overturf, Jason and Sarah Flenar. STC Proceedings (2000). Articles>Collaboration>Management>STC
#26254
Strength In Numbers: Forging Bonds with Nearby Communities
Although the economy in Northern California has improved, people are not clamoring to become technical communicators the way they were in the boom days of the late 1990s. Finding volunteers for chapter positions is difficult, and those who do volunteer often have to do more with less. An organization of local chapters can facilitate inter-chapter communication and sharing of resources.
Maki, Victoria J. Tieline (2005). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#24382
Supporting Our Members through Lean Times
The Twin Cities chapter offers a variety of services to help out-of-work and underemployed writers and editors. Of these services, the most important is something that many members may take for granted: opportunities for volunteers. Members may not realize it, but volunteering at the chapter level improves their marketability by helping them acquire new skills and hone the skills they already have. Some of the Society’s most loyal and active members are those whose careers have seen marked improvement as a result of their participation in STC.
Levander, Deanne K. Tieline (2003). Careers>Unemployment>Community Building>STC
#29688
Surviving a Busy Year: The Marathon of Chapter Presidency
Every year, the annual conference offers potential chapter leaders a session entitled 'The Marathon of Chapter Presidency'. They're not kidding. My year as president of STC Montreal was a long, steady, exhausting haul--but a very pleasant one now that I can look back on our achievements. In this paper, I'll pass along tips learned from other presidents and tips I learned while coping with my own duties. Try out as many tips as your time, energy, and volunteers permit!
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#28765
Susan Burton Provides an Inside, In-Depth Look at STC's Most Pressing Issues
In this special presentation podcast, Susan Burton, executive director of the STC, provides an inside, in-depth look at the most pressing issues and challenges the STC faces. She also explains the initiatives underway to reshape the STC and provide more value to members.
Burton, Susan and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Interviews>TC>STC
#31536
Good leadership involves a responsibility to the welfare of the group. If you make choices based on popularity, you will avoid making tough decisions. You might even avoid confrontation and, as a result, deserving people may not be rewarded for their accomplishments. Sometimes leaders have to draw a line in the sand and take a stand.
Laurent, J. Suzanna. Tieline (2008). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#21323
Tech Resource: STC (The Society for Technical Communication)
Professional organizations often help define the professions they serve: Such is the case with the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Founded in 1953 as an organization for technical writers and editors, the STC is now an umbrella group for 25,000 professionals whose job roles include documentation specialists, visual designers, information architects, interactive designers and others who work with technical information. Their output includes technical manuals and now extends into charts, brochures, online tutorials, annual reports, Web-based training and other materials. With technical communication an increasingly diverse field, STC aims to broaden its membership with professionals from a variety of occupations.
Hoffman, Allan. Monster.com (2004). Careers>TC>History>STC
#24886
Technical Publications, Art, And Video Competition Forum
STC's local, regional, and international-level Technical Publications, Art, and Video competitions provide the society with the opportunity to showcase its members' talents. A great deal of work goes into making these competition successful, and an open dialogue between participants, competition managers and judges is important at all levels. This forum give local, regional, and international competition managers, and anyone else interested in competitions, the chance to discuss all aspects of STC competitions.
Hoyt, Thomas B. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#29899
In 2002, the Orlando Chapter of STC initiated a new competition to encourage local area and employer recognition of excellence in technical communication. In establishing the award, the Orlando Chapter increased its dialog with employers, helped raised the visibility of the profession in the area, honored its founder and its continuing relationship with a local university, and increased its level of service to chapter members. This paper describes the objectives established for the award program, how it was judged, and how the chapter benefited from its creation.
Fellure, Alicia, Mike Murray and W.C. Wiese. STC Proceedings (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>STC
#29696
The Transformation of a Technical Communicator
Transformation is part of human evolution, so it is natural that STC is transforming itself through the 'Transformation Initiative.' Similarly, STC members as technical communicators need to transform themselves, or they will no longer be viable in a changing and evolving world. Part of STC's method for the Transformation Initiative, to rely upon internal communities to expedite solutions, is the same method that technical communicators can use to re-create their own niches or move to others. Individual technical communicators are hosts within themselves to a myriad of talents and strengths, with each talent and strength serving as a community. Individually, then, communicators should apply all of their personal communities to themselves.
Ball, Valerie M. STC Proceedings (2005). Careers>TC>Community Building>STC
#30749
"Thursdays @ STC Chicago" Provide a Unique Networking Opportunity
In March 2007, the Chicago Chapter STC started a program that has become quite popular with its members. If your community covers a large geographic area, or has a large number of members, this program may work well for you too.
Friend, Russ. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#23568
The Transformation Process Explained
Describes the transformation methodology the STC Transformation Team has developed and its guiding principles.
STC Transformation (2004). Articles>TC>Planning>STC
#23559
Transformation: Whys and Wherefores
Why does STC need to transform, because we want to add more member value!
STC Transformation (2003). Articles>TC>Planning>STC
#29698
Transforming Your Chapter through Corporate Bingo
As a chapter President, starting the Transformation process can seem a daunting task. Once you have the committee in place, directing its efforts can leave you with even more questions. Not sure what to do next? Look to the corporate Bingo card to help set your course. While the blocks of the corporate Bingo card generate chuckles, smiles, and even more jokes, it also provides direction, guidance, and some thought-provoking considerations for your chapter's transformation.
Guess, Suzanne. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>STC
#31846
Two Views on STC Certification
The ongoing discussion of certification continues with these concurrent articles, each arguing a different side of the coin.
Rosenberg, Nad and Geoffrey J.S. Hart. Intercom (2008). Articles>Certification>TC>STC
#31850
Using Constant Contact to Communicate with Your Members
Using Constant Contact helped us distribute mass emails to (the former Region 4) STC members to promote a regional conference that we held in October 2007. This was a successful and professional-looking campaign. We signed up for a 60 day trial account to evaluate the Constant Contact service. The trial was so successful that our board voted to purchase an account for the NEO STC Community.
Spayer, Tricia. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#31770
Over the last few months as I've settled into my new employment arrangement and my STC administrative duties, I've occasionally reflected on my decision to join STC. I can easily see how much of an impact STC membership has had on my personal and professional life. Further, I can easily see how I will continue reaping the numerous rewards associated with membership in this organization.
Parson, Clyde. Between the Lines (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#13551
Every year, each STC member is given the opportunity to vote twice as a member, once for the next year's Society (international-level) leaders and once for the next year's chapter (local-level) leaders. The Society and its chapters expend much effort and expense each year to recruit candidates and develop and distribute ballots; however, only about 10% of STC's members ever return those ballots. If such a small portion of members participate in elections, why bother holding them? The most fundamental reason is that STC's bylaws and the bylaws of each chapter require a duly elected leadership.
Wing, Liz. Carolina Communique (2000). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#32127
Members often ask what advantages they receive for their membership dollars. The answer is so obvious we sometimes fail to see it. With apologies to the kind souls at MasterCard, a few thoughts on the value of your STC membership.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. STC Phoenix (2006). Articles>TC>Professionalism>STC
#32158
Changing Dynamics, Economy, and Momentum
To reinvigorate the chapter, former chapter president, Theresa Putkey suggested that the chapter move to a member-driven, online community. Instead of the eight volunteers currently pulling the chapter along, the chapter’s 250 members can set the pace, build momentum, and provide more value than a handful of volunteers are able to provide.
Putkey, Theresa. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#32159
So, Why Should You Be a Member of STC, Anyway?
As a former Board member, I was often buttonholed by members to discuss what the Board was doing and our plans for STC's future. One of the most common topics of discussion was, "What am I getting for my membership and why should I renew?" Why should you renew? Beats the heck outta me. But I can tell you why I renew, year after year after year.
Hedtke, John. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Professionalism>STC
