STC-Phoenix.com» Events

What’s Next?

JanKruse — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:17:31 +0000

We are in the process of planning the 2010-2011 program year. Stay tuned for news on future events…

In the meantime, check out the photos from the last meeting of the 2009-2010 program year on the community blog!

Chapter Planning Meeting

Gloria McConnell — Sun, 30 May 2010 07:05:14 +0000

Incoming chapter president Kathy Graden invites all chapter members to attend the the 2010-2011 planning meeting, where ideas and possible projects for the upcoming year will be discussed. Input from members is important to our planning for the 2010-2011 program year.

» When: Saturday, June 05, 2010 8:30 to noon
» Where: Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street (Continental breakfast)
» Why: Help plan 2010-2011 chapter events

At this time an agenda has not been fully completed, although we expect to discuss the following among other items:

» Leadership positions/Limited Resources
» Chapter Membership
» Program suggestions/recommendations
» STC-Phoenix Website/other social media
» Workshop proposal/suggestions
» Publications, Art, and On-line Competition
» Partnerships with other organizations

If this tentative list of topics doesn’t include an item or topic you think our planning session should address, please let Kathy know – ideas are welcome!

Please let Kathy know by 9:00 a.m., June 4th, 2010 if you will be attending.

On the Light Side: STC Awards and More…

JanKruse — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:48:37 +0000

After taking to the open road, our featured speaker, Bonni Graham Gonzalez, and her traveling companion and fellow adventurer, Sharon Burton, will join us for the last dinner meeting of the 2009-2010 program year. (Follow their travel adventures to Phoenix, and beyond, on this website. See full Twitter feed for their continuing adventures.)

Kathy Graden, our in-coming President, will start the evening with news from her trip to the STC conference in Dallas. Following that, Karen Zorn, our out-going President, will recognize the past year’s board members’ service to the chapter and welcome the new board members. To complete the evening, Bonni Graham Gonzalez, well-known for her humorous take on the technical communication field, will provide a one-of-a-kind comedy routine for the occasion.

Come celebrate with us June 8th at the Hilton!

About the Speaker

Bonni Graham Gonzalez is the owner of Manual Labour,Inc., a full-service
technical documentation firm that supports the consumer electronics industry.
As CEO and President, Bonni has spent almost 20 years as a business woman and
practicing technical documentor.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Technical
Communication, as an STC Associate Fellow, and as a popular presenter, Bonni
helps define and guide the theory and practice of technical communication. As
an instructor at two University of California campuses, she is training the
next generation of technical communicators.

Other Meeting Info

Rewards winners: Register at the chapter website as you normally would and add
the word “Rewards” in the Notes field located under Meal Options.
Photoshoot for May door prize winners and Board members.

Meeting Details

Date/Time:

Tuesday, June 8, 2010
5:30- Networking, 6:00- Dinner; 7:00-8:30 Program

Dinner Options

Meat Entree: Chicken Parmesan

Vegetarian Entree: Candied Vegetable Salad (Seasonal Berries with Marinated
Grilled Vegetables & Candy Walnuts served with Grape Serrano Vinaigrette.)

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert.

Location

Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-6410

Located just northwest of Route 143 and University Drive. From University, turn
north on 47th Place, and the hotel is ahead about two blocks on the left.

Registration Information

Cost: Phoenix Chapter Member $18, STC Member-at-Large $25, Non-member $35,
Student $15, Program only $10, Reward program winners, Free.

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

* $40 for two dinner/program
* $10 for two program only

Registration Deadline

Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Noon. We cannot guarantee a dinner to late
registrants, although there may be one available. Please be sure to ask.
No-shows will be billed.

Register Online

To register online using PayPal, please click here.

May 2010 Meet & Greet

JanKruse — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:26:13 +0000

Bring a guest, catch up with old friends, or meet some new ones at the May Meet and Greet!

Date: The evening of May 11th (second Tuesday in May)
Place: The Old Spaghetti Factory
Address: 1418 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Time: Come on by to meet and mingle at 5:30. Stay for dinner and door prizes if you like.
Order from a standard menu. Pay your own tab. What could be simpler than that?

R.S.V.P.: Contact Glenn at arrangements@stc-phoenix.com by Noon, Tuesday, May 11th, to confirm your attendance. Limited seating, so reserve your seat soon!

Common Misconceptions about e-Learning

JanKruse — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:36:14 +0000

“Just put the document online,” is just one of the many statements you’ll hear upper management and others say about e-Learning. And it’s also just one of many myths that instructional designers, e-Learning developers, and technical communicators who are interested in developing skills in e-Learning must face and answer. But what are the answers?

In this interactive session, Jane MacKenzie-Smith will explore many myths about e-Learning, and offer some insights as to why they are myths, and how to educate clients and management so that the myths are not perpetuated. Come for a fun, engaging, and interactive discussion.

About the Speaker

Jane MacKenzie-Smith has been an instructional designer for over 23 years. She has written, designed and produced training for instructor-led classes, e-Learning, audio training, and CBT.

She has facilitated instructional design courses for classroom training and e-Learning for Clark Training and Consulting as well as for her own company, JEM Communications, LLC. Because she has also facilitated quality management courses, she brings an aspect of quality improvement to all projects and training.

She is a popular facilitator of highly interactive and engaging workshops for professional organizations and corporations. In 2004, she facilitated a JEM Communications five-day e-Learning Development course for the Vietnamese Telecommunications and Training Center in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In addition, she taught at the secondary level for six years and the community college level for 15 years. She also has completed her training for personal and professional coaching and has a small virtual practice out of her home in Sedona, Arizona.

Meeting Information

Date/Time

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
5:30 – Networking, 6:00 – Dinner, 7:00 – Program

Dinner Options

Meat Entrée: Pot Roast

Vegetarian Entrée: Sun-dried Tomatoes & Capers over Angel Hair Pasta

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert.

Location

Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-6410

Located just northwest of Route 143 and University Drive. From University Drive, turn north on 47th Place. The hotel is approximately 2 blocks north on the left side of the street.

Registration Information

Cost: Phoenix Chapter Members $18, STC Members-at Large $25, Non-member $35, Students $15, Program only $10.

Rewards Program: Earn a Free Dinner

Starting with the Sept. ‘09 meeting, those who have contributed $60.00 or more in dinner meeting attendance, “program only” attendance, or combination of the two, can enjoy dinner at the June meeting free of charge. (Virtual meeting does not count toward the rewards program.)

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

$40 for two dinner/program

$10 for two program only

Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 8, 2010 at noon. We cannot guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one available. Please be sure to ask. No-shows will be billed.

Register Online:To register online using PayPal, please click here.

Are Ready for a Challenge?

Karen Zorn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:48:42 +0000

STC Phoenix is looking for a few good people to fill chapter leadership positions. As many of you know, this last year has been a challenging year for STC leadership at the International and community level. Fortunately, STC Phoenix’s leadership is strong and has conserved our funds while offering programs and activities and adding member value.

If you care about the future of the Phoenix chapter, now is the time to step forward and offer to take on a leadership role. Every position takes a commitment of some kind, mostly time. Some jobs take less than others, but all are necessary and valued. The elected positions and summary of their duties are:

President: Chairs all meetings and shapes chapter activities for the program year. Attends the annual STC Summit. Completes and submits required reports to the STC Board and LCR (Leadership Community Resources). And more.
Vice President: tasks as assigned by the President. Fills in for the President as needed.
Treasurer: manages the chapter funds tracking income and expenditures. Reports monthly to CMAC.
Secretary: takes CMAC meeting minutes and publishes them in a timely manner.
Membership Manager: keeps track of the Chapter membership. Welcomes new chapter members, provides membership materials, may sit at the registration desk for program meetings.
Program Manager: works with the Program committee to establish the program event schedule for the year. May include educational workshops.

STC Phoenix needs your help to continue to grow and prosper. Won’t you join the team?

Interested parties may contact Karen Zorn, president@stc-phoenix.com, or Chanda Child, chanda.child@cox.net.

DITA 101: Introduction to Structured Authoring and DITA

JanKruse — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:32:51 +0000

DITA, the Darwin Information Typing Architecture, is the new buzzword in technical communication. But why? Find out in this free webinar co-hosted by the STC-Phoenix and STC Alberta chapters on Tuesday, March 9th.

You’ll learn about:

DITA concepts
the business case
typical scenarios where DITA is used

Our featured speaker, Sarah O’Keefe, will sort it all out for you in her “mostly-buzzword-free” presentation. Then, you can evaluate for yourself whether DITA makes sense for your content.

About the Speaker

Sarah O’Keefe, owner of Scriptorium Publishing, specializes in streamlining publishing processes, including implementing DITA, for numerous high-profile clients in telecommunications, defense, technology, and other content-rich industries. Sharing knowledge is a priority for Sarah, who strives to be both entertaining and informative during training sessions and conference presentations.

In 2002, she received her Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) accreditation from CompTIA. Her presentations at international, national, and regional conferences (including STC, tekom, and WritersUA) have consistently earned high ratings.

Her publishing credits include Publishing Fundamentals: FrameMaker7 (originally published as FrameMaker 7: The Complete Reference) The Webworks Publisher Cookbook, Technical Writing 101, FrameMaker 5.5.6 for Dummies, and numerous white papers.

For more information on Sarah, Scriptorium Publishing, or to catch up on her blog posts, click here

Meeting Information

Date/Time

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

6:00 p.m. MST (8:00 p.m. EST)

Location

Your choice! Pick a place with a good internet connection. Bring your own dinner. Bring as many friends as you’d like.

Registration Information

Cost: Free

Register Online: To register, please click here.

Feb. Chapter Meeting: Getting Social Media to Work for You

JanKruse — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:52:49 +0000

Do you have a good understanding of social media?

Have you seen examples of practical ways to make social media an effective part of your professional life?

Have you been able to capitalize on the social media craze?

If not, join us at our dinner meeting February 9th for a one-hour workshop by guest speaker Jack Smith of http://www.thesociallatte. He’ll introduce you to the nuts and bolts of social media, where it is being used, and by whom. But most importantly, we’ll talk about what these examples mean to you and your business/profession and some steps you can take immediately after the workshop to start to put social media to work for you.

Whether you are a freelancer or a captive, employed or unemployed, a risk taker or a cautious observer, join the conversation. Bring your questions and be prepared to have some fun along the way!

About the Speaker

Jack Smith has over 10 years of experience in marketing, technology, and business. He is the creator and founder of The Social Latte which specializes in consulting with companies large and small on how to best implement the power of social media and online media for maximum business success.

Jack is also a speaker, educator, and trainer who brings humor, insight, education and value to every engagement. He has spoken for Bolo 2009, Social Media Club, Agency Side, Boomerz, Fidelity and has been featured in the online publication called Practical Social Media. He has been a guest blogger for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and also writes for Jobing.com. Jack is an entrepreneur at heart and has worked with companies on the Fortune 100 as well as local businesses. Jack is also actively involved in various volunteer projects and organizations such as the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, the Gonzaga Alumni Association, and many others.

Previously, Jack was a key software consultant for PeopleSoft and has worked on projects for Accenture, State Farm, Aspen Resorts, and the Justice Department. Jack also formed his own consulting company and created his own travel company founded on proprietary technology he developed.

Meeting Information

Date/Time
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
5:30- Networking, 6:00- Dinner; 7:00 Program

Dinner Options

Meat Entrée: Baked Stuffed Manicotti
Vegetarian Entree: Vegetable Wellington w/Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert.

Location

Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-6410
Located just northwest of Route 143 and University Drive. From University, turn north on47th Place, and the hotel is ahead about two blocks on the left.

Registration Information

Cost: Phoenix Chapter Member $18, STC Member-at-Large $25, Non-member $35, Student $15,Program only $10.

Rewards Program: Earn a Free Dinner!

New Member Incentive

Member and first-time guest:

$40 for two dinner/program, $10 for two program only

Registration Deadline

Thursday, February 4, 2010 at noon. We cannot guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one available. Please be sure to ask. No-shows will be billed.

Seeding the Clouds: January 12th Chapter Meeting

JanKruse — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:50:42 +0000

“Seeding the Clouds” ( or how to make it rain on you even during a dry spell) is a presentation for technical communicators who have been affected by the rotten economic conditions… which is to say, all of us.

Whether you’re a captive or a contractor, if you’re looking for work or you think you might be looking for work soon, this presentation will present dozens of ideas that can improve your own financial outlook, including:

how to be more competitive when you’re looking for work
ways to prime the pump for future work
how to make yourself more visible to potential employers
new places to find work
new types of technical communication to try
ways to keep your spirits up while job-hunting

Even if you’re already fully employed and aren’t feeling at risk, this presentation will tell you ways in which you can lend a hand to others and ensure their future success and your own immortality.

(The entire presentation will be annotated with diverse anecdotes and several digressions of varying degrees of relevance.)

About the Speaker

John Hedtke is the award-winning author of 26 books. He has over 30 years in the software business, over 25 years writing, and 7 years in technical publications management. John has developed and written documentation and books for many leading software products, and has received 26 writing awards to date. John regularly contributes articles to magazines such as Publish! and Accounting Technology. A complete list of books, articles, projects, and awards can be found online at his web site, www.hedtke.com.
John owns a small company that offers writing and business consulting services for a variety of private, public, and governmental clients. John also does numerous radio and magazine interviews and frequently travels to do lectures and guest appearances at conferences and seminars. John was the last Region 7 Director on the Society for Technical Communication’s Board of Directors and is a Fellow of the Society. When not otherwise occupied, John writes magazine articles and sleeps late as much as possible.

Meeting Information

Date/Time:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
5:30- Networking, 6:00- Dinner; 7:00 Program

Dinner Options:
Meat Entrée: Traditional Lasagna
Vegetarian Entree: Grilled Polenta with Seasonal Vegetables over Tomato Sauce.

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert.

Location:
Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-6410

Located just northwest of Route 143 and University Drive. From University,
turn north on 47th Place, and the hotel is ahead about two blocks on the
left.

Registration Information: Notice the change based on new STC membership structure for those who belong to international but not to a chapter.

Cost: STC Members-at-Large $25, Phoenix Chapter Members $18, Non-members $35, Students $15, Program Only $10.

Bonus points: Earn a Free Dinner to use for the June 2010 Meeting!

Starting with the Sept. ‘09 meeting, those who have contributed $60.00 or
more in dinner meeting attendance, “program only” attendance, or
combination of the two, can enjoy dinner at the June meeting free of
charge. (Virtual meeting does not count toward the bonus points.)

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

- $40 for two dinner/program

- $10 for two program only

Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 7, 2010 at noon. We cannot
guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one
available. Please be sure to ask. No-shows will be billed.

Register Online: To register online using PayPal, please click here.

What’s the Buzz at Madcap Software?

JanKruse — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:41:23 +0000

Time for an Update!

For our December 8th dinner meeting, Mike Hamilton, Vice President of Product Management of Madcap Software will join us to fill us in on Madcap’s innovative software and how it can work for you. Mike spoke with us a few years ago, shortly after Madcap Flare was released. A lot has changed since then. Come join us to see why Madcap was given the TechAmerica High Tech Award this year for it’s innovation in architecture, customer focus, profitability and growing global market share.

About the Speaker

Mr. Hamilton joined the RoboHelp team in the mid ’90s as a founding member of the Training Solutions Program team, where he co-authored the certified training materials supporting the RoboHelp family.

Mike has over 20 years of experience in training, technical communication, multimedia development, and software development at several organizations including Macromedia, eHelp/Blue Sky Software, Cymer, a leading supplier of laser illumination sources in the semiconductor industry, National Steel and Shipbuilding, and the US Navy.

To learn more about Mike, check out his blog:
[http://madcapsoftware2.wordpress.com/] Madcap Mike’s Musings

Meeting Information
It’s also STC membership drive time! What better time to get involved
again with the Phoenix chapter? AND … if you become a member or renew
your membership before or during the December meeting you’ll be eligible
for some cool prizes…the GRAND PRIZE being an STC MEMBERSHIP (including Chapter and 1 SIG) sponsored by Madcap Software!

Date/Time:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
5:30- Networking, 6:00- Dinner; 7:00 Program

Dinner Options:
Meat Entrée: Chicken Absolut
Vegetarian Entree: Vegetable Lasagna

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert.

Location:
Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-6410

Located just northwest of Route 143 and University Drive. From University,
turn north on 47th Place, and the hotel is ahead about two blocks on the
left.

Registration Information:

Cost: Members $18, Non-members $35, Students $15, Program Only $10.

Earn a Free Dinner to use for the June 2010 Meeting!

Starting with the Sept. ‘09 meeting, those who have contributed $60.00 or
more in dinner meeting attendance, “program only” attendance, or
combination of the two, can enjoy dinner at the June meeting free of
charge. (Virtual meeting does not count toward the bonus points.)

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

- $40 for two dinner/program

- $10 for two program only

Registration Deadline: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at noon. We cannot
guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one
available. Please be sure to ask. No-shows will be billed.

November Meet & Greet!

JanKruse — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:16:29 +0000

Be sure to join us to meet, greet, and eat with peers at STC-Phoenix chapter’s Fall networking dinner. Bring a guest, catch up with old friends, or meet a new one!

Date: The evening of November 10th (second Tuesday in November)

Place: Duck & Decanter (www.duckanddecanter.com) located behind Copenhagen Imports on the south side of Camelback Road, just east of 16th St.

Address: 1651 E. Camelback Rd. , Phoenix, AZ 85018

Time: Come on by to meet and mingle at 5:30. Stay for dinner if you like. Last call for meal and drink orders is 7 PM. Closing time is 8:00 PM.

Drinks and Dinner on the patio. Order from a standard menu. Pay your own tab.

Please RSVP by noon Tuesday the 10th to confirm your attendance by sending an email to arrangements@stc-phoenix.com.

See you there!

IDL SIG October 2009 Webinar

Karen Zorn — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:53:56 +0000

Conducting the Job Task Analysis:

Stickie Bingo for Better Course Design

Join us for a Webinar on October 29, 2009

Have you ever wanted to know an effective way to determine what information to include in your courses? In this Webinar, you will learn how to identify tasks, steps, processes, objectives, and assessments for a specific job using a visual method that quickly derives results.

Highly Respected and Expert Presenter
Jane MacKenzie-Smith, is a Certified Performance Technologist from the International Society for Performance Improvement who has developed training for classroom, multimedia, and e-learning for most of her life. As owner of JEM Communications, LLC (www.jemcommunications.com), she provides course design and workshops on instructional design and e-Learning. She is the Past Manager of the Instructional Design & Learning (IDL) Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), a newly elected STC Fellow, and a popular presenter at STC events.

Your Investment
$20 IDL SIG member of the STC
$30 STC Member – Join the IDL SIG to break even on this Webinar, and save money on future Webinars.
$70 Non member - Consider joining the STC today. You can enjoy the valuable benefits of being an STC member, and receive great member pricing for this Webinar and others. http://www.stc.org/membership/

Sign Up Now!
Register for the time of day that fits your schedule. Please be sure to sign up for the correct time (day or evening) because we cannot switch you to the other Webinar time. Also, be sure to select “Show in My Time Zone” when registering.

Day Webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/227142842
1:30 – 2:30 PM (Eastern Time); 12:30 – 1:30 PM (Central Time);
11:30 – 12:30 PM (Mountain Time); 10:30 – 11:30 AM (Pacific Time)
Evening Webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/718996682
8:00 – 9:00 PM (Eastern Time); 7:00 – 8:00 PM (Central Time);
6:00 – 7:00 PM (Mountain Time); 5:00 – 6:00 PM (Pacific Time)

After registering, you will be directed automatically to a payment selection page. After paying, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within 2 to 3 days.

Session Materials and More
Several days before the Webinar you will receive an e-mail with login details and instructions for viewing session materials. After the Webinar, you will receive information for viewing the recorded Webinar.

System Requirements

Audio can be through either your computer (VoIP with a fast Internet connection, microphone, and speakers), or a long-distance telephone connection. For more system requirements, see FAQs, Attending a Webinar at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/en_US/island/webinar/support.tmpl.

Questions about This Webinar?

Jane MacKenzie-Smith jane@jemcommunications.com
Linda Stinger LindaStinger@comcast.net

Job Market Trends & Solutions

JanKruse — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:59:37 +0000

The recession, rising unemployment, searching for a job, keeping a job- all these present us with different challenges and also raise some questions.

What does the future look like for Technical Communicators in the Valley?
What skills will help me secure a job or help me keep the job I have?
Will using social media effectively help me get the job I need?
Is now a good time to retrain, retool? Rethink my goals?
Start a new business?

On Tuesday, October 13th, the STC-Phoenix community will get together to discuss the economic climate in the Valley and to tackle the unemployment issues we face as Technical Communicators.

Be part of the solution-bring your questions (and solutions) and join in a lively discussion with our featured panelists:

Barry M. Maid, Professor and Head of Technical Communication at Arizona State

For more than fifteen years, Maid has actively participated in online communities and has used them as teaching/learning spaces. He has also done consulting/training for diverse groups in industry, government, and higher education. He will bring his unique perspective on the Technical Communication field and the current marketplace.

Sherry Michaels, President of Michaels & Associates

Having experienced several recessions, and managing a company through four of the toughest ones, Michaels brings an evaluative expertise focused on what it takes to be differentiated in a highly-competitive market. Sherry will answer questions on what to do in today’s highly-competitive marketplace.

Dinner Options

Meat Entrée: Pot Roast

Vegetarian Entrée: Oriental Vegetable Stir Fry with Steamed Veggies

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert

Meeting Details

Tuesday, October 13, 2009. Networking at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and program at 7.

Location

Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 85034-6410.
Map & Directions

Registration Information

Cost: Members $18, Non-member $35, Students $15, Program only $10

Bonus Points for Fall 2009-Spring 2010 Program Year/Free Dinner

Those who have contributed $60.00 or more for dinner meeting attendance, program only attendance, or a combination of the two, can enjoy dinner at the June meeting free of charge. (Virtual meeting does not count toward bonus points.)

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

* $40 for two dinner/program
* $10 for two program only

Registration

The deadline is Thursday, October 8, 2009, at noon. We cannot guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one available. No-shows will be billed. To register, click here

Twitter–Who Cares What You’re Doing Now, Anyhow?

JanKruse — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:42:21 +0000

Twitter. It’s everywhere. Newscasters mention it. Political analysts point to its influence. Marketers use it to get messages out. Journalists and bloggers use it for research. Regular folks use it to keep up with their friends, family, and co-workers. And, people of all types use it for entertainment, research, and education. But, Twitter is more than all of these things combined. It’s a revolution in content publishing and its changing forever — or at least for now — how we communicate what’s important to us to those who want to know.

Come join us on Tuesday, September 8, to have Scott Abel, the Content Wrangler, tell us how Twitter is being used and why it matters.

Scott Abel

Scott Abel is a content management strategist and structured XML content evangelist, whose strengths lie in helping organizations improve the way they author, maintain, and deliver their information assets. Scott’s blog, The Content Wrangler (http://www.TheContentWrangler.com), is a popular online resource for technical writers with an interest in content management. Scott’s social networking site, The Content Wrangler Community (http://thecontentwrangler.ning.com), is a global network of content professionals that attracts thousands of members from around the world. A founding member of Content Management Professionals (http://www.cmpros.org), Scott previously served as Executive Director of the organization.

Scott writes regularly for trade and industry publications, blogs, and newsletters. He also runs several industry events, including the Web Content conference series (http://www.webcontentconferences.com) and Intelligent Content 2010.

Keep track of what Scott is doing and thinking via Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/scottabel) and where he’s at via Brightkite (http://brightkite.com/people/scottabel/) and where he’s heading via Tripit (http://www.tripit.com/people/thecontentwrangler).

Dinner Options

Meat Entrée: Chicken Florentine

Vegetarian Entrée: Sun-dried Tomatoes & Capers over Angel Hair Pasta

All entrees include a tossed green salad, rolls, tea, coffee and dessert

Meeting Details

Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Networking at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and program at 7.

Location

Phoenix Airport Hilton, 2435 South 47th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 85034-6410.
Map & Directions

Registration Information

Cost: Members $18, Non-member $35, Students $15, Program only $10

Bonus Points for Fall 2009-Spring 2010 Program Year/Free Dinner

New Member Incentive: Member and first-time guest

* $40 for two dinner/program
* $10 for two program only

Registration

The deadline is Thursday, September 3, 2009, at noon. We cannot guarantee a dinner to late registrants, although there may be one available. To register, click here

Visit Us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter

JillNorton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:52:42 +0000

STC Phoenix is on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, allowing you to connect with chapter members outside of our traditional meetings.

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91921013345

Facebook membership for the STC Phoenix group is for members and nonmembers.

Facebook (www.facebook.com) is used by over 100 million people in the U.S. each month to connect mostly with family and friends.

LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2053568

LinkedIn membership is limited to STC members only. Thus, membership must be requested (by you) and validated (by STC Phoenix) before acceptance into the group. Please allow a day or STC Phoenix to confirm your STC membership.

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) is an online business networking tool. LinkedIn lets you post your resume and recommendations from employers and co-workers. You also can create a custom URL with LinkedIn to include in emails and paper resumes when you apply for work.

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/STC_Phoenix (that’s STC_Phoenix)

Anyone is welcome to follow our tweets, which include meeting and event notices and tidbits of technical communication information from time to time.

Twitter (twitter.com) is a social networking and microblogging service that enables you to send and read short messages from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Over 17 million people use Twitter.

Problems?

If you have trouble with the Facebook or LinkedIn links above, search for “STC Phoenix” to find our groups. If you have any questions or comments about either group, contact Jeanette Buenger at jbuenger@q.com. We look forward to seeing you on both groups!

> Summer Networking Meetings

JillNorton — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:17:53 +0000

Reserve the evening of August 11 (second Tuesday in August) for our second summer networking opportunity. Meet us at the Duck & Decanter (www.duckanddecanter.com) located behind Copenhagen Imports on the south side of Camelback Road, just east of 16th St. The Duck’s address is 1651 E Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Last call for meal and drink orders is 7:00 p.m. Closing time is 8:00 p.m.

Order from a standard menu. Pay your own tab. And don’t miss the chance to chat up another attendee who just might have some news or information that could help advance your career!

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance by sending an e-mail to arrangements@stc-phoenix.com.

2009-2010 Planning Meeting

Karen Zorn — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:20:19 +0000

STC Phoenix’s traditionally asks input from members in planning the upcoming program year’s activities. We’d like to know your suggestions for:

programs

workshops

special projects

Please join us for our annual planning meeting. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Our chapter is only as vital and strong as our members.

When: Saturday, June 13, 8:30 a.m. until noon (Continental breakfast)

Where: Aetna Campus

4645 E Cotton Center Blvd.

Building 2, Suite 155

Phoenix AZ 85040

NOTE: This is a secured building and requires key-card access. Someone should be at the door to let you in. If not, please call Dana Osborne’s cell at 602-717-1478.

July 2009 Networking Meeting

Maggie Haenel — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:49:44 +0000

Please join us at STC Phoenix chapter’s first networking dinner opportunity of the summer. Mark your calendar for July 14^th from 5:30 to 8 PM.

STC has reserved a private room at The Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Phoenix. The address: 1418 N Central Ave, just south of McDowell Road on the west side of the street.

Order from a standard menu. Pay your own tab. And don’t miss the chance to chat up another attendee who just might have some news or information that could help advance your career!

Also, be sure to save August 11, 2009 for the next event. Details coming soon.

Meeting Information

Date/Time

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
5:30 – Networking; 6:00 – Dinner and networking

Dinner Options

Order from the standard menu; pay your own tab.

Please RSVP

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance by sending an email to arrangements@stc-phoenix.com.

Special Deal: DocTrain DITA – Full Conference + Hotel + Training only $999

Tim Slavin — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:26:35 +0000

In an effort to help make attending Documentation and Training DITA as affordable as possible this year, we’ve got a great deal for you. We’ll provide you with a full access pass to the conference, held June 2-5, 2009 in Indianapolis for only $999 –> including three nights of hotel! This is the best conference deal around.

Our special economy pricing includes 2 days of technical communication software and DITA skills development training classes, two days of conference presentations, case studies and panel discussions, breakfast daily, coffee breaks, lunch on day 2 and 3, and a pass to our networking cocktail reception PLUS three nights of hotel accommodations at our host hotel, The Hyatt Regency Downtown Indianapolis for only $999. That’s right conference and hotel for one low price.

What are you waiting for? Register for DocTrain DITA today! DEADLINE: 5pm EST April 30, 2009.

Registration via telephone only. Contact Eileen Savary at +1 978-649-8555. Use discount code: Conference Plus Hotel.

Please have the following information available when you register:

First name
Last name
Title
Company name

Your daytime phone
Your mobile phone
Business mailing address (postal)
Email address
The names of the pre- and post-conference workshops you plan to attend

Thanks! Hope to see you all in Indianapolis this June.

Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler
Program Manager, DocTrain Conferences

Documentation and Training DITA
June 2-5, 2009, Indianapolis, IN
http://www.doctrain.com/dita/2009

Free Webinar: Interactive 3D-PDFs with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers + 3D Assistant

Tim Slavin — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:23:20 +0000

Tuesday, May 26 (starting 10am PDT | 1pm EDT | 17pm UTC/GMT)

Learn how U3D files (ECMA1/ECMA3) can be referenced in FrameMaker (using
hypertext markers) with related views, links, bookmarks & JavaScripts, so
that interactive 3D models, together with their specified features, are
automatically present in the PDF file upon distilling with TimeSavers + 3D
Assistant. Feature demos: http://www.microtype.com/showcase3DAsst.html

To register, please email timesavers@microtype.com.