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What’s Up, EDoc! – Trends in Tech Comm

August 24th, 2010 by JanKruse

The once stable, almost staid world of technical writing has turned turbulent. Consider that, in less than a decade, we’ve seen:

• The rise of topic-based authoring
• The rise of structured authoring in general, and DITA in particular
• Increasingly complex technical ecosystems that ask us to decide about the Mark of the Web and quirks vs. strict browser modes
• The growth of mobile devices, and the need to create single-source output that can work on them, as well as a standard PC or laptop
• The growth of social media and the need to integrate content from social media with that from more traditional documentation
• The spread of metadata and the promise of dynamically-modeled online help, CMSs, and more…

What exactly can we expect, and how do we deal with all this?

In this presentation by Neil Perlin, a 31-year veteran of technical communication, we’ll first look at the high-level technologies and methodologies coming our way. We’ll then look at what we need to do to function in this environment, such as:

• Viewing ourselves as independent consultants rather than employees
• Taking charge of our own careers, rather than waiting for the company to do so
• Accepting the need for lifelong technical learning
• Accepting the need to go beyond technology and writing and into the business side of our world

These are turbulent times. But they’re interesting times too, promising new and challenging work, if we keep up.

Come join the conversation at the September 14th chapter meeting as Neil gives his take on where things are going and how best prepare for the future.

About the Speaker

Neil Perlin, owner and principal consultant of Hyper/Word Services, entered technical writing in 1979, began creating online documentation in 1985, and is now an internationally-recognized expert in online help and documentation design and development. He has been providing online documentation training and consulting services for 15 years, is a popular speaker at various technical communication groups and conferences, organized and ran the “Beyond the Bleeding Edge” stem at the STC annual conference from 1999 to 2006 and again in 2010, and is a columnist for the STC and IEEE/PCS. He also spends enough time travelling to indulge his road hobby, searching out fine BBQ joints. He can be reached at nperlin@nperlin.cnc.net, or at his web site – www.hyperword.com.

Meeting Details

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

• 5:30  Check-in & Networking
• 6:00   Dinner
• 6:30   Announcements and Discussion
• 7:00-8:30   Program

Dinner Options

Meat Entree:  Chicken Florentine
Vegetarian Entree: Vegetable Wellington

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/Cost Information

• Chapter Member via Pay Pal $18
• Chapter Member paid at meeting $20
• STC Member-at-Large $25
• Non-member $35
• Student $15
• Program only $10

New Member Incentive:

Member and first-time guest this program year: $40 for two dinner/program

Not a member, but want to attend?  We can match you with a member  for one meeting this program year, at the discounted price. Contact Jan at programs@stc-phoenix.com if you are interested.

Registration Deadline:

Thursday, September 9, 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 for this event, please click here.

Congratulations!

August 2nd, 2010 by Gloria McConnell

A big congratulations to Jeanette Buenger, who recently won the Diane Feldman Scholarship. This year, STC’s Carolina Chapter and Technical Editing Special Interest Group (SIG) partnered to award this one-time scholarship to a graduate student. The purpose was to honor Diane Feldman, a long-time STC and Technical Editing SIG member who recently passed away.

This year’s scholarship judges identified Jeanette as “the applicant who best exemplifies Diane’s leadership, contributions, and enthusiasm for the field of technical editing.” For more information, see the Technical Editing SIG announcement. Read Jeanette’s scholarship application on her blog.

STC Phoenix Welcomes New Officers, Presents Awards

June 11th, 2010 by MiachelleDePiano

The June 2010 STC Phoenix chapter meeting saw the end of one presidential era and welcomed a new one.  Karen Zorn, STC Phoenix chapter president from 2007-2009, introduced new President Kathy Graden, who previously served as STC Phoenix’s chapter vice president.

 

Kathy began her chapter presidency with a synopsis of her attendance at the STC Conference and delivered news of upcoming STC changes for members.  Changes include that for next year’s dues, members will not be charged to belong to a chapter, an initiative instilled for 2010 dues which was not popular in STC.  STC will host a social network mechanism, and will finally offer a certification in technical writing, an initiative that has been 20 years in the making.

The evening continued with a humorous presentation by Bonnie Graham Gonzalez, CEO and President of Manual Labour, Inc. and a former comedian.  Bonnie was accompanied by her friend and traveling companion, Sharon Burton, who is also quite a funny woman.  Bonnie presented us with some visual portrayals of technical writing that had the Phoenix chapter members laughing.  She finished with a very personal and poignant family story that brilliantly displayed her knack for finding humor in the most trying of family situations.

 

 

Finally, Karen presented chapter members with awards, and passed the purple presidential torch, a tradition started by former president Dana Osborne, to Kathy Graden.

New chapter officers:

• President:  Kathy Graden
• Secretary:  Maggie Haenel
• Treasurer:  Debra Gabriel
• Programs Manager:  Jan Kruse
• Membership Manager:  Miachelle DePiano

Miachelle DePiano
Membership Manger

Call for contributors: working with international teams

June 6th, 2010 by Gloria McConnell

Have you worked with an international team? If so, you may have an opportunity to share your experience.  Dr. Han Yu at Kansas State University and Gerald Savage from Illinois State University are planning to publish a collection of stories under the title Negotiating International and Cross-Cultural Technical Communication: Stories of Technical Communicators.

In the spirit of international communication, refer to this STC France story for full details: http://stcfrance.org/articles/128/stories-of-technical-communicators-call-for-contributors.

To indicate your interest, send a 300-word proposal along with a 150-word biographical note to Dr. Yu, hyu1@ksu.edu,  by July 31, 2010.

Chapter Planning Meeting

May 30th, 2010 by Gloria McConnell

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.

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