Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
January/February 2004

Editor's Message

by Gwaltney Mountford
STC Associate Fellow, DMV Guest Managing Editor

Hello Readers!

We hadn’t planned a theme for this issue, but one seems to have emerged—change. From Suzanna Laurent’s advice for dealing with job change to Richard Mateosian’s review of The Humane Interface: New Directions for Designing Interactive Systems, the underlying current is change.

And, of course, the very fact that this column is being written by someone other than Becky Rude is a change. As the first guest Managing Editor, my presence reflects one of the changes that Susan Harlan and Becky have been working on—making large volunteer jobs smaller to attract more volunteers. This change preceded the Membership Survey, but it was validated by answers to a survey question—“What is the primary reason you don’t hold a volunteer position?” The majority of respondents said it was lack of time. Read Becky’s article for more information about the survey and the changes planned for the chapter.

Thanks for Making the Job Easy

Being the guest Managing Editor has been easy for a number of reasons. For one thing, Becky did a lot of the groundwork for this issue, especially lining up articles. The process for publishing the newsletter is well documented, with checklists and timelines. It even has a guide, “Procedures for Devil Mountain Views,” written by former Managing Editor Kelly Walker and updated by Ashwini Tharval and Becky. But most importantly, the newsletter staff is experienced and dedicated. My thanks to Associate Editors Hasmig Vasgerdsian and Sarmistha Purkayastha, Copy Editor Elaine Parrish, and Web Designer Angelina Nachimuthu for making this such an enjoyable experience. A special thank you to former Associate Editor Susan Moxley for providing last-minute editing help. And of course, this issue would be nothing without our contributors, whose names you’ll find throughout this column.

Getting Back to Change

As many of the articles in this issue show, reaction to change is mixed. My husband, Carl, and I were talking about it at dinner the other night. “What I like about a new job,” he said, “is that it wipes the slate clean. You can get out of the rut you were in and start something new.” Of course, being consultants, we experience change constantly and therefore are comfortable with it. For those of you who are more disturbed by change, Suzanna’s article has some tips to make change easier to accept.

Personally, I find change exciting. It’s an opportunity to explore and learn new things, and meet new people—something that Sarmistha Purkayastha experienced when she left India to come to America, as she recounts in her article about starting a new career. And starting a new career is exactly what Joe Humbert would like to do (see Marsha Howard’s profile in this issue). Even Adrienne Tange made a change from prose to poetry in her offering for this issue.

It Isn’t All About Change

We have style. Dara Golden identifies the basics for style guides, and Bill Dubie and Dave Sciuto of the Northern New England Chapter review Microsoft’s version.

We have excitement in T.R. Girill’s update of the Literacy Outreach Program.

We have information we can use now in Nan Breedlove’s thorough recap of the November program and Elaine Parrish’s advice on making our documents more professional.

We have opportunities for leadership as explained by Susan Phelan. And Susan Harlan urges you not to change (that is, from member to non-member) in her exhortation to renew your STC membership.

Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New

When I think of it, it’s very appropriate that this issue is dominated by articles about change. After all, it’s the New Year, with its accompanying resolutions to change our less-endearing behaviors. So, find that beverage of choice and a comfortable chair, and enjoy the newsletter.

The staff at DMV wishes you every success and happiness for the coming year.


Gwaltney

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