Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
May/June 2004

President’s Message: Adding Value to STC Membership

by Susan Harlan
EBSTC President

Low-Hanging Fruit

The Society for Technical Communication has viewed the term “adding value” in several different ways in the past few years. In a visit to the Phoenix Chapter in 2002, the then–Society President, Edward See, reported that adding value means “picking the low-hanging fruit.” He explained that you can start with the easier tasks, such as documenting your work processes, and from there you can get efficient and reduce the time cycle. The work can then be translated into measurable goals that “translate into real dollar savings.” Think about this good advice to the Phoenix STC members.

(Read the complete article, The Value Proposition, on See's visit in the November issue of the Rough Draft newsletter.)

Behind the Curtain

Also in 2002, Bonni Graham, the Region 8 Director-Sponsor, published an often-quoted article called Adding Value for Members that first appeared in the Silicon Valley Chapter newsletter, Connection. Bonni noted that the Society, as an international organization, adds value through its web site. And this value comes from, “Primarily, the items ‘behind the curtain’ … the Society-level job listings (for membership enhancement value) and the member directory (to protect your privacy even better).” She cited the history of the Society as a 501-C-3 non-profit organization in which a substantial effort goes toward activities, including publications, conferences, research, and scholarships, that fall within the scope of “charitable purposes.”

The Friendly Chapter :)

Ideally, you’re agreeing with these value-added attributes of STC membership at this point. Now, I would like to take you into another dimension of value, and this is at the East Bay Chapter level … so we’re talking about a local perspective. In this month’s chapter meeting we had a very skilled and articulate speaker, Clark N. Quinn, Ph.D., Director of User Experience at Knowledge Anywhere. In a very concise and well-documented presentation on usability, he stopped at one point and said to the members, “This is a very friendly group!” Well, some of us EBSTC members have been saying this for years. Now, it’s time to say that this friendliness really does “add value” to your membership!

How many group meetings can you attend where people really want to talk to you and listen to your ideas or questions? EBSTC Chapter members have been doing this, and the chapter has had this reputation for years. As a matter of fact, that’s why I’m here. When I first came to the Bay Area over 13 years ago and started exploring STC chapters for membership, I had a choice among several locations. At that time, and certainly now, it was the friendliness of the East Bay Chapter that attracted me and caused me to select it as my home chapter.

A Thriving Chapter

So, what is this friendliness, and how does it add value? The EBSTC Chapter members are willing to help one another out in managing this chapter and making the monthly meetings happen and the newsletter get published. A group of professionals with their various skills have banded together and really want to make this chapter not only work, but thrive to the point of receiving international recognition. Wait 'til you hear the results for the Chapter Awards Ceremony at the annual convention. The East Bay Chapter will most likely be honored again … maybe even receive a great honor. That remains to be seen, but just know that the chapter’s friendliness creates positive feelings among the members, and it also creates high-level results. And that’s a good value-adding combo!

Best Regards,
Susan

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