September/October 2007 | Home

Editor’s Message

by David Eicher
DMV Managing Editor

Hi, everyone. They say "Time flies when you're having fun." Well, in that case I must be having loads of fun because I simply can't believe it's September and we're starting a brand new year of newsletters. Where did the summer go?

First of all, let me thank and congratulate our Associate Editor, Ken Evans, and Contributing Editor, Dara Golden, for all their fine work in helping to make 2006-2007 a very successful year of EBSTC newsletters. Thanks also to everyone who contributed to the DMV this past year. As you may already know, the Devil Mountain Views was granted an Award of Merit in the 2006–2007 STC International Newsletter Competition. I think we all lived up to a very high standard together and deserve to feel some group pride in this accomplishment.

This year I am transitioning into other duties within the chapter as President-Elect. I've got alot to learn about the chapter in general, and about leadership responsibilities in particular. It will be a demanding and busy year for me. Consequently, Elaine Pendergrast will be phasing in as the new Managing Editor of the newsletter over the next issue or two. I know she will do a great job, and that you will all be as helpful and supportive to her as you've been to me.

We have some interesting articles in this edition.

Patrick Lufkin summarizes the STC Board's three-day visit to the San Francisco Bay Area during August.

Andrew Davis tells us about structured writing, which uses the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) content template, and how you can increase your value if your company is headed that way.

Patrick Lufkin announces the winners of the 2007 Gordon Memorial Scholarship, and calls for entries to the 2007-08 Northern California Technical Communication Competition.

Richard Mateosian calls for judges to the 2007-08 Northern California Technical Communication Competition. You need to respond quickly to this one, so read up and take action.

Dave