Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
November/December 2002

President's Message

by Melody Brumis
EBSTC President

Are you looking for work? If so, you are not alone. Many chapter members are actively looking. At our October meeting, we shared tips on resumes, portfolios, finding your niche, networking, and interviewing. Luckily, many of the presenters are in the East Bay Chapter, so you can follow up with them at a meeting or by e-mail. Sue Phelan and Pat Butowick are our resume counselors, Gwaltney Mountford is our resident portfolio guru, and Judy Herr has wonderful ideas for finding your niche.

STC Membership

You can find their e-mail addresses on our EBSTC web site Leadership page or through the STC web site. The Member Directory is now part of the members-only perks. If you are not a current member, now is a good time to join.

During the annual fall membership drive, STC offers a special discount to new (or lapsed) members who join the Society after October 1, 2002. For the regular member rate of $140 ($125 for dues plus a one-time $15 enrollment fee), new (or lapsed) members will be credited with dues paid for the remainder of 2002 and for calendar year 2003. That’s fifteen months of Society membership for the price of twelve. You can join directly through the STC web site or you can contact our membership manager, Marsha Workman.

Chapter Web Site

You may want to keep an eye on the EBSTC web site. The Events page, for example, now has links to both the Touchstone (our publications contest) and the Region 8 and International conferences.

The Region 8 conference, which will be held in Las Vegas in January, is still in its planning stages. I’ve found the regional conferences a good way to try out new presentations. You can pick a topic you’d like to learn about, learn about it, and present what you’ve learned. You’ll not only get immediate feedback, but suddenly—voila!—people begin to see you as an expert in the field. You can also go as a participant, and have a good time too.

STC Scholarships

What else? I’ve just heard about an STC scholarship available to full-time graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in technical communication.

Four awards of $1,000 each will be granted for academic year 2003–2004. Application deadline is February 15, 2003.

Application forms and instructions are available from the STC office: 901 N. Stuart Street, Suite 904, Arlington, VA 22203-1822, phone (703) 522-4114, or through the STC web site.

Ideas Welcome

As always, we want to hear about what the chapter can do to support you in your professional goals as a technical communicator. Email me with your ideas, suggestions, and especially any ways you might be willing to contribute your talent and time. See you at the next meeting!

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