Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
November/December 2004 | Home

Society News

Intercom Online Provides More Value

The new Intercom Online is now available on the STC web site!

Previously, the Intercom section of the STC web site contained links to the feature articles of the current issue. The new Intercom Online contains links to the entire Intercom article index for the current issue, including letters to the editor, Society Pages, and departments such as Witful Thinking and Off Hours.

The new Intercom Online also features a full-text search utility that allows precise searches of all back issues from 1999 to the present. Some articles from the current issue will be available as "teasers" to non-members, but most of the articles will be reserved for members only.

STC Membership Changes

Beginning in January 2005 you will have more choices for STC membership than you've had in the past. One category of membership lets you choose a reduced membership rate and receive electronic-only copies of Technical Communication and Intercom. Or, if you live in a remote area and don't have a local chapter, you can choose not to join a chapter and just enjoy magazines, the members-only area of the STC web site, and SIGs.

As part of the changes, when you renew, you will see that you have the option of opting in or opting out of membership with EBSTC. We would love to have you continue as a chapter member. Please read the President's Message to learn what EBSTC is doing as a chapter to meet your needs.

STC is offering the following membership options:

Type	Description	Cost
Classic Membership	Paper versions of Intercom and Technical Communication Access to the online versions of Intercom and Technical Communication Full access to the members-only area of the STC web site Choice between membership in one chapter and one SIG, or three SIGs	$145.
Retired members	Same benefits as the Classic Membership Must be retired and have been an STC member for ten years	$72.50
E-Membership	Same benefits as the Classic Membership, but no paper versions of publications	$135.
Limited Membership	Same benefits as the Classic Membership, but no membership in chapters or SIGs	$125.
Student Membership	Same benefits as e-members, but no voting rights May join an unlimited number of SIGs and up to two chapters (one student and one professional) See Student Membership Changes in this article for additional information	$50.

An article on the new membership categories appears in the November 2004 issue of Intercom. If you have any questions regarding the new membership categories, please contact the Transformation Committee at transform@stc.org.

Student Membership Changes

At its September meeting, STC's board of directors took two actions in regard to student memberships:

Voted to expand the student membership category under the new membership model. Student members will still receive online access to Intercom and Technical Communication (not paper copies) and will be unable to vote in STC elections. However, they will now be able to join an unlimited number of SIGs and up to two chapters (one student and one professional) at no cost. Students may join additional chapters at a cost of $10 per chapter.

These additional benefits will allow students to better understand the practice of technical communication, learn networking skills, and appreciate the value of a professional community. By investing in our students, we also invest in the futures of STC and the profession.
Adopted a more stringent definition of student membership. To be eligible for student membership, a member must now be a full-time student. Previously, professional technical communicators enrolled in part-time continuing education classes could qualify for student membership. The new definition ensures that the benefits of student membership are available, as intended, only to students.

The new definition amends Article III, Section 2B of the STC Bylaws and reads as follows:
"Student Member. To be eligible for student membership, an applicant must be (1) enrolled in an accredited university, college, community college, or technical school; and (2) be considered a full-time student according to the criteria of the school he or she is attending; and (3) preparing for a career in technical communication."

2004 Salary Survey Results Available

Every year, STC surveys a random sample of its members who work as technical editors and writers in the U.S. and Canada. The survey gathers information regarding salaries and benefits. The 2004 survey results are now posted on the salary survey page.

DMV Home | EBSTC | STC | Contact Us