The Society for Technical Communication is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It is the largest organization of its type in the world. Its 25,000 members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators - anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it.

The STC Toronto Chapter was founded in 1959 (then the Society of Technical Writers) and is the largest chapter in Canada.

About this Newsletter:

STC 2005 Election - Candidates Forum

In March and April of 2005, the STC will be holding elections. In the runup to the election we will bring you the views of the candidates. This month we have an article by Cynthia C.Currie, one of two candidates for the Region 1 Directorship. (The other candidate is Rich Maggiani... you can read his article in last month's issue here.) Directors serve for a term of three years.

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The Times They Are A-Changing
by Cindy Currie, Associate Fellow, Northern New England Chapter
Candidate for Region One Director

We’ve all heard this old Bob Dylan tune. It was written in 1963 (or thereabouts), back when the STC was just a young child. But a quick scan of the lyrics (go Google the title and you’ll get to them quickly) and you can see that they are timeless and applicable to the change that the STC is currently undergoing.

A True Understanding of Change.  We all know that change is essential. It must be planned for wisely. It must be implemented in a structured and deliberate way. There will be a (sometimes lengthy) period of transition before transformation occurs. Finally, we will reach the point of true transformation, when change is fully understood, operationalized, and embraced by all stakeholders. And, YOU are key stakeholders in STC’s current transformation efforts.

To implement change successfully, that is to get to the point of true transformation, the STC needs strong leaders at all levels that truly understand not only what needs to change and why, but also the strategy and roadmap to achieving it. And, I am just the person to bring a deep knowledge and practical experience of those things to bear because I manage change as a core competency of my job at HP.

The Power of Effective Two-Way Communication: We all know the power of effective communication. We do this for a living, for goodness sake! But, how many of you feel you have a true understanding of and voice in the current transformation work of the STC? Do you feel like you’re in the loop? Perhaps some of you do, but I suspect that there are those of you who may not. My job as Director will be to ensure that every member (every “voice”) in Region 1 has an opportunity to be heard by the Society Board. I will take stewardship of all your issues and concerns (not just those related to the transformation) and take seriously the responsibility you give to me to act as your voice before the STC Board of Directors.

Communication will very much be two-way as I work to ensure the desired results for the members of Region 1. My webpage www.cindycurrie.com will be the hub of communications, with report outs on recent board meetings and other topics of interest to you. The page will also contain detailed information about how you can contact me with your questions and concerns. I will respond to all who contact me.

Experience as a Technical Communicator. For 24 years, I have been a technical communicator in a wide variety of roles. I have experienced continuous growth beginning as a junior technical writer and evolving to my current position as a senior performance consultant and global program manager. I am often in leadership positions and have always made major contributions to my projects and programs, leading and mentoring other technical communicators. My work has enabled me to leverage and contribute to industry best practices that serve to keep my employers and customers on the forefront of the technical communications field. It is this experience that positions me well to serve as your Region 1 Director.

Distinguished Service to STC. My numerous years of service to STC include significant contributions at the chapter, regional, and Society levels, including participation as:

• A member of the NNE Chapter Board of Directors for over 10 years, serving as the NNE representative to the regional InterChange Technical Writing Conference.
• A member of the regional InterChange Technical Writing Conference Planning Committee for 10 years, serving in a variety of roles, including conference co-chair for three years.
• The Manager of the International Technical Publications Competition, a position I have held for three years.

For my continued involvement in STC conferences and competitions, both in terms of planning and participation, I was awarded a Distinguished Chapter Service Award in 2000.

Continued Dedication and Commitment. Clearly, the technical communications profession and the STC are near and dear to my heart. I would not have served the profession or the Society as well or as long as I have if it was not the case.  I very much look forward to the opportunity to YOU in the position of Region 1 Director. Let’s make a difference together!