As many of you may know, the STC parent organization is struggling with debt for 2009. As a result, they have collected all the chapter reserve funds, so chapters have no rainy-day funds any more. Additionally, the STC now requires a precise budget, so they will only approve funds based on a proposed schedule of events AND the number of members a chapter has.
Furthermore, dues have increased. The new basic membership of $215 does not include membership in a chapter. To join a chapter, you need to opt in at an additional cost of $25. This $25 goes to the general STC fund that is used, in part, to fund all STC chapter programs.
As you know, our programs have included significant discounts on New Horizons training programs, top-notch sessions and guest speakers at meetings like our annual kickoff, and presentations by tool vendors, amongst other things.
We–volunteer Connecticut Chapter board members–understand how tight things are all around, but because approval of funding for chapter activities is going to be based on the number of members a chapter has, we need you to please renew your Connecticut Chapter membership this year and each year going forward.
Thank you in anticipation of your renewal of your Connecticut Chapter membership!
If no member is interested in such a topic as increased dues, no one is going to use this blog…period.
Anyone else agree? disagree.
Well, I don’t think as a chapter we are using online resources.
For example, we set up a presence on the now defunct STC forums and announced it, but only a couple of us ever posted there.
If you look at posts to this blog, most are by me or provoked by me (asking people specifically to wade in).
I’m not sure about the Website, but I suspect only job seekers and those recruiting for jobs go there.
Let’s see what kind of response this blog question gets; I am hopeful but expect the worst. Prove me wrong STCers!!
Cheers,
Sean
This is the first time I stopped by the blog and it is because someone told me about this topic.
On the topic, I personally, am not sure that I’ll be purchasing additional SIGs and/or chapter memberships. My chapter isn’t close to where I live making it difficult for me to attend meetings. The SIGs I like, but I’ll probably only purchase one if they come up with a way to add them later. I’ve already renewed my STC membership this year and did not add either of the above.
As an STC member, I gain the most from being a member of my local chapter, not from international benefits such as Intercom or the stc.org web site. It’s well worth the $25 to pay for membership in a local chapter. International knows this.
It’s a shame that only a portion of the $25 goes towards chapter activities. Hopefully this will change in the future as STC builds membership.
Thanks, Sean, for promoting this. Most comments we’ve ever gotten. Now if a few CT members would say they are rejoining the chapter that would be great.
Well, it would be nice to have CT chapter members commenting on this blog. A lot of comments here are from STCers outside CT. (I am mindful of the value of this resource to the CT chapter members based on use ….)
Anyway, I renewed. My employer paid for a gold membership for me. With basic dues up to $215 and the absolute necessity of adding a chapter to that for $25 — really, what’s the use of the STC without being a chapter member? — the gold membership makes a lot of sense.
Here’s an idea of how you might broach this with your employer:
“Hi owner of the company,
As you know, I’m currently a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Would our company reimburse me for my continued membership in this professional organization for $395? Basic dues are up this year, but the $395 is a full membership that includes access to seven Webinars plus one online course related to technical communication and writing.
I use this membership in several ways. I can network with other members about questions I have. For example, right now, we are kicking around the idea of translating our work. In addition to my own experience with translation, the STC membership gives me access, on an informal basis, to translators and technical writers who work in an environment where translation is part of the job. This will pay off by helping make our translation efforts as cost-effective and efficient as possible. Additionally, I am considering our upcoming redesign of the Website and our use of Web 2.0 for marketing (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
Over the last year, I’ve been considering the idea of making our documentation XML. I know how I want to proceed but am holding off to see what becomes of our translation efforts and what needs will come about as a result of us getting more into software through our renewed Java development projects.
I also rely on this organization to ask for help on recommendations to do with communication in general (business, technical, marketing communication). Furthermore, I read continue to read their publications: Intercom and the Society’s Journal. I have copies if you are interested.
Finally, there is discounted training. The next New Horizons training looks to be using databases to create dynamic Websites using Adobe Dreamweaver. This course normally costs $395 but will cost STC members $50. (See the course here: http://www.newhorizons.com/LocalWeb/popup/ClassInfo.aspx?ClassID=300003413&ILT=300003413&OLA=500075375&OLL=&ML=300003413&GroupID=346&Mode=3&scheduleclassid=3292LGEE.) There will likely be one other course from New Horizons that gets a similar discount. Past training has included FrameMaker, XML, Microsoft Access, Adobe Flash, and Adobe Acrobat.
I think the membership is worthwhile. The national chapter is http://stc.org and the local chapter is http://stc-ct.org.”
Thoughts?
Hello, all! I’m back to the STC (including adding the CT Chapter dues) after an absense of about 5 years. I decided to join again, even though my employer does not reimburse me. Why? Even I am not entirely sure.
To be honest, when I looked at the current stc-ct.org Web site, I wasn’t even sure the chapter existed still. Other than a style face-life (wasn’t it orange the last time I saw it?), it seemed like the information had been frozen in time. Have you really not had an event since 2005? If it were not for this blog (that it took me a while to find because it’s not part of the navigation system anywhere), I wouldn’t even know that I could get a (sizable!) discount on training. That alone has made me glad I joined the chapter!
I don’t mean to make my first post a harsh criticism– I know this is all-volunteer and you don’t have any more time than I have. (I’m stealing time from a project I should be doing to write this.) Your names are all familiar to me, so I’m sure you are all at (or way past) the point of burn out.
But it seems ironic that a site for Technical Communicators seems to not be a particularly good place for communicating that there are good reasons for joining (other than to look for a job)!
And yes, I plan to offer help when I can!
Hello,
Great to have you back. All criticism is welcome: let’s make it better.
If you look at http://www.stc-ct.org you’ll see, for example, we had a fall kickoff on September 18.
The Events page is out of date, perhaps we should remove it now–I used to try to keep it current, but struggled for contributors. Typically, we have four meetings a year.
The chapter Website and blog were linked on the STC forums, which are now discontinued, and at the bottom of http://www.stc-ct.org is a mention of and link to the blog. For a year or so the link was further up the page. Everything you see on http://www.stc-ct.org has been updated monthly.
Am not sure what navigation system you refer to. If you google “STC connecticut chapter” the Website is first on page one and the blog third on page one. The chapter search on stc.org links to our Webpage.
However, that being said, it could be better, it could be more dynamic, and your points are well made. If you can, make a list (check it twice) and bring it to the next meeting so we can chat about improvements and such. Your input is gratefully appreciated and accepted.
Cheers,
Sean