Welcome to our new chapter members, and welcome back to renewing members.
As I write this, it’s the Year of the Tiger and the 2010 Winter Olympics have started in Vancouver. It’s a time of renewal, change and opportunities. Since my last message, we’ve held three well-attended program meetings, two excellent professional development workshops, and have been doing all kinds of work behind the scenes to continue to bring you value for your membership. As most of Vancouver is whipped up in Olympic frenzy, we won’t be having a program meeting in February. We have something special in the works for March, so stay tuned.
Here’s an update for you about:
• STC Summit Grant
• Winners of the 2009-2010 Technical Publications Competition
• Storage Space and Meeting Space: Can You Help?
• STC Elections
• STC International Office
STC Summit Grant
STC CWC is pleased to announce the STC Summit Grant, which provides one grant of full conference registration to the 2010 STC Summit in Dallas, TX that takes place May 2–5, 2010. The registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. (PST) on March 8, 2010. Here’s more information about the STC Summit Grant.
Winners of the 2009-2010 Technical Publications Competition
At the January 2010 program meeting, we recognized the winners of the
2009–2010 Technical Publications Competition. The competition recognizes excellence in technical communication in a number of categories.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted work, and especially to our winners: Barry Shanko, Graham Masters, Jennifer Wiebe, Lisa Siddons, Chris Ninkovich and Louise Rousseau.
Thank you to the volunteers who contributed their time and expertise: Pam Drucker, Liessi Haussler, Heather Sommerville, Sharon Twiss and Marian Buechert.
Storage Space and Meeting Space: Can You Help?
The chapter needs to upgrade its storage space and meeting space. We have some preliminary options but are looking for your suggestions of affordable solutions. We’re looking for:
• Storage space for our records. The space must be locked and secure, accessible outside of office hours, and have space for approximately four banker’s boxes.
• Meeting space for our volunteer meetings. The space must be available on a weekday evening between 6:30–9:00 p.m. and have space for up to 12 people. The ability to have external catering/food delivery is preferred. Meetings take place once every 2–3 months.
If you have suggestions for storage space or meeting space (or both!), please email them to secretary (at) stcwestcoast (dot) ca.
STC Elections
STC Elections will take place from March 9, 2010 through April 8, 2010. You must renew your membership (and new members must join) by February 8, 2010 in order to be eligible to vote in the 2010 election. As STC International office (STC IO) recovers from a very difficult 2009, it’s clear that we need a strong team to lead. Find out more about the STC Elections.
The presidents of the Canadian chapters developed a list of Canadian-focused questions for the candidates. Fei-Min Lorente, president of STC Southwestern Ontario, provides more information on her chapter blog.
STC International Office
STC International Office (STC IO) has been going through tough times lately, but it looks like things are in recovery. If you’re not familiar with the situation, I provided a brief update in my last message.
Updates:
• STC CWC has developed a generous budget for the next two years that will allow the chapter to continue to bring program meetings, professional development seminars and scholarship opportunities. Based on this budget, we identified a $5,000 surplus. This surplus was sent to STC IO in support of the Society, and in good faith that STC IO will continue to represent and advocate for the work of technical communicators.
• STC IO used to support its chapters through regular pass-through funds of $25 per chapter member, per year. Since summer 2009, pass-through funds have been frozen and chapters have been operating without financial support from head office. In response to this, STC IO has formed a task force to consult the chapters about how to best provide support—financial and otherwise. Catherine Kerr (STC CWC vice-president) and Tracey Martinsen (STC CWC secretary) have graciously stepped forward to represent our chapter and, as it turns out, all Canadian chapters. I have every confidence that they’ll represent our needs to the task force, and thank them for taking this on.
Rest assured, our local chapter is thriving and strong. We will continue to bring you opportunities for professional development, networking and building your community. We’re a volunteer-run organization and we’re always looking for new blood. If you’d like to get involved, email Heather at volunteer (at) stcwestcoast (dot) ca.
What can we do to bring more value to your membership? Leave your comments in this forum thread or email me at president (at) stcwestcoast (dot) ca.
Best wishes,
Eagranie Yuh
President, STC CWC
president (at) stcwestcoast (dot) ca
