TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
One of the peculiar things about STC is the manner in which they snapshot membership at the end of the year. In many (if not most) tech comm undergraduate programs, instructors strongly recommend STC membership to new wannabes, because the STC salary figures make TW seem a highly desirable career (providing job security for faculty). New "STC student chapters" seem to crop up every year (at the same schools) with new groups of students.
It is all rather odd, because those student chapters are awarded "scholarships" equal to the cost of STC membership; newbies join the student chapter, then are given free membership in STC--just in time to fluff up the membership rolls for the end-of-the-year membership snapshot. Even more odd is that STC does not seem to differentiate between "full pay members" and "complimentary subscriptions provided to students" when making membership claims.
When I was an undergraduate, one of my projects involved contact with a fairly large number of tech comm student groups; most indicated the same situation at their schools; big rush to join late in the fall semester, and the award of "scholarships for membership" to anyone willing to fill out the application.
That is not to criticize or demean STC or its members. It is to say that STC needs some good PR direction, because it is alienating the very people who should be its strongest advocates.
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
