RE: Hostility towards STC

Subject: RE: Hostility towards STC
From: John Posada <JPosada -at- book -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 15:50:46 -0400


>What COULD STC have done (or still do) to "further the professional
>technical writer"?

Build it and they will come.

A bunch of years ago, I took over the presidency of an association chapter
in Sacramento. Membership was languishing, the national office was
considering revoking our membership.

The previous board couldn't understand. I heard things like "I cannot
understand why we get less than 10 members to a monthly meeting.", or "My
boss won't renew my membership".

First thing I did was change the programs from things like "Imaging in the
21st century" (this was about 1992) to "Things You can do save your
degrading information starting this afternoon."

The second thing was to increase monthly meeting cost from $5 to $30 and
with the money, fly national-level experts from around the country.

That first year, we came in with 100 members and finished with 320. Now,
instead of "My boss won't renew my membership", we were getting the actual
bosses to attend the meetings. Meetings went from 10-12 with turkey
sandwiches you balance on your knew, to 120 for sit-down lunch...with
desert.

Why? There was something they could use. Today! That afternoon!. They didn't
want to miss a meeting because something might be discussed that will make
them more valuable that week.

John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
Barnes&Noble.com
jposada -at- book -dot- com
NY: 212-414-6656
Dayton: 732-438-3372
Although she lives with seven other men, she's not easy.
------ Magic Mirror

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