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Subject:Re: Preferring STC Members From:"Eldard, John @ SLG" <JOHN -at- SLC -dot- UNISYSGSG -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 7 Mar 1995 12:40:00 MST
I've got to agree with Caryn.
My .02 cents:
The association I have with other technical communicators because of STC
(non-members and non-technical communicators also) is one of the things I
like most about STC. I like the Journal and its coverage of technical
communication. STC members are like non-members; STC just provides a way to
communicate with other professionals with the same career interests and
goals.
John Eldard
John -at- slc -dot- unisysgsg -dot- com
----------
From: TECHWR-L
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Preferring STC Members
Date: Tuesday, March 07, 1995 9:46AM
I feel I must stand up for STC. Yes, the journal is hard to
read and very dry, but there is sometimes useful information
in it. There is a task force working on improving
the journal for the membership.
But, I consider $95 to be a valuable investment for my career,
employed or unemployed. You can have access to job information
through STC even if you aren't a member, but you gain so much
more by being a member.
At least it has helped me tremendously. I consider myself
a far better communicator as a result of my STC membership,
which includes more than just membership. It means that
I attend meetings, meet other communicators, share ideas,
attend STC conferences, and develop myself. I don't feel
that I would have advanced as much without the ability
to network regularly with other technical communicators
and keep abreast of what is going on in the field.
Certainly STC membership alone does not make you a better writer.
STC membership only has value when you put more into STC
than your dues. The journal and newsletters by themselves
won't do much for you. It is meeting other communicators
and sharing ideas that makes the difference.
I will get off of my soapbox now!
Caryn Rizell
caryn -at- hpptc95 -dot- rose -dot- hp -dot- com
> Re the journal, AMEN!
> Not to mention that when I was in job search mode, i.e., unemployed, I
> could not/would not shell out the precious $ for membership.
> ======================
> >And when given the choice between someone who belongs to
> >STC and someone who doesn't, I'll probably choose the STC
> >member. Why? Because someone who takes the time to belong
> >to a professional society like STC is constantly exposed to
> >new ideas and methods and is less likely to be firmly\
> >entrenched in the past. Give me someone who's not afraid to
> >learn! Society membership says that to me.
> Is this some other STC that I haven't heard of? There is no
> correlation between good writers and STC membership that I've
> ever seen. And the journal is dull as ditchwater, and often
> badly written.
