STC Region 6 Conference Announcement

Subject: STC Region 6 Conference Announcement
From: Sally Spahn <SJS08 -at- AOL -dot- COM>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 1997 00:34:56 -0400

For anyone who might be in the Milwaukee area or might be interested in
attending...

7th Annual Region 6 Conference

October 23–25, 1997
The Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Answers to Tough Questions in Technical Communication

Update your knowledge and skills as we examine the theme: From Information to
Knowledge. As technical communicators we gather, discern and shape
information into useable forms that become knowledge. In our jobs we make
the difficult easily understood.

This year at the Region 6 Conference we will examine the many ways technical
communicators, through skill and experience, add value to their companies by
transforming information into knowledge. How is this transformation
accomplished? Through sophisticated and cutting-edge tools and technologies?
Through new processes? Through tried and true core competencies? Through
exposure and implementation of new trends? Join us for three days of
workshops, presentations and panel discussions.

Web site!
Visit the Region 6 site at http://stc.org/region6/index.htm for updated
program information and changes to the conference schedule.

Vendor Exhibition
Vendors presentations are included in the program this year. Also, be sure
to attend the Welcome Reception on Thursday, October 23rd in the Vendor
Exhibit area.

Keynote Speaker: Kate Harper

Comparing Information and Knowledge: The Internet as a Tool Technical Writers
Can Employ to Help Users Make the Transition
This address will look at the criteria that determine when information
becomes knowledge and at how technical communicators help the user make that
transition. As a final step, the question of whether the World Wide Web can
be used as a tool in this process will be explored.

Kate Harper is currently the Program Manger for Microsoft's HTML Help. She
was previously the documentation manager for the Microsoft Visual Languages
group, which included Visual C++, Visual Basic, and Visual J++ (Microsoft's
Java implementation). Ms. Harper has spent the past 10 years in the field of
information design and delivery. She has received several awards from the
Society for Technical Communication including an award of Excellence for the
Visual C++ v4.0 documentation. She holds dual bachelors degrees in Political
Science and Journalism from the University of Nevada Reno and worked as a
journalist before moving to the field of technical communication.
Location and Accomodations

This year's conference will be at The Pfister Hotel, a preferred hotel
registered with the Historic Hotels of America. Enjoy the 19th century
European architectural style, with galleries and corridors accented by the
largest collection of 19th century Victorian art on permanent display in any
hotel in the world. The Pfister is in historic downtown Milwaukee, just a
short walk from the Lake Michigan waterfront, theaters and museums. A Four
Diamond Hotel, Member: Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Member:
Historic Hotels of America.

The Pfister Hotel
424 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
1-800-558-8222
http://www.pfister-hotel.com

Special rates if reserved before October 1st:
(Be sure to identify yourself as a STC Conference attendee when making
reservations.)
Single Double
Room $120 $140
Suite $160 $180

Additional Accommodations
Downtown
Holiday Inn, 611 W. Wisconsin Ave 1-414-273-2950
Single/Double $99

Hyatt Hotel, 333 W. Kilbourn Ave 1-414-276-1234
Single/Double $129

Milwaukee Hilton, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave 1-800-445-8667
Single $159 Double $179

Park East Hotel, 916 E. State 1-414-276-8800
Single $95 Double $105

Wyndham Milwaukee Center, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave 1-414-276-8686
Single/Double $125

Airport
Best Western Midway Hotel, 5105 S. Howell 1-414-769-2100
Single $68 Double $76

Manchester Suite Hotel, 200 W. Grange Ave 1-414-744-3600
Single $69 Double $77

Midway Hotel, 5105 W. Howell Ave 1-414-769-2100
Single $68 Double $74

Motel 6, 5037 S. Howell Ave 1-414-482-4414
Single $39 Double $46

Quality Hotel Airport, 5311 S. Howell Ave 1-414-481-2400
Single $67 Double $119
Conference Schedule

Thursday, October 23, 1997
7:00 am-8:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
1:00 pm-5:00 pm Vendor Exhibits

Workshops (Choose one from each group)
8:30 am-12:00 pm
Introduction to HTML-Based Help [Ben Weisner] Ben covers and demonstrates
the HTML-based help systems offered by Netscape, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems
and IBM. He discusses pros and cons, migration from WinHelp and authoring
tools.
1:30 pm-5:00 pm
Developing Interactive Training Solutions (Part 1, Understanding the
Process, and Part 2, A Case Study) [Donna Kuse, Tony Browne, Ann Elizabeth,
Lanai Kastelic] This panel shares the process that a trainer and two
technical writers used to design, protype, develop and implement an
interactive Windows 95-based tutorial. Includes tutorial demonstration.
Digital Images: Making Photos from Bits & Bytes[Cordell Woods] Cordell's
workshop compares various types of digital graphics. Discussion includes
pixels and how they’re made into images, color models and how to choose them,
how images appear on computer displays, a definition of color lookup tables
(CLUT), how images print on paper and preparing photos for technical
documents.
Knowledge Engineering, Catching Black Cats in Dark Rooms[Kim Ruyle] What are
the skill required for successful knowledge acquisition? How do knowledge
representation schemes affect performance improvement solutions? How does
one start to learn knowledge engineering skills? Kim answers the these
questions with case studies, demonstration, interactive lecture and
discussion.
1:30 pm-5:00 pm
SGML, XML, and ArborText: A Winning Combination for Your Knowledge
Processing Systems[Beth Ambaruch] Learn why the combination of SGML, XML, and
ArborText’s editing and publishing software is the solution for multiple
authors, multiple documents, and multiple outputs. ADEPT Editor and ADEPT
Publisher allow users to create and maintain textual and document information
as reusable elements independent of formatting, media, and computer software
or hardware.
Reengineering Your Document Process[Beth Ambaruch] Many organizations have
successfully reengineered their processes for creating, managing, and
distributing document information to take advantage of the latest
technologies and tools. This presentation describes the concepts, decisions,
and approaches crucial to the success of these reengineering projects.
Real-world examples of both highly successful and problematic installations
are examined.
1:30 pm-3:00 pm
The Fastest Cost Effective Way to Get Documents Online[Ken Cook] Moving
printed or electronic files for print to online forms can be done efficiently
with Adobe Acrobat. Tools and applications are presented.
3:30 pm-5:00 pm
Co-Purposed Enterprise Publishing[Robert Caskey] Digital technology enables
organizations to tailor images, artwork, text, and database information to
multiple media—print, CD-ROM, and the Web. Information on demand and
one-to-one marketing are the benefits.
5:00pm-7:00pm Welcome Reception with Exhibitors
Friday, October 24, 1997
7:00 am-8:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:00 am-5:00 pm Registration
7:00 am-3:00 pm Vendor Exhibits
7:30 am-9:30 am General Session and Keynote Address
Kate Harper, Microsoft, Comparing Information and Knowledge: The Internet as
a Tool Technical Writers Can Employ to Help Users Make the Transition

Sessions (Choose one from each group)
10:00 am-11:30 am
Leadership[Jamie Conklin and Lance Gelein] Jamie and Lance offer a workshop
to help you to assume the role of a leader. They focus on critical success
factors of team leadership, establishing objectives and managing teams. There
are group exercises to show how to create and sustain an effective team.
Going Online: A Case Study in the Development & Implementation of Netscape
NetHelp[Robbie Rupel, Bill Bledsoe, Frank Watson, and Ellard Douglas] This
panel discusses development and implementation of an electronic documentation
system at a leading radiation therapy planning company using Netscape’s
NetHelp as the basis for delivery. They describe their problems and successes
in replacing a seven volume printed set and demonstrate their help system.
Global Communication: Issues in Editing for International Audiences[Katie
Woolm] Katie defines and discuss issues for managing a bilingual or
multilingual project. Topics include how to prepare a document for effective
translation and working in a multilingual setting.
Upside-Down Help: When Help Runs the Applications[Cynthia Spellman] Using
an existing standalone WinHelp application that runs single purpose applets,
this presentation examines design issues and usability techniques for
secondary Windows, including start-up and topic entry macros.

11:30 am- 1:30 pm Luncheon

1:30 pm-3:00 pm
Information Architecture: Providing the Right Information to the Right User
at the Right Time[Saul Carliner] Online information has led to complex
information projects combining documentation, training, user interfaces, and
applications in an effort to provide users with the information that best
meets their needs. To be successful, these projects require a more structured
approach to information planning than technical communicators have used in
the past. Using a case study, this session describes an approach assessing
the appropriate solutions to users’ needs, ties solutions to the bottom line
of clients for whom the information is being developed, and provides project
plans that are sufficiently detailed for all development team members’ needs.
Designing Successful Web Pages and Web Applications[Shawn Lawton Henry] This
presentation addresses the growing issue of usability of Intranet and
Internet Web pages and Web applications. It offers a process for developing
Web pages that integrates best practices from related disciplines, discusses
developing and implementing a style guide and addresses a newly created role
of Web Design Specialist. Suggests guidelines for Web development. Guidelines
for sub-site design, navigation, page layout, graphics, color, forms,
language, and HTML coding are introduced.
Reconciling Style & Substance: Contextualized Web Page Design—Dave Clark and
Adrienne Lamberti This panel explores, discusses, and demonstrates the latest
techniques in layout and design of Web pages, arguing for an understanding of
design informed by a site’s context—its audience and the purposes the
organization hopes to achieve with that audience.
A Reviser's Dozen: 13 Guidelines for Detecting Problems[Christianna
White] This session presents a research based approach to revision that
focuses on detection as an essential part of successful revision. Using
examples from workplace writing, this presentation outlines and explores 13
guidelines that can be applied to professional communication, and offers
strategies for their implementation.
3:30 pm-5:00 pm
Introduction to Microsoft HTML Help[Kate Harper] This session focuses on
Microsoft HTML Help 4.0, the next-generation online authoring system from
Microsoft. HTML Help is based on WinHelp 4.0 and allows the creation of help
files or Web pages based on HTML. Workshop participants learn about the basic
functionality that HTML Help provides and gain an understanding of how to
convert existing documentation and create new documentation based on HTML.
Dynamic Portfolios[Lance Gelein] Don't take writing samples to your next
interview—take a dynamic portfolio! Lance shows you how to build a portfolio
that gets results.
Creating and Connecting: HTML Forms and Web-Based Databases[Dean
Barker] This presentation shows how to create HTML forms and connect them to
databases via the Internet or Intranet. This is a companion session for
Designing Successful Web Pages and Web Applications . Topics include design
process, HTML codes for creating forms, submitting and receiving data, the
project team and software tools for development and connectivity.
Authoring Web Based Training (WBT)[Ron Kurtus] This session discusses
considerations for writing web based training (WBT) and includes an overview
of authoring software for WBT.

5:00pm-7:00pm Conference Reception

Saturday, October 25, 1997
7:00 am-8:00 am Registration and Breakfast

Workshops (Choose one from each group)
8:00 am-11:30 am
Demonstration: Usability-Based Web Design[Sally Yeo] Sally addresses web
design issues in real life using a demonstration, a tour of real Web sites
and a set of Web design guidelines.
8:00 am-9:30 am
On-The-Line Documentation: A Quick & Portable Solution to Complex Audience
Analysis[Steve Chu] This presentation illustrates a simple audience analysis
approach to an audience in which users differ drastically in computer skills,
literacy levels, and on-the-job functions. Steve presents a process model and
outlines the use of a questionnaire to gather user information and transform
it into a customizable document that can be adapted to other analyses.
Managing the Client's Expectations: How to Manage A Project & Avoid
Unpleasant Surprises[Sheila Machacek] Sheila examines four ways to
successfully managing the client’s expectations—education, checking in,
reporting, and decision management. She’ll provide some samples of useful
tools.
10:00 am-11:30 am
Your Future in Freelancing[Chris Roerden] Learn the strategies for thriving,
not just surviving, as your own boss. Three highly successful full-time
independent contractors share their know-how to help you succeed as an
entrepreneur. Bring your questions.
The Emerging Role of the Translation Coordinator[Sandi Lubrant] The
translation coordinator facilitates the production of documentation by
technical writers for multilingual use. This panel describes key
responsibilities of translation coordinator and prepares translation
coordinators for these responsibilities. The goal is to improve the work flow
for everyone and make the transition smooth and efficient.

Registration

Name:

Company or Organization:

Address:

Title:

Day Telephone:

FAX:

E-Mail:

STC Member? Yes No

Special dietary or accessibility needs

Diet:

Accessibility:

Complete a separate registration form for each individual attending.
Duplicate the registration form as needed. A single check may be sent for
multiple registrations if the check and all completed registration forms are
sent in the same envelope.
Purchase orders and credit cards are not accepted.
Full payment must accompany registration form.

Fee Submission
Thursday
AM (Half day) $
PM (Half day) $

Friday
(Full day) $

Saturday
(Half day) $

Total $

Conference Fees
Fees include admittance to the Thursday evening reception and all Friday
sessions, morning coffee and rolls, lunch, and the wine and cheese reception.
There is an additional fee for attending each Thursday and Saturday half day
workshop. The Saturday fee includes a continental breakfast.

By After
9/29/97 9/29/97
Friday (Full Day)
STC Member $ 90.00 $110.00
Non-STC member $110.00 $130.00
Student/Retired $ 50.00 $ 60.00
Presenter/Board -25%

Thursday and Saturday (Each Half-Day Workshop)
STC Member $ 50.00 $ 65.00
Non-STC member $ 65.00 $ 80.00
Student/Retired $ 30.00 $ 45.00

Please make checks payable to: STC Region 6 Conference

Mail check and completed registration form to:
Cordell Woods
3151 Main Street NE
Blaine, MN 55449-6112


Directions to the Conference

From Chicago (airport) and Madison (South and West) take 94 to Milwaukee to
794.
From Sheboygan (North) take 43 to Milwaukee to 794.
Once on 794 from either direction, stay in the far right lane and take 794 to
Van Buren Exit (far left lane). Continue on Van Buren Street to Mason Street
(approximately three blocks north). Turn left onto Mason, continue two blocks
then turn left onto Jefferson.

Region 6 Conference Board
Joyce Woods, General Manager woods -at- computer -dot- org Twin Cities Chapter
Mollye Barrett, Planning mollyeb -at- dataforms -dot- com Wisconsin Chapter
Jackie Rozeboom, Program futurtk -at- anet-stl -dot- com St. Louis Chapter
Sigrid Schoepel, Facilities sschoepe -at- braintech -dot- com Wisconsin Chapter
Dean Easterlund, Exhibitors dt24674 -at- deere -dot- com Quad Cities Chapter
Cordell Woods, Finance woods -at- computer -dot- org Twin Cities Chapter
Jamie Conklin, R6 Director/Sponsor james-conklin -at- idt -dot- mb -dot- ca Manitoba Chapter

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