My Favorite STC Conference Session

Those of us who attend the annual STC conference fairly regularly come back with renewed energy and enthusiasm, ready to move forward, take the plunge, or otherwise deal with our work in new, more efficient ways. What we learn at the conference often has immediate impact on how we do our jobs and how we run our independent businesses. Each of the speakers at our May meeting will present a synopsis of the 2009 conference session that he or she found most relevant and compelling. While we obviously cannot bring back all the value the conference holds, we can provide SWO members with insights and information that may prove invaluable.

Volunteer Recognition

Members who contributed to the health, growth, and well-being of the chapter during the 2008-2009 year will also be recognized for their service at this meeting.

Strategies for Success

Strategies for Success is the theme for SWO’s 2008-2009 programs. Whatever your level of satisfaction with what you are currently doing professionally, we all know that the only guarantee is that things will change. However, those of us who have been through numerous life-changing events have learned that a wide range of skills, flexibility, and preparation can see you through the best things that can happen, the worst things that happen, and just about everything in between.

Date:

Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Agenda:

• Networking: 5:30 p.m.
• Dinner: 6:00 p.m.
• Program: 6:45 p.m.

Location:

Indiana Wesleyan University Dayton Education and Conference Center 2912 Springboro West, Dayton, OH 45439

Menu:

A variety of sandwiches, salads, cookies, and beverages

Cost:

• Members: $15
• Non-members: $20 (in advance via PayPal only)
• Students: $12
• Program only: $5 for members and students; $10 for non-members

Click here for instructions about Pay Pal payments.
No shows will be billed.

Registration Deadline:

Monday, May 18, 2009, by noon. To register, send an email to program@stc-swo.org.

Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, non-member, or student), and how you will pay (cash, check, or Pay Pal).

Non-members must pay in advance via Pay Pal. All no shows will be billed.

Directions:

From Interstate 75 (North or South):
-Take Exit 50A (Dryden Road) and turn right at the end of the exit ramp -Go to the first traffic signal and turn right onto Springboro West (NOT Springboro Pike) -Indiana Wesleyan University is the 2nd building on the left (3-story tan brick) -Come to the reception area on the 3rd floor to find our exact location in the building.

Please join us as we learn another essential strategy for success.

More items of interest:

• May 19, 2009 – Dayton Linked In, Networking Breakfast. 7:30am – 10am, Champps, Centerville, OH.
• May 29, 2009 – GCASTD: Innovation & Workplace Learning and Performance. 8:00am – 5:00pm, Hamilton, OH
• May 31 to June 3, 2009 – ASTD 2009 International Conference and Exposition. Washington, DC.

Think Like a Manager

The key to business success, whether you are employee, contractor, or independent consultant, is simple: think like an owner.

Michael Chikeleze, Associate Dean of Business at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, gave the assembled SWO members a business basics primer: What You Need to Know to Work for a Company or with a Company. His talk was designed to help equip us to deal with and succeed in the business world, especially in difficult times-when the going gets tough, and all you want to do is hunker down in your cube.

According to Dean Chikeleze, not being strategic and failing to create value for the enterprise are among the biggest mistakes you can make in the business world. He gave us four principles for success:

• Think like a business owner by framing every situation in terms of its impact on the company’s profitabilitgy and long-term welfare.
• Know the company and how you fit in; then adjust the fit to be comfortable and usefuo to the company.
• Know your craft. Remember SWOT: Evaluate your Strengths, work on your Weaknesses, be alert for Opportunity, and prepared to deal with Threat.
• Lead your profession by being on the cutting edge. Research and develop skills in the latest technology and tools.

Mr. Chikeleze was a corporate attorney for Procter & Gamble and also taught at the University of Cincinnati before joining CSTCC. His MBA and JD degrees are from Washington University in St. Louis.

Writing for Business and Success

The Southwestern Ohio chapter of the Society for Technical Communication — in conjunction with the Mad Anthony Writers’ Conference and Book Festival — presents

A Technical Communication Workshop Series

This is for all you non-members out there. Have you always wondered what technical communication really is? Are you pondering a new career in technical communication? Do you wonder how technical communication can help you reach your business goals? Please join us for an informative half-day introduction to technical communication.

Sessions will include:

Introduction to Technical Communication
What is technical communication? Who are technical communicators? What do they do and how do learn to do it? Sandra Harner of Cedarville University provides an introduction for those considering careers in technical communication.

Technical Communication and Your Bottom Line
What role do technical communicators play in business? What are their key functions? How do they contribute to the bottom line? Sylvia Miller provides an overview of how technical communicators impact government and industry.

Panel Discussion: Technical Communication as a Profession
What is it like to work in technical communication? What skills, training and personal characteristics do you need to succeed? Where could you end up working? Hear from Thea Teich, Sylvia Miller, Louise Tincher, and Judith Harper — professionals with more than 50 years of combined experience working in technical communication for local employers.

Also includes the STC Traveling Exhibits. Online and printed examples of the winning entries from the STC International 2007 competitions. The exhibits provide examples of high-quality technical communications.

Sandra Harner developed the Technical and Professional Communication program at Cedarville University in 1984, transforming it from a minor in the English department to a full-blown major by 1992. She was named a Fellow by the Society of Technical Communication in 2001 and served on their Board of Directors as assistant to the president for academic and research programs for eight years. She is currently part of a team defining the Body of Knowledge essential to the profession of technical communication.

Sylvia Miller has worked in technical communication for 18 years. Starting out as an English teacher, she discovered technical writing while pursuing a Master’s at UD. She fell in love with the field and has never looked back. Sylvia has earned numerous awards for her work and contributions to the profession. She is an STC Associate Fellow and served as Instructional Design and Learning Special Interest Group membership and scholarship manager. She currently serves on the board of Cedarville University’s Technical and Professional Communication program.

After 20 years working for major industries, government agencies, and non-profits, Thea Teich started Teich Technical and Marketing Communications in 1995. TTMC offers technical and marketing communications services, including Web content and report development, editing, writing, indexing, and marketing consultation to clients in the software, manufacturing, financial services, publishing, pharmaceutical, and marketing research industries. Thea is a Society of Technical Communication Fellow and served on the STC Board of Directors from 1998 to 2004, including a year as president of the Society (2003-2004).

Louise Tincher has more than 10 years experience as a writer and editor supporting engineering and technology organizations. After eight years in technology sales and a serious career assessment, she switched tracks to technical communications. Louise draws on her varied background to help companies achieve their goals through more effective communications. She employs a structured approach to document development, using standard templates, processes and procedures to improve quality while reducing costs. She is current president of SWO-STC.

The beautifully restored historic YWCA of Hamilton
244 Dayton Street
Hamilton, Ohio

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009

Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm

Registration:

• Adults: $25 / $30 at the door
• Students: $20 / $25 at the door
• Register at www.madanthonycbf.org or call the YWCA at 513-856-9800

All proceeds benefit the YWCA Family Literacy Program.

Moving to Word 2007: Easing the Transition

A Webinar with Wayne Kliman

We’ve all heard that Word 2007 is considerably different from Word 2003, the workhorse most of us have been using for lo these many years (well, at least the past four or five). Some of us have already made the leap, while others are waiting to take the plunge.

Wayne Kliman is a technical writer and instructor who will make your transition to Word 2007 as painless as possible by using keyboard shortcuts and the Quick Access Toolbar to make commands readily accessible, rather than threading through the multi-tabbed Ribbon. Wayne will also cover some of Word’s new features and capabilities that we, as technical communicators, can put to good use to enable us to work more efficiently.

So, shorten the Word 2007 learning curve-all from the comfort of your own home.

About our speaker:

Wayne Kliman teaches Microsoft Word as an Adjunct Instructor for Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC). He’s worked as a technical writer and editor since 1995 and is past president of the Santa Barbara STC chapter.

Wayne presented his "Moving to Word 2007: Easing the Transition" Webinar to the STC Technical Editing SIG in the fall of 2008. The SIG’s enthusiastic response led us to ask Wayne to reprise his webinar for the benefit of SWO members. Soft copies of Wayne’s handouts will be available after the webinar.

Logistics:   

Date and time: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 8pm ET

It’s a WEBINAR, which means you participate online from the comfort of your home! Because our speaker is on the West Coast, the program will be starting a little later than usual.

Registration Deadline:

Monday, February 16, by 12 noon ET.
To register, send an email to program@stc-swo.org.
Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, nonmember, or student).

Cost:
Members: $12
Non-Members: $15
Students: $12

Everyone must pay in advance via PayPal.
Here’s the procedure:
1. Go to www.PayPal.com.
2. Log in to your account and select the Send Money tab.
3. Complete the Send Money page. Make sure you enter treasurer@stc-swo.org as the recipient’s email.
4. Click the Continue button when complete.
5. Review the information on the confirmation page.
6. Click Send Money to complete your transaction.

We must have your reservations and payment by Monday, Feb. 16 by noon because we will send all registered participants a URL with Web site login information and a phone number to call to participate in the Webinar.

Please note that more than one person can participate in the Webinar at one site via speakerphone-but only one reservation and payment is required per site. So, a group can get together to attend this Webinar and share the cost.

Report from the Self-Employment Trenches

The US Census Bureau reported up to 18.6 million self-employed workers at the end of 2003. A large and growing number of technical communicators have joined their ranks.  Our January meeting featured three such entrepreneurs:  Adrienne Charak, Karen Harrington, and Thea Teich – SWO members who represent a total of more than 23 years of self-employment. (Emergency illness prevented the scheduled fourth panel member Mindy Hoffbauer from participating.)

Adrienne Charak (Charak TechComm, LLC)

• Core business: Technical writing and instructional design, including courseware training, Web content, software documentation, and editing
• Client industries: Telecommunications, medical, life insurance, information technology, and training
• Self-employment pros:  Working remotely with a variety of clients, meeting their needs and deadlines while managing my own business, my own projects and my own time/schedule
• Self-employment cons: Keeping a steady stream of project work and not becoming too isolated
• Self-employment wisdom gleaned from experience:
  Maintain a staff of support personnel, most importantly an accountant, an IT consultant, and a graphic designer.

Karen Harrington (The Write Thing)

• Core business: Technical writing and editing, including print and online software user assistance, new business proposals, and white papers
• Client industries: Software companies (commercial and government contractors)
• Self-employment pros:  Being able to adjust your personal work schedule to fit your life, having a beautiful quiet office conducive to concentration, not having to get permission to purchase tools and equipment
• Self-employment cons: Managing others’ perceptions, lacking IT support, the potential for non-payment
• Self-employment wisdom gleaned from experience:
  Establish a manageable plan that sets personal and professional limits.

Thea Teich (Teich Technical and Marketing Communications)

• Core business: Marketing and technical communication and indexing, including Web content, writing, editing, marketing consulting
• Client industries: Software companies, marketing research, technical publishing, finance companies, manufacturing
• Self-employment pros:  Doing a variety of work and projects, plus working with clients who are project oriented
• Self-employment cons: Dealing with inconsistent, peak-and-valley workloads, potential for isolation
• Self-employment wisdom gleaned from experience:
  Avoid false economy and buy what you need (good chair, good lighting, health/disability and umbrella insurance), but buy only what you need when you need it; avoid spending on nice-to-haves.

Report from the Self-Employment Trenches: 
Strategies for Success on Your Own Terms

Those of you with “regular” jobs…can you truthfully say you’ve NEVER thought about “going out on your own” ?

Here’s your chance to hear from a panel of self-employed technical communicators: Adrienne Charak, Karen Harrington, Mindy Hoffbauer, and Thea Teich. Come to the January 21 SWO meeting and find out how you can, why you should, and in some circumstances, why you should not go out on your own. 

If you’re currently working independently, join us on the 21st to find out how and what some of your colleagues are doing—and maybe add your points of view to the discussion?

Just about all technical communicators have at some point at least considered working independently. The panel members will each discuss some specific lessons learned from their combined almost 40 years in the self-employment trenches, including business organization, resources needed, networking, finding clients, and combating isolation. There will also be plenty of time for questions, so here’s your chance to get answers about whether working on your own is right for you.

Location:  Indiana Wesleyan Cincinnati Education and Conference Center, 9286 Schulze Drive, West Chester, OH 45069

Directions from Interstate 75 (North or South):

• From I-75 Take the Union Centre Boulevard exit (#19).
• Turn west (right if south-bound on I-75; left and across the overpass, if north-bound)
• Go to Mulhauser Road (first stop light).
• Turn left (south) onto Mulhauser
• Go to Schulze Drive (first left).
• IWU is straight ahead, on the right, next to the new Hampton Inn. (Also, this is very, very close to the new IKEA!!!)

Schedule:

• Networking: 5:30-6:00 pm
• Dinner: 6:00pm
• Program: 6:45 pm

Dinner:  A variety of sandwiches plus salad, cookies, and beverages

Cost for program and dinner:

• $15 for members
• $20 for non-members
• $12 for students

       Program only:

• $5 for members and students;
• $10 for non-members

To register:

Send an email to program@stc-swo.org.

All no shows will be billed. Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, non-member, or student), and how you will pay (cash, check, or Pay Pal). Click here for instructions about Pay Pal payments. Non-members must pay in advance via Pay Pal.

SWO heldo its December meeting early (on the 10th) to avoid major conflicts with the upcoming holiday season, and it was a doozy. If you stayed home, here’s what you missed:

A mini-course about proposal writing
David (Mo) Morrison, a Senior Training Consultant from Shipley Associates, talked us through:

• Navigating the proposal preparation POWER cycle:  Planning, Organizing, Writing, Examining, and Revising.
• Addressing the seven criteria used to evaluate an effective proposal:  compliance, responsiveness, strategic focus, competitive focus, quality of writing, visualization, and document design.
• Defining the solution your customer needs and wants by delineating major issues, lining them up with your proposed solution, and clearing laying out the benefits associated with y;our solution.
• Maximizing the effective use of graphics and key visuals.
• Developing strategy statements and theme statements and understanding the difference between the two.
• And much more…

A chance to win one of our extremely excellent door prizes from Shipley Associates

• An 30-day subscription to the Shipley Associates’ online training library, won by Pam Ecker.
  
  Winner Pam Ecker, flanked by SWO’s Louise Tincher and SA’s Mo Morrison

• A copy of Shipley Associates’ Proposal Writing Guide, won by Peter Sullivan.
  
                    Winner Peter Sullivan, with Louise and Mo.

The chance to network and share resources:

• Valuable interaction with other writers
• Introductions to potential employers

In this economy, missing networking opportunities is not something you want to do very often.

Cedarville University: A 20/20 Vision for the Future

On November 8, for the first time in sixteen years, The Cedarville University student chapter of STC hosted a one-day conference for professionals, students, and academics in our area.Entitled "A 2020 Vision for the Future," the conference focused on the future of the technical communication profession. The conference replaced SWO’s November meeting, and chapter members attended en masse (make that demi masse; there were about ten of us), along with STC members from Northeast Ohio and other locations.

The conference day began with a welcome by chapter officers and a 9:30 keynote presentation by STC President Mark Clifford. Special guest speaker Dr. Carolyn Rude, chair of the English department and Professor at Virginia Tech as well as a past president and Fellow of STC, gave the after-lunch address.

Morning and afternoon breakout sessions freatured presentations by SWO members Sylvia Miller, Phil Wittmer, Thea Teich, and Judy Harper, among other educational and entertaining sessions. 

Proposal Writing: A Strategic Skill for Technical Communicators

Sooner or later, you will probably have to write a proposal, whether it’s for an internal capital expenditure, a sales contract, a government or institutional contract, or a nonprofit grant request. Are you ready for that?

It takes skill to write proposals that get noticed and get funded. Fortunately, you can learn these skills. Join us on December 10 at the Indiana Wesleyan Dayton Education Center., where you can add another arrow to your quiver of capabilities.

We will hear from Shipley Associates’ Mo Morrison about a proven process for developing winning proposals that meet the evaluation criteria. Shipley Associates specializes in customer-focused writing, essential for anyone who writes business or technical documents.

David “Mo” Morrison currently focuses on providing training to companies of all sizes to help them increase their share of federal government business. He previously worked with Logistics Specialties Inc., the parent company of Shipley Associates, providing business development consulting services. Mr. Morrison retired from the US Air Force after 23 years developing simulations and handling acquisitions, logistics support, and academic instruction.

Special Door Prize

Shipley Associates has generously donated a seat at one of their regular training sessions in Fairfax, VA, valued at more than $1000, to some lucky December meeting attendee.

Location:  Indiana Wesleyan Dayton Education Center

Directions from Interstate 75 (North or South):

• Take Exit 50A (Dryden Road) and turn right at the end of the exit ramp
• Go to the first traffic signal and turn right onto Springboro West (NOT Springboro Pike) . Indiana Wesleyan University is the 2nd building on the left (3-story tan brick)
• Come to the reception area on the 3rd floor to find our exact location in the building

Schedule:

• Networking: 5:30-6:00 pm
• Dinner: 6:00pm
• Program: 6:45 pm

Dinner:  A variety of sandwiches plus salad, cookies, and beverages

Cost for program and dinner:

• $15 for members
• $20 for non-members
• $12 for students

       Program only:

• $5 for members and students;
• $10 for non-members

To register:

Send an email to program@stc-swo.org.

All no shows will be billed. Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, non-member, or student), and how you will pay (cash, check, or Pay Pal). Click here for instructions about Pay Pal payments. Non-members must pay in advance via Pay Pal.

Network…or Die