This is a list of selected member responses to this question in the Member Survey:

Is there anything we can do that would increase your interest in attending meetings? If so, please list. 

• I prefer speakers who will present specific concrete information applicable to my job. While the more general professional development presentations can be interesting, I often them too general. I realize that STC members have a broad range of jobs and that there is only so much a speaker can cover in an hour, but I feel that the presentations have become almost exclusively about general career coaching. I need some ideas about things like designing online help.
• Get away from the norm. I don't need to spend three hours at a meeting. This past year was much better - more casual meetings that didn't require a huge time or money commitment. People don't attend meetings for the dinner, they attend for networking and because the subject is important.
• Keep them simple.
• Get them out of Dayton. It's just too far for me to come.
• I found the most benefit in meetings that had panels of speakers or covered the topics of networking, job search, or salary negotiation.
• Either serve dinner or allow us to bring in our own (dessert bars and snacks don't cut it for me during dinnertime.)
• More cutting-edge technical topics (tools, methodologies, trends_ relating to technical communication.
• Relevant subject matter and good speakers are what draw people to meetings. I do not believe that reducing prices is a viable way to encourage attendance. People put a value on events based on what they cost; a cheap event is not valued.
• Wednesday is choir night. I'd attend more often if meetings were on Thursday.