Monthly Archives: September 2008

The Joy of Entering the 2008-2009 Competitions

Posted on by 

Deadline is 20 October.

Landsat image of WDC

Put your best work on the map! Photo credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

In the fall, STC chapters hold local competitions. As the 2008-2009 Competitions Manager of the Washington DC chapter, I am continuing the tradition of presenting some of the reasons that technical communication professionals might enjoy entering the competitions.

Would you like to be an award-winning technical communicator? For those of you who haven’t entered before, let me explain the basics. Washington area experts gather to evaluate the entries in the Technical Publications, Technical Art, and Online Communication Competitions. Our competitions receive entries from DC, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as from other states and from other countries. The judges provide comments on the strengths of each entry and make recommendations that you can apply in future endeavors.

Some of the joys of entering are the pride you have in putting forth your best work, the validation you feel by being measured against the highest standards in our profession, and the opportunity to receive feedback from a knowledgeable and thoughtful critique of your entry. As an entrant, you are proud of your accomplishments. You and the judges realize that the final entry represents months of planning, writing, editing, and publishing. Submitting a publication or online entry is a great way to keep growing in a fast-paced industry. Having your decisions and standards recognized by industry experts is real insider validation!

As an entrant, you’ll be invited to the Awards Celebration, where you will be able to see what others in our field are producing. The Awards Celebration is also the place to network with the technical communication community.

Fall is the time to submit your best work to the scrutiny of your fellow professionals. Now is the time to consider what you want to enter and to get it prepared. Check the Chapter Competitions page at http://www.stcwdc.org/compete.shtml for all the details on categories, requirements, and instructions. Good luck!

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare

The Joy of Judging

Posted on by 

The STC Washington, DC Chapter’s annual Technical Publications, Online Communication, and Technical Art Competitions are open to receive entries. Would you like to see them? Are you ready to help evaluate them? If you think you may be, here’s the gist of what’s in store.

The Call for Entries in over 20 categories of technical communication goes out in late August. This year, the deadline for submission of entries is October 20. The competitions could not be held successfully without the commitment of a group of qualified and enthusiastic judges. The judges are recruited from among professional communicators in the DC area and beyond. Membership in STC for both entrants and judges is common, but not required.

Early in November, the judges assemble to receive their judging materials, entries, and instructions. They meet the other members of their judging team, get training from experienced judges on how to evaluate an entry, and have their questions answered. Over the next four weeks, judges read and examine the entries. They discover—or rediscover—the joy of encountering excellence in published manuals, brochures, magazines, help systems, and Web sites. As they begin to form opinions and record their evaluations, the judges apply all the knowledge and experience at their disposal.

WDC competition judging.

WDC competition judging.

They prepare their comments for the entrants and a defense of their decisions for the consensus meeting.

In December, the judges meet again to discuss the entries and decide which ones deserve an award. Some entries stand out as award winners; others elicit debate. The judges relish the opportunity to compare notes on design, presentation of information, layout, and overall quality. By the end of the meeting, a consensus is reached on award levels and the Competition Committee can begin the process of notifying the winners and non-winners, choosing the Best of Show, and sending the very best to the STC International Competition. The judges, both veteran and new, leave with a sense of a job well done. They have judged the work of their peers and shared their passion for excellence in communication. Many will be eager to do it all over again in future years.

If you are ready to experience the joy of judging, we need your help. Apply to judge online on our Web site. Fill in the application form at
http://www.stcwdc.org/php/judge_comp_application_form.php.

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare

Web 2.0 and Technical Communication – How the New Internet is Increasing Communication Requirements

Posted on by 

(Speaker: Dick Davies; Location: La Madeleine, Library Room, 7607 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, Maryland. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register and pay on the Cvent page. Download a PDF of the event description and registration information. Cost is $5 for everyone and does not include refreshments, which may be purchased at the restaurant.)

“The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed” – William Gibson. While some organizations are cashing in on Web 2.0, the rush is just beginning and communication professionals will be leading the charge.
• What needs to be done?
• What are the new business models?
• Who wins?

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare

Metro Baltimore STC 2008-2009 Season Kickoff and Networking Event

Posted on by 

Date: Wednesday, October 1st
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Dave & Buster’s at Arundel Mills Mall

Price: $20 for MBSTC members, $23 for non-members and walk-ins

Meet us at Dave & Buster’s for a lively evening of hors d’oeuvres, games, and networking. We will begin our evening in the Midway Party Room with Dave & Buster’s fabulous Signature Starters Appetizer Buffet (see below). Each attendee will also receive a $10 power play card to use out in the games area on a wide variety of games. At 7:30, we will re-group for an interactive networking game. At the end of the evening, we will award door prizes. Be sure to mark your calendars for this popular event!

Appetizer Buffet Menu:
• Chicken Goldfingers served with chipotle-honey sauce
• Tortilla Chips with queso and fire roasted salsa
• Fresh Vegetable platter
• Four Cheese Pizza bites with basil pesto
• Mini Cheeseburgers on Hawaiian rolls
• Assorted Cheese & Crackers
• Unlimited soft drinks, tea, and coffee

Tell us you’re coming!
Please RSVP by Friday, September 26th, to email hidden; JavaScript is required or from
our website http://www.mbstc.org/upcomingnow.html.

Please include some information about yourself for the networking game.
Example: Current job title, former job titles, unusual hobbies, birthplace, length of time in STC, musical instruments played, and other interesting tidbits.

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare

Yarrr! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Posted on by 

Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Avast, me hearties! Once again, we’ve arrived at 19 September, Talk Like a Pirate Day! On this day, all posts will be automatically converted to pirate talk. They will revert to normal after today (or after a few days as this is the weekend). Because this is automated, the wording will be a little different each time you refresh the page.

Enjoy all the piratey goodness today!

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare

Sigma Tau Chi, Alpha Sigma Applications Due 1 Nov 2008

Posted on by 

The Society encourages qualified students to apply for membership in its honorary societies, Sigma Tau Chi and Alpha Sigma.

Sigma Tau Chi recognizes students enrolled in a baccalaureate or graduate technical communication program who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above, are exemplary participants in STC, and demonstrate the potential for significant contributions to the profession.

Alpha Sigma recognizes students enrolled in two-year and certificate technical communication programs who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above, are active participants in STC, and demonstrate the potential to contribute to the profession.

In early September, details and applications will be sent to all directors of academic technical communication programs, Society directors, and advisors of student STC chapters. If you meet these qualifications or know of a student who does, please request an application from one of these contacts. The application materials are also available on the STC website at http://www.stc.org/recog/awards01_STX-AS.asp.

Students who are accepted into Sigma Tau Chi or Alpha Sigma receive one year’s membership in STC, a pin, and a T-shirt. The STC Board of Directors will notify the selected students after its January meeting.

Completed application forms and supporting documents should be e-mailed as attached Word or PDF files to David Dayton at email hidden; JavaScript is required no later than November 1, 2008. By the same deadline, an official transcript must be mailed directly from the applicant’s school to this address:
David Dayton
2006 Glenhaven Place
Silver Spring, MD 20902

For answers to questions about the application process, contact David Dayton, chair, Honorary Societies Committee, at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

EmailPrintFriendlyTwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestWordPressAmazon Wish ListTumblrTechnorati FavoritesShare