By Cindy Pao, President, STC Houston
The STC Summit will open before I know it, so I’m writing about it this month!
I have attended the majority of STC conferences and Summits since 1996, when I attended my first one in Seattle. As far as I can remember and in no particular order, I’ve been to Seattle (twice), Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Anaheim, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Atlanta (this year will be the second time), and Toronto.
I have enjoyed each and every Summit and conference I attended, and so I ask to go every year. It is the main training opportunity for me, both personally and professionally.
But enough about me. What’s in it for you?
Career Development
The educational sessions at the Summit are categorized into the following tracks:
- Content Development and Delivery
- Content Strategy and Design
- Education and Training
- People, Project, and Business Management
- Professional Development
- User Experience & Accessibility
- Web Design & Development
You can find descriptions of these tracks at http://summit.stc.org/track-descriptions/.
With more than 80 sessions, you should come home with a binderful of ideas about how to improve your information deliverables. And you need not worry if you want to see two sessions at the same time. Most sessions are recorded and will be available to you after the Summit has ended. You can listen to a session you missed or re-live a session you really liked. Make sure you consult your program so that you don’t miss sessions that cannot be recorded.
Networking
Sure, we talk all the time about networking. STC Houston holds networking lunches for that very purpose. At the Summit, though, you can network with technical communicators from around the world. You have an excellent opportunity to talk with people from China, India, and Great Britain – to name just a few of the countries that technical communicators call home.
You can also take the opportunity to meet STC’s current, incoming, and outgoing Board members.
Honors
At this year’s Summit, STC Houston will receive its Community Achievement Award, both during Leadership Day and at the Honors Banquet. Remember to find one of the Admin Council members to receive your Community of Distinction sticker!
Distinguished Chapter Service Award winner Erika Guerra-Ramon will be recognized, too. Make sure you meet her and say, “Congratulations!”
Leadership Day
This year, as a member of the Community Affairs Committee, I’m at least waist deep in Leadership Day. I’m excited that the revised Community Handbook will be released at Leadership Day, and we’ll have speakers on hand to address some of the parts of the handbook.
If you’ve ever had an interest in STC leadership, make sure you attend Leadership Day. Look for the contingent from Houston and sit with us!
STC Houston Meet Up
As this article goes to press, we’re trying to organize an STC Houston meet up during the tweet up. As I learn more, I’ll post information to the newsletter and to our social media outlets.
Attend Everything; Miss Nothing
Impractical? Maybe. But I still encourage it. If you will be at the Summit, let me know! Send an email to president@stc-houston.org.
Hope to see you in Atlanta!
