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SME birds (subject matter experts) are the major source of information for technical writers. Most often found in the guise of engineers, they can be elusive, overworked, uncommunicative, or down right difficult. In this interactive session, Susan Becker, Melody Brumis, and Gwaltney Mountford will share with you tips for getting what you need, when you need it, from SME birds in a variety of environments.
Susan Becker, Melody Brumis, and Gwaltney Mountford
Susan Becker
has nearly twenty years of experience as a technical communicator and online user assistance developer, working primarily as a contractor in software development for the financial services industry. Susan is currently on a contract at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), developing test procedures for hardware and electronics. She is immediate past president of the San Francisco chapter, a former director of Touchstone, and a past winner in the competition. She has presented at the STC Annual Conference and regional events, and has taught in the Technical and Professional Writing Program at San Francisco State University.
Melody Brumis
has been studying wild (and elusive) SME birds as a technical communicator for the past 20 years. Her specialty is in gathering information from the highly technical (all-knowing) SME bird. Melody is on contract with Chevron writing server documents, and maintaining a documentation Web site. She's an active member of the East Bay STC chapter (near San Francisco). Her awards include Volunteer of the Year. She has presented SME birds and other topics at STC conferences and chapters.
Gwaltney Mountford
has about 25 years of experience as a technical communicator focusing on solving the communication needs of end-users. She and her husband, Carl, own Mountford Group Inc., a consulting company specializing in developing custom Web-based business and data warehouse applications. An STC Associate Fellow, she is a past president of the East Bay chapter, a former director of Touchstone and the Region 8 Conference, and was on the Society's Nominating Committee. She has presented at the STC Annual Conference and at regional events, and teaches at UC Berkeley Extension.
Continuing in August, 2005 we will meet in the Town Room (on the second floor) of the
Shattuck Plaza Hotel in Berkeley, CA.
If you have a suggestion for a meeting topic you'd like to hear more
about or if you'd like to be a presenter, send an email to
Valerie Steele, VP of Programs.
Note: If you do not reserve dinner in advance, dinner may or may not be available on a walk-in basis. We order dinner for the number of reservations plus a few walk-ins.
NOTE ONE: Non-members are always welcome to STC meetings.
NOTE TWO: All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings at the member price.
If you wish to pay by cash or check, send email to that effect to treasurer@stc-berkeley.org, and then bring payment to the meeting.
If you wish to pay be credit card, please reserve using our online storefront.
Interested in becoming a member?
*Attendees are
encouraged to announce open positions. Please bring job
listings for distribution. Recruiters may introduce
themselves, but may not describe open positions in detail.
Save that for one-on-one after the program.
The Shattuck Plaza Hotel is located at 2086 Allston Way in downtown
Berkeley, immediately west of Shattuck Ave. We meet in the Towne Room
on the second floor.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Shattuck Plaza Hotel, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, California
Stalking the Wild SME Bird
Speakers:
Monthly Membership Meetings
The Berkeley chapter meets the second Wednesday of the month.
Membership Meeting Program Ideas?
Membership Meeting Fees
For the meeting and dinner, reserved on the Chapter's website in advance:
For the meeting and dinner at the door:
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Membership Meetings Agenda
Location and Directions
Shattuck Plaza Hotel
2086 Allston Way
Berkeley, CA
The Shattuck Plaza Hotel in Downtown Berkeley, just off of Shattuck
The hotel is within walking distance from the Berkeley BART station; meter parking on the street is free after 6:00 p.m.
The Shattuck Plaza Hotel Lobby
Directions to the Shattuck Plaza Hotel
By BART:
- Emerge from the Berkeley BART station.
- Walk south on Shattuck one block.
- Turn right on Allston.
- The Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the left.
By car:
- Metered parking on the street is free after 6:00 p.m.
From north of Berkeley: I-880 south and get off at the University Avenue exit. Follow University east to Shattuck and turn right. Allston is three blocks south of University, and the Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the South side of the street.
From south of Oakland: SOUTH: Take I-880 north to downtown Oakland, and then bear right onto I-980. Take the Martin Luther King exit and bear left to merge onto Martin Luther King Way. Turn right onto Adeline just past the sharp curve. Adeline will merge into Shattuck Avenue. Turn left on Allston and the hotel will be on the left side of Allston.
From San Francisco: Take the Bay Bridge towards Oakland (I-80 East). At the end of the bridge, take I-80 east towards Berkeley. Get off at the University Avenue exit. Follow University east to Shattuck and turn right. Allston is three blocks south of University, and the Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the South side of the street.
From far East Bay:
Take Highway 24 West through the Caldecott Tunnel. Exit at Highway 13 north towards Berkeley. Turn right on
Shattuck Avenue. Turn left on Allston and the hotel will be on the left side of Allston.
Last updated Friday, April 25, 2008.
© 2005-2008, STC-Berkeley Chapter
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