Monthly Wrap Deux
Once each year the Berkeley Chapter throws a party to celebrate and honor the many volunteers it takes to keep this chapter humming. Guest writer Patrick McKenna offers this recap of the fun-filled evening.

Berkeley Chapter Honors Volunteers
Celebration of Service at the March Meeting
by Patrick McKenna

The March meeting was a celebration of service for the many volunteers who provide leadership and support to the Berkeley Chapter. The meeting was held at Berkeley's historic Rose Garden Inn, surrounded by fountains and gardens. Our meeting room featured sunroom windows and a fire in the hearth.

Accompanied by excellent jazz provided by the David Alt Trio, we networked and enjoyed the hosted wine bar. Our delicious BBQ buffet dinner featured Texas beef brisket and grilled chicken breast with smoked wild rice, grilled vegetables, and corn muffins. After dessert, while members sipped coffee, VP for Programs Paul Sinasohn welcomed us all and introduced the evening's entertainment, Jasper Black, Victorian Phrenologist.

Mr. Black, who hails from 1890's London, looked the part in frock coat and white gloves, and admitted to feeling people's heads for a living. After providing a brief explanation of the science of Phrenology, Mr. Black asked for volunteers to have their heads examined. Paul promptly volunteered Viki Maki, over her protests. Unbeknownst to her, this demonstration was orchestrated by Paul as a humorous way of showing us that Viki, known for serving the STC in numerous roles, had some unknown facets to her personality. Viki's cranial characteristics revealed little-known facts about her life, ranging from her birth in Germany to her adventures as a young woman stowing away on the Orient Express and working as a cook in Stockholm. Mr. Black concluded by reassuring us of his qualifications: "Although I am not certified, I am completely certifiable."

President Kathryn Munn then took the floor to recognize and thank the following chapter volunteers:

• Paul Sinasohn, Vice President for Programs
• Ruth Wright and Rob Peterson, who consecutively held the office of Vice President for Membership
• Ben Lucas, Treasurer
• David McCord, Secretary
• David Alt, Internet Manager
• Jessica Livingston, Editor of The Ragged Left
• Erika Reier, Employment Manager
• Karen Hill, Education Manager
• Richard Mateosian, Elections Manager and Past President

Paul Sinasohn thanked Kathryn for her hard work and dedication as Chapter president.

The yearly Touchstone Competition gives members of the local STC chapters a chance to show off their writing skills before a jury of their peers. Emmy Aricioglu, Touchstone Competition Director from the Sacramento Chapter, took the floor to recognize and thank Viki Maki for her "marvelous, wonderful job recruiting judges." Viki received a certificate of appreciation.

Richard Mateosian presented the Distinguished Service Award, "STC's version of the Oscars," to Viki Maki. After some good-natured ribbing between the two, Richard, last year's Distinguished Service Award winner, reminded the audience of a few of Viki's accomplishments as an STC volunteer:

• Viki made the first real Berkeley Chapter website in 1996 and served as web manager from 1996 to 1998.
• Served as chapter president from 1997 to 1999.
• Served as director of the Touchstone Competition in 1998 and judge coordinator for the 2002 Touchstone Competition.
• Currently the director for the joint, six-chapter STC NorCal Leadership Days, a series of three, one-day conferences at Mills College in Oakland that is open exclusively to chapter leadership. The second in the series, Designing the new UI of Tech Comm, was held April 12th.

Viki thanked the members for the honor. She reminded us of the importance of getting involved in organizations that champion writers as professionals. If we want to make meaningful changes to the profession of technical communication, now is the time to step forward and get involved!

Kathryn Munn presented Viki with a gift of appreciation from the Berkeley Chapter, an engraved clock, and added her thanks for Viki's ongoing personal support.

Representing Touchstone, Pixie Hranilovich of the Silicon Valley Chapter recognized Joe Devney, Erika Reier, and Steven Zegas for their work as judges in the Touchstone competition. The judges received certificates and gifts. Lou Rehling, head of the Technical and Professional Writing Department at San Francisco State University and a San Francisco Chapter member, was recognized for conducting a six-hour training session for the judges.

Fiona Fincannon, of the San Francisco Chapter, talked about the fun and excitement of being involved in judging the online section of Touchstone. She recommended judging as a great way to pick up excellent ideas for best practices in online technical communication. Pixie reminded the group that being a lead judge in Touchstone looks good on your resume. Erika Reier, who acted as an intern judge with Joe Devney, told us that, as an entry-level technical writer, she learned a lot from judging the entries and working with Joe.

Finally, Emmy Aricioglu presented Kathryn Munn with a plaque in appreciation of her work on behalf of Touchstone.

After a seventh-inning stretch, Paul Sinasohn conducted the raffle of all raffles. There were more prizes than there were tickets to draw. Consequently, everyone went home with goodies spilling out of their pockets, from computer books to USB flash drives.

While we may only take the time to recognize the leadership of our volunteers once a year, we reap the benefits of their time, talents, and energy all year round. Thanks for showing us how to step forward and get involved!