News
September 2002
Catch up on the latest news from the Chapter, Society, and Industry

Chapter News
Annual Planning Initiative
During the meeting break in August, the STC-Berkeley Chapter Executive Committee met over two evenings to plan out a calendar of events and initiatives for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Using the National STC Chapter Achievement Award guidelines as a planning tool, the Executive Committee mapped out a plan with the added benefit of qualifying the chapter for an achievement award at the annual National conference next year in Dallas. Recruited to the newly created job of Projects Manager, Gary Hayes will be joining the Executive Committee this year to track and document chapter accomplishments. Highlights of the plan for the year include:

* Provide interesting and relevant presentations at chapter meetings.
* Host a social event to recognize and celebrate the contributions of member volunteers
* Publicize chapter activities and resources
* Recruit and orient new members to the chapter
* Co-host a series of Leadership symposiums with the other Northern California STC chapters
* Recruit member participation and support the annual Touchstone competition
* Submit the Ragged Left to the National competition

To successfully implement this ambitious plan we will need every member of the chapter to make a contribution. We are actively soliciting the talent and time needed for a successful year. Interested in supporting any of the initiatives outlined here? Have another idea you would like to see implemented? Contact an Executive Committee member and volunteer:

President: Kathryn Munn
Vice-president of Programs: Paul Sinasohn
Vice-president of Membership: Ruth Wright
Treasurer: Ben Lucas
Secretary: David McCoard
Employment Manager: Madeleine Adkins
Education Manager: Karen Hill
Web Manager: David Alt
Projects Manager: Gary Hayes
Ragged Left Editor: Jessica Livingston

Society News
Election Results
STC has announced the results of the 2002-2003 elections and provides and introduction and background information on all of the new officers.

50th Annual STC Conference
STC's 50th Annual Conference will be May 18-21, 2003, in Dallas, TX. STC's annual conference is the largest conference in the world focusing on the arts and sciences of technical communication. The conference includes more than 250 educational presentations. It offers opportunities for networking and a chance to view award-winning entries from STC's technical communication competitions and vendor exhibits. STC is inviting members to submit papers for presentation, sharing your techniques, your research, your ideas, and your experiences—both good and bad. For more information, visit the Conference section.

New SIG in Town: the Silicon Valley MedWriters Group
The Silicon Valley Chapter has started a new Special Interest Group (SIG) for MedWriters. It is open to both new and experienced writers working or interested in the various life science industries, including but not limited to medicine, pharmacology, biotechnology, and assistive technology. Anyone interested in life sciences documentation can subscribe to the SVMedWriters online forum at Yahoo Groups. The forum is the official online communication tool of Silicon Valley Medical Writers SIG. The group site includes a message board to post meetings, discussion topics, classes, and allows new members to introduce themselves to the community. It also includes bookmarks for associations, education sites, and healthcare companies employment sites. In addition to a listserv for the members, there are plans to have meetings with guest speakers.

If you wish to subscribe, but cannot reach the site, please email your request to the group’s subscription moderator, Beau Cain

Sacramento Chapter Hosts Contest
The STC Sacramento chapter conference committee is already planning next year's Writer in the Workplace conference, and holding a contest to see who can provide the best theme. To enter, send email to conference co-coordinator Eric Butow The email should include your name, membership number, your theme title, and and a paragraph about your theme and why you think it would be best theme for the conference. The member who has the best theme will receive a free one-year renewal of their STC membership—a $140 value! The deadline is Friday, September 20, at 5 p.m.

Industry News
AP and Chicago Remain Primary Style Manuals
from Writing That Works

Two manuals, The Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual and The Chicago Manual of Style, have been the most popular in all 11 surveys. Approximately two-thirds of respondents use one or both.

AP takes honors as primary manual. Many respondents use different manuals for different materials, e.g., AP for press materials and Chicago for the annual report.

Associated Press 39%
Chicago 25
Employer's manual 13
Notes or nothing 10
Other 14