If you were a member in 2009, did you renew or will you be renewing for 2010? Are you a new member, or are you considering it? I’d love to hear your position.
Will you be an active STC member in 2010?
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, I’ve rejoined STC. And yes, I’m going to remain active. Two reasons:
1. My membership dues are an investment in the future of tech comm. STC is advancing the profession in several ways — for example developing a body of knowledge and working with the U.S. Department of Labor to reclassify technical writing so as to reflect our real value. Our profession is undergoing a lot of changes, in terms of both the businesses we’re part of and the technologies we support. STC is well positioned to make a positive difference.
2. I want to be loyal to the organization that’s done so much for me and my career, and that’s introduced me to so many good friends.
Yes, I’ve renewed my membership in STC. Although I’ve been laid off since 11/08, I had a very short contract in the 3rd quarter of 2009 that allowed me to renew my membership at a time when I had money.
I renewed at the Gold membership level. Not only did it make financial sense for me, but it gives me tangible benefits that I can use all year long. Educational training that will be very effective for me, especially in showing that I’m still continuing to educate myself while I’m searching for employment.
Even at the Gold membership level, I still added more communities. Those communities provide value to me.
Rachel Houghton
2010 Candidate for STC Secretary
Program Chair, 2010 STC Tech Comm Summit
I renewed, after much thought and back-and-forth. I even went for the Gold membership. I don’t think a lot of the “benefits” that people have touted are actually benefits, but I do get value from the networking at chapter meetings.
I am giving the STC a year to get its act together. I know it’s a slow process to turn around a struggling organization that is facing a cash deficit, which is why I gave it another year. I have also volunteered to become my chapter’s newsletter editor, so I’m contributing both financially and with my time.
I’m a student getting my M.S. in Tech Comm. I was a member of STC many years ago, then let my membership slide when I moved away from technical writing. Now that I’m getting back into the field I rejoined STC as a student when I started the M.S. program last year.
I never considered not renewing for 2010. Since I’m able to renew as a student the dues increase wasn’t quite as dramatic for me, I admit, but either way I feel membership is very valuable, particularly as I’m getting ready to re-enter the working world of technical communication. My M.S. program is giving me a good academic background in the field, but STC provides practical training, insights, and invaluable networking opportunities. Being a member of STC is definitely worthwhile for me.
Unfortunately no. My employer isn’t picking up the tab for that stuff anymore. So it’s all about money. I’m not getting a lot of value and so I’m going to do some local stuff instead, like UPA & IxDA.
You know, I prolly could have renewed as a student. LOL!
I renewed at as a Gold Member. My employer paid. I’m not sure I would have, because I’m uncertain of the ROI. I find I get a lot of value from Twitter, blogs, and forums like Adobe’s (http://forums.adobe.com), and other private and professional lists.
I tend only to read Intercom sporadically and the demise of the STC forums disappointed me, as did losing regional director sponsors. I do volunteer for my chapter, but find that since I have two jobs (actually, it’s three), coach three soccer teams, am taking grad courses, and have a family, my availability is not what it once was. Neither is my interest.
So, am giving it one good go. I plan to take advantage of online seminars, read Intercom online, and maybe write another Intercom article.
But, I don’t know that I’ll renew next year. (Of course, I’ve been on that fence for five years now.)
Cheers,
Sean
I just joined this year (after 10 years in the field). I feel like I’m more in tune with the industry now that I take advantage of the resources the STC provides. Of course, getting involved through twitter and blogs has helped too.
I’ll be renewing in 2010.
Yes, I renewed.
I’m paying for the privilege of learning, you might say. That makes me sound a bit gullible. You see, I am active in STC in 3 roles, one of which is SIG Advocate. I’ve actually tried to quit that role twice and talked myself back into it once and got talked back into it once. (The reason for quitting was a personal issue that is still a problem.) Those roles are leadership roles, also know as The School of Hard Knocks. Now that I am job hunting, I need to polish my résumé so people hiring can see the talents I have gained without any paperwork to prove it!
It’s true that there are other non-STC resources out there, many of which are free. I also take advantage of those. I believe in using multiple channels for learning, not just one. I have met many skilled and talented people in STC. Again, I could just follow them on Twitter or read their blogs. It’s not the same because inside STC, I stand the chance of working with them. People like @techcommdood, for example.
I also believe in the need for a professional organization. STC HQ has many, many faults. STC members have many, many faults. I would like to stay and help mend those faults and educate, even though there are times I feel a flashback to Jericho and all that trumpet blasting. I don’t like to walk away from an unfinished task, especially when it’s in a mess.
There are many exciting discussions going on to make those improvements. I am not at the forefront of those discussions. I hope to rectify that situation soon. I have feared coming across as too angry or too aggressive, so I chose silence instead. It takes time to prepare diplomatic communication, you know!
Anyway, a couple of pennies in the discussion here. Thanks for kicking it off, Bill!
I’m somewhat curious to see what we get in terms of renewals and new members this year and in the next few to follow.
As for me, I’ve renewed; in terms of local (Toronto) communities for which technical communication is a big interest, the STC chapter is pretty much all there is right now.
No, I’m not renewing my STC membership this year and my employer is not keen on picking up the tab either.
As a member last year, there has been no perceivable value for the membership. I think it is high time STC looked at other avenues for generating revenue, rather than egging on the professionals to bail them out through membership fees for almost nothing, except the networking opportunities.
I’d posted my comments on the related subject and in response to another STC member at http://sridharmachani.com/what-i-expect-from-stc/.
I renewed, and even blogged about why on my site. While I have expressed my concerns, and my doubts about the organization, I was swayed by the fact that locally, the free, volunteer-run user groups don’t seem to have as much activity anymore. At least the STC may be able to guarantee some kind of longevity due to paid membership.
I also went for the Gold. Some of Februrary’s webinars sound really cool.
I also retained membership in your SIG; although there has been less activity on the mailing list than expected. I decided to keep STC in addition to techwr-l and dita-users, and take some time to see how they manage as the dust settles.
Still having a hard time convincing myself to go to Summit, although the keynote speaker is a big draw for me.
Cheerio, pip, pip, shishkabob!
-Tony
No, I haven’t, and won’t, renew. The whole thing is just too expensive for little or no apparent benefit. I was very active in my chapter; now, that chapter is completely defunct and the LCR does nothing.
Raising dues at this time, in this economy, may be necessary, but it doesn’t work if you’re unemployed or seriously under-employed.
Yes, I could have applied for that scholarship to reduce my dues, but…I’m just not into begging for anything, for any reason. Considering the number of e-mails sent by the Society advertising the closing date, or an extension thereof, for that “program,” I think others felt similarly.
If you’re a member of IEEE and you’re unemployed, you can click a button declaring this, and the IEEE grants you an on-the-spot 50% reduction in your dues, both to the organization and to a Society of which you’re a member. I’m pretty sure that you cannot do this continuously – that there is some limit – but you don’t have to write some letter begging consideration of your situation over that of any others.
Society membership never helped me obtain work; few HR staff or managers knew of the STC. Regardless, I enjoyed my associations within the Society and the opportunity to contribute to my profession.
I don’t, however, miss getting any of the spam the Society now sends out trying to get me to pay for stuff.
Cheers.