P&P SIG Webinar: Effective Needs Analysis for Policies and Procedures Writers

October 5, 2018 by Madison Hughes

Any good technical communicator starts a documentation project by doing needs analysis. For P&P (policy and procedure) content writers, the process is the same. However, there are some differences. Join presenter Leah Guren and the Policy & Procedures SIG for the webinar, Effective Needs Analysis for Policies and Procedures Writers, on Thursday, 27 October from Noon-1:00 PM EDT (GMT-4). In this webinar, you will:

understand the reason for performing needs analysis
learn how P&P needs analysis differs from generic TC needs analysis
learn best practices for mapping out a strategy
identify key in-house players
learn to create in-house personas
…and more

The cost is $59 for SIG members and $79 for non-SIG members. NOTE: If you are a SIG member, you must contact Dawnell Claessen for the special SIG rate.

“Policies and Procedures – Communicate the Future” – Free Lunch N’ Learn Webinar on October 12th!

October 4, 2018 by Danielle Villegas

The Policies and Procedures SIG leadership would like to invite STC Philadelphia Chapter members to a free webinar.

Dawnell Claessen and Ann Marie Queeney will present their Summit program titled “Policies and Procedures – Communicate the Future.” The webinar is scheduled for October 12 (Friday) from 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST.

We hope you can join us for a presentation and discussion about the future of the Policies and Procedures profession and our roles and the nature of our work in that future. This session will also discuss what will likely remain the same, and skills that are important now that we can carry into the future in our field, followed by what is sure to be different and new for Policies and Procedures Practitioners’ work in the future.

There will be time for attendees’ questions and discussion.

Registration Information

The program is free. However, you must register to receive the link to the webinar.

Registration

The registration link will take you directly to GoToWebinar. To ensure that you can connect with GoToWebinar and don’t miss any of the program, register before the program. You can connect with GoToWebinar from whatever computer or mobile device you are using.

About the Presenters

Dawnell Claessen is a senior policy analyst specializing in risk management and security compliance for the United States Department of Defense. Dawnell holds a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Library and Information Science with a focus of study on Federal Information Policy.

Ann Marie Queeney of A.M. Queeney, LLC specializes in procedures for the healthcare industry. She has over 18 years of document specialist experience in the medical device industry. Her services include technical writing, editing, compliance assessment, and skills training.

Working with Remote Teams – STC Florida September Chapter Meeting

September 19, 2018 by Madison Hughes

Todd DeLuca will be providing a live webinar on Working on Remote Teams. All you need is your phone or PC! We will also be meeting at the Riptide Software to join the virtual meeting for those who want to network face-to-face.

Event Timing: September 20, 6:30-8:30pm (Presentation begins at 7:00pm)
Event Address: Online through Google Meet or Riptide Software, 200 E. Palm Valley Drive, Suite 2000, Oviedo, FL 32765
Virtual Access: Details to be sent to attendees who RSVP and send payment

The definition and the makeup of workplace teams has changed significantly due to technology and the ubiquity of the internet. In fact, odds are good that you are part of a group or team with members that are not physically located in a local office. There may even be people you work with that you’ve never seen or met in person. Basically, if you use email, IM, online meetings, or discussion boards, you’re part of a virtual team.

How would you rate your virtual team experience? The dynamics of being part of a team in this new landscape are different and most organizations don’t manage or support virtual teams as effectively as they could. Often the tried-and-true methodologies from the past don’t meet the needs of a more distributed, diverse, and international workforce. There’s a lot of room for improvement. Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here and joining together virtually to share suggestions on making virtual teams work better.

Join us for an honest look at virtual teams and come away with helpful ideas and useful suggestions on how to be a star member of your own virtual group. And don’t be surprised if some of the solutions center around communication.

RSVP

You can RSVP now on Meetup for face-to-face attendance or on our website for virtual access. We will also be sharing this presentation online through Google Meet for remote attendees. Please refer to the Payment Details below for the rates for this meeting. If you have any questions, please contact president@stc-orlando.org.

Michael Apotheker wins STC-PMC 2018 Scholarship

September 14, 2018 by Jen Heller Meservey

This year, the STC-PMC scholarship award went to Michael Apotheker, an undergraduate student majoring in media communications at the University of Delaware. Each year, the $500 scholarship is awarded to a local student working toward a bachelor’s degree with an interest in the technical communication field.

Michael said that he developed an interest in technical communication after taking a course taught by Professor Luttrell, a member of STC-PMC. “I had been thinking about possible paths I could take, and one of them was scientific communication,” he said. “I learned about the scholarship and decided to apply, hoping to learn more about this field.”

Michael added that he was “surprised but excited” when he heard that he had won the award. “This scholarship reminds me of how much potential I have and how many paths are open to me, and that encouragement is driving me forward to continue exploring directions that interest me.” He plans to use the scholarship money to finish his degree. “I am thankful to have the extra help it gives me financially,” he said.

As for his future plans, Michael said that he has three important goals: “In whatever career I decide to follow, my goals are to excel, foster equality, and leave a lasting positive legacy for future generations.”

April Chapter Meeting: Lunch N’Learn Webinar: Slack for Technical Writers and Editors

April 9, 2018 by Madison Hughes

STC- Philadelphia Metro Chapter and STC-New England Chapter are pleased to host this informative Lunch N’ Learn Webinar about Slack for Technical Writers and Editors.

About the Webinar:

Sara Feldman of STC-San Diego and Ben Woelk of STC-Rochester will host a 1 hour Lunch N’ Learn virtual workshop about Slack, the popular messaging app.

The workshop will introduce how the tool is used for both workplace communication and dispersed communities, demonstrate basic features and functionality, and give participants a chance to interact via Slack real-time. There will be plenty of time for Q&A and a chance to get comfortable with the tool among peers.

The content will be introductory and help practitioners learn how to use Slack with hands-on demo.

Registrants will need to join our Slack Workshop space:

Click here for Slack Workshop Space.

Note: If users don’t already have a Slack account, they will need to create one to join the workspace. They should aim to join the Slack workspace before the program starts.

Can’t attend the workshop? Sign up anyway to view the recording at a later time.

We’ll send you the GoToMeeting link right before the event to registrants.

When?
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (EDT)

Register today!

About the Presenters:

Sara Feldman has over 10 years of experience as a technical writer, primarily in the software industry and focused on online support. She earned her BS in Technical Communication and Communication Studies from James Madison University. Sara is currently the President of the San Diego Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.

Ben Woelk, CISSP, CPTC, is an Associate Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication, where he currently serves as Scholarship Committee Chair and Vice President of the Rochester Chapter. Ben is the author of Shockproofing Your Use of Social Media: Staying Safe Online (available on Kindle). You can connect with Ben on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Have questions about STC Joint Chapter Lunch N’Learn Webinar: Slack for Technical Writers and Editors? Contact STC – Philadelphia Metro Chapter