05/19/2011© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter Year-End Review

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Year in Review The Society President’s goals Chapter Membership Finances Meetings Newsletter/Blog Website Awards Officers/Managers/ Volunteers

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter The Society Renewing its commitment to supporting our profession Initiatives:  New website and the My STC network  Finalizing the Technical Communicator work-based certification program  Introducing the Community Affairs committee  Releasing archived Summit sessions as free member content 05/19/2011

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 STC RMC President’s Goals Add value to STC RMC membership Encourage networking Create more opportunities for volunteers

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Chapter Membership 201 members as of May 1, % retention Updated New Member Guide for Expanded welcome Helped match volunteers with opportunities Added Castle Rock networking location

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 6 05/19/2011 Chapter Finances STC financial reporting year changed to January-December Income: $1, Expenses: $8, Major chapter expenditures  Monthly membership meetings  Web hosting and maintenance 05/19/2011

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 STC RMC Meetings Strategic planning STC RMC council Northern Colorado Satellite Chapter Webinars

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Strategic Planning Who: STC RMC Council When: June 2010 Where: Panera Bread, Denver Purpose:  Determine focus for year  Build short-term plan (chapter year)  Align with long-term plan

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 STC RMC Council Who: Officers, managers, and members When: First Thursday of the month Where: Pint’s Pub, Denver Purpose:  Plan monthly events  Discuss finances  Share committee reports  Assign tasks

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Northern Colorado Satellite Who: Anyone When: Second Wednesday of the month Where: Moxie Java, Fort Collins Manager: Carmen Carmack Purpose:  Mentoring  Networking  Supplement to Denver programs

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Chapter Meetings in Denver Who: Anyone When: Third Thursday of the month Where: Downtown Denver, usually at the Tivoli Purpose  Offer professional development  Foster networking and support

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 STC Webinars Topics:  Revisiting the benefits and pitfalls of social networking sites  Using focus groups to strengthen technical communication practice Who: Free for STC RMC members and guests When: September and October 2010 Where: Denver Tech Center and Westminster

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 September 2010 Topic: Be green...go green...stay green: A panel discussion Speakers: Ruth Gaulke and Lynnette Reveling

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 October 2010 Topic: Content-creation tools in demand: A progression Speakers: Barb Binder, John Daigle, Alida Franco, Brian Miller, and Roy Sargent

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 November 2010 Topic: Networking Two locations:  Panera Bread, Westminster  Panera Bread, Denver Tech Center

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Holiday party: Kit Brown- Hoekstra and Dave Hoekstra Collected donations for Food Bank of the Rockies December 2010

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 January 2011 Topic: Trends, tools, and technologies in software user assistance Speaker: Joe Welinske, president of WritersUA

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 February 2011 Webinar Topic: Transferring your skills: Where can you go from here? Speaker: Jane MacKenzie

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 March 2011 Topic: Networking Three locations:  Panera Bread, Westminster  Panera Bread, Denver Tech Center  Outlets at Castle Rock Food Court

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 April 2011 Topic: Managing technical communication content: How XML, iPads, eBooks, social networking, augmented reality, and content management are changing how technical communicators work Speaker: Scott Abel (The Content Wrangler)

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 May 2011 Topic: Measuring productivity Speaker: Juliet Leckenby

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Newsletter/Blog Technicalities newsletter = Technicalities blog ( This year’s contributors:  Ron Arner Michelle Despres Deb LockwoodDebbie Peebles  Kristy Astry Angela Ennis Joel MeierBecky Williams  Julie Bettis Maureen Hogg Deanna MoslerJean Zartner  Ben Cape Amalia Hurtado Nina Murdock Technical improvements this year:  New look to match the website  WordPress upgrades  Submission guidelines page with posting instructions Anyone can write a post or comment; just need to register or your submission to

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Website Site implemented September 1, 2010! Trained team and new volunteers 99 members as of May 17, 2011! Website account maintenance  Coordinates with membership manager to handle new member requests May 21: Next website team workday Upcoming steps for Phase II:  Developing requirements for next improvements  Upgrade the CMS after evaluating changes

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/2011 Recognition Community Achievement Award Distinguished Chapter Service Awards  Ruth Gaulke  Marc Lee  Tammy Van Boening President’s Awards  Julie Bettis  Deb Lockwood  Joel Meier  Martha Sippel  Becky Williams Council and Committee Volunteers

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/ Officers Outgoing officers  President, Kristy Astry  Vice President, Joel Meier  Past President, Ron Arner  Secretary, John Endicott  Treasurer, Deb Lockwood  Nominating Committee, Michelle Despres and Debbie Peebles

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/ Officers Incoming officers:  President, Joel Meier  Vice President, Marcia Wood  Past President, Kristy Astry  Secretary, Jean Zartner  Treasurer, Frank Tagader  Nominating Committee, Kit Brown-Hoekstra and Craig Kupras

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/ Volunteer Opportunities We need:  Programs committee members  Blog Contributors  Publicity Coordinator  Meeting Greeters  Logistics/Facilities Coordinator  Scholarships Coordinator  Podcast/Webinar volunteers to record and moderate  Social Media Coordinator

© STC Rocky Mountain Chapter 05/19/ Summary Thank you to…  Everyone who contributed so much to the chapter and to the Society.