Click for a printer-friendly version of this articleUpcoming Meetings and Presentations

September
Red Wine and Popcorn: Doing Business the Bohemian Way

by Elaine Garnet, Consulting and Independent Contracting SIG Manager

Come and hear Laurie Soper talk about how she has grown her business over the last 11 years as a plain language consultant. She will narrate how her business grew by itself in spite of all her best efforts (and expenses) in sales, marketing, and networking. Her secret? Relationships. All kinds of relationships. You've heard it before, and it's true. Laurie will offer you insight on how to develop and nurture rich relationships you think might have nothing to do with your business—but they do!

Topics include:

  • Discover your inner Newfie
  • Living like a lily
  • The magic of magnanimity
  • Become one of your own clients
  • The Columbo factor
  • Double up and scrounge
  • Stress? What stress?

Laurie began her career in 1991 as a consultant with the Canadian Legal Information Centre, simplifying legal documents for the Ontario and Canadian governments. As director of Precise Communications since 1992, she has worked in non-profit organizations, financial service firms, law firms, and high-tech firms. She has moved from guides, statements, forms and legal contracts to specializing in sales strategies for large corporations and million-dollar deals. She knows what it's like to scrape the bottom of the barrel and live high off the hog—kinda like Robert Service did in Ballads of a Bohemian.

This free presentation is sponsored by your local CIC SIG, and will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at 7 p.m at the Games Room at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, 150 Pioneer Dr., Kitchener, Ontario.

Mark your calendars and we'll see you there.

October
General Meeting: Résumé Workshop

Does your résumé have what it takes to make the cut?

by Opal Gamble

Keeping your résumé current and polished is always a good idea—even if you aren't in the market for a new job. Many of us have felt the consequences of the dotcom fallout and the stockmarket slide. The climate of the corporate world is volitile and unpredictable, and it's wise to "be prepared for anything."

October's meeting focuses on teaching you tricks and tips that will help get your résumé and cover letter noticed. Join us as we welcome SunLife Recruiter, Val Slomke, who will share advice and details about what goes on behind the scenes when you send your résumé out for consideration.

Bring along a draft of your current résumé, a pen, and any questions you might have for our expert! This workshop includes some hands-on peer editing, and promises to be both instructive and fun! If you don't have a current résumé to bring, or just feel shy, don't worry—we'll have some activities for the résuméless too.

Watch for more details on our Website and in a future e-mail.

To Be Determined
First Meeting: Management Special Interest Group

by Holly Curtis, Mgmt SIG Manager

Attention all team leaders, project leaders, coaches, educators, senior writers and managers!

The STC Southwestern Ontario Chapter has a new Management Special Interest Group (Mgmt SIG). Its purpose is to provide a forum for:

  • exchanging management information that is relevant to technical communication
  • determining trends and issues that are related to managing publications projects
  • discussing practices that will result in high-quality technical materials

The Mgmt SIG meets every few months (or more often, if necessary) and exchanges some e-mails. By sharing experiences and lending advice, this SIG helps each member find answers and solve problems in a confidential environment. As a minority group within the larger technical communicator community, this is a great way to develop good peer relationships and build a network of reliable and trustworthy contacts.

For more information about this SIG, or to register with the Mgmt SIG e-mail list, contact Holly Curtis at mgt-sig@stc-soc.org. Stay tuned for more details about the first Mgmt SIG meeting of the year.

In this issue: Contents | President's Message | STC History | Banner Competition | Technical Communication Competition | Upcoming Meetings | From Writer to Illustrator | Telephone Seminars | CIC-SIG Corner | Portfolio Opportunities | Contact Information