March 2004 (Volume 15 Number 6) About the Quill

In This Issue

President's Message

Heidi talks about being at the halfway point in the STC year, and identifies some of the council goals that have been achieved.  More

Nominations

With the Academy awards behind us, it is time to do some nominations of our own.  More

Screen Shots

Only Patrick Hofmann could talk about sexing up screen shots. Find out what you can do to dress up your screen shots and make them more effective and appealing to users.  More

Workshop

February marked the successful completion of another of our chapter's workshops. If you were not lucky enough to attend, find out what you missed so that you will be sure to attend next year's event.  More

Competition Results

The saying, "You don't know if you don't try," was never more true than when it comes to submitting your work so that it can be judged by others.  More

News from England

For those of us who can't travel or who can't live in another country, Nancy Halverson provides a unique look at living and working in England. This month Nancy welcomes Spring, the return of heat in her home, and conquering two inches of traffic-stopping snow.  More

March History

Our chapter is known for "springing" into action during March. Find out what has happened in this month over the years.  More

February Recap

General meetings are a great source of information, and February's meeting was no exception.  More

ISO Writing

Many of us are used to writing to certain standards, but these standards are not usually at an international level. Find out Leo Petipas knows about documenting to ISO standards.  More

New Members

People are key to our field. Find out more about one of the new people in our chapter.  More

Upcoming Events

The STC provides you with a lot of opportunities to learn and grow as a communicator. See which of the upcoming events might interest you.  More

Book Reviews

As communicators, we understand the value of a good book. Steve Neville three books on technical writing.  More 

CIC Great Web Sites:  Links to Your Future

The web is a big place, so it is great when someone takes the time to show you sites that you are likely to need in your career.  More

STC Head Office

There's the STC's 51st Annual Conference, and then there's the savings that the Toronto Chapter is offering to make attending the conference much cheaper.   More

The Editor's Message

Spring. The word itself generates an image of activity. Spring is not just a noun; it is a verb that means to move forward. For many of us, who are not fond of Canadian winters, spring is a sign of hope. We come out of our sort of lethargic winter doldrums. We start to shake that feeling of not wanting to do anything. Life starts to look interesting, and we think about trying new things.

Getting Together

With more of us venturing out of our homes, it only seems fit that we would have a general meeting where we can give and receive awards, talk to each other, get reacquainted, and make new friends. The March meeting happens to involve free food and drink -- even more than usual, so there is even more incentive to venture out. With the coming of spring, the weather can no longer prevent you from attending our general meetings. Let the March meeting mark the start of a string of general meetings that you are going to attend. Once you start, you will see how easy it is to keep attending them.

Accepting/Making Nominations

For the STC, it is a time for action, both for the organization and for its members.  They say that people are more likely to volunteer if they are asked; so if you know someone who would do a great job on the council, approach them and ask them to accept your nomination. If you are thinking about getting involved, take this opportunity to spring into action. It may not be quite the same as being nominated for an Academy award, but it still can be exciting.

Writing Articles

In conclusion, I have never met an article I didn't like. Maybe one of your goals is to write an article for The Quill. Don't assume that you have nothing to share. Since no two communicators are exactly alike, both senior and junior members have a lot to share. More senior members share their experiences and junior members provide new insight into topics that may be stale to many of us. That's one of the main purposes of the STC -- to provide an opportunity to learn from each other.

Spring into action. Do something. Make a difference.

To print the entire Quill, click here! Send your questions or comments to me, Debbie, at quill@stc-soc.org

Creating and supporting a forum for communities of practice in the profession of technical communication