Getting and Giving Feedback

by Debbie Kerr, Quill Editor

We often criticize people when they do something wrong, but we don't always take the time to tell people when they have done something right. Ask my children and they will tell you just how true this is! (Sorry kids!)

Chapter-sponsored Feedback and Awards

Even as adults, we still need to hear how we are doing at work or we start to feel like what we do is not being noticed. To enable people to get that feedback (and possibly an award), our chapter has two annual competitions:

• The Heidi Thiessen Memorial award for student technical writing, which is aimed at students from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, and University of Guelph; and
• the Technical Publications Competition, where members and non-members pay to submit technical documents like quick reference guides and manuals so that judges can see how they measure up to specific criteria.

Chapter-initiated Awards for Individuals

In addition to the awards that we give out, there are also awards that we solicit from the STC Head Office for members who we feel are deserving of recognition. This year, our president, with the support of our council, identified two people in our chapter who qualified to receive these awards, due to their years of dedicated service. These awards were issued at our Wine and Cheese event.

The Distinguished Service Award for Students was awarded to Sarah-Beth Doner.

The Distinguished Chapter Service Award was awarded to Robin Danube, who is receiving the award from Opal Gamble (on the right) in the picture.

Chapter Awards

This year, The Quill received two awards:  Distinguished (a mark of 91.5 and above), and Most Improved for chapters with membership counts between 76 to 150. 

We were the only chapter in Canada to submit entries, and we finished third overall in this international competition. This is the first year where the actual marks were included instead of just the level of award that was won.

Awards Available

There are three possible levels of awards, each chapter was required to submit three consecutive issues. Those issues were then judged on very specific criteria and awarded marks out of 100. The following are the approximate ranges that correspond to each of the awards:  Merit (71 to 81), Excellence (81 to 91.4), and Distinguished (91.5 to 100). In addition to these awards, a Best of Show is awarded to the top newsletter. The top mark this year was 92.9 and our mark was 91.8. It doesn't get much closer.

The Team

Congratulations to everyone who made this year so successful. I couldn't have done it without my team of experts: Opal Gamble, technical and layout advisor; Margie Yundt, copy editor; and Martin Eisenloeffel, illustrator—the person who creates the line art. 

The Contributors

In addition to the team, I also want to thank anyone who has ever contributed to the newsletter whether you are a feature writer or a one time contributor. Without you, there would be no newsletters.

It's been a great year! My heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of you.

About Debbie Kerr

In the 20 years that Debbie has been writing documentation, she has worked in a variety of industries: government, retail, software, and insurance. She is currently employed at The Economical Insurance Group in Kitchener writing design specifications.

Debbie has been a member of the STC since 1994 and has held several council positions.