NOVEMBER 2005 (Volume 17 Number 3) About the Quill

In This Issue

President's Message

This month, Debbie Kerr, our chapter's President, explores what it is that technical writers do. See if you agree.

Those Little Bar Charts

Opal Gamble, Past President and now webmaster extraordinaire, explains those surveys on our chapter home page. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease (and we want you to squeak).

Read about how card sorting can change your life...or at least your website, software, or document design. Sherry McMenemy visited our general meeting in October to let us in on just one of her little usability secrets.

Freelance 101: Chronicles for the Self-Employed

This month Leanne Rollins discusses her temptation into full-time employment verses contract work. Find out whether she decides to turn in her invoices for a regular paycheque, and the reasons behind her choice.

Extreme Makeover?

No, this is not about plastic surgery or a visit to The Home Depot. We are talking communication renovations—and we want your stories. Read all about it.

Director-Sponsor's Message: We've Got Something to Brag About

Cindy Currie, Director-Sponsor of Region 1, updates us on the latest Board of Directors' meeting and the latest initiatives to provide value to STC members. This is also the time for nominations for all kinds of STC accolades—don't miss out!

View from the Other Side

Nancy talks about the work life, home life, and the challenges of language.

Council Meeting Minutes

Read about what your council discussed at its October meeting. Hot topics included Education Day and PR presentations. Would you like to help?

Membership Update

Leanne laments a missed opportunity to learn about card sorting, and challenges the veteran chapter members (you know who you are) to share some information about themselves. I double dare you!

General Meeting Announcements

Read about what is coming for the November and December meetings (Can you say DITA, and then Structured FrameMaker and XML, oh my?).

The Editor's Message

Greetings and welcome to the November issue!

The things that go through my head on the drive in...

Autumn, and the beautiful fall colours I see every morning on my commute into work, reminds me that change is all around us.

Change is inevitable, and usually means there is something better waiting around the corner. You may not think so at the time, but when you reflect back after the dust settles and everything's been figured out, you might think "huh, it all worked out for the best."

Out of the box

As the world changes and technology evolves, so is the way we communicate in the world. As writers, graphic artists, and trainers—whatever you want to call us—we need to stay in touch with our audiences and adapt to their changing needs.

This may mean stepping back from our comfortable routines and taking a whole new look at not only how we do things, but the tools we use to do them. I know, sounds like a recipe for a headache. Well then, you'd better get out the Tylenol. You know what they say, "no pain, no gain!"

Yep, time to think OUTSIDE the technical writing box, so to speak.

The Challenge...

I bet there are many stories out there about how you changed at least a little corner of your world, and made a difference to your audience. You may have even learned a few things (or tools) along the way. Well, we would love to hear your story! Why not share how you took a pile of lemons and made a delicious jug of lemonade? It's all about the makeovers this month, and we want to hear from you. Please don't be modest.

The Quill wants you!

Have any makeovers or otherwise interesting bits of information you want to share? Send your articles, suggestions, and comments to me, Margie, at quill@stc-soc.org.

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