Membership News

by Leanne Rollins, Membership Manager

Now that the holiday season is upon us, the last thing we have time to think about is all the little details in life - details like confirming your contact information. A lot can happen in a year, including a change of mailing address or email address. This December, please take a quick moment to check your STC contact information online, and submit any changes to the STC if necessary. You want to keep those publications and notifications coming in the new year!

Just log onto the STC website, then navigate to the STC Members link. From the menu, select Address Change, or go to http://www.stc.org/formAddressChange.asp to get there directly. You will need your Member ID and password to make these changes.

Membership Profile

In other news, our chapter now boasts 152 members. Unfortunately, not a single member sent in a profile again this month, so I decided that perhaps a sample is required. Perhaps some of you will see how easy it is, and complete your own bio. If you are inspired, just email your bio to membership@stc-soc.org.

Member Name:	Leanne Rollins
Member Since:	1997
Education:	BA, University of Waterloo (Rhetoric & Professional Writing)
Number of Years as a Tech Writer:	10 (including co-op years!)
Why did you join the STC?	My manager at my first job out of university introduced me to the STC. She had been a member for several years, and fully believed in the benefits of membership. Although we worked at a very small company, our manager was able to get the company to pay for our memberships that first year. I quickly realized the quality of the STC publications and the sense of community offered to me way back in 1997.
Why do you renew each year?	To me, membership benefits far outweigh the cost of the membership. The biggest benefit is the contacts. I joined the STC council in 1999, just when I was thinking about switching jobs. A council contact told me about a great opportunity and a week later the job was mine. I also landed a number of ‘on-the-side’ contracts from different council contacts. Now that I am a freelancer, the tradition continues – I learn about many contract opportunities directly from council members.
How do you give back to the STC?	In 1999 and 2000 I ran the local competition – that was a big job! I’ve participated on the council for a number of years, although I let my participation and my membership lapse for a few years when I focused on a new field. This year, I signed up for the Membership Manager role, and I write a monthly column in the Quill to provide freelancing tips to other independent writers.
How can others give back to the STC?	Everyone is an expert in something. Whether it’s tool-related, process-related, or field-specific, you just never know when your words of wisdom will help someone else. I receive an in-pouring of email after the Quill is published each month—members write to thank me for taking the time to write my freelancing articles. I’m the first one to tell you I’m no expert at this freelancing stuff, but if others can learn from my bumps and bruises, then it’s worth the 30 minutes I spend writing that article each month. I encourage STC members to think of their own area of expertise and contribute Quill content even just once. You can sign up for a council position, or just come observe a council meeting to see how it all works. Our chapter offers a real sense of community, and that is something everyone needs.
Will you continue your involvement in the STC?	Definitely. I have made some great friends through my STC affiliation, and I have been handed some amazing opportunities. My involvement also provides me with an opportunity to learn, which is something that I typically do not make time for. It’s easy to schedule the STC meeting into my calendar, because I know it is always on the first Tuesday of each month. And, I love to meet people who are new to the region and new to the field. I never know when I’ll need to subcontract some of this freelance work, and it pays to have contacts!

About Leanne Rollins

Leanne recently became a self-employed contractor, escaping management roles for the first time in years. This newfound freedom has allowed Leanne to take on extra-curricular activities such as a more active role in the STC. When not writing or playing with her kids, Leanne enjoys running and soccer.