Upcoming Events

Moving Unstructured Content to Structured Content

Failure to correctly address legacy content can doom projects. What is already in place? Is it worth it? Must you convert to XML? What is the deal with DITA? In this seminar you get software ideas with immediate benefits and learn that structure doesn't have to mean XML (but it might). This is geared to all levels.

Presenter

Bernard Aschwanden, founder and president of Publishing Smarter, is a recognized publishing technologies expert. He is a Certified Technical Trainer and the author of numerous articles on XML-based publishing and single-sourcing. The Immediate Past President of the STC Toronto Chapter, Bernard is also a senior member of the STC. He teaches a variety of courses including XML/DITA and related technologies, best practices for structured authoring and content management, as well as DITA tools such as XMetal and FrameMaker.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the benefits of structure.
• Learn the best practices to follow for success.
• Understand the core reasons to migrate to structure.

Date

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Time

1:00-2:30 PM EST

Location

PEER Group
72 Victoria St. S
Kitchener, Ontario

Fee

When you go to PEER Group to participate in the web seminar, attendance is free for STC members and $35 for non-members. If you want to register for this web seminar so that you can view it at your own location, register directly with the STC Head Office.

Registration

To register to attend the session at the PEER Group location, contact Tracy Aitcheson. If you have any questions, you can direct them to Fei Min Lorente.

Education Evening: Content Reuse
Sponsored by Front Runner Training

Date

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Time

6:30 to 9:30 PM, doors open at 6:00

Location

University of Waterloo, Room TBD

Cost

Registration

To register, email Heather Dupuis.

• Please provide your membership number if you are an STC member.
• If you are attending in person and you are not a member, you can pay at the door.
• If you are attending via webinar, please send your email address and a cheque payable to "STC-Southwestern Ontario Chapter" to:
  
  STC-Southwestern Ontario Chapter
  c/o Fei Min Lorente
  ON Semiconductor
  611 Kumpf Drive, Unit 200
  Waterloo, Ontario
  N2V 1K8
  
  We will send you the calling information for the webinar when we receive your cheque. You can have as many people at one site to watch the webinar as you like.

For more details about the event, please refer to the article "You Can Re-use Your Content!"

2009/2010 Technical Communication Competition

Call for Entries

This year, STC Southwestern Ontario is partnering with the STC Toronto chapter to organize and judge the annual regional technical communication competition. Planning has started for 2009/2010. Visit STC Toronto's Information for entrants page for entry rules and forms, category descriptions, and other details.

Got any questions? Contact this year's competition manager, Vivian Aschwanden.

Call for Judges

Judges are also needed to make this year's competition a success. This is your chance to see what your peers are producing first-hand, and to share your experience in writing, editing, designing, and publishing technical content. Training wil be provided, so don't be shy to sign up if you're a first-timer! (Notes: Training dates and locations are TBD. Contact Vivian to discuss flexibility for qualifed remote judging teams who are unable to attend the scheduled onsite training/judging day.) Visit the I want to judge page for details.

Final Sign-up Date for Judges:

Monday, November 30, 2009

Judging and Training Dates:

Saturday, January 16th, 2010 (Kitchener/Waterloo) - Tentative

Saturday, January 23, 2010 (Toronto)

Heidi Thiessen Memorial Award

This award is presented to students in their 3rd or 4th year of full-time study at the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, or the University of Western Ontario. A panel of judges selects a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner for the award after evaluating an explanatory cover letter, writing samples, and academic standing. In 2000, this award was renamed in memory of Heidi Thiessen, a late member of our chapter who actively mentored many students and young writers in the area.

Visit http://stc-soc.org/awards/thiessenaward.php for more details on how to apply. All entries must be postmarked or delivered no later than January 29th, 2010.

Education Days

Education Days are coming April 19 and 20, 2010. They will feature internationally famous speakers Neil Perlin and Bernard Aschwanden. Details about the event will appear in a future issue of the Quill and on our website: http://stc-soc.org/calendar/2010-04-19.php.