Manager’s message August 2006
by Kit Brown, Associate Fellow, ITC SIG Manager
Greetings everyone! The annual conference is over, we’re planning for the next one, and lots of great stuff is happening! Here are the highlights:
PACESETTER AWARD: We won a Pacesetter award for our efforts in building the SIG!! Congratulations to all the volunteers who worked hard to make this happen!! Our certificate is posted on the home page of our website.
MAY INTERCOM: Everyone did a great job on their articles for the May Intercom. Thanks for stepping up and helping out. Maurice did a fabulous job of pulling the international issue together under less than ideal conditions. I hope you’ve found the time to read it.
TREASURE HUNT: The treasure hunt at the annual conference went well. Thank you to the volunteers who staffed the booth: Aki Ito, Hans Fenstermacher, Yafen Kang, Tissa Salter, Brian Hertz, Cheryl Landes, Lori Robertson. We had the following vendors participate: ADXStudio, Architext, AuthorIT Software, Component One LLC, DataLink Documentation Services, Elkera Pty Ltd, PleaseTech LTD, SDL, and Webworks. Winners are 1st prize, Apple iPod 60GB: Jane Cormier (Quebec, Canada); 2nd prize, Sony PSP Game System: Janet Scharp (Virginia, US); 3rd prize, 1GB USB drive: Paula Lockwood (Illinois, US).
TABLE HELPERS and RECEPTION HOSTS: Thanks to Leah Guren, Pamela Estes Brewer, Lori Robertson, Yafen Kang, Nams Malik, Danny Choi, Brian Hertz, Jenner Mandel, Betsy Maaks, Jennifer O Neill, and Renee Miller.
SIG BUSINESS MEETING: Very few people found the room (it was tucked far far away), so we brainstormed ideas for the SIG and just chatted to get to know each other better. Ideas included improving the overseas job network and promoting the jobs database more, evaluate the web site for the SIG and redesign it, develop panel for next year or maybe a series of sessions that take the participant from the beginning to the end of the localization process, and to do the SIG business meeting immediately before the international reception so that we get better attendance.
INTERNATIONAL RECEPTION: The room was packed and the conversation convivial. It was great seeing everyone who was there!
GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Paula Berger has added a Board committee for global membership. Mak Pandit and I were asked to co-manage the committee with Jim Romano as the Board representative. We are working on the vision statement for the committee, as well as several action items. Paula included the following mandates in her description of the committee: listen and address global issues, figure out ways to build membership, orient the activities of the committee toward the four strategic objectives.
STC STRATEGIC PLAN: STC is focusing on the following four areas this year:
1) Telling our powerful story (actively promoting STC and the profession, raising awareness of business impact of TC);
2) Implementing a strategic business model (provide sound, strategic financial management, ensure value to members and to industry);
3) Growing relationships and choosing partnerships (partner with other organizations such as GALA, LISA, ATA, sponsor meetings between related organizations);
4) Making money (improve existing revenue streams, capitalize on new revenue sources for example, find other ways to make money besides member dues)
LOGO: Thanks to Patrick Hoffman for creating the SIG logo, now the banner on the website. The logo will be incorporated in the Global Talk banner as time permits.
The SIG leadership team is putting together a list of tasks and jobs that need to get done this year. I hope you’ll do your part to make this the best SIG in STC.
Lots happening this year! Please watch for more exciting news in coming months!