STC and INTECOM September 2006
On August 11, 2006 STC sent an update to all members on the Society’s participation in INTECOM and on August 31, STC President Paula Berger reported more INTECOM news.
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) has begun active participation in the International Council for Technical Communication (INTECOM), an “umbrella” organization of technical communication organizations around the world. The INTECOM delegates unanimoulsy approved STC’s membership at the INTECOM Annual General Meeting (AGM) June 22-23, 2006, in Guernsey (Channel Islands).
INTECOM (International Council for Technical Communication, http://www.intecom.org) has accepted STC’s offer to hold their 2007 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 17-18, in conjunction with the STC Annual Conference. We look forward to welcoming INTECOM’s representatives from around the world in Minneapolis.
Suzanna Laurent, STC’s immediate past president and an ITC SIG member, attended the June meeting as STC’s delegate. Suzanna will serve as INTECOM’s vice president this year, and has set as her goals to do the following:
- facilitate the review and update of INTECOM’s constitution and bylaws
- further define its vision, mission, and strategies for achieving its goals
- publicize the value that organizations receive for belonging
Suzanna says that she is “looking forward to working with other technical communication organizations. They will tell the powerful story of technical communication and explain how our varied professions improve the everyday lives of people worldwide.”
ITC SIG manager Kit Brown describes INTECOM as “the United Nations of our profession. It’s the only forum where world leaders can formally discuss technical communication issues and work geopolitical things out. We have to keep the dialogue going if we are to survive and flourish.”
STC members will benefit from this development, as membership in INTECOM will provide STC with these benefits:
- a stronger voice in discussions on international standards, ensuring that the standards for technical communication are consistent
- input into the organization and planning of the international FORUM conference
- access to the collective power of INTECOM member organizations to raise awareness of the impact and value of our profession
- goodwill among communities who work and are located internationally
- international contacts and networking opportunities with other technical communicators around the world
Mark Clifford, STC second vice president and an ITC SIG member, also attended the meeting. Mark is a member of the UK Chapter from London, and added his international perspective to the meeting. INTECOM member organizations include delegates from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United Sttes. For more about INTECOM, please visit http://www.intecom.org