Hyperviews Online

The STC editors conduct a newsletter exchange on the newsletter editors’ list. Many editors publish a link to each issue as it is posted. This article accumulated links to recent issues and information about some of the chapter and SIG newsletters. Beginning July 28, 2007 links are being accumulated in separate posts, and there is a category “STC Newsletter Exchange.” There is also an STC Forum post where great articles in chapter and SIG newsletters are highlighted: http://stcforum.org/viewtopic.php?pid=3423#p3423 RSS feeds from STC newsletters are aggregated in the sidebar of Hyperviews Online.

Carolina Chapter. Communique. This online newsletter has its own site, http://stc-carolina.org/newsletter/tiki-index.php The home page lists the contents of the most recent issue, and there is an archive of past issues. It is easy to print all or some of the articles in each issue, and to search for articles on a topic. There is an RSS feed. You can rate articles and discuss them. Don’t miss “Is Technical Writing Your Calling” in the Carolina Communique for first quarter 2007: http://stc-carolina.org/newsletter/tiki-index.php?page=Pith+and+Vinegar%3A+Is+Technical+Writing+Your+Calling%3F June 7, 2007.

Northeast Ohio Chapter. Lines and Letters. A summary of the newsletter is emailed to members and the newsletter editors’ list, and the full issue is posted on the web. The June issue is at http://www.neostc.org/lines/#story4 The chapter is hosting a regional conference in the fall: http://www.neostc.org/lines/#story3 Chapter members have reported their experiences at the STC Annual Conference: http://www.neostc.org/lines/#story18 June 17, 2007.

Orange County Chapter. TechniScribe. The current issue and back issues are accessible from http://www.ocstc.org/newsltr.asp This is a traditional newsletter published as a navigable PDF. Chapter members receive a printed copy and the current issue is uploaded at the same time. The chapter posts a link on the Newsletter Editors’ list. The June 2007 issue has an excellent summary of the STC Annual Conference from the viewpoint of the incoming chapter president. June 11, 2007

Technical Editing SIG. Corrigo. The newsletter is distributed monthly to SIG members as an email summary of the articles on the SIG blog site, http://www.stc-techedit.org/ The month’s issue is also compiled in a PDF file that anyone can download: http://www.stc-techedit.org/newsletter/newsletter-archives/ The April, 2007 issue included “Is Consistency Boring,” http://www.stc-techedit.org/2007/04/03/is-consistency-boring/ –an article on a key aspect of reuse which appeared originally in the Carolina Communique. June 7, 2007.

Usuability and User Experience SIG. Usability Interface. The newsletter is published quarterly on the SIG website. It is announced on the SIG email list. The June, 2007 issue is posted at www.stcsig.org/usability/index.html In this issue, Alice Preston reviews Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge: http://www.stcsig.org/usability/newsletter/0706-moggridge.html June 15, 2007.

Tom Johnson interviewed a few dozen people at the STC Conference in Minneapolis and posted the podcasts on Tech Writer Voices: http://www.techwritervoices.com

You can download the podcasts, play them directly on the site, or subscribe to the feed. Each podcast is about 5-10 minutes in length.

There is a link to Techwriter Voices from Hyperviews Online. Tom Johnson is Education Lead in the Online SIG, and Techwirter Voices extends this site.

Dr. JoAnn Hackos, content management expert, advises on what organizations need to know to move legacy documentation to DITA in an exclusive interview: http://www.dclab.com/DCLNews0903.asp#LSTORY2

Whew! What an eventful day!

First, we started out with the Keynote General Session, with Simon Singh as the opening keynote speaker and the 2007 Honorary Fellow. Simon closed out the session with a humorous and thoughtful presentation, but first outgoing STC President Paula Berger thanked the 2006-2007 Board of Directors, and Best of Show awards were presented in the International Competitions (Technical Art, Technical Publications, and Online Communications).

Simon Singh received a standing ovation at the end of his presentation. Here’s a crowd shot:

The annual business meeting is where the “transfer of power” from Paula Berger (outgoing) to Linda Oestreich (incoming) was completed, after the results of the election were reported by Nominating Committee Chair Suzanna Laurent.

Paula presides over the meeting:

Linda and the gavel:

While I did not attend the STC Forum right after the Business Meeting, I did attend the Open Jam! Fun was had by all, and even members of the STC Office staff were out on the dance floor. I’ll post some of those pictures tomorrow.  :)

Rachel Houghton, 2006 - 2007 Online SIG Conference Activities Coordinator

It was a long day yesterday, so I didn’t have time to post last night. There will be multiple posts today.

I attended Leadership Day, and definitely had a good time. Lots of information about what the Society has been doing and what is upcoming for the Society, SIGs, and chapters.

One of the new things this year was the STC Mall, where you could take a look at services the STC provides, and get information about STC initiatives, such as the bylaws update.

There was some networking going on, with lots of mingling.

I saw most of the SIG managers (or SIG manager conference representatives, like me) at Leadership Day.

I’ll be back later with more from Sunday night’s Welcoming Reception and today’s events!

Rachel Houghton, 2006-2007 Online SIG Conference Activities Coordinator

The board meeting was a little late in getting started this morning, but not by much. Lots of topics were discussed, you can see the agenda here. Here are a couple of snapshots of the board meeting.

The Board, with Maurice Martin (Director of Communications, STC Office) speaking:

And Region 7 Director John Hedtke:

After several hours in planes, and a couple of hours for a layover, I’m finally in Minneapolis!

This picture is from my hotel room, looking towards the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Looking forward to the Welcome Reception on Sunday - thanks to all who volunteered for a shift at the Online SIG table! :)

Rachel Houghton, 2006-2007 Online SIG Conference Activities Coordinator

Of course, wouldn’t you know project managers at work managed to finagle the projects I was working on to all hit a major milestone this week, even though they’ve known for months I was headed out this Friday. Sigh.

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help out at the Welcome Reception and the Online SIG meeting. All I need now are 4 table hosts at the SIG Networking Luncheon on Tuesday.

Table host duties are light: start introductions and keep the talk flowing. In the past, table hosts have gotten into the room a few minutes early, so they can find their table and get settled. Then you just introduce yourself to table attendees, and facilitate introductions between table members as they arrive. Basic networking skills are all that is needed. :)

If you are attending the SIG networking luncheon, don’t forget to bring your business cards and a pen. It always helps to write down on the business cards you receive exactly where you met the person whose card you have in a pile at the bottom of your conference bag. So, for the SIG luncheon, I just write “at Online SIG table on Tuesday” so that I have an idea of the context of the meeting.

Don’t forget to stop by the Welcome Reception table in Hall C of the Minneapolis Convention Center and meet other Online SIG members. If you see someone taking pictures of the SIG table, it’s probably me!

Only one week until I leave for the STC conference in Minneapolis, MN. As Ann mentioned in the last post, I am the Online SIG conference activities coordinator. In addition to coordinating the activities, I’ve been asked to blog about my conference activities. This is something I did last year, but it was only posted on the STC Forum. You can look forward to observations and photos, as I wander around the conference and my many activities with my camera.

Some of the places you’ll find me (and the Online SIG) at the conference:

Sunday, May 13:

• Leadership Day, 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Welcome Reception, 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Monday, May 14:

• SIG Managers’ Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (as a SIG representative for John Wilcox, current Online SIG Interim Manager)

Tuesday, May 15:

• Networking Luncheon, Online SIG tables, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 16:

• Online SIG Meeting, 7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
• Online SIG Progression, “Topics in Online Tools and Technologies,” 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

I still need volunteers who will be attending the conference!

Here are some volunteer opportunities:

• Take a 30 minute shift at the Welcome Reception table
• Be a table host at one of the 5 Online SIG tables at the Networking Luncheon (need 4 table hosts who are already attending the luncheon)
• Someone to be “secretary” at the Online SIG meeting on Wed morning

If you have any interest in volunteering to help me out as a volunteer, please email me at rachelh @ rhoughton.com.

Rachel Houghton