|
|
|
|
|
by Andrea L. Ames
In response to inquiries and requests from several chapters' leaders for an article about my candidacy for STC Second Vice President, I'd like to share my thoughts with you about our future--yours, mine, STC's, and the future of the technical communication industry as a whole--and why I want to continue to serve you on the STC Board of Directors for the next four years.
As you might know, the candidate elected to the office of Second Vice President will serve for one year in that position and will then serve one year each as First Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President. This is an important vote, and I hope this article enables you to make an informed decision when you cast your ballot.
If you have any questions about me or my candidacy, feel free to contact me at andrea@verbal-imagery.com. You can also visit my Web site (www.verbal-imagery.com) for postings of recent chapter-meeting presentations and other information.
If elected, I will work for the next four years to raise our strategic value--both as individuals and as an industry--to the organizations for which we work.
My vision for the industry is one in which:
In other words, in this vision of the future we will no longer define ourselves by the information products (manuals, help, etc.) we deliver--nor the tools we use to develop them. Instead, our employers will recognize the value we bring to the products and information we design and develop. Think about it: The real value we bring is not the documents we develop but users' increased success! My goal is to work to help the organizations in and with which we work understand this and help enable them to get the most value from us.
As I've traveled around the country speaking with members, I've met many of you who share this vision. From my 17+ years of experience in the industry, my vast network of associates, and the strategic work I've done with various kinds of organizations, I'm convinced that this is the right vision. The question remains: How will it happen?
The move toward this vision has already begun--primarily via STC. As our new mission statement proclaims, we are certainly "designing the future of technical communication." STC is one of the most valuable and powerful tools we have, and our work in STC is one of the most important contributions we can make to our own careers. The power of many, the visibility of a large and well-respected professional organization, and vision and leadership are the ingredients that will change the face of our industry.
To do this, I want to work with the Society as I have during my 15-year STC career to enable members of our industry to become leaders and to be recognized for that leadership--particularly within our organizations and among our employers' and clients' industries. Working with the Board of Directors, committee managers, and chapter leaders, I can support and maintain important programs--like branding and governance--that are already working to move us in this direction. I can also work with other leaders to devise new initiatives to raise the visibility of STC and our industry, as well as help our employers and clients further recognize our value.
Not one to sit around and wait for someone else to take the lead, I've spent most of the past four to five years working to begin changing our industry to fit my vision. In my own career, I have focused on learning and developing skills, technologies, and tools to design and develop information for products and user experiences, rather than documentation deliverables. I am a technical communicator specializing in audience analysis, information and interaction design for product user interfaces and online assistance, usability, and user-centered product and information design and development process.
To assist others in the effort to move toward the future, I've acted as a mentor, teacher, and educational certificate coordinator to:
I've spoken at many STC chapter meetings, regional conferences, and annual conferences, and met many of you--the members of our industry. My presentations are aimed toward helping you make career development choices that increase your value to the industry and to your employers and clients. I've encouraged you to:
I used my term as Director-Sponsor (1998-2001) to learn as much about you and the Society as possible. Understanding how our organization works enables me to influence STC's direction and effect change. I've also participated very actively in two very important Society initiatives:
The results of these programs are already permeating the Society and changing the way we do business. From the Board of Directors to the Society Office to Society-level committees to chapters to members, everyone will feel the impact of these very positive changes.
I've also served the Society extensively in other international-level positions and at the regional, local and chapter levels. Details follow in "About Andrea: Andrea's STC Awards and Service."
And although I've spent a lot of time talking to members of the profession, I also draw from extensive experience of my own in the corporate world, academia, and government--both as a direct employee and as a consultant.
I hope you'll consider the future of your career and what you would like from your professional organization. Then I urge you to vote, as your vote does make a difference!