|
|
|
|
by Jim Chambless, Chair, Mentor Program
Back in 2000, there was an ongoing discussion among some of the then-Chapter leaders concerning the Mentor Program – namely, what to call the participants. Obviously, the persons providing guidance were the mentors. But those seeking guidance: Were they "mentees" or "mentorees"?
Much research was done, to the point of consulting a professor of linguistics, and in the end, we pretty much agreed to disagree. For the record, though, I still come down on the side of "mentoree."
Editor's Note: Since neither of those constructions appears in any dictionary I own, I'll stick with protégé.
All of which brings me to my point, which is to reintroduce the Community's Mentor Program.
Mentoring by established professionals in a given field of those new to that field is a time-honored tradition, and technical communication is no exception. Having been informally mentored by several established professionals when I was trying to break in as a technical writer, I can attest to the value of having had experienced writers and editors show me the way, as it were.
The Lone Star Community has had a formal Mentor Program for several years. To reintroduce the program, I offer the following summary of its key aspects:
Records of objectives, meetings, and accomplishments should be maintained. The Mentor Program provides corresponding material.
If you are interested in participating in the Mentor Program, either as a mentor or mentoree, please drop me an e-mail at jim_chambless@hotmail.com, or call me at 469-467-5533. (And for existing mentors and mentorees, I will be touching base with you over the next few weeks.)
The mentoring process can be hugely rewarding for both mentor and mentoree. For experienced technical communicators, if you're looking for a way to give back, this is it. And for those new to the profession, this is a good way to speed up the learning process. I look forward to hearing from you.