LSC in the Community:
More Than a Technical Writing Society

by Michelle LeBlanc, UNT Student

The STC Lone Star Community (LSC) members unite in their knowledge and passion for communication through corporate advertising, writing, and design. However, this chapter does more than hide in the literary aspects of a community. To get a better perspective on LSC's many endeavors, I met with Community Service manager, Kathryn Poe, to discuss how LSC's presence affects the Dallas/Fort Worth community.

A Background

Kathryn Poe graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Radio/Television/Film and a minor in English. She began her career in the Technical Writing field 14 years ago and joined the STC 10 years ago. Community Service manager is far from the only title Poe has taken. In fact, over her 10-year period with LSC, Poe has held the positions of President, First Vice President, Public Relations Coordinator, and Newsletter Editor. This year Poe received the rank of Associate Fellow at the STC Annual Conference. With such experiences backing her, Poe set out to head the LSC community service aspects and further expand this organization’s outreach opportunities.

A Mission

A lack of organizations to work with has never become an issue since the groups needing assistance from organizations like LSC far outnumber the groups available to help. This can become difficult for one to choose which organization will most benefit from the services LSC can provide. Poe does not focus on this aspect, however. Instead, she remarked that LSC chooses the groups to service based on need and accessibility.

Last year, Poe headed an effort to aid students in New Orleans (NOLA) after Hurricane Katrina plowed through residents’ lives. Poe spoke with an art teacher who struggled to teach art to kids still recovering from the hurricane. However, the art teacher lacked art supplies since supplies were not first priority, so LSC stepped in to help. With the help of Poe and the rest of LSC, the students in New Orleans received two huge boxes of supplies in what was described by the art teacher as being “just like Christmas."

Events and responses like these fuel community service initiatives where the volunteers become especially involved in hands-on work. The Salvation Army, NOLA, and many other organizations have become well aware of LSC through their extensive community outreach projects. Kathryn Poe commented, "While the drives are easier for much of the membership to participate in, the [Salvation Army] Angel Tree [Warehouse] is a favorite.” The Angel Tree Warehouse links the Christmas donations received by the Salvation Army to families in need across the DFW metroplex. “Most of us work at desks all day so strenuous activities like moving, sorting, and packing donations are good for the body and the soul. Everyone who has ever participated has felt like it was a great experience."

A Future

Poe and the LSC members have many possible volunteer opportunities; some of which have been previously initiated, while others remain in the planning stages. The possibility of LSC providing assistance through book drives and supply donations to a NOLA High School library represents one such event that Poe currently has in the planning stages and hopes to fully initiate in the near future.