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What Didn’t I Do at Conference?
by Jackie Damrau, Fellow
I attended the general STC Board meeting on Saturday and the four days of conference. Here’s a brief synopsis of my adventures at conference:
Saturday Board of Directors meeting. I attended the open session to gain a better understanding of where STC is going so that I can be a more effective leader on the committees that I serve: Nominating committee (NomComm) and Leadership Community Resource (LCR). As chair of the LCR, I presented an update about the activities that the LCR had accomplished over the past year, where it needs to go this next year, and where it should be in the future.
- Sunday, Leadership Day. Sessions centered on leadership activities for incoming community leaders and prospective community leaders. As the LCR chair, I was very involved with the activities of this day. Mainly working with Diana Buttram, STC Director of Community Relations (and Chief Operating Officer), in preparing handout materials and a USB drive with additional materials for distribution (pre-conference work); presenting an “STC Leadership & LCR: The ‘WIIFM’ Effect” session; and presenting awards for LCR Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding LCR Volunteer and Outstanding LCR Mentor awards, as well as LCR Mentor certificates.
- Monday Sessions. Conference started with an opening keynote by Harold Rheingold, who is credited with inventing the term virtual communities as well as author of books like Tools for Thought (1985), The Virtual Community (1991), and Smart Mobs (2002). Following the keynote session, I attended the SIG Managers Meeting as the manager for the Instructional Design & Learning SIG, hosted a table and discussion at the SIG Networking Luncheon, attended a session on employing exceptional listening skills (which Kristin has invited Rich Maggiani to present to LSC this next program year), visited vendors in the EXPO hall, served at the LCR booth in STC Central talking with community leaders or individuals wanting to volunteer to serve on the LCR, and concluding with attending the STC Annual Business Meeting.
- Tuesday Sessions. The day started very early (7:30am) by attending the IDL SIG business meeting and a mandatory STC Board of Directors meeting, held for all international committee leaders and the NomComm. The rest of the day saw me serving as a panel presenter for the NomComm’s “Society Leadership: Smooth Sailing Rough Ride?” session, spending time again at the LCR booth, attending the working session for the NomComm, and attending the “Agile Development: Challenges in Transforming TechComm Departments.” The day wasn’t over yet, as the Honors Reception and Banquet was that evening. The Honors Banquet was inspiring, seeing so many STC members that I knew receive awards and also being the recipient of Fellow, the highest membership rank in STC. Of course, the evening was definitely completed by the Lone Star Community receiving Community of Distinction again. The LSC members truly ROCK!
- Wednesday Sessions. A short day for STC activities, yet a long day traveling back to Dallas. My day started in the LCR booth, then I presented “Finding Graphics That Tell a Story” in the IDL SIG Progression, and finished the morning in the NomComm booth before leaving for the airport.