FEATURE: STC Views from Berkeley Chapter

by Richard Mateosian, President, Berkeley Chapter STC
(reprinted with permission)

Here at the chapter level, we often look at the STC headquarters operation as something distant and out of touch. The truth, however, is that STC and its US chapters are one big organization. This fact became really important recently when headquarters gave us a report on our finances. Over the next 18 months, we face a large budget deficit and a severe cash flow problem. Without immediate action, the organization could cease to exist.

STC has made big cuts. We have moved to a much less expensive office, cut staff, and reduced other expenses. If we get through the next 18 months, we will probably be OK, but for now, we need to take drastic action. Fortunately, there is a remedy.

For many years we have run our chapter efficiently. Until we adopted recession pricing late last year, our meetings paid for themselves, as did other activities. Each year we receive funding from headquarters based on the number of members we have, and each year we spend only about half of it. Our chapter has substantial funds over and above what we need for the next couple of years. Many other chapters have similar or even larger reserves. These funds should be enough to get us over the hump.

As noted, these are STC funds. The Berkeley Chapter does not exist as an independent organization. Still, we are proud of the way we have tended and cared for that money. We like to think of it as our own, even though it's not. Leaders of other chapters feel the same way, so there has been a lot of grumbling. You may have heard some of it, especially if you monitor #stcorg on Twitter. It's natural to be angry and to point fingers, but the truth is that the STC management who got us into this mess is long gone, and the current crop are working really hard to put out the fire. Using the excess funds from our chapter bank account will have little effect on our meetings and activities. We weren't using those funds to support our activities, so we won't see much difference. Unfortunately, however, there's more.

One cause of STC's financial problems is that we do not fund our activities entirely out of dues. We rely on a substantial surplus from the annual conference to make up the difference, but that surplus did not materialize this year and probably won't be there next year either. STC will ask us for contributions (tax deductible) and will raise dues. Naturally, that will make many of us ask ourselves if STC membership is still a wise investment.

Personally, I have no trouble answering that question. I'm active in four chapters and some SIGs. Most of my income over the last 18 years has come through contacts I made in STC. I value the Society's efforts to gain respect for our profession and to support our arguments for fair compensation. I have learned a great deal about technical communication by attending STC meetings and conferences and by participating in STC competitions. I will contribute what I can, and the higher dues will not deter me.

know that the calculation is different for many of you—especially those of you who are suffering in the financial downturn. Some of you will drop your STC memberships, but we won't be dropping you. We'll still send you the announcements and hope that you show up at meetings. You can still subscribe to the job list and participate in other activities and networking opportunities. We'll be hoping that you join again when things change. And we'll be working hard to make sure that STC can continue its mission of advancing our profession.