> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dana Worley > Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 5:30 PM > To: 'TCP List' > Subject: Re: [TCP] ranting STC RE: What did you learn when > youparticipatedin the > > On Thursday, February 22, 2007, Bonnie Granat wrote: > > > I think it's necessary to implant quality at the top (how > do you do that > > in a professional society? > > Disclaimer: I am not a member of the STC > > You *have* quality at the top > (http://www.stc.org/about/board/board01.asp), and, as an STC > member, you elected these people. Two of the people on the board > I know professionally -- Paula Berger and Char James-Tanny. Both > are hard-working professionals committed to the field of technical > writing. Both not only have roles in the STC, but they also speak at > conferences, help out in forums, and run businesses (and I think > they have lives, as well :). I suspect these same things can be said > for the other board members. > > All organizations have their warts. The people who keep these > organizations going should be commended for the things they do > well. I personally volunteer for a couple of non-TW organizations. I > know what a time commitment it is and also what a thankless job it > can be at times. > > Quality is instilled by the people involved -- by ALL people > involved. > While there is this STC "umbrella organization", the real benefits > come from the local chapters. And you get out of the local chapter > what you put in to it. How has your personal STC experience > suffered because of typos on their web site or in their printed > matter? (other than that irritating tic that we all get when reading > something that has a typo, is grammatically incorrect, or which we > feel is not well-written? :) >
Part of quality leadership is getting done what must be done, by whatever means are necessary and proper. If I were the president of STC, I would demand that the website be as close to perfect as possible -- so well done that a professional editor could not come along and find multiple errors on it. It's this one area that has consistently been poor -- and when I was talking about quality at the top, I was referring to the editorial function -- the quality of writing and editing in all the vehicles used by STC. I'm sure there are many quality people at the top of the organization, but why has none of them seen fit to make the public face of STC more professional? There is just no excuse for grammatical errors or punctuation errors on the website, or in the print publications, but they abound. All of those things, but primarily the website, are PR tools, What the public sees should thus be *perfect.* Of course, a stray error can creep in anywhere, but the STC site bears the signs of no editing and no quality control. That task should be mandated from the top. If the top folks are concerned about quality, why aren't they concerned about the image that STC has among a contingent of its members? I offered to help on the local site, too, and did send a few things I noticed to the webmaster, who welcomed the help. I told him anytime he needed another pair of eyes to feel free to call on me. He never did, and he's moved on now. You'd double-check and even quadruple-check your company brochure, wouldn't you? Well, the website is STC's company brochure and you can tell it's not been properly reviewed. I shouldn't have become involved in this again. Bonnie Granat http://www.GranatEdit.com ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
