I've been an STC member for roughly 10 years. I'm still sitting on the fence about renewing my membership for 2008 - I'm not impressed with the *higher dues / less value or service* trend. I've never attended their conferences - too expensive and too far away.
Maybe they need to look at the organization in depth and come to the realization that they are strictly a US outfit - they appear to have little to offer international members. I didn't even get a *paper* renewal notice this year, which adds to my hesitation to renew. I don't know if I can be bothered hunting down on online version, printing it, getting it approved, etc. Just my opinion, Suzette Leeming Stouffville, Ontario On 1/4/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I was an STC member for two years. My input has a shorter focus than many > long-timers. > > There have been deep dues increases that appear to be the result of a > large drop in membership. The drop in membership has caused a drop in > service (i.e. the salary survey). In an effort to cover the administrative > overhead they have raised dues and cut services. Most organizations would > try to identify why there? was an exodus and tailor their offerings to > attract more members. By raising the dues on a yearly basis they are pricing > members out of the rolls and creating an environment where only those who > work for corporate sponsors are willing to continue to pay these rates. > > Most of the offerings for webinars and conferences were overly expensive > and therefore of little value. > > I loved the Lone Writer SIG and appreciated the local chapter meetings > that I attended occasionally. But, this was not worth the $180 investment > out of my own pocket. The ROI just wasn't high enough for me to justify more > time, talent and treasure to STC. > > I can still attend the local chapter meetings for a few dollars more than > the member rate. And it seems like I have found another list serve for the > online SIG benefits. > > > > I am also a member of my local ASTD chapter. ASTD has a chapter membership > level with annual dues of $100. I'm sure some of this money is bound for the > national organization. There is also an International dues structure for > those who want to belong to the international organization. I think STC will > have to evaluate a chapter centric approach to the organization and > restructure accordingly if they want to continue to offer services. > > > > Teresa Trujillo > Book Workshop/Mighty Designs > 1501 E. Orangethorpe Avenue > Suite 130 > Fullerton, California 92831 > Phone (714) 525-0882 > Fax (714) 879-7156 > Cell (714) 926-8343 > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill Swallow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Sue Heim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; tcp@techcommpros.com > Sent: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 9:47 am > Subject: Re: [TCP] STC Refugees (was Re: New User Introduction) > > > > > > > > > > > Speaking from my own experience, things are a bit wonky with the STC > right now. Good people trying to do good things, but administrivia > seems to get in the way, and there seems to be a disconnect between > Society goals and Staff initiatives. I do hope that last bit gets > sorted out. > > I know a few things have irked some members this year. The salary > survey was nixed in favor of a paid-for model with a limited freebie > option, but it's US-centric and the data is limited to the > government's limited knowledge and statistics concerning tech writing. > That peeved a few people. Also the recent "tip of your tongue" > marketing campaign rubbed quite a few people the wrong way (it was > complete with images of animals licking their chops). There were > others, but those were more recent as the year closed. > > I also see a decline in the quality of communications coming out. It's > not so much the content, but the delivery. Announcements tend to be > lost in long articles, important info is sent in a buzzword bingo > e-mail, etc. Overall, as a Senior Member and SIG Manager, I feel a bit > lost, and then overwhelmed when I do catch up. > > I've not yet re-upped my membership for 2008. I'm still on the fence. > I see a lot of potential, but if things continue the way they have > been going, that potential will be lost, no matter what people put > into it. > > Just my thoughts. > > Bill > > On Jan 4, 2008 12:32 PM, Sue Heim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > OK, I'm curious... > > > > What's going on? This is not the first we've seen of folks coming here > from > > STC lately (in one form or another). Are you all not renewing your > > memberships? Why? > > > > I'm a bad example, since I've not renewed in the past 2 years, but I > thought > > things were improving? Or heading that way? If there's this big giant > > exodus, then apparently either it's not improved, or something else has > > happened? > > > > Curious minds (and kitty kats) wanna know... :) > > > > ...sue > > -- > Bill Swallow > HATT List Owner > WWP-Users List Owner > Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter > STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager > http://techcommdood.blogspot.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. 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