Testimonials

Vision Information As I assume the presidency of STC on May 10, 2005, it is reassuring to know that my vision when elected to second vice president is pretty much the same today and it is in perfect alignment with the transformation efforts. Suzanna Shares Her Vision STC's Seven Questions Answered Professional Experience One Vote: Are You a Big Bird Supporter? by Candie D. McKee, Oklahoma Chapter Director-Sponsor Experience Vital to Understanding Issues by Laura Ramsey, Puget Sound Chapter

Suzanna Laurent Shares Her Vision for STC

While attending a Region 4 Conference in Michigan, I also visited the Henry Ford Museum. During that visit, I learned a lot about Ford and the automobile he made so successful. Many people have the mistaken idea that Henry Ford was an inventor, but Ford did not invent the automobile. He didn’t even “invent” the assembly line.

So what did Henry Ford do? He learned from other people’s experiences as well as his own. He took risks. He saw failure as a lesson, and he applied everything he learned to improve the product, the process, and the policies that shaped the American automobile industry. In short, he was a great innovator. And because he was so willing to share the lessons he learned, he became an inspiration to many others.

I am running for the office of second vice president of STC because in my own way, I want to do as Henry Ford did. He wanted to “learn from other people’s experiences as well as his own.” I want to use the lessons that I have learned in 25 years of management and leadership positions to create solutions that will ensure STC becomes an organization that is vital to the diverse careers of technical communicators.

One innovative thing that I did during my term as director-sponsor for region 5 (1999-2002) was to attend conferences and give chapter programs in every region to meet our members and listen to their ideas. As a result, I have presented 103 conference sessions, leadership workshops, and chapter programs in locations from Toronto to Hawaii. This “listening tour” gave me a greater understanding of the unique challenges facing technical communicators.

While serving my three-year term as a director-sponsor, I gained a thorough understanding of the issues and concerns facing the Society. Working individually with chapter and SIG leaders and other members has been an invaluable experience that I believe is crucial to being the most effective leader in the “presidential chain of offices.”

Ford also “took risks.” Failing to be innovative and leaving things at the “status quo” is a risky business for both STC and technical communicators. It must become part of our role as technical communicators to show the value we add. We must continue to learn more, do more, and be more. It is imperative that STC become the “premier” organization for technical communicators; one way we can do that is by listening to what our members say they need. The organization that best meets the needs of its members is the one that retains its members and attracts new ones.

Ford “saw failure as a lesson, and applied everything he learned to improve….” During the process of defining STC’s brand, we discovered where we were making our mistakes and that we were not being perceived as we wanted to be, so we’ve made changes to correct some of those misconceptions. As we seek new ways to improve our organization, we must improve our processes and the quality of our member services until we have an organization that shapes and designs the future of technical communication.

STC members work in more diversified environments than ever before, with experience, skills, and talents that vary widely. Nevertheless, we share the desire to be recognized for our contributions to our workplace. I believe that STC can help members achieve this goal. By proactively promoting technical communication, we can make a difference in the lives and careers of our members.

Important strategies to concentrate on for improving STC include:

•       Educating members about how to define and measure the value they add to the products and services they provide, how to measure that value, and how to add even more value. I have presented programs at 12 chapter meetings and sessions at five conferences on this important topic. It is also my topic for a conference keynote address next March. I firmly believe that we, as technical communicators, must consider it part of our role to prove the value we add to our diversified organizations, because when a collection of minds, hearts, and talents work together, great things can happen.

•       Exploring new ways to build membership in the Society. New members are the lifeblood of every organization. For the first time in 21 years, STC’s membership has dropped significantly this year. By strengthening the value of membership in STC, we can sign up new members and retain more of those who already belong. As chapter leaders seek to improve their membership retention percentages, they must ensure their chapters meet more of their members’ needs.

•       Understanding the Society’s bylaws and strategic plan. Because I spent a year managing STC’s bylaws committee, I have an in-depth knowledge of the Society’s bylaws and how chapters apply them locally. I am the only candidate for second vice president this year who has managed this important committee. My committee updated an unusually high number of the Society’s governing documents to implement the changes brought about by STC’s new “brand principles.” I also reviewed the proposed bylaws changes for a large number of chapters, providing feedback when necessary.

•       Communicating more effectively with organizations outside our profession and with our members and chapter leaders internally. I strongly believe that we need better communication between the Society, all of its different types of leaders, and its members. Towards this effort, I am currently managing the Leadership Tips subcommittee of the Society’s leadership development resources committee.

•       Providing better training for Society and chapter leaders. I’ve written and posted on my personal Web site, for all chapter leaders and newsletter editors to reprint as they choose, over 30 articles on leadership topics such as mentoring, networking, recruiting new members and volunteers, developing commitment and motivation, team building, working with volunteers, and more. These articles have been published over 500 times in STC chapter newsletters. In addition, I have presented all or part of 19 leadership workshops for members across the country.

•       Creating opportunities for members. One way members can receive higher value from their membership is by taking advantage of the many opportunities provided by the Society, its SIGs, and its chapters. When members utilize the telephone seminars, award-winning publications, conferences, and attend program meetings, they take advantage of many educational opportunities. Participation in chapter activities provides opportunities for sharpening a variety of personal and professional skills, learning to work with diverse personalities, networking, fun, and much more.

With these strategies and with experienced leadership and guidance, STC can become the catalyst that enables technical communicators to achieve the professional status they have earned. And when that is accomplished, we will have fulfilled my vision for STC to become an organization whose members feel that their membership in the Society is absolutely essential to their careers!

I believe that I am the candidate who has the most experience and can provide the leadership necessary to achieve this vision for STC. You may learn more about my qualifications and review my articles and presentations by visiting my Web site at http://pages.prodigy.net/slaurent or by sending me an e-mail message at slaurent@prodigy.net. Please contact me personally and let me hear your thoughts on these important topics.

STC’s Seven Candidate Questions Answered

The nominating committee requires all candidates for second vice president to answer the following questions, which are slated for publication in the February 2003 issue of Intercom. 

What assets--ideas, traits, experience--will you bring to the office of second vice president?

What important trend, change, or challenge have you seen evolve during the past two years in the field of technical communication?

What is the most important issue or problem facing the Society? What are potential actions for approaching the issue or solving the problem?

Professional Experience

Business and Professional Experience

Prior to 1986, I worked in a wide variety of industries and positions as everything from secretary to administrative manager, accounting supervisor, entrepreneur, and general manager for two retail businesses.

• Currently I am the President of the Communications Design Group, an independent contracting company that specializes in technical communication projects of various kinds.
• From 1998-2003 I worked as a senior technical communications specialist at DCA Services in Oklahoma City, OK. I wrote and maintained the software user manuals and online Help facilities for a unique software system that allows telecommunications companies to provide better services and more accurate billings to their customers.
• Developed documentation and traveled nationwide to train client's employees on the IBM 4694 Point-of-Sale Terminals in 1994.
• Completed an Engine Performance Specialist course for the Oklahoma Department of Vocational/Technical Education (course is sold worldwide and taught at Oklahoma vocational/technical schools).
• Completed award-winning software user documentation for the State of Oklahoma. This extensive 3,200-page manual instructs Child Support Enforcement Division employees in the use of the Oklahoma Automated Support Information System (OASIS).
• Produced five successful self-instructional courses for the U. S. Postal Service (67,000 courses distributed nationwide to employees). Taught postal managers nationwide how to improve their writing skills and edited almost a thousand reports.

Manager

Since 1976, I have managed several nonprofit organizations, three retail businesses, and two of my own businesses.

Trainer and Workshop Presenter

As a former owner of a Success Motivation Institute franchise, my enthusiasm "sells" others on the importance of goal setting and striving to be all you can be!

One Vote: Are You a Big Bird Supporter?

by Candie D. McKee, Oklahoma Chapter

Across America, elementary students are taught the art and science of voting.  In traditional mock elementary elections, the statistics show that these children choose the person their parents choose. In another mock election, the students have to choose between Cookie Monster, who will give everyone a cookie for voting for him, and the Count, who will seek ways to solve problems.  Most often Cookie Monster wins the elections.  But the lesson to be learned from this lies much deeper in the exercise.

With Cookie Monster as their class president, all class problems are answered with a cookie.  Soon students realize Cookie Monster isn’t capable of solving any problem they have.  The grumbling begins.  “Cookie Monster is bad at this.”  “Cookie Monster is bad at that.”  The students who voted for the Count protest with “Don’t look at me. I didn’t vote for him.”  And those who didn’t vote, because they really liked Big Bird and he wasn’t an option or because they just didn’t care, soon wish they had voted anyway.  They discover the hard way that by not voting they cast a “yes” vote. 

So what’s the lesson here for adults?  The same one really.  The mock election teaches students to exercise their power through voting.  Granted, as adults, we immediately see that Cookie Monster isn’t the best monster for the job; however, in real elections adults are often guilty of the same voting habits as the elementary students. 

STC statistics show that most STC members must be Big Bird supporters.  Chapter elections indicated that only a small percentage of us vote.  What does this mean?  If you look at voting statistics and habits, it indicates the following:  Members aren’t voting because they don’t care for the candidates or know enough about them to make an educated selection, or they just don’t care about the elections. 

Watch the Techwrl listserv for a day or so and you’ll see that a lot of people involved in STC would like to see a range of things change – from chapter programs to grant guidelines.  While this isn’t an STC sponsored listserv, important information can be derived from it.  Obviously STC members care.  However, when asked what they want to do about it, the person usually says nothing because they think what they say doesn’t matter anyway—that their vote doesn’t count.  Throughout history people have used this reason for not voting; however, history demonstrates that one vote made the difference on more than one occasion.  Consider this:

·         In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.

·         In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.

·         In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.

·         In 1960, Richard Nixon lost the presidential election and John F. Kennedy won it by a margin of less than one voter per precinct.

If the person who cast the deciding vote hadn’t voted, what would have happened? 

Martin Luther King said, “Voting is more than a badge of citizenship and dignity.  It’s a tool for change.”   So cast your vote and make a difference in STC this year.  Don’t be a Big Bird supporter.  Make the changes you want to see happen.  Make this Society what you want it to be.  Make it beat your expectations.  Only you have that power!
 

Director-Sponsor Experience Vital to Understanding Issues

by Laura Ramsey, Puget Sound Chapter, Associate Fellow, Director-Sponsor 1996-1999, Assistant to the President for External Relations, 1999-2001, chapter president 1984 and 1992, Manager of ITAC, 1985-1990

It is with great pleasure that I make this recommendation for Suzanna.  Suzanna and I met when we served on the Society's Board of Directors together, she as an incoming director-sponsor and I as the assistant to the president for External Relations. As a former director-sponsor, I feel well qualified to share my evaluation of her performance as a director-sponsor, as a 3-year member of the Board, and as manager of the Bylaws committee.

Suzanna brings to all her Society and professional activities a unique combination of business acumen and understanding of the challenges we face as professionals in today’s communication-rich world. I continue to be impressed with her commitment to the creation of leadership development opportunities, both at the individual chapter level and the Society.

For example, she currently manages the Society’s Leadership Tips committee. In reviewing this web site, you will find over 30 meaningful articles she has authored and made available to chapter newsletters. The number of times these articles have been published attests to their value. She is recognized as a superb speaker and has shared her ideas and advice at chapter meetings throughout the country, many times at her own expense.

Chapters face a wide range of challenges in today’s business environment. The role of the second vice-president is to support and lead the director-sponsor team in their efforts to support the chapters during these difficult times. Therefore, I feel strongly that the incoming second-vice president must have been a director-sponsor herself. Only then can she bring with her an in-depth understanding of the problems we face and accompany that understanding with real-world solutions.

As you may be aware, the second vice-president is elected to a 4-year term that transitions into the first vice-president, president, and past president. This progression makes it even more important that the incoming second vice-president brings with her a long-term commitment to her leadership role and its responsibilities. Suzanna has demonstrated these qualities.

I solicit your consideration of Suzanna Laurent as the next Society second vice-president. Please read her "Vision" statement and review the material on this site, then consider casting your vote for her.

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