By Bea Bailey, Chapter President

It’s a privilege to be your 2009-2010 STC-Carolina President this year! I’m excited about the possibilities and endless opportunities within the organization. My aim is to make it an absolutely fantastic year. So far, with all of you, we’re on point!

As for myself, I was a member of the student chapter at East Carolina University. I’ve worked as a copywriter, a web content manager, a project administrator, and an English teacher. With each position, I remained positive and saw the sunny side to obstacles. I look forward to providing a positive outlook on the job market, meeting the needs and learning the hopes of as many STC members as possible, and facing all obstacles—sunny side up!

If you are not aware, there’s a major obstacle facing the Society for Technical Communication as a whole. The financial means are meager this year. The 2009 Tech Comm conference did not draw as many attendees as it would have liked to or needed to in order for the Society to remain in “the black.” There are fewer companies assisting members with membership dues. As a country, the jobless rate is growing faster every day. With that said, your Admin Council was asked to create a zero-based budget for the next 18 months. After very careful and diligent discussions, meetings, and planning, we have complied with Society’s request and sent in a zero-based budget. It is being reviewed and we should know shortly how our budget will affect Society as a whole. At the current time, we do not know the following:

• how much dues will increase for 2010-2011 year
• how STC-Carolina’s current monthly meeting arrangement will be affected
• how much Society will request from this chapter

Keep your heads up, Carolina. This situation is only temporary. There are still great things to come. With each member’s help, this can be the best year ever:

• volunteer for the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). This doesn’t require much time and is ideal for networking
• assist with redesigning the website (members only). Edit content on our website.
• volunteer on the Programs committee. Assist the Programs Manager in making our monthly events more focused on the needs of Technical Communicators (i.e., add your two cents here).
• volunteer with our Training Committee. What skills/tools are needed? Here’s your chance to inform all of us and assist with the committee.

To list all of the unique and helpful opportunities will take up too much space and time. Visit the STC-Carolina calendar to learn more about our monthly meetings and upcoming events.

As a student member, I learned about the essential core values of the Society for Technical Communication. As a regular member, I was guided by those same values for business networking and friendships. Now as President, I’m choosing to let the essential values, along with determination and an open-mind, make important necessary steps for our chapter’s positive future.

Bea can be reached at president at stc-carolina dot org.

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