The Oct. 16 meeting was a celebration of the Canada West Coast chapter’s 40th anniversary, complete with commemorative swag for those who attended.
40th anniversary cookies
The group represented almost every decade of the chapter’s life: people who had joined STC in the 1980s, 1990s, and the new millennium. We exchanged memories of the old days, shared recent holiday travel stories, enjoyed a delicious Italian meal, and toasted the chapter’s long history.
Networking and professional development have changed over 40 years. We’ve all noticed that people today are focused less on formal groups and associations and more on social networking. However, those who attend face-to-face meetings often confirm that they prefer to meet in person, even with the added travel time to get there. This applies to informal gatherings such as the Tech Comm Café as well as to speaker presentations, workshops, and university classes.
We also talked about the tools we use for work, learning, and research. It’s rare today to go to the library to look something up, when answers are available instantly online, though some of us remembered the pre-internet days of printed reference books and journals! Technical writing styles and products have also changed, with the focus moving from multi-volume sets of manuals to shorter quick-reference guides, online help, and writing for mobile devices. Writers also contribute to product design and usability, so less documentation is needed.
Education has changed, too. Forty years ago, technical writing programs didn’t exist in our area, though a single writing course might be included in a broader engineering or science curriculum. Today, a newcomer to our field has a choice of several degree and certificate programs at local colleges and universities, and even more online at other institutions.
We agreed that technical writers still rely on many of the same skills we used 40 years ago: tailoring information to meet the needs of the intended audience; organizing information for easy access; and writing and editing clearly, concisely, and accurately.
Last but definitely not least, we noted that networking among chapter members and the larger technical writing community has led to long-lasting friendships and work connections. Here’s to another 40 years of networking, education, and service at STC Canada West Coast. Who knows where any of us will be in 2059?
The Tech Comm Café provides networking opportunities, job leads, answers to work-related dilemmas, and a burst of professional energy to keep you motivated. We discuss technical writing tools and techniques, career planning, portfolios, and anything else related to working as a technical communicator.
We welcome anyone who’s interested in technical communication — contractor, in-house, student, long-time tech writer, STC member, non-member, career-changer, or recruiter. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
Next Meeting
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Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2019. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm Pacific Time
Location: Ebisu Japanese Restaurant, #12 – 601 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. Check their website for menu and pricing.
Ebisu is 1 block west of Cambie Street on the northwest corner of Ash Street and West Broadway. Enter from the plaza on Broadway. Broadway-City Hall Skytrain station; parking under the building or on nearby streets.
Agenda
- Introductions. Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
- Announcements and job leads. If you know of an interesting event or a job opening, or you’re looking for work, share it with the group.
- Brainstorming Q&A. Ask about a work-related problem and discuss potential solutions.
- Speed networking. Spend a few minutes with a new contact, exchange business cards, and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals.
Heather Sommerville is a senior technical writer and editor with over 20 years of experience delivering clear, concise writing for business and technical audiences. She is an STC Associate Fellow and has served in many volunteer positions with the STC Canada West Coast chapter.