We’ve reached the midterm of our current season, and with holidays fast approaching, I thought this would be a good time to review our progress to date.
- Strategic Planning: Every summer, various volunteers – members and non-members – come together to discuss what we can deliver in terms of seminars, workshops, and networking events. We discuss who we know as potential guest speakers that we can reach out to, book venues in advances, propose topics of interest, and try our best to schedule the year in advance. We had 12 volunteers turn out to help strategize and plan this year’s offerings.
- Public speaking seminar: In October, 14 people attended a Toastmasters facilitated session on the dos and don’ts of delivering presentations. We learned how to express our key points, stay focused, and be confident, even though we may be feeling otherwise at times.
- API writing seminar: In November, our community experts gave 18 attendees several pointers on how to get started with API documentation. Self-guided learning is key, and we discovered the vast resources available to us online. Practical exercises were provided so we could immediately apply what we learned.
- Tech Comm Cafes: Monthly gatherings have been ongoing in Vancouver, and now Victoria. You can read the recaps on this website.
- Scheduled collaboration meetings: Meetings have been ongoing on a near monthly basis in Vancouver, in person and online. These meetings are open to non-members and members.
What’s next for the first half of 2016? We have suggested topics for non-profit writing and an expert’s review of DITA.
In addition to the tech comm cafes and collaboration meetings, our AGM will be conducted in April. This is the perfect time to consider what you’d like to give back to the tech writing community. Perhaps it’s time to share your expertise as a guest speaker, or volunteer for secretary or treasurer. We welcome your ideas/questions and would love for you to participate.
Please take this time to enjoy the holiday season with friends and loved ones. Be safe, be kind, take a moment to pause, and except our gratitude for this community of supportive writers and volunteers.
Mala Rupnarain is the past president of the STC Canada West Coast chapter.