This spotlight article features Ruth-Anne Klassen. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Technical Writing Certificate. She currently works as a Customer Service Associate in home improvement. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Ruth-Anne is interested in clean technology and sustainable waste management. She is an active volunteer with the STC Canada West Coast chapter.
What is your volunteer position with the STC? How long have you been a member and volunteer?
I started by volunteering for the 2021 Summit conference, then took on a role as Student Liaison for the Instructional Design & Learning (IDL) ) Special Interest Group (SIG). Right now, I volunteer as the Membership Coordinator for the Canada West Coast (CWC) chapter, and as the Secretary and Student Liaison for the IDL SIG.
Who influenced you to do technical communication, and why did you join the STC?
During my undergraduate degree, I preferred writing over lab work. I usually did better writing on specialized topics rather than expressive writing, so I thought technical writing was a great fit. After chatting with an STC staff member and learning about the career-boosting opportunities that STC offers, I decided to join STC.
Why do you volunteer?
Simply put, I signed up to volunteer when they needed help and I thought that I could offer something to the role. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get new opportunities!
What skills have you learned through volunteering and what do you get out of it?
It has been wonderful to collaborate with other great volunteers of STC. Working with them lets me get to know them faster, and I also learn new skills faster. While volunteering, I have practiced skills like teamwork, communication, and presenting. I also use tools like MailChimp, WordPress, and Excel (along with Word, being a writer!).
Has volunteering with the STC helped you personally or professionally?
Being a part of STC has improved my confidence in networking and other parts of relationship-building, and I believe these skills will aid my job search. By spending time with people in STC, I have become a better team player.
As for my current job, I work in retail customer service, where I get plenty of opportunities to practice good technical communication. For example, when I tailor my language to the knowledge level of my customers and format emails for easy reading, I can connect more easily with customers and train new employees more effectively.
How many hours per month do you commit to volunteering with the STC CWC?
For me, it’s about an hour per month. I write the monthly membership report, make sure our membership roster aligns with the email subscription list, and welcome new members. I have also been working on analytics for our membership and email subscriptions so that our chapter can more effectively communicate with members and grow the chapter.
And lastly, do you have any words of advice for someone curious about volunteering but nervous about getting involved?
If time commitment is a concern, I would say to think about what time you have each week or each month, and let the leaders know what you can do. That way, you’re on the same page with them.
If you’re more worried about the challenge or difficulty of a role, you could do something you have experience with, like Treasurer or Social Media Coordinator. But if you want to try something new, other volunteers are often willing to answer questions and help with any challenges that arise, and you’ll learn something in the process of problem-solving. Just try volunteering and see what you learn!
Ruth-Anne Klassen is a student in the Technical Writing Extension Certificate at Mount Royal University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and currently works as a retail cashier in Calgary. In her free time, she likes to go for walks, read novels, support local restaurants, and spend time with family.