Project Notes: April 2, 2010

Yesterday I had computer issues, but today I’ve got project notes. Here’s what I’m working on:

UUX Site Redesign

One of STC’s special interest groups (SIGs), the Usability and User Experience SIG, has a team working on the web site. Currently, the site is not updated very often, which is probably one reason why it doesn’t come up in a lot of usability searches. It’s got some great templates and scripts, though, and be on the lookout for more current resources there. In the meantime, take this survey to let us know what you want.

My Sister’s Wedding Ceremony

My sister is having a destination at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado, and I am officiating. She and her fiancé have picked their vows, but it’s up to me to come up with the rest of the inspiration, with their approval. We’ve picked a couple possible readings for me to weave in to my pre-vows talk. I’m essentially writing a speech, which I haven’t done in a while. I need to send them a draft this weekend.

Chapterly Happenings

There are several projects going for the Suncoast Chapter right now, and, happily, I am not technically in charge of any of them. It’s so nice to share the kitchen with other cooks.

STC Associate Fellow Steve Coscone is about to send me our list of candidates for the chapter officer election. We have candidates! So much more exciting than last year.

Member Berry Anderson and Chapter President Michael Pleasant are working on the awards banquet for FTCC. I just had to order the food and arrange for pretty tablecloths.

Gina Fevrier is going to help maintain the chapter web site. You can’t see me but I’m jumping up and down right now. One, because I get to work with Gina and two, because our site is going to improve. It needs some serious TLC.

Lastly, we’re having Rahel Bailie come for a workshop about online branding. And I’m not in charge of promoting it; USF Tech Comm student Ryan Seay is. Hi, Ryan.

Steve Cascone pointed out that we’re starting to look rather chapterly, and I have to agree.

A Wish and a Spreadsheet – Chapter Planning

I haven’t written here much about being involved in STC (Society for Technical Communication). I am Vice President for the Suncoast chapter, which you might know if you follow me on Twitter or know me in real life.

For most of my tenure, what that has meant is that I put together the programs and jump in on most of the email discussions. Those things are essential, but I’m starting to get a larger vision of what it means to be a chapter officer.

Associate Fellow Steve Cascone is working right now on getting nominations for 2010-11 officers. He will look for potential presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, secretaries, and program coordinators. It’s fun to write those in plural form. This past year we had only a president, vice president, and “interim” treasurer (he was a very good sport).

I had a phone discussion with Steve on Saturday about who in the chapter might be interested in serving, and who we really hope is interested. Some people are obvious candidates, but have been burned out in the past and might enjoy regular old membership for a while.

Some members have already been presidents, vice presidents, and have served at the Society level. They act as advisers now (and run nominations committees). This is a chance to involve people who haven’t been involved before.

As for my new vision, I’d like for there to be a way for other people’s visions to get included. Our meetings are jam packed with announcements and presentations. Our planning meeting last year was a bit of a disorganized bust—this year I’ll take notes in real time using a projector and put them right up on our site (See the second tip in this article on meeting facilitation. Hooray for projectors). And have some method for rolling them into chapter plans in a measurable way.

I think another way for people’s personal goals for the chapter—for their needs to be met—is by making it easy for them to participate. I’ve been asked to break the chapter volunteer needs into discrete tasks that members can do without signing on for official roles, such as treasurer. So I have posted some tasks, by category, as Google docs. I’ll bring hard copies to our meetings, too, so people can sign up. These volunteer lists can be one way to get our plans tied to next actions.

I think there is still a place for officers, though, if we can get them. That structure works well for overall planning, and for having someone to bounce ideas off of, and for leading the efforts of the volunteers. Please, please let us get some officers this year. Please.