TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
"Le Vie, DonaldX S" wrote:
>
> That's great, Bruce and I congratulate you on your success, but I don't see
> any statistical correlation to not being a member and still having a very
> successful business...I think your success is independent of any affiliation
> or non-affiliation with STC ...
This is exactly my point. What you say is true not only for me, but
also for those who attribute their success to the STC. I think
they're selling themselves short.
> To be honest with you and others on the list, I'm involved with the STC
> because I want to give back to the profession. Heck, after 22 years'
> experience in a variety of technologies and technical communications, I'm
> finding I give to the STC more than I receive from it. I contribute several
> (3 or 4) articles a year to InterCom Magazine, and I present each year at
> the annual conference (this year I had 5 presentations; next year, 3).
> And...
While I applaude your spirit, for me there are more important causes
than helping professionals. They can help themselves. Lots of other
groups in society can't.
Also, self-perpetuation is inevitably a major part of any large
group's activity. If you (and this is a plural "you," let me stress,
not any individual) become heavily involved in a group, you risk
frittering your time away on the trivialities of self-perpetuation.
If you're not careful, the group makes you much less than you can
be.
> Me thinks that if you had maintained your membership, maybe your income
> would have increased by 165% ;)
Serendipity! I've already replied to this comment by my choice of
tag-lines.
> But don't take any consulting gigs that involve statistics..=:O
I catch the joke, but, unfortunately, you didn't catch my point: the
STC is irrelevant to success or lack of it.
--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
Contributing Editor, Maximum Linux
604.421.7189 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
'And do you mean to say that you've built up this important business
and amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able
to read or write? Good God, man, what would you be now if you had
been able to?'
"'I can tell you that, sir,' said Mr. Foreman, a little smile on his
still aristocratic features. 'I'd be verger of St. Peter's, Neville
Square.'"
- Somerset Maugham, "The Verger"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Take XML and Tech Writing courses online! Our instructor-led courses
(4-6 hrs/wk) give you "hands on" experience at your convenience. STC members
get 20% off! http://www.online-learning.com/index.html.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
