RE: The STC and me

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

Congratulations on your accomplishments Robert. However,

bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com wrote on 07/28/2004 09:52:01 AM:
> If you find that local activity in your area is not to your liking
> , then get on the board and set an example!

Nice argument, and it's used often by organisations around the world. 
Problem is, the argument is completely specious. For an organisation to 
work, it needs leaders and followers. For it to survive it must attract 
new members.

Was there room in your chapter for ten job bank coordinators? Didn't think 
so. So what choice do those that didn't like your approach have? Yes, the 
followers can get involved but they can't simply take the lead and will 
have limited influence at the local level and little to none at the 
national or international level. Followers aren't necessarily inactive. 
But, it requires leaders and structure to motivate and direct the efforts 
of the followers. It takes leadership and structure at a higher level to 
organise and direct (or more importantly support) the leaders at lower 
levels.

"Join and set an example" is a perfectly pathetic argument when 
considering those that are looking for support and guidance as technical 
communicators. For those for whom it could be relevant, well you have to 
prove to them that the effort is best expended there and that the 
organisation provides the best payback compared to the alternatives.

To be prosperous, an organisation as a whole MUST offer value to members 
and provide them with services. Otherwise, the organisation will never 
prosper or it may experience spurts as motivated members join but 
ultimately suffer a long and slow death as the motivated members are 
sucked dry and decide to leave and new members are turned off either by 
the dearth of services and activities or the work required to get them 
started.

So, to keep members the organisation must provide at least as much value 
as it demands in effort from members, to grow it must first offer services 
and value to new members that they will not find elsewhere.

I will however argue/agree that a good organisation will require more of 
its membership than simple payment of dues to stay as members in good 
standing. But the solicitation for further input or involvement has to be 
targeted and organised.

> No association is going to be perfect. No association is 
> going to meet everyone's needs. Just because one person's 
> needs weren't met doesn't mean that the entire organization
> is bad, nor does it mean that everyone else should write it
> off just because one person wasn't satisfied.

But we're not talking about one person. And, we're not talking about a 
healthy organisation that can survive indefinitely by continuing to 
operate in the same manner. Revenues and membership are declining. If 
membership and revenues were stable, your arguments would be valid. In 
that light, naysayers could be dismissed and current members could remain 
confident that the kool-aid is safe and a brilliant future awaits. ;)

The reality is that at the current pace the STC will cease to exist (zero 
or negative net worth) in little over 6 years, or sooner if spending isn't 
curtailed and membership continues to fall. Discounting outside naysayers 
will only guarantee the demise of the organisation, unless membership can 
be held steady (currently it's falling) and costs can be cut (about 10% 
across the board to break even).

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

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