Re: STC conference experience

[Barry Kieffer <barry -dot- kieffer -at- EXGATE -dot- TEK -dot- COM>]

> Darren Barefoot writes:
        <Snip>
> I'm also
> somewhat perplexed by the remarkably low price -- $150 for STC members
> registering before August 15. Is this the "poorman's conference"? Is it
> worthwhile? Thanks. DB.
>
Darren, I can not speak for every chapter, but we in the Portland, OR
chapter had a monthly program meeting, and for only $10 we were able to have
Lance Gelein give a great presentation.

We were also treated to all the desert we could eat from the fabulous
Beaverton bakery. The coffee and desert was worth $10 alone, never mind
someone the caliber of Lance Gelein.

The Portland chapter has all day HTML classes for $50; thought by respected
and experienced technical writers. This same class could easily cost $300 or
more outside the STC.

In the Portland chapter at least, if you do not invest the $100 a year for
membership, you may have more time to walk your dog or clip your toe nails,
but you loose out professionally on a really good and inexpensive
organization.

I have never seen the STC give a "poorman's conference". The STC almost
always goes first class. One of the reasons that it is so inexpensive is
that dedicated people like Dr. JoAnn Hackos, Lance Gelein, and so many
others give their time away.

Heck, I was able to attend a two day Documentation Project Management
seminar taught by Dr. Hackos for only - well I had better not say. But
either the STC picked up the tab on some of it, or Dr. Hackos gave much of
her time away for free.

Go to the conference. You have nothing to loose except the knowledge you
will gain there.

Regards,

Barry Kieffer
Senior Technical Writer
MBD Customer Documentation
Tektronix, Inc.


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