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Chapter Elections
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Linda Gallagher Elected Vice Presidentby Frank Tagader Linda Gallagher steps into the role of STC RMC vice president for 1999-2000 after being elected to the position by the chapter’s administrative council at the close of last year. Linda replaces Larry Prado, who was elected president by the administrative council after the resignation of incoming president Ben Johnson. Linda brings a wide range of experience to her new post. Prior to joining the Rocky Mountain Chapter and relocating to Denver, she was a member of the St. Louis Chapter and served as secretary treasurer and vice president–membership there. Coincidentally, it was during her initial forays into the Denver job market and the local chapter that she first encountered Larry Prado. Later, they ended up both doing contract work for Cobe Laboratories, without realizing that they had spoken earlier on the phone. Now, the pair helm the chapter for the coming year. Since transferring to the Rocky Mountain chapter, she has served on the nominating committee and managed the Contracting and Independent Consulting (CIC) Special Interest Group (SIG). Linda recently resigned from the CIC SIG position to take on the duties of the vice president’s office, and Lolita Mannik has stepped in to take over the CIC position. Linda is excited about the future of the Rocky Mountain chapter and is glad to be part of that future. "I want to hear from members about how we can serve them better, so please send me e-mail lindag@techcomplus.com and tell me your ideas." "I’ve been active in STC chapters since I first joined nearly six years ago. I’ve learned a great deal in serving the St. Louis Chapter and this one during that time. I also worked as a manager and supervisor for many years. That experience taught me a lot about working with people. Leading an STC chapter takes management and leadership skills that I believe I’ve acquired in the course of my working life and my STC experience. I know how valuable STC has been for me, and I want all chapter members to feel the same way." Linda believes the biggest challenge we all face is constant change. "Change in technology, change in work environments, change in expectations about good technical writing, change in the tools we use, in short, change everywhere around us. As a professional association, we have to keep up with all these changes and know what is most important and useful to our members." Over the five-plus years that Linda’s been involved in the CIC SIG, she states that she has enjoyed helping people and sharing what she knows with those new to contracting and those just considering going independent. Through her efforts she has met with many chapter members and has helped a great deal of them with planning and development. "I also wanted to address some of the criticism I heard about the SIG, that is, that it really only catered to the ‘newbies.’ That’s what prompted me to hold separate CIC SIG meetings that focused on specific issues: Contracts, marketing, insurance. I enjoyed the experience and know that Lolita Mannik will do a great job with the SIG this year." Linda speaks with pride on organizing these meetings. "They were a new approach to CIC SIG issues. The people who attended the meetings really appreciated them and that made me feel that I had done my job." Those separate "issues" meetings, along with the freelance FAQ site on the stcrmc.org Web site are among her proudest achievements, but Linda is quick to point out that the FAQ was not her idea. "It was born out of the need to put information into a single place, accessible to all. Mary Headley (my CIC SIG predecessor) and Laurie Lamar thought the FAQ would be a good way to do that." Speaking from her experience as an independent contractor, Linda thinks that STC is invaluable for independents. "Independents usually don’t have other writers just down the hall or in another part of the company to consult when they have a question. When I need assistance, I turn to my fellow STC members, as anyone on our e-mail list knows. I post questions about all kinds of issues and I get great input." In addition she says that she learns a great deal by attending meetings, workshops, and conferences sponsored by STC. "I count on STC to help me stay abreast of what is going on in our profession. Without [the STC], I’d be on my own and that would very difficult. I learn something from every event I attend and everyone I meet through STC." Comments?
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