August/September 2003

Volume 44, Number 1

Ennui go!

by Frank Tagader, Rocky Mountain Chapter President

Another year is underway and there is excitement with what promises to be a great year within our chapter. But the excitement is tempered by many of our members still being unemployed or underemployed. The outlook is brighter, but there is still a palpable darkness within our professional ranks.

Is there a way to combat this creeping malaise? Sure, by recognizing and addressing it—maybe not by trying to slay all those dragons, but by looking at the little steps we can take as individuals, members of this society, and technical communicators to better ourselves, help each other, and enhance the profession.

The last time I was president of the chapter, we were in a growing economy and the profession was growing with the times and the technology. Now after a few years of a down economy we find our ranks diminishing (not only within the chapter but within the society itself) and some of the compatriots we used to find at chapter meetings moving on by relocation or by change in profession—or by giving in to a sort of ennui that means they no longer want to be involved in the chapter or in bettering the profession.

It's sometimes tough to be positive and upbeat when things look grim. But, there are plenty of examples of people moving forward despite the hurdles. We as a chapter can help. Last year we offered a free seminar on ways to make you more marketable, to look at alternatives, and to get yourself into a better place mentally and emotionally. Our final program of the year, which was combined with the celebration of our annual competition winners, presented John Hedtke's views on how to make it "rain" on yourself despite its being a "drought." I see evidence of our members continuing to grow their skill sets even when they are faced with not having a job. Some are rising to the top. And those who take chances on getting more training, doing more reading, learning more tools, and trying out new challenges will be the ones with the most options in the future.

Technical communicators will continue to be a vital part of progressive organizations. The chapter's publicity committee has recently updated the "Why You Need a Technical Communicator" brochure aimed at businesses. It list some of the many reasons an organization would benefit from hiring a technical communicator, the roles a technical communicator can take on, and how to find this treasure trove of talent (namely, through our chapter and society). Not only should this be used by businesses to look at how a technical communicator can benefit them, but our own membership should review this just as a reminder of the skills they can bring to the table. Positive reinforcement is always a good thing for the soul and the psyche. Pick up a few brochures at the next chapter meeting, read through it, and pass them on to employers, customers, or other technical communicators who could benefit from the information.

The chapter and society have seen a decline in membership in recent years, which means a decline in the money we bring in from dues. Additionally, the society has chosen to change the structure of our dues rebate. Chapters get a yearly rebate from the dues each member pays. Larger chapters now receive a smaller rebate for each member over 180. For some chapters this may mean financial hardship. Luckily, the Rocky Mountain Chapter has had a sound fiscal policy for many years. We are not hurting for funds, but we may be forced to charge more for some of our services, the first being our monthly chapter meetings.

Over the last few years, the chapter has counted on the largesse of corporations and colleges to provide us with facilities. We've also cut back on what we've provided in terms of refreshments, favoring more packaged food over catered meals. This year, we're looking at making a change. We're probably going to settle on a single meeting location, which we will pay to use, and have catered refreshments, freeing up our program managers to concentrate on programs rather than on shopping for food. Thus, we will need to charge more for meetings. The RMC has traditionally been one of the most inexpensive chapters in terms of cost per meeting. We are also well below the average cost per meeting of other professional organizations in the area. We're hoping that this change will not make a serious dent in our members' wallets, but we'd also like to strive to make our meetings more professional and more of a draw. It's a tough nut to crack: we've been criticized for charging $5 for meetings that include food, a presentation, special interest group presentations, and the chance to network with others. We may see a negative backlash for raising our prices significantly. But, to my mind, membership and involvement in a professional society are investments that can pay off.

The annual dues and the costs of seminars and meetings have to be viewed in terms of the payoff. It may not always be directly remunerative. There is a lot of personal satisfaction that comes with being closely involved with an organization such as ours. Yes, you may find a fantastic job through STC, but you might also make a lifelong friend, help someone new to the profession or in transition, or guide a student in making a satisfactory career choice. It's what you put into it that makes the difference.

My main goals for the chapter this year are to consider ways to improve efficiency, to look for process improvements across the board, and to reach out to more of our members.

As the months progress, I'll outline more of these programs in this column and in my monthly email message to the membership.

I can't say I have the answers for making your life better as a technical communicator, but I encourage you to look beyond your immediate circumstances and see that there are possibilities for change and growth in your own lives, and ways you can make a difference in others' lives.