STC Washington DC Chapter About STC WDC Events

Society for Technical Communication

Washington, DC Chapter

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WDC Exclusives

Chapter Information

About STC WDC Events

• Knowledge University
• Locations Needed for Events
• SIG Events
• Contacts

See the full list of Calendar of Chapter Events for 2007-2008.

STC WDC hosts monthly events on topics concerning our profession from September to June.

Our events cover trends and issues in technical communication and provide professional development and networking opportunities in keeping with the STC mission to advance the theory and practice of technical communication across all user abilities and media. Recent events include:

Networking get-togethers
Expert speakers and panel discussions
Skills workshops
Educational webinars
Annual chapter technical communication competitions and awards banquets

Where

STC WDC covers the DC metropolitan area. Our members live and work throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

We host events in different areas to accommodate member preferences and venue options. Of course, we can't always be in the most convenient location for everyone, but we do choose locations based on member preferences as reported in event registration surveys.

Fees

Admission fees help offset the costs of our events. Fees may vary based on of the cost of room rental, speakers fees, refreshments, and other services.

We sometimes use a sliding fee scale that gives a discount to members, students, and chapter volunteers.

Registration

Registration is required for our events. Advance online registration enables us to plan appropriately based on attendance. Entrance to events is not guaranteed until receipt of advance payment.

Payment

Payment is due at the time of registration.

We accept payments by PayPal and check. PayPal is preferred, as it is easier for our volunteers to process. Payment instructions are included in the registration process.

For some events, we also accept cash or check payments at the door. If you plan on paying at the door, you must let us know before the event.

Cancellation and Refunds

We will refund the event cost, minus a $5.00 administration fee, for cancellations received five business days before the event. We cannot offer refunds for late cancellations or for no-shows.

Volunteering with Events

We always need volunteers to staff our events, from registering attendees, providing introductions, helping with setup and cleanup, and more. If you'd like to volunteer with events, contact the Events Committee at with the subject line: "STC WDC Events I would like to volunteer!"

We are always in need of event venues and sponsors. If your company is willing to sponsor an event by allowing us to use a conference room and audiovisual facilities, contact the Events Committee at with the subject line: "Potential Events Sponsor". We will acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors on our Web site at Corporate Sponsors Recognition page and in our event announcements.

Questions and Suggestions

As a member-run organization, we love to hear suggestions about the topics and types of events that members are interested in.

E-mail your questions and suggestions to the Events Committee at with the subject line: "STC WDC Events Feedback".

Locations Needed for Events

The speakers for the 2007-2008 events are lining up. What we need now are good locations where we can hold the monthly events. We are looking for companies willing to sponsor an event by providing a room, or food, or both. If you know of any conference rooms or classrooms that we can use, please contact the Events Committee at .

Typical attendance ranges from 30 to 90 people depending on the topic. The usual schedule is 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.—Registration, announcements, and networking; 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.—Dinner; 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.—Presentation. Also let us know about audiovisual capabilities that are available (some speakers will need to use projectors and screens), and whether food can be brought into the room or provided in a separate room from the event.

Check out our scheduled events (subject to change) and let us know if you have locations available or if you have a suggestion for a speaker, topic, or the competition awards banquet in February.

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About STC WDC Events

Monthly chapter events held from September through June feature guest speakers, tours of communication centers, and panel discussions on topics of interest to technical communicators. The Washington, DC Chapter provides a variety of event formats from informal networking and discussions to complete dinner events. Events are held in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and occasionally on the Potomac River to accommodate members throughout the area.

Send suggestions for topics, speakers, and locations to the Events Committee at .

Note: Meeting topics are subject to change without notice because of unforeseen circumstances at the discretion of the committee manager. If you have questions about this, contact the committee manager at .

Specific dates and topics are announced on this web page, in the newsletter, and in postcards. E-mail notification and reminders are also available if you subscribe to the Annc mailing list for event announcements.

Current Chapter Volunteers

Your STC chapter is able to provide excellent events in part because of its many volunteers. A chapter volunteer is a member of the Washington DC chapter who is actively providing time and talents to events held in the current chapter year. The chapter year begins on July 1 of each year and ends on June 30 of the following year.

For some events, a reduced fee is available to current chapter volunteers. To be eligible for this reduced rate, you must be someone who meets at least one condition in the following definition of current chapter volunteers:

People who arrange in advance to help organize and run the event that they attend at the volunteer rate
Active committee managers and members
Judges in the current year's competitions
Members of the current year's administrative council

We also offer a volunteer rate to fellows and associate fellows in recognition of their years of service to STC.

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Knowledge University

Knowledge University Logo

Knowledge University (KU) is STC WDC's series of high-quality, low-cost workshops designed especially for technical communicators in the Washington, DC area.

Come learn from the best local instructors on the most current topics in our field. Workshops will be held at nearby locations and at prices that won't break the bank.

Don't miss out on this exciting new opportunity!

SIG Events

Events for Washington, DC Chapter Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are also included in the Calendar of Events.

Contacts

Send Calendar of Events contributions to , or use the Event Announcement Form.

Calendar of Events • Directions Index • Archives of Past Event Calendars • Event Announcement Form
• Speakers' Handouts and Presentations

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Corporate Sponsorship • Corporate Sponsors • Previous Sponsors
Membership • Donations Wish List • Scholarships