Publications > Dateline Houston > October 2002 > From the Director

Volume 42, Issue 2

October 2002

From the Director of Programs
or You Want me to Be Director of What?

by Cindy Pao, Information Developer, BMC Software, Inc.

The call from Jim Hunt came a few months ago. “We'd really like you to run for the Administrative Council. Please, Cindy. Don’t say no. Think about it for a day or two.” What do you do?

But then came George’s vision. He’d like me to be the Director of Programs as part of the Administrative Council. The Director of What?

I did my research on the STC Houston web site. I found the job descriptions for the Director of Programs and for all the managers and committees under the Director of Programs. Then I thought to myself, “This is going to take a lot of help and a good committee. Having a committee is the only way I can do this.” I accepted.

After the Administrative Council members all officially took our positions, I started planning. I sent an email message to the chapter listserv and asked for volunteers to come to a meeting. I had eleven people RSVP and thought I was off to a good start. When all eleven came to the meeting, I saw we had seasoned veterans, newcomers to the chapter, and newcomers to the field of technical communication. I knew then that I was off to a really good start.

Through two Programs Committee meetings, we developed a schedule of the meeting topics for each month of the program year, eight of them in all. We brainstormed possible speakers, and then we all set out to book those speakers. We also agreed that we wanted to make some things about the chapter meetings a priority. We want newcomers to the chapter and guests to feel welcome, so we got a little free gift for those folks. We want the members of the Administrative Council to be visible to all, so we got them special nametags. We wanted everyone to get to know new people, so we had assigned seating at the September meeting. We wanted to make it easy to socialize, so we got round tables. I think I’ll keep those.

I have a great group of people working for you on programs this year. They are: Jessica Dickerson and Danell Landes at the registration table; Doris Beetem, Lori Buffum, Melanie Flanders, Erika Frensley, Margaret Gorham, Jim Hunt, Robert Nagle, George Slaughter, Gem Smith, Monica Waddell, and John Young on the Programs Committee; John Turner managing STKs; Nicole Wycislo managing Seminars; Kim Shaw and Vince Yokom managing the CIC SIG; and Catherine Clark managing Arrangements. Thanks, everyone! I couldn’t do it without you!

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to join us, send me an e-mail message at cindypao@earthlink.net.