From the Editor

by Rebecca Taylor, Product Marketing Analyst, Hewlett-Packard Company

The 50th Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication is coming up fast! This year's event in Dallas promises to be the best conference yet.

Before you arrive at the conference, you can search all of the available sessions on the conference web site at www.stc.org/50thConf/index.asp. However, I have compiled a partial list of STC Houston presenters so that you can look for your peers at the podiums.

If you're a presenter and we didn't get you on this list, please let us know at newsletter@stc-houston.org. We'll keep this list updated on the chapter web site (www.stc-houston.org).

I hope to see many of you in Big D! Here are some of the STC Houston presenters and their topics:

Single-Sourcing with Word and Transit

Sylvia Emanuel and Paul Mueller

This demonstration presents a solution to single-sourcing that uses Microsoft Word and HTML Transit for print and HTML deliveries.

Using Automation to Increase Document Accuracy

Gary Cordrey and Wayne Schmadeka

This session explains and demonstrates the adaptation of scripted automation technology to the documentation of technically complex software, thereby

• reducing requirements for documentation resource
• increasing documentation accuracy

Technical and Professional Communication in China

Melanie G. Flanders, Carol A. Hidinger, Nancy G. House

This progression shares the experiences of 11 technical communicators who visited China in 2002 and met with their Chinese counterparts. This was the first meeting of Westerners with the Society of Chinese Technical Communication.

Demonstrating the Financial Value of Technical Communication

George Slaughter

After a brief review of the literature about measuring value, this panel will describe a practical approach for demonstrating financial value and present two case studies of this approach.

Sentence Diagrams: Schematics for Correct Sentences

Ann Jennings

Learn traditional sentence diagramming in this workshop, and perk up your writing and editing skills.

Return of the Mystery Panel

Ann Jennings

This demonstration takes a lighthearted look at the sometimes tenuous link between the mystery novel and technical communication.

Using JavaScript So Writers Can Write

Paul Mueller

Writers can quickly create autoruns and product reviews without writing JavaScript. These methods also apply to embedded help. This demonstration shows how to use JavaScript to set up standard layouts and variables.

Professional Development through Technical Communication Programs

Christiana Birchak

This panel discussion focuses on how today's technical communication programs help advance one's career, current knowledge, and skill sets.

Grow Your Practice by Managing Business Relationships

Ryan Bernard, Melanie G. Flanders, Rob Moschak, and Nicole Wycislo

Learn some of the basic issues surrounding business relationships from this experienced panel, including planning (estimating and bidding), formalizing project-based contractual relationships, and exploring more permanent partnership arrangements.