Letter From Linda

May Board Meeting Highlights

by Linda Oestreich, Director-Sponsor, Region 5

Wow! What a conference, and what a board meeting (held on Saturday, May 17, in Dallas) to precede it! The general topics of discussion included the upcoming retirement of STC Executive Director Bill Stolgitis and the selection of Peter Herbst as his successor; realignment of the membership dues and rebate structure; chapter loans and grants; and the state of the Society in relation to the changing world we live in.

Ed See, now our immediate past president, shared his thoughts about the past year and extended his heartfelt thanks to the board for successfully navigating a tough year that included budgetary reductions, decreases in expected conference attendance, and the selection of a new executive director for the Society.

The following actions were taken at the May board meeting:

Approved the minutes from the previous two board meetings.
Approved chapter rebates: Each chapter will receive $30 per member for the first 150 members on its roster; $20 per member for each member over 150; $13.50 per student member, and $100 per sustaining member.
Approved membership dues: regular membership will be $140 per year; student membership dues will be 40% of regular membership dues; and retired membership dues will be 50% of regular membership dues, effective January 1, 2004.
Approved a loan of $3,000 to the Alberta chapter for the 2003 Region 7 Conference.
Approved the formation of a special committee to recommend to the board a means of transforming STC's operational model so that the Society can better support its many communities of practice, enable growth, and stabilize revenue. This ad hoc "transformation committee" is managed by Mary Jo Stark, STC treasurer.

In addition, the board, in executive session, selected recipients of Chapter of Distinction and Chapter Pacesetter Awards.

The following other items were discussed:

During the discussion that led to the appointment of the transformation committee, the board insisted that the foremost principle of any new approach to STC governance would be to "do no harm" to current processes and entities. Rather, the objective is to look at ways to strengthen the communities of practice within STC and explore how the Society can respond to and support those communities, including the geographical communities represented by STC chapters.
Because of the present global economy and the importance of membership growth to the Society's strength and stability, the Board discussed several tactics for increasing membership—on the Society level and by helping chapters work toward that goal locally.

If you have questions or comments about the STC board of directors or any of the items mentioned in this article, please contact me or the STC office.