From the Editor

New Year, New Society

by Rebecca Taylor, Product Marketing Manager, Hewlett-Packard

During this time of the year, it's normal for plans and dreams; where we've been and where we're going. Well, it's not different for STC. The Society has recognized that our profession is changing rapidly to keep up with the world around it. Now, the Society has decided it's time for STC to change to keep up with its members. The Transformation Team web site says, "We realize that transformation is not really `new' to our profession, because we've been evolving for the last 50 years, but everyone knows that for our profession to survive and for STC to provide the best value as a professional organization, we must constantly strive to improve."

Society Changes

The STC Transformation Team (www.stc.org/transformation.asp) is helping to build a model to guide the Society into the future. This team of 20 dedicated STC members is actively seeking for ways to make STC what you need it to be.

Just as the Society has changed, so has STC Houston. Only two years ago, our chapter community was shocked by the collapse of Enron. Even now many of our writers' careers are changing as more IT jobs are moving overseas. But not all change is bad: UH-Downtown has just announced a Master's program in professional writing and technical communication, providing the area's first graduate-level degree in the field of technical communication.

Our STC Houston community has survived these changes, and will survive many more. But we don't want to just survive—we want to thrive.

Speak Out

To do this, the chapter leaders need your help. Our chapter leaders know many of you personally and professionally, but they're not psychic!

In my two-and-a-half years as newsletter editor, I have received perhaps a dozen notes about Dateline Houston from our members. Dateline Houston is an integral part of your membership benefit, so it's vital that our newsletter meet your needs. It's hard to know we're meeting your needs if you don't tell us.

And this doesn't just apply to the newsletter. As times change, so do your needs. STC Houston chapter leaders want to know what we're doing wrong. What are we doing right? What kind of programs do you want? What do you expect from your membership? Without your input, STC Houston will never be what you need it to be.

So let us know what we can do for you. Go to our STC@50 forum (forum.stc-houston.org/viewforum.php?f=18) to provide suggestions. Or, you can contact any of our chapter leaders directly (www.stc-houston.org/leadership.html).