Hi John, I was a member for more than 10 years - while I was a member, I complained about the pricing structure and was treated, for the most part, like garbage for daring to raise the issue. When it was finally corrected, the local Admin Council acted as if they alone had thought of the problem and solved it.
I was the first convention coordinator. In the middle of organizing the convention coordinator, I decided to pull out for a variety of reasons...I attended the second convention - again, not a word of appreciation for the efforts I'd put in. I was Acting President and tried to get STC national to recognize and do things in Israel to justify the tremendous amount of money they were taking from our membership - nothing. The complaint - you don't have a say unless you are a member doesn't work - because I was a member and had complaints and they were ignored consistently for 10 years. I gave STC enough of my money and my time. Since I stopped being a member - I believe something like 10 months ago, I have barely written and not been involved in STC at all. I attended the STC convention here to help at the MadCap table. I am very involved in the Israeli technical writing community - on a daily basis and while the STC leadership works to further STC in Israel...I work to further technical writing in Israel - organizing events in Jerusalem, staging a national conference, monitoring a list of 1700 people on a daily basis, etc. You have, unfortunately made my point. What is STC all about? STC? Or Technical Writing? The answer, sadly, is STC. Those people who are dedicated to the field first, and the organization second, work to further events and networking within the community. After 10 years, I believe it is fair for STC to change or not be called an international organization. Yes, there is some change - they finally lowered the price for Israel (with little recognition that it was absolutely unreasonable and disgusting to have charged only Israeli technical writers the American rate). Personally, I think they should have given a year of free membership to every Israeli technical writer - what would it have cost the organization? Or, put better...what have they given Israeli technical writers for the last 10 years that warrants taking $100 of the $150 dollars they collected? The answer - for 9.5 years, was literally almost nothing. In recognition for the $1000 they took, STC should have done something more than simply change the policy. I have a right to my opinion...as someone who was as inside the organization as you can get. The fact that I chose to get OUT of the organization speaks volumes. There are two ways to get people like me back in STC. POINT ONE: The first way - is to prove the value. POINT TWO: The second way - is to say we have to right to our opinion since we are on the outside (conveniently ignoring the fact that we are on the outside because STC failed miserably on Point One. Paula Paula R. Stern WritePoint Ltd. www.writepoint.com -----Original Message----- From: John Posada [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 7:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Gordon McLean'; 'Suzette Leeming'; 'TCP List' Subject: Re: [TCP] OT Vent re: STC > before I quit STC - for what I believe were very justifiable reasons > (having to do with a pathetic three-tiered structure that was > incredibly discrimminatory ...and yes, it's been fixed, but too late > for me to care; for Paula...the reason I rejoined STC after 15 years was to be able to affect change and complain about the current state. I think it is unfair of you to place hit after hit against the Society without having a stake in it. Words are cheap. Yes, you used to be a member. At that point you had a valid platform to voice your complaints. However, when you chose to not renew, you lost the platform. John Posada Senior Technical Writer "They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever. So far, so good." -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.28/1122 - Release Date: 11/10/2007 10:41 AM ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
