John wrote: Anyone is entitled to not renew. My issue is when you resign, you are saying you want nothing to do with the association. To criticize but not be a part of it working toward change leaves all the complaining (which is disruptive) and no way to work toward fixing the problem. And my response: No, that's your opinion that someone resigns because they want nothing to do with the organization. I agonized over my decision more than you can imagine and for months thought about undoing it and renewing. I think you have to be realistic in all things. After 10 years, the reality for me was that no matter what I would have put into STC, I would never justify to myself the efforts and sacrifice professionally, socially, and in my family. It wasn't worth the time I put in...and now, having continued to be very active in the community without those three letters on my resume (actually, I never bothered putting them on anyway because I don't see what they gain...after all, being a member of STC has nothing to do with the quality of your work - only your willingness to write a check), I see I don't need STC. The fact that STC doesn't need me pleases me tremendously. I have never tried to hurt the organization. I believe that if it were run correctly, with the focus on the profession and not the organization, it would better for all. The problem with your arguments is that you state an opinion, declare it fact, and then criticize us for not following the "law" as you state it. It is YOUR opinion that you should only criticize it from the inside. And no, I didn't ask for any recognition that I was a driving factor in getting the tiered system changed in Israel...but I did think it kind of ironic that the Admin Council jumped to take credit for it after maintaining radio silence for most of the debate. Their argument was that they were trying to change it from the inside. Ok, fine...but personally, having spoken to several people high up in STC...I do believe that my efforts were an important impetus...again, do I expect a metal or my picture on the halls of STC fame...no, because again, that would mean I rated my worth as a technical writer by my standing in STC...and I don't. The absolute best technical writers I know...are no longer STC members because they, like me, found that membership didn't afford them any increased recognition, any new knowledge, any doors to networking with others that weren't already open to them. In Israel, the Israeli technical writers list, Techshoret, has more than 1700 members. STC membership in Israel, I believe, is probably somewhere around 100 (let's say it's 170...which as far as I know, it never has been) - that's still only 10% of the Techshoret list...and remember, we live in a tiny country the size of New Jersey. What's important here - above all else, is our incredible sense of community - we saw that last summer when Israel was at war; we saw it during the first convention when STC's leadership was too scared to come here...and so we made our first convention dedicated...to ourselves. We billed it the convention "in Israel, by Israel, from Israel, for Israel) and it was amazing. STC annually takes in over $10,000 from this community (and gives back about $2,000)...for what? What could that $8,000 do here and what do we (Israeli technical writers) get for the fact that this money remains in the US...where most activities and interest and attention is too far away to matter? When I have an answer to THAT question... ______________________________________________
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