Newsletter of the Society for Technical Communication, San Francisco Chapter
February/March 2010

Letter From Steven Jong, Candidate for Society Secretary

Steven Jong Thanks for your consideration! I'd like to tell you a little about my background, describe the secretary's role and why I'm a good fit for it, and list what I see as the Society's issues and my ideas to help.

My Background

In 30 years as a technical communicator, I've done a little bit of everything, including editing, illustrating, and training, but mainly writing and managing. Currently I work as a documentation manager.

Outside of work I've written professional papers, magazine and newspaper articles, fiction, poetry, and a trade paperback. I've designed and delivered courses, seminars, and workshops, in the US and Europe, on technical and professional subjects. I've been a law-school instructor, a freelance proofreader for the Dummies Press, and a compositor for an academic book. Finally, I've led three other non-profit organizations (including a stint as secretary) to long-term stability.

I'm an active member of the Boston chapter. For nearly 20 years I've served the chapter competitions as a judge, lead judge, best of show judge, and judge trainer. In 2001 I was elected to Boston's administrative council. Then in 2002 I was elected second vice president, and served in automatic succession as first vice president, president, and immediate past president. During that time Boston won three chapter Awards of Distinction. I was given Boston's Landers/Carbrey Spirit of Volunteerism award in 2007. I also belong to the Northern New England chapter, the Management SIG, and the Information Design SIG.

At the Society level, I am in the final year of my term on the Board of Directors. I am the chair of the Certification Task Force. I've participated in the International Technical Publications Competitions as a judge, lead judge, and best-of-show judge. And I've presented at eight annual conferences.

The Secretary's Role

The Secretary assembles and distributes the agenda and materials before meetings, takes minutes during meetings, and distributes them to members afterwards. A secretary must be highly organized and detail oriented. But a good one also keeps the group on agenda, manages time, and reminds people of previous actions and decisions.

As a member of the Executive Committee, the Secretary has the dual role of officer and voting board member. You have to know when to take notes and when to speak up. All Board members must focus on strategy, not tactics. You can't micromanage; you have to set goals and directions for the good of the entire Society, and leave the implementation to the staff or volunteers.

Society Issues

Today, STC's biggest issue is existential: will we be around next year? We've taken huge steps to reach 2010, and I think we’ll be around in 2011. But there are still major issues to resolve, such as next year’s chapter business model. We need to rebuild our membership, and to do that we need coordinated membership drives that reach out locally to lapsed members and globally to new demographics and new areas of practice.

I also think a serious communication gap exists between the Society, chapter leaders, and members. I've seen first-hand how messages can be both miscommunicated and misinterpreted. Our relationships need repair; good communication helps, and the Secretary plays an important role.

Finally, we need for STC to set the standards in the field for everyone -- practitioners, clients, and consumers alike. I support initiatives that would raise our value to employers.

I have a three-part platform:

Speed: I want to collect and post information faster, both before Board meetings for directors and afterwards for members.
Transparency: I want to share as much information with members as we can within the legal constraints on an association.
Communication: I want to ensure that we send out a steady, clear, and consistent message on multiple channels, including our Web site, our blog, and appropriate social media. Also, I think community secretaries need the same kind of support that community presidents and treasurers get now, and I'll work to establish that standard.

Summary

I have a great deal of relevant experience, not just at the chapter and Society level but also at other non-profits. I've worked with good secretaries and bad, so I know what's important in the role. I am an excellent communicator, well organized, and process and detail oriented, which are all critical traits in a secretary. And because I've observed the exemplary work of Char James-Tanny, I already know what to do.

For more information, go to www.StevenJong.net. In March, please cast a vote for me. Thanks in advance!