Finally, any message for people to seek support for your candidacy?

STC is only as strong as the people who participate and work to advance our profession. On average, less than 20% of the members bother to vote in this election each year. Why is that? If YOU don't bother to participate, who will? If YOU don't advocate for your professional development, who will?

The Board is the primary strategic force in STC. If someone doesn't like the way the organization is going, why aren't they doing something about it--voting in the election is a start. Running for office, volunteering, mentoring others are even better ways to make change. Be a problem solver.

I would like to see 100% of the membership vote in the election.

As Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see."

I would like to serve the Society as the Vice President and I am asking for your vote. I am grateful for all that STC has provided to help me throughout my career, and now I would like to lend my leadership and business experience to help STC continue to serve our industry and shape future leaders. I believe STC is an important part of a thriving technical communication profession.

STC should be the organization known for helping everyone design, develop, and deliver quality content. To advance our profession, I believe STC needs to continue focusing on several areas:

• Provide events and opportunities for technical communicators to share ideas and knowledge with each other. Through the discussion and debate of our ideas, we can discover new approaches and solutions.
• Provide continuing education in various forms to support members of our profession.
• Provide recognition for industry leaders and promote the value of our profession. Getting our message out can be a difficult task. I would like to see us try to form a stronger relationship with companies through our continuing education offerings, and use those avenues to communicate the value of both STC and technical communication.
• Continue to build strong relationships and partnerships with other groups in related areas.

My STC experience will help me understand the way we have done things in the past as we identify ways to support our communities, members, and industry for the future. Several recent elections were decided by fewer than 5 votes. Your vote is important in selecting the leaders who will help shape the future direction of our professional organization, and I would like to encourage each and every STC member to vote. Voting in the 2013 Society for Technical Communication (STC) election ends March 22 at 5 pm ET (10.00 GMT).