Q&A: STC's New Dues Structure
At its August 2007 meeting, the STC Board of Directors voted to change the Society dues structure. The STC office has put together the following Q&A to help explain the changes. If you have questions, please contact Lloyd Tucker.
How much are my dues increasing?
Short answer: It depends on where you're located and what membership category you choose. Most (about 75%) of STC members will see an increase of $25. Others will see more or less, depending on their circumstances.
Long answer: The easiest way to compute your dues increase is to use the chart below to determine your 2008 dues, and subtract what you paid for 2007.
| This category | Includes these components | For this rate (Tier One) | For this rate (Tier Two) | For this rate (Tier Three) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Classic Membership |
Printed & online publications Choice of one of the following:
|
$175 Canadian members add extra postage of $15. Other non-Canadian, non- U.S. countries in Tier1 add extra postage of $35. |
$140 + extra cost of postage ($35) |
$100 + extra cost of postage ($35) |
E-Membership |
Online publications Choice of one of the following:
|
$165 |
$130 |
$90 |
Student Membership |
Online publications, one student chapter, one regular chapter & up to three SIGs |
$60 |
$55 |
$50 |
Retired Membership |
Online publications, one regular chapter & up to three SIGs |
$75 |
$70 |
$65 |
Super SIG Package |
Printed & online publications, one chapter, & all SIGS |
$300 |
$300 |
$300 |
Tier 1: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
Tier 2: Bermuda, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Taiwan, Russia, and UAE. Also: Eastern European countries (EU).
Tier 3: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Also: Other African states, Eastern European countries (non-EU), ex-USSR countries, and other South American countries.
Don't forget that if 2007 was your first year as an STC member and you joined mid-year, you will receive credit toward your 2008 dues. Look for details when the STC office sends out renewal notices.
Can I join extra chapters and SIGs? If so, how much will it cost?
Extra chapters are $25 each. Extra SIGs are $10 each. This is the same regardless of your membership category or tier.
What is the Super SIG Membership Package for 2008?
The STC Board of Directors has instituted a one-year pilot program wherein any STC member can pay $300 for a one-year membership in STC that includes membership in all 21 SIGs, membership in one chapter, and printed versions of Intercom and Technical Communication. The $300 also includes postage for members outside of the U.S. Details will be posted soon on the STC Web site.
Why are my dues increasing?
Two reasons: The rising costs of running a non-profit organization, and the new services and benefits STC is creating for its members.
The costs of operating a non-profit organization have gone up. The reasons include the effects of inflation, rising health care costs, rising costs of printing, and many other factors. Even if STC were standing still, doing the same thing year after year, we would have to raise dues to continue operating.
However, STC is not standing still. The past year has been one of laying the groundwork for new and innovative services and benefits of the type that our members demand. Examples include:
Improved financial support for STC chapters. Under the new chapter funding model approved by the Board in August, STC chapters will get more money per member than before. This empowers local STC leaders to provide improved programs and services.
Improved staff support for STC communities. Chapters and SIGs look to the Leadership Community Resource (LCR) for help and guidance. Recently, the STC office added a staff position to provide support to communities both by assisting the LCR in its work and by working directly with community leaders. More than ever, STC chapter presidents, SIG managers, and student chapter advisors have someplace to turn to for help!
The STC office recently relaunched its e-mail newsletter, News & Notes, expanding it to include industry newsbriefs on topics of interest to technical communicators.
STC has hired economist Rick O’Sullivan to produce a comprehensive salary database for technical writers based on data gathered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). More wide ranging and statistically valid than STC’s old salary survey (1.25 million business establishments are surveyed), the new salary database will, for the first time, provide STC members with salary data according to industry as well as geography.
STC is working to influence the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to replace the outdated definition of technical writer in the Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC) with a new definition for technical communicator. The SOC definitions are used in the BLS salary survey that is sent to 1.25 million business establishments. The BLS also governs what is published in the Occupational Handbook, the prime reference source for career counselors, educators, and guidance counselors nationwide. If the SOC definition changes, so will the labor market measures and the advice that the DOL gives job seekers. If successful, STC’s efforts will raise the stature of the profession significantly.
STC’s efforts with the DOL (as described above) are attracting the attention of technical communicators in the U.K. They want to influence the British government in a similar way, and look to STC’s efforts as a blueprint. In this sense, STC is setting a course for the profession both within and outside the U.S.
STC has invested in upgrades to the technology that supports the day-to-day work of running a non-profit association. While not a direct new benefit to members, these upgrades will allow the STC office staff to provide improved services that will result in increased member satisfaction. In short, we’ve given the STC office staff the tools they need to do their jobs more effectively.
What does STC do with member dues?
STC works to deliver the best possible services and benefits to its members. Therefore, it spends the money it receives on things that are necessary to reach this goal. Publications require editing, design, and printing. Conferences require advertising and meeting room rentals. live Web seminars require an IT infrastructure. Just keeping a non-profit organization running requires a staff, which means salaries and office space rental.
Because this is a question STC members are naturally interested in, the STC staff is putting together an article titled "Where do my STC dues go?" This will provide more detail on STC finances--look for it on the STC Web site soon.
Can't you lower my dues instead of raising them?
Unfortunately, no. Even if STC were not creating new services and benefits for its members, the increased costs of doing business would require a dues increase. The fact is that STC dues have not kept up with the increase in costs.
Currently, STC spends about $300 per member. If STC was 100% dues dependent, each member would need to pay $300 in dues. However, STC has other sources of revenues: conference registration, exhibits, sponsorships, advertising, royalties, and interest from investments. These other sources bring the costs down to about $150 per member; therefore, STC needs $150 to cover the rest of the costs. The new dues structure packages membership in STC with membership in STC communities, bringing the prices to what you see in the table above.
If I renew now, can I get the old renewal rate?
Unfortunately, STC cannot afford to offer renewal at the old rates for the reasons cited above. The renewal page of the STC Web site is currently disabled; it will go live with the new rates in October.
