This May in Rosemont, IL, STC will host one of the largest gatherings of technical communicators as it has done annually 58 times before. More than 80 education and networking sessions will be presented from Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon, 20–23 May, kicked off by keynote speaker Scott Berkun’s talk on 20 May. Top practitioners, academe, consultants, and researchers in the field of technical communication will present new material on cutting-edge technology, trends, and issues, mixed in with the staples of solid communication techniques and topic areas. And once again, STC has solved the dilemma of wanting to be in two places at once to benefit from all of the quality presentations.
STC’s conference website (http://summit.stc.org) allows members to directly access information about the education sessions from a database that is updated regularly. Education sessions cover a wide variety of topics and are organized into 10 tracks: Content Delivery; Content Development; Content Strategy and Design; Education and Training; People, Project, and Business Management; Professional Development; Social Media; User Experience & Accessibility; Visual Design; and Web Design & Development. The database also contains details on the content of preconference workshops and certificate sessions.
Deciding which session to attend has been a perennial problem at other conferences—but not for the Summit. STC will capture the content (audio and visuals) of almost every session and make it available to attendees at no additional cost. This increases the value of the attendee’s experience enormously. After the conference, STC will sync the audio with the presentations and make it available for attendees within roughly six to eight weeks. The resulting product is called SUMMIT@aClick and will allow attendees to reap the benefits of almost every session at their convenience. STC’s Summit is the only meeting in the technical communication field that offers this added bonus.
“The ability to ‘attend’ the sessions you missed is invaluable,” claims Lloyd Tucker, STC’s Deputy Executive Director. “While we are thinking now of just the upcoming conference, this capture program will continue to be more valuable to both practioners and academics as we add successive years of conference programs.” So not only will participants be able to “attend” sessions after the fact, Tucker explains, but they also can use their SUMMIT@aClick access for research and “just in time” training—for themselves and for others in their company.
All of these education sessions and SUMMIT@aClick bring greater value to conference attendees. STC continues to work hard to keep attendees’ costs down, including lower hotel expenses. The conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency, has a rate of $199 for a single or $209 for a double. And the Advance rate for conference registration for members is $270 less than it costs for nonmembers (a price that would cover the cost of your Basic membership dues). Finally, STC has lined up extra discounts on airfare for attendees.
To assist those who must request funding from their employer to register and attend the conference, STC has created a sample memo that can be used to emphasize the necessity and benefit of attending the Technical Communication Summit. See the “Program Info” tab on http://summit.stc.org
Members looking for work will find a fertile field at the 2012 Technical Communication Summit, too! With myriad resources onsite, education sessions, and the advantages of networking among the best and brightest of technical communicators, the annual conference is the best place for job hunters to be—there are job postings onsite, numerous opportunities for networking, updates on industry trends, new software announcements, and everything needed to stay ahead of the game. And the Consultants’ Corner returns to the exhibit hall this year, allowing consultants to purchase their own space on the floor and network with attendees. See the “Exhibit” tab on http://summit.stc.org.
The Expo offers a lot to attendees as well. Over two dozen exhibitors will be present to showcase the latest and greatest in the technical communication field.
Savvy technical communicators know that STC is their professional home and that the annual conference is the best resource to advance their career. Register for the 2012 Technical Communication Summit online at http://summit.stc.organd reap all the benefits.
Conference Overview
The Summit begins Sunday evening with a talk by keynote speaker Scott Berkun and a reception in the Expo.
- More than 80 sessions, organized by 10 tracks
- Two receptions, plus morning and afternoon refreshment breaks
- Captured content (SUMMIT@aClick) included in registration fee
- Job Bank in Expo Hall
- Top exhibitors, coffee breaks, and vendor showcases
- Preconference events include certificate sessions and tutorial sessions (optional fee required)
