This May in Atlanta, GA, STC will host one of the largest gatherings of technical communicators as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. More than 80 education and networking sessions will be presented from Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon, 5-8 May, kicked off by keynote speaker David Pogue’s talk on 5 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.
Education sessions cover a wide variety of topics and are organized into seven tracks: Content Development and Delivery; Content Strategy and Design; Education and Training; People, Projects, and Business Management; Professional Development; User Experience and Usability; and Web Design and Development. The website 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," stated 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 education on demand—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 $169 for a single or double and $179 for a triple or quad. And the Advance rate for conference registration for members is $275 less than nonmembers (which would even cover the cost of your Classic membership dues).
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.
Conference Overview
- 60th anniversary celebration
- Conference begins Sunday evening with a talk by keynote speaker David Pogue and reception in Expo Hall
- More than 80 sessions, organized by seven tracks
- Registration includes two receptions, plus morning and afternoon refreshment breaks
- Captured content (SUMMIT@aClick) included in registration fee
- Job Bank in Expo Hall
- Top exhibitors, snack breaks, and vendor showcases
- Preconference events include certificate sessions and tutorial sessions (optional fee required)
Members looking for work will find a fertile field at the 2013 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 Hall offers a lot to attendees as well. Over four 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 2013 Technical Communication Summit online at http://summit.stc.org, and reap all the benefits.
