As you hopefully know already, registration for STC's 2010 Summit is open! With the “Really Early Bird” rate of $695 (that's $300 lower than the regular rate and $500 lower than the walk-in rate) and tons of great learning, networking, and career opportunites available, it's no wonder that registrations started coming in right away.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger recently sat down with the very first registrant (if you consider being seated at different computers in different parts of the world “sat down with,” that is) and conducted a brief interview about Summit and just why she was so eager to jump on board. Her answers are below.
Name?
Kristy Lantz Astry
Company and title?
Senior Technical Writer for McKesson Provider Technologies
How long have you been an STC member?
For 15 consecutive years, and about 2 years before 1995.
What first prompted you to join STC?
I was new to the technical writing field and was learning on the job. I was introduced to STC through a colleague, and I attended several local chapter (STC Rocky Mountain Chapter) meetings. I wanted to learn new skills and network with peers and mentors, and I saw how the Society could benefit my career.
How many conferences have you attended in the past?
Four: Toronto 1997, Chicago 2001, Seattle 2005, Minneapolis 2007.
What’s your motivation for attending the 2010 Summit?
I'm the incoming president for the STC Rocky Mountain Chapter, so I'm eager to participate in Leadership Day. Plus, I look forward to attending great sessions and seeing what products vendors have to offer. I also hope to meet up with folks I've met at past conferences and make new friends.
What made you register so early? Pricing, level of interest, just to get it out of the way, or something else?
Great early bird pricing.
And finally, what are you looking forward to most at Summit?
Leadership Day, because I want to increase my leadership skills and bring back great ideas to benefit my chapter in 2010.
Well done, Kristy! You’re correct; conferences are a great place to learn from the best and brightest in our field. Also, it’s the perfect place to see what vendors have available that can enhance our documentation and training deliverables.
It’s great to see your excitement about the conference and specifically about Leadership Day, which promises to be another great event. STC has several new things for communities leader this year, including the now (only) three-months old Community Leader Web Seminar Series and the newly announced (just last week!) Monthly Chats, a more informal series of chat sessions designed for leaders to ask in-depth questions and engage in deeper discussions. I hope you’ll take full advantage of these new offerings too!