The 2014 membership season opened on 23 September, and we’re already seeing plenty of renewals as well as a number of new members! Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger looked through the names and picked a few people to talk to about their membership and why they’re a part of STC. Below are a few questions with Mike Unwalla, our very first renewing member for this year. Keep an eye on STC’s Notebook for more conversations with members!
What's your name and current job?
Mike Unwalla, technical writer/technical communicator. (To my peers, I am a technical communicator. To my customers, I am a technical writer.)
When did you first join STC, and what prompted you to do so?
I joined STC in 2005 for these reasons:
a. To increase my professional skills and to get access to relevant information.
b. For networking opportunities.
I see that you were our very first renewing member. Thanks for coming back! Was there a specific thinking of “I want to renew right away for 2014”?
Yes. I do not like to have a long task list. The reduced rate was a motivator. I did not see the deadline for the reduced rate. The simplest option was to renew immediately and remove the item from my task list.
Can you talk a bit about how being an STC member has helped you throughout your career?
The resources are useful. In particular, Intercom contains practical information that helps me to do my work. In addition to my technical communication work, I am developing term-checking software. I was honoured that Intercom published “From an Idea to a Product” in May 2013.
What communities are you in and why?
I am a member of the STC LinkedIn group (www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2926).
Also, I am in the UK chapter.
So you're in the UK; what does STC offer you as a global member?
In previous years, we had annual conferences. The conferences were useful, although there was some overlap with the TCUK conference. (Sometimes, people presented at both conferences.)
What STC benefits have you taken advantage of in the past and what are you looking forward to in 2014?
The primary benefits are the information that STC disseminates. I read Intercom, Technical Communication, TechComm Today, and STC's Notebook. In 2014, I intend to take advantage of the recorded seminars.