This is the second of two blogs describing the benefits of STC membership and attending the annual STC international conferences. If you are employed by a company, university or organization, you may be able to get your STC conference (Summit) costs paid for you by your employer. This blog will provide key points to help prepare an effective proposal or request for support from your employer.
Most important of all the STC resources are the annual conferences, called Summits. Nearly all the most important people in our field are at the Summits. Also, hundreds of presentations on any technical communication subject you can imagine are there for the listening. Chapter and Society leaders and experts in every aspect of technical communication are there, ready to meet you. In addition, the honors reception gives you the chance to meet the most influential people in our field; the communities reception lets you meet the leaders in our organization; the leadership program educates you on STC and general leadership abilities; the keynote addresses allow you to meet the most famous people in our field; the Expo Hall lets you meet the important vendors in our profession; and the annual STC business meeting keeps you abreast of what is happening in our Society.
As if that isn’t enough, you will find yourself networking from dawn until bedtime.
To get financial support to go to the Summit, you will probably have to submit a request to your immediate superior. Make sure that the request demonstrates how much you and your organization will benefit from your improvement in technical communication education and skills, in leadership training, and in becoming a well-rounded communicator. Feel free to use the arguments provided above. Make sure you emphasize how the benefits of STC annual conferences make you a more valuable professional.
Bill Leavitt has been a member of STC for more than 50 years. He is an STC Fellow and a past international president. He has written a variety of books on construction and architecture, history, and retirement planning. Bill’s latest book is entitled Retirement: Life’s Greatest Adventure. The book contains guidance for how people thinking about retiring can best prepare for retirement and also suggestions for those who have retired but may not have discovered all the joys of retirement [RetirementLifesGreatestAdventure.com].