65 Years of Technical Communication

By Rhyne Armstrong | STC Associate Fellow and Chair, STC 65th Anniversary Task Force

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Society for Technical Communication, and the year that we hold our 65th annual Technical Communication Summit & Expo.

You might not know it, but the STC has been at the forefront of the technological revolution since its inception. We were there when the first supercomputer was turned on, when the first personal computer was booted up, and when the first smart device was tapped. We write the manuals, design the user interfaces, and work to make you are successful at learning, understanding, and using your chosen technology.

This year, instead of focusing on our past accomplishments, the Anniversary Task Force has decided to look forward and celebrate how our members will impact the world as technology continues to evolve. Our past is a wonderful foundation for us, and we have to keep building on that.

In the weeks leading up to the Summit, we will distribute a media kit with tools you can use to communicate with our local and virtual communities. The kit will include graphics, an article, and various talking points that will help you spread the word about our organization, our profession, and our focus on the technologies of today and tomorrow. We are also gathering interesting stories and anecdotes from our past to help you map the journey of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going.

At the Summit, 20-23 May in Orlando, Florida, we have several things planned to highlight our accomplishments and renew our focus on the future:

  • A “Living Museum” talk where attendees can find out about those that paved the way for modern technical communicators.
  • The 65th Anniversary Town Hall meeting, focused on the future of STC.
  • A blue sapphire lapel pin to wear as a reminder of our commitment to the future of technology and technical communication.
  • The Summit Pub Crawl and the Summit Diner Meetup, where you can meet and socialize with other attendees.

We will also have new STC swag for sale, and we’ll have a presence in the expo hall to answer questions about the anniversary activities and to collect your stories. Share your best STC memories, what makes your job interesting today, and your plans for the future.

After the Summit, we will continue to release articles and social media posts to enlighten our members about our shared future. You will hear from a variety of voices in STC; some well-known, some new to the organization, and some who have been long-time members but have never stepped into the limelight.

We encourage all current and prospective STC members to join us in this celebration, and help us prepare our profession and professional society for the future. While our field continues to grow and change with the technology we support, we are excited to share our vision with other STC members and to hear what you have to say as well. See you at the Summit!

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