Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your Guide to Common Queries Regarding the STC Bankruptcy

General

  • Why is the organization closing, and what led to this decision to file for bankruptcy?
    Despite significant efforts over the past several years by the various Boards of Directors and STC leadership, financial liabilities coupled with falling membership numbers have created a situation where we are not able to offer the education, resources, and outreach that this membership expects and deserves. Various cost-cutting measures and attempts to generate revenue have not been sufficient, and our debt and operational expenses now outweigh our ongoing revenue.
  • Why did STC choose to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead of simply closing its doors or reorganizing?
    STC declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on legal advice to protect its members and volunteers from potential legal and financial liability. The tax structure of the organization makes chapters and other STC communities appear as STC's assets, risking their involvement in lawsuits. Declaring bankruptcy safeguards these assets and the individuals–the community leaders, members, and volunteers– associated with them.
  • When will the closure take effect?
    The closure was effective immediately. 
  • How was the decision communicated to members and stakeholders?
    The STC Board of Directors has communicated this information via membership email, through our website (stc.org), and social media. 
  • Will there be a final meeting or event before the closure?
    There will be one board meeting and no others. There will be no Summit or additional meeting opportunities, including with communities.

Financial and Legal Aspects

  • How will the bankruptcy process work?
    STC is engaging a bankruptcy attorney who will work with STC leadership to prepare the court filings. Once those are filed, STC will cease to exist and the courts will appoint a trustee to oversee the case. The trustee may, at some point, elect to sell or auction off assets/intellectual property of STC.
  • What will happen to the organization’s assets?
    They will be assessed by a court-appointed trustee, and used to help pay off our debts to the best of our ability. These assets will include member lists, publications, and other materials from communities, committees and the society at large.
  • How will outstanding debts be managed?
    A court-appointed trustee will be assigned to our bankruptcy case, and the trustee will assess and recommend to the court how to pay off what debts we can based on the remaining assets we have. 
  • Will creditors, including members, be informed about the bankruptcy?
    Yes. This is part of the bankruptcy process. 
  • Is there a chance the organization might reopen in the future?
    No. Reorganization, renaming, or reopening STC (or any of its subcommittees or sub-entities) as a different organization is against the legal terms of the bankruptcy.

Membership and Participation

  • Can I get a refund for my membership?
    The trustee will establish a process for all creditors to file a claim for relief.
  • What will happen to my membership benefits?
    They have ceased to exist. 
  • Will there be any support for members during this transition?
    No, there will be no STC staff.
  • How will closure affect ongoing projects, initiatives, or other activities?
    All ongoing projects, initiatives, and activities ended immediately. 
  • What will happen to the organization’s website, publications, certifications, online resources, and other intellectual property?
    They will stay up for a limited time. 

Chapters and Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

  • How does this impact the chapters, SIGs, and COIs?
    Any asset that belongs to a chapter is legally STC’s asset due to the way STC was set up in its tax structure, and is therefore collectable by the trustee (or had there been no bankruptcy, by the lawyers in a lawsuit). We filed for bankruptcy because any chapter leaders who have names on the bank accounts could have been pulled into this situation. Therefore, STC declared bankruptcy to protect its volunteers and itself.
  • What will happen to the local chapters, COIs, and SIGs?
    All chapters, COIs, and SIGs were dissolved, per bylaws, by a unanimous vote of the STC Board of Directors on Monday, February 3, 2025, to help further protect the communities and move along in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process.
  • Can chapters, COIs, or SIGs continue independently?
    No. The court appointed trustee will contact each community to return all tangible assets, this will include closing all bank accounts and sending those dollars to STC. Part of the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy process is ensuring that STC is not just avoiding paying creditors and rebranding itself. Communities must do the same in order to ensure the bankruptcy is not jeopardized. Otherwise, it could appear that STC was still operating under a different name and creditors could come after the “new” STC groups.
  • Can we start a new social media presence to stay in touch with each other, like STC Alumni?
    Yes, as long as there is no association to STC in any capacity, or use of the STC logo or likeness.
  • What do chapters, COIs, and SIGs have to do with their bank accounts and their other assets?
    All chapters must immediately cease all financial activities, including but not exclusively:

      • payments,
      • receipts, and
      • expenditures
      • All assets should be frozen as they are considered part of the STC bankruptcy proceedings.
      • If a community wishes to close its bank account, please contact tim.shaw@stc.org to make arrangements to transfer the funds directly to STC.
      • The court-appointed trustee will be in contact with chapter and other community leaders to assess and advise on the actions needed to be taken to assist in this process.
      • The trustee will also advise on what to do with other community assets as well.
  • Can we spend the money in our community treasuries as one last hurrah for our members?
    No. Communities are not solitary entities, but are subsidiaries of the larger STC organization. As such, it’s not the community’s money to spend. All assets are now considered frozen under the bankruptcy and all spending must stop. 
  • How can members stay in touch after the closure?
    Members can continue to network via personal social media accounts. All STC social media accounts (including Slack) will be retired shortly.
  • What will happen to the awards and recognitions?
    Those that were planned for this year will not be fulfilled. 
  • Will there be a way to preserve the organization’s history and achievements?
    Not at this time.  
  • Will community leaders need to archive emails, meeting minutes, budget documents, and other business-related items?
    The community leaders will be advised by the trustee how to handle these business-related items.

Educational Materials

  • Will members be able to access any articles from Intercom or Technical Communication, or any STC-related publication?
    Once the STC websites are taken down, there will no longer be access.
  • How can people obtain permissions from STC to reprint any publication articles?
    They cannot.
  • Will members be able to access webinar links?
    No. 
  • Will members be able to access TCBOK articles?
    No.
  • What will happen to any STC Summit Proceedings publications?
    STC Summit Proceedings will be considered intellectual property to be handled by the trustee. 

Certification Program

  • Will the CPTC Certification Program continue?
    The CPTC Certification program has ceased operations. 
  • Can CPTC recipients still indicate themselves as such if the program no longer exists?
    Yes
  • If the CPTC program continues, will recipients still need to take CEUs?
    No.