Thursdays @ STC Chicago | April 7

Chapter Meeting: Grassroots Documentation Testing

2011 - 2012 STC Chicago Chapter Elections
2011 Technical Communication Summit
Summit Volunteers Needed

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Join fellow technical communicators for lunch on April 7 at the following locations:
 

Caffé Baci at 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

10 S. Riverside Plaza

Chicago, IL 60606

  

DuPage Inn at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

2410 Ogden Ave.

Downers Grove, IL 60515

Pompei at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

1261 East Higgins Road (back room)

Schaumburg, IL 60173

Questions? Check out our "Thursdays" FAQ.

Do you ever feel limited in your knowledge of the usability needs of your audience?
 
If you don't have first hand exposure to your customer base, how can you ensure the usability of your documentation?

Join us on Thursday, April 28, to learn from Kristi Leach about grassroots documentation testing in your workplace. She'll address topics such as using available resources, testing your content, using collaboration as a problem-solving tool, and producing solutions can use in your documentation efforts.

For the exercise portion of the session, we'll practice writing scenarios to test user assistance content on co-workers. Then we'll have a brainstorming session to share success stories and discuss solutions for the most critical challenges to do-it-yourself documentation testing.

This discussion is an opportunity to supplement the expert resources on usability with some grassroots collaboration. We'll work through an exercise to demonstrate some challenges, then discuss solutions for the most severe issues. After the session, Kristi will blog about our group solutions. (This part of the session was inspired by Tom Johnson's collaborative posts over at IdRatherBeWriting.com.)

Kristi Leach

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The CARA Group, Drake Oak Brook Plaza, 2215 York Road, Oak Brook, IL

$10 for members, students, and CARA consultants

$20 for nonmembers

For additional details and driving instructions, see April chapter meeting.

Chapter elections will be open from April 4th through April 25th. Don't forget to vote! This year's slate includes:

For President: Elizabeth Burke

For Vice President: Linda Kelley

For Treasurer: Mike Starr

For Secretary: Cheri Noble

For Nominating Committee: Donna Clearly, Linda Jansak

Visit our election site to learn more about the candidates, review voting guidelines, and cast your vote.

Be sure to register before April 29 in order to receive the discount rate of $995. Register at the Summit Web site, where you'll also find more information about lodging, speakers, and other program details.

Are you attending the Technical Communication Summit in Sacramento this year? If so, consider becoming a volunteer and helping us spread the word about next year's Summit, which takes place in Rosemont, Illinois.

In 2012, STC Chicago will serve as host chapter for the Technical Communication Summit, STC's blockbuster annual conference. If you are attending the Summit this May 14-18, let us know. STC Chicago will have a booth located in the Sacramento Convention Center. We'll need chapter members to staff the booth and answer questions about Rosemont, our chapter, and things to do and see in Chicago.

The time commitment is small. The help is appreciated. It's a great networking opportunity. Let us know if you can help us out! Contact us at info@stc-chicago.org.

Thank you to those who have already stepped forward to volunteer! Host committee managers will be in touch soon with additional details.

Wednesday, April 6

12:00-1:00 PM CST

Presented by Ed Marshall

Thursday, April 7

3:00-4:00 PM CST

Presented by Meryl Natchez

Wednesday, April 13

12:00-1:00 PM CST

Presented by Gabriele Schillinger and Joanne Liguori

Registration Rates: $79 for members; $149 for non-members; $29 for student members

» Learn More

Date: Saturday, April 9
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 Noon CST
Location: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Registration Rate: FREE for STC members

The Future of Technical Documentation
Date: Thursday, April 14

Time: 5:30 pm Networking, 6:00 pm Dinner, 7:00 pm Speaker

Location: TBD
Registration Rate: $15 Members, $20 Non-members, $10 Students, $5 Meeting only

Increasing Intelligence of Content Workshop
Date: Saturday, April 16

Time: 9:00 am CST

Location: FIS, Brown Deer, WI
Registration Rate: $25 Members, $40 Non-members, $10 Students

Chicago Association for Psychological Type (ChAPT)

Tuesday, April 12

See ChAPT for details.

Chicagoland Chapter of the American Society for Training & Development (CCASTD)

Thursday, April 21

See CCASTD for details.

Host: SDL
Event Type: Roundtable
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2011   
Time:  10:00 am - 2:00 pm (CDT)
Registration Rate: Free to all. Complimentary luncheon included.
Venue: Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Join SDL for a luncheon and round-table discussion in Chicago to learn strategies employed by content and localization experts Donna Coletti of Texas Instruments and Emily Mydlowski of HACH. Donna will focus on the importance of a cohesive global communication strategy and share tips for authoring for a global audience. Emily will share her experience of driving a global DITA content strategy and explain how she achieved a return on investment well ahead of schedule.

A panel discussion will follow where you will learn key strategies from industry experts about:

• Bringing your content and products to global markets faster
• Improving overall customer experience
• Reducing translation and DTP costs
• Realizing increased global revenues, improved branding and more consistent translations 

You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists and network with your peers and guest speakers during the complimentary luncheon.

Registration Deadline: Friday, April 15, 2011

Can you identify the famous bridge that appears in the lower right-hand portion of the photo above? If so, let us know!

From the perspective of this photo, you can barely see the steel framework that forms the top of the bridge. Nevertheless, take our word for it. The structure is a "vertical lift" bridge -- and a famous one, at that. The first person to reply with the correct answer will win a $20 gift card from Amazon.com. Here's a hint: The bridge is located in Sacramento, California, home of the 2011 Technical Communication Summit. Please send your answers to contest@stc-chicago.org and check our website for news of a winner. Good luck!

Contestants are eligible to win only one prize within any one 12-month period. We will notify the winner via email. Additional information about the photo will be posted on our blog.