President's Corner

by Ron Arner

The more I volunteer for the STC, the less I understand why others don’t. I’ve gained experience and grown professionally from every volunteer experience I’ve had with this organization.

Don’t get me wrong:  when I come home at the end of a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is get back on the computer and do my presidential duties. And to be honest, often I don’t. But on weekends, or nights when I’m not so tired and don’t have computer eyes, there’s nothing like a little STC work to polish my professional skills.

Whether I’m answering emails, sending out an eBlast, or taking advantage of some of the things STC has to offer (like our great Technical Communication and Intercom publications), I feel like I’m preparing for the next day at work with every task I complete. I also meet new people, stay on top of developments in the field, and get some great things to put on my resume.

My current employer values organizations like ASTD and WICT, and because most people there were not familiar with the STC when I began I’ve promoted the value of STC so that it’s now viewed with equal esteem. That Microsoft will have a presence at this year’s Summit has helped as well, as we’re moving towards a SharePoint-based environment for internal communications.

But I’m confused as to why we always have so many volunteer needs. Don’t others get the same benefits from volunteering that I do? Should we rename volunteer positions to stress the skills they require and better explain the duties of the position? Based on that assumption, here are our needs for the next chapter year:

• Hospitality Manager, a.k.a. Facilities Coordinator/Auraria Campus Liaison
• Seminars Manager, a.k.a. Director of Professional Development
• Volunteer Coordinator, a.k.a. Non-profit Resource Management Specialist

If any of this inspires you to contribute your time and skills to the chapter, please send an email to info@stcrmc.org.

Thanks!