Stimulus Online - November/December 1998

May This Year Be Your Professional Best!

November/December 1998

by Leanne Logan
Leanne is the Chairperson of the Canadian Issues Committee

Welcome back to yet another activity-intensive Canadian STC chapter year! On behalf of the Canadian Issues Committee (CIC), I'd like to invite you to get actively involved with some issues that affect all Canadians, and in a way that is unique to Canadians.

Most of you will have heard of the CIC and its active role in STC in recent years. This year we want to continue to work with the Canadian chapters and for the Canadian membership in dealing with distinctly Canadian issues. After our three-day brainstorming and work session in Vancouver this March and during our monthly conference calls and regular e-mail exchanges, the CIC has worked to address many pertinent issues for Canadians. Among our long list of agenda items, we will continue to work to:

increase the availability of educational opportunities in beginner and advanced degrees in the field of technical communication

plan an all-Canadian STC conference

increase the profile of Canadian technical communicators locally, nationally, and internationally

explore why NAFTA has dropped "technical communicator" from its list of free trade occupations

share news of incorporating STC chapters in Canada

explore areas of cultural sensitivity independently and in conjunction with the new STC International Interests Committee

We can't undertake this agenda alone. We need your help. The most important objective for the CIC is to ensure that the lines of communication are open between the Canadian chapter members, the chapters, the CIC, the STC board, and the STC office, as well as to ensure that we are continuing to serve the needs of Canadian STC members. To meet this need, the CIC is made up of one representative from each chapter, giving voice both to the CIC and to the chapter through involvement in general meetings, board meetings, contributing occasional articles for the newsletters across Canada, and so on. Canadian Issues Committee representatives are appointed by their chapter presidents. Although there is a full roster of volunteers appointed by chapter presidents for 1998/99, consider volunteering to help explore these activities, or talk to your president to volunteer next year for this fun role.

Look for updates on the Canadian Issues Committee's activities throughout the year. If you have some ideas or time to share, talk to Lynda Simons, your chapter representative.

Fun quiz question:

Question: Who were the founding members of the Canadian Issues Committee, a committee that's been in existence for over five years now?

Answer: See next issue.