When: Tuesday, October 12, 2004, at 5:30 P.M.
Where: the MSOE Alumni Partnership Center - 1120 North Broadway (located just south of the intersection of Juneau and Broadway) Parking is available in the lot next to the APC (southside)
Featured Presenter: Jim Romano, Prisma International
Meeting Summary
Our profession suffers from what might be called a “value gap,” the difference between the value that we produce as technical communicators, and the perceived value of its worth by employers and senior managers.
As a result, many of us feel undervalued and underrespected, even though the work we manage and produce is more complex and “valuable” than ever. We have new tools and means of measuring value, including Six Sigma-level metrics to gauge and track our value; yet, turning that into a business case for increased salaries or budgets remains elusive.
Jim’s presentation will focus first on defining and describing tech comm’s value gap. He will then provide concrete strategies for bridging it in our everyday work life, and will explore how to define, measure, and communicate the value of the technical communication work we produce, as well as enumerate some trends and strategies for remaining viable in our fast-evolving profession. Finally, Jim will describe some of the ways STC is transforming itself in order to support its membership in these changing times, and answer questions about the STC Transformation Team’s work.
Jim Romano
Jim Romano is Director-Sponsor for Region 6, as well as President and CEO of Prisma International, a global business communication firm located in Minneapolis. At Prisma, Jim’s work has encompassed most tasks and positions, including translator, project manager, account supervisor, editor, diplomat, peace keeper, coffee maker, plumber, and a few others. The common thread running throughout is the commitment to a global view of technical communication that starts with the end user and works backward to figure out how to meet their needs within the client’s parameters of budget, schedule, and quality.
Jim has been an active STC member since the early 1990s, and has served in the Twin Cities Chapter as Program Manager, Conference Manager, Vice President, and President. He also serves on the advisory board of the technical communication program of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and works closely with their STC student chapter. In addition, he is an active participant in several translation and localization professional organizations (LISA, Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association), as well as associations in the medical regulatory and financial fields, all connected under the umbrella of technical communication.
A resident of Minneapolis, Jim’s degrees are in linguistics and languages: a B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University, and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Jim may be reached at [email protected].
Meeting Details
Be sure to make your reservation by Friday, October 8, 2004, at 12:00 P.M.
Schedule:
5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Networking
6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Dinner and Brief Announcements
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Presentation
Meal Options:
Chicken Princess, rice, mixed greens with dressings, fresh fruit platter, butternut squash,
Vegetarian Option: Tomato stuffed with Spinach and Cheese, and assorted Pies, coffee, water, and milk.
Cost:
$5.00 no dinner
$10.00 member with dinner
$15.00 nonmember with dinner
Reservations:
Reserve either by e-mail to [email protected] or via the STC telephone reservation line at 414-299-0048. When you reserve, please let us know your member status, your telephone number, your license plate number and car description, and your entrée preference. The deadline for reservations is Friday, October 8, 2004, at 12:00 P.M. If you are unable to attend and have not cancelled your reservation by the Friday deadline, you will be expected to reimburse the chapter for the cost of your meal. NOTE: If no one requests the vegetarian option, we will cancel it.
Don’t forget—to win a chance for the drawing on June 14th:
1) attend a meeting (nametag gets put into drawing at end of meeting)
2) bring a nonSTC member guest to a meeting
3) volunteer to help a board member
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