Fwd: STC: New Dues Structure for 2008

[Eva Brumberger]

I've been a member of the STC for over a decade. Through that time, most of my colleagues (at three different Research I universities), have not been STC members because of the cost. Now, for the first time, I am seriously thinking about joining them. 

I'd be interested to know what the "improved services" and "exciting improvements" are that merit a 15% dues increase. Other than a "revamped" (unaffordable for most academics) conference.

All rhetoric to the contrary, it seems as though the academic community is becoming more and more marginalized within this organization. It's unfortunate, because many of us (perhaps naively) still believe that academe and industry offer complementary perspectives on teaching, on research, and, yes, even on practice. With the loss of more academic voices that may accompany this dues increase, the divide between academy and workplace can only grow, which in the end weakens both communities.

Eva Brumberger
Virginia Tech

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-stc-ac-277544 at lists.stc.org [mailto:bounce-stc-ac-277544 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Becky Jo McShane
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:39 PM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] Fwd: STC: New Dues Structure for 2008

Based on STC's own numbers they've raised dues over the last seven years 
as follows:

2000 - 15%
2002 - 14%
2004 - 12%
2007 - 15 %

My salary has not increased at this rate. I hope STC realizes what 
they're doing the academic community.

Becky Jo McShane
Weber State University

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	STC: New Dues Structure for 2008
Date: 	Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:01:28 -0400
From: 	<stc at stc.org>
To: 	<bmcshane at weber.edu>



	
STC President Linda Oestreich

Dear STC Members,

The Society is embarking on some of its most exciting improvements 
ever--and that's hard to believe considering all the progress we've made 
in the last few years! But it's true: From the revamped Annual 
Conference to the soon-to-be-released Salary Database, STC has 
significantly upgraded its services.

In fact, many of you sent notes to the STC office saying how much you 
enjoyed the new, expanded content of our e-mail newsletter, News & 
Notes. I'm glad to hear it!

But, in STC, just as in the rest of our lives, improved services and 
normal inflation add costs. So, to support those and other rising 
expenses and to pay for needed capital improvements to the technology 
that supports the STC office, STC's Board of Directors decided at its 
August 2007 meeting to raise membership dues for calendar year 2008.

I’m sure your first question is "how much?" Although it’s
approximately
15% for the majority of members, the change does vary according to your 
location and the category of membership you choose. I've asked the STC 
office to put together a Q&A titled STC's New Dues Structure 
<http://www.stc.org/membership/duesStructure02.asp>. This Q&A also
goes
into much more detail about those rising expenses I mentioned.

It’s also natural for members to wonder how their dues are spent.
That’s
why STC has posted an article titled Where Do My STC Dues Go? 
<http://www.stc.org/membership/duesStructure03.asp> As you'll see,
even
with the increase, STC dues are in line with those of similar
organizations.

Chapter presidents and treasurers have already been informed of another 
Board decision regarding changes to our chapter funding model. If you're 
interested in the details of how chapters are funded, you can read this 
message sent recently to chapter leaders 
<http://www.stc.org/membership/duesStructure01.asp>.

If you would like to discuss the dues and funding changes with other 
members of STC, including STC Board members, I invite you to do so on 
the STC Member Forum at stcforum.org/viewtopic.php?pid=4182 
<http://stcforum.org/viewtopic.php?pid=4182>. When you use the 
discussion topic on the forum, it gives Society leaders a chance to see 
and respond to all comments.

As a member of the STC Board of Directors, I’m quite proud of the 
priorities we’ve set, the decisions we’ve made, the financial 
responsibility we’ve exercised, and the value we’ve delivered to STC 
members. Decisions to increase dues are never easy, but I am confident 
that the value you receive for your dues dollars is worth every penny.

I thank each of you for being an important part of this Society that has 
supported our profession for more than 50 years. The support you give to 
your Society in turn strengthens our profession.


Linda Oestreich
STC President
------------------------------------------------------------------------
	
	STCThe Society for Technical Communication (STC) advances the theory 
and practice of technical communication across all user abilities and 
all media. For more information about STC, send an e-mail to 
*stc at stc.org* <mailto:stc at stc.org> or visit *www.stc.org* 
<http://www.stc.org>.

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