Karen speaks:
We’ve done it again! Consensus judging is complete for the 2007-2008 STC International Technical Art, Publications, and Online competitions. So, I’m taking some time off to relax, regroup, and reflect, because now it’s time to start planning for next year and beyond.

Lots of things about the STC competitions get me excited, but I’m probably proudest of the role that our chapter plays in the process. While we are one of the smallest chapters, we have a HUGE impact on the competitions. Three chapter members, Brian Lindgren, Mimi Jones, and I participate. Brian was and is co-manager for the Publications competition. Mimi served the last two years as manager, and this year as a Publications judge. I’m in charge of all Society-level competitions. This gives us three different perspectives. In this brief epistle, we would like to share these with you.

Brian speaks:
This was my first year as a competition manager. I’ve helped to coordinate many local competitions, and judged several times at the International level, but I had never managed a competition before. I was very fortunate to be teamed with Deanne Levander of the Twin Cities (Minnesota) chapter, and we had a very fluid partnership. Having a good co-manager and reconnecting with a lot of familiar faces among the judges definitely helped to take the edge off my inaugural stint in this role.

Mimi speaks:
I’m back to judging again – which is good. After two years in competition management, it’s good to step back and look at things from a judge’s view.

I joined STC after my children were grown and I had time to devote to me – and my professional development. At the urging of chapter members, I got involved with judging at the local level, then at the international level a year later. Thus began some wonderful friendships and working collaborations. What about you Brian, how did you get started with the competitions?

Brian speaks:
I originally joined STC in New York, as part of the NY Metro Chapter. In such a big chapter it was very easy to feel disconnected. Even after I moved to South Carolina I didn’t feel really involved in Society activities until I started judging in the competitions. I’m hoping we can bring chapter-level competitions back to SC soon.

Karen speaks:
Yes, I miss the local competitions too. It’s one of the best ways we have to train new and young members of our profession. I remember the first time I judged, George Hayhoe talked me into it, and boy was I nervous. Actually, that’s when I met Brian – he rode up to Greenville with us. At the time, I had only been a member for a few months and thought, “there’s no way I can do this.” But it was fun! I learned so much from the other judges, and to my surprise, they learned from me too. I got into International judging that year too when I bartered the writing of the competitions article for the Journal for a spot as an alternate judge. One of the appointed judges dropped out, I stepped in and the rest, as they say, is history.

Brian speaks:
I am continually impressed by how seriously the judges approach their work. In essence, this is all pro bono work, because all of us have “day jobs.” To spend any time with the judges, whether on-site or managing the teams that judged remotely, is to see a group of professionals dedicated to enhancing the field of technical communications.

Karen speaks:
I agree. Serving as a judge is a great professional development opportunity. At the international level, you have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best in the business. The entries you see and compare are the best of the best in technical communication. It’s a great place to get new ideas for your own work and I have to admit to “borrowing” a few over the years.

I’m looking forward to implementing some of the recommendations the managers made for promoting this opportunity. Next year we will be developing webinars and computer-based training for judges. We will actively seek new members to partner with two experienced judges on consensus teams. Since we plan to make local judging a prerequisite for international judging, we will be encouraging these new folks to work with their local competitions and will provide a mechanism for them to become involved as remote judges if their local area is not holding a competition.

Brian speaks:
One thing that interested me was that in this year’s Online Competition there were several judges who were experienced but had taken off several years after the most recent time they had judged. Earlier you mentioned the time we met en route to a judging competition in Greenville… shortly after that I took several years to recharge my batteries, so to speak. The intensity of the competitions can be overwhelming at times, but when it’s in your blood, it’s tough to stay away for too long.

Mimi speaks:
I agree with the idea of the competitions being in your blood. I had run my course with competition management at the International level, but I had to keep my fingers in the pie and return as a judge. Since I work in a very limited environment (not much outside stimulation), I relish the time spent with the other judges on my team. Their comments often mirror my own, which reinforces my value, both at work and in judging.

Brian speaks:
Another part about taking a break in judging is that if you keep working within technical communications, you can actually come back sharper and more focused as you amass more experiences. It’s not like sports where you might lose a few steps as you get older – here you can actually improve with age. I suppose this is true even if you don’t take a break from judging, but it fascinates me as to how quickly it all comes back to you, and how many familiar faces you see year after year.

Karen speaks:
I guess that’s our way of encouraging everyone to get involved in the competitions. We see both entering and judging as a vital part of our development as professionals and as leaders. We have a lot of plans in place to improve the process at all levels and would welcome your participation. It’s rewarding and it’s fun!

As noted in the article above, our Webmaster Brian Lindgren was a co-manager of the 2008 International Technical Publications Competition. As a special thank-you to the onsite judges, Brian and his co-manager Deanne Levander (Minnesota Twin Cities Chapter) presented Fisher Space Pens.

The official presentation read as follows: “As technical communicators, we are a different breed. Some might say we’re from another planet. We prefer to say we’re out of this world.

“One thing most of us have in common is that in today’s high-paced work environment it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to get our work done. Very often we’ll have to write and edit outside the office – sometimes anywhere and everywhere we have the chance.

“We truly appreciate all your efforts in this year’s International Technical Publications Competition, particularly the fact that you worked this into your schedules, and feel privileged to have been associated with you. We’d like to offer a small token of thanks – a technology that’s as “out of this world” as all of you, that will work with your schedule and allow you to write and edit anywhere, even upside down: the Fisher Space Pen. Use it in good health!”



The photo, taken at the 2008 ITCC dinner, shows ITPC team members (from the left): Tom Reed, Karen Baranich (SC Midlands Chapter), Jackie Damrau, Cindy Clifford-Currie, Brian Lindgren (SC Midlands Chapter), Suzanna Laurent (back), Deanne Levander (at podium), Janis Ramey, Beth Bailey, Mimi Jones (SC Midlands Chapter), and Leanne Logan.

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