COMM 291
Fact Sheet
Society for Technical
Communication
FACT SHEET
Overview
With more than 50 chapters and branches, the Society for Technical Communication is the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to the advancement of technical communication. Through autonomous chapter activity, the STC encourages professional and technical groups in specialized areas of technical communication. The STC has three types of membership: Individual, Special and Corporate. Members come from many different occupations and careers.
- Technical and scientific writers, publishers and editors
- Designers and graphic artists
- Educators
- Publications and communications managers and directors
- Technical presentation, marketing, audio-visual and documentation specialists
- Engineers
- Technical communication consultants
- Information science researchers
- Advertising copywriters
Activities
The STC participates in a wide range of activities.
- Publishing a professional journal, various newsletters and standards used by writers, editors and graphic arts specialists
- Advising on publications standards and specifications
- Providing speakers for, conducting and sponsoring seminars, international symposia, annual conferences and various exhibits
- Helping to develop college curricula and other programs for self-improvement and in-plant training of technical communicators
- Establishing and administering scholarships in technical communication
- Encouraging research in technical communication, and
- Cooperating with local scientific and educational groups in mutual-interest projects
Individual Membership
Individual membership has four grades: Student Member, Affiliate Member, Member and Senior Member. Application qualifications for each grade of Individual membership are as follows. [Note: Explain “Retired Member”!]
- Student Member: Is a full-time college or technical-school student.
- Affiliate Member: Is active in some aspect of technical communication.
- Member: Is involved full-time in some aspect of technical communication and has been so for at least one year before application.
- Senior Member: Is engaged in some aspect of technical communication, has had at least seven years’ experience in the field and has been a Member of the STC for at least two years before application for Senior Member.
- Retired Member
Special Membership
Special membership has three elective grades: Associate Fellow, Fellow and Honorary Member. All levels of Special membership are conferred only by invitation.
Corporate Membership
Corporate membership has one grade: Sustaining Member. It is designed for companies, corporations, institutions and other organizations that are interested in supporting the aims and work of the Society. Sustaining Members may join by application or invitation.
Dues & Fees
With the exception of Special membership, all types of members have set annual dues.
Student Member $10.00
Affiliate Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Senior Member $20.00
Retired Member $10.00
Sustaining Member $250.00
Additional fees also may apply.
Enrollment* $5.00
Reinstatement $5.00
Senior Member Application $15.00
*
Enrollment is not applicable to students.
Affiliations
The STC is officially affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Engineers Joint Council, the Council of Communication Societies and International Council for Technical Communication.
For More Information
To contact the headquarters for the Society for Technical Communications, call or write via the information below.
Society for Technical Communication
1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 421
Washington, D.C., 20005
Phone: (202) 737-0035
Executive Director: Curtis T. Youngblood
Office Manager: Paul R. Andrews