General
Meeting and STC FAQs
By
Lance-Robert, VP Finance
Q: How is parking at the Red Lion Hanalei handled? Do we need
validation stickers or stamps?
A: No. When you leave the lot after the meeting, just hand your parking
stub back to the attendant. Tell the attendant you're with the STC,
and they will open the gate for you. (Our contract with the hotel waives
the parking fee.) To avoid misplacing your parking stub, I recommend leaving
it in your vehicle when you park. You do not need to bring the parking
stub with you to the meeting.
Q:
Why are the meetings not held in the same room every month?
A: The hotel has other events that come up from time to time, and they
sometimes need to move us to a larger or smaller room, depending upon
the number of reservations we or the other events get for that night.
Q:
Is there a map of the hotel's conference rooms available online?
A: Yes. Just click here: http://www.hanaleihotel.com/conference.htm.
Q:
Why are meetings always held on the second Wednesday of the month? Why
not another day during the week or the month?
A: The hotel conference rooms are booked a year in advance to ensure that
we have confirmed reservations and that we get the best possible rate
from the hotel. We will have to negotiate another contract at the end
of the chapter year in June. If you have strong feelings about holding
the meetings on another night during the week or month or about the meeting
location, please let any council member know at that time, and we will
consider your request. Also, meeting on a regular day allows members to
plan for the meetings. Note that most, if not all, other professional
groups use this scheduling method.
Q:
Why are meetings held at the Red Lion Hanalei instead of the Wyndham?
A: The Wyndham hotel found that it could book larger groups for the same
rooms and increased the rate for those rooms. Rather than raise the member
attendance fees, we did an extensive search around the central areas of
Sorrento Valley, Mira Mesa, and Mission Valley for viable alternatives.
The Red Lion Hanalei was the best that we could find, and it offers us
superior food and service without our having to raise the attendance fees.
Q:
How much does the chapter pay the Red Lion Hanalei to hold its meetings
there?
A: The chapter pays the hotel $19 per person plus a small fee for the
projector screen and, if needed, extra coffee. This fee includes the room,
the dinner buffet, the dessert buffet, the podium and microphone, the
setup, and the parking.
Q:
What happens if I make a reservation but don't show up? Do I pay a penalty?
A: No. The chapter does not charge a cancellation fee. However, if you
find that your plans change and you cannot attend, please notify the treasurer
by sending an e-mail to treasurer@stc-sd.org.
If you do not show up for your reservation but do not cancel, the chapter
still has to pay the hotel for your reservation. This is money that would
be better spent serving the chapter membership through library books,
programs, seminars, and the like.
Q:
If I pay online by PayPal but end up canceling my reservation, do I forfeit
the money I paid?
A: No. If you need to cancel, the treasurer will refund the full amount
to your account. There is no penalty, but it might take two to three working
days for PayPal to process your refund.
Q:
Where can I find more information about using PayPal to pay for my meeting
reservation?
A: You can find a detailed list of PayPal FAQs, written by yours truly,
by clicking here: http://www.stc-sd.org/meetings/paypal_faq.htm.
Q:
How do council members get their positions? Are they elected or appointed?
A: Council members typically volunteer for their positions for the entire
chapter year (September through June). If more than one person wants a
position, we hold an election. Otherwise, the person who volunteers for
the position is appointed to the position if approved by the council.
Q:
How do I volunteer to become a council member or to assist an existing
council member?
A: If you would like to volunteer, please contact any council member,
or e-mail Tiffany Gerstmar at volunteernow@stc-sd.org.
Q:
My name, employer, address, or e-mail has changed recently. How do I change
my member contact information?
A: Please contact MaryRose Velasquez or Rebecca Casto at the STC head
office in Arlington, Virginia, with your updates. You can find their contact
information by clicking: http://www.stc.org/contacts.asp.
Q:
Where can I find copies of Intercom or Technical Communication
online?
A: You can find Intercom articles from 1996 to the present here:
http://stc.org/scripts/index/printIntercom2.asp.
You can find Technical Communication articles from 1995 to the
present at this one: http://www.techcomm-online.org/.
Q:
What if I have more questions about the STC, the San Diego Chapter, the
monthly meetings, or the council?
A: Please contact any council member, or e-mail the treasurer at treasurer@stc-sd.org.
