Editor Sees Two Eventful Years
by Rick Bradshaw, Editor

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As many have said before and others will say in the future, this is my last column for and my last issue of Signature. It has been an eventful two years since I took over as editor. We've gone from a print publication with a dated appearance and largely borrowed articles to an electronic publication with a more updated appearance and articles largely written by local people. Along the way, we've managed to win a couple of awards.

We have a new team of editors coming in next year. Hopefully, they will be able to continue to improve the publication. To them I say, never let it stand on laurels of the past. Go forth and conquer new issues in new and better ways.

Many of you, our membership of more than 300, don't regularly attend meetings. Many of you may not have an idea of what is required to fill the various council positions and of the staff of volunteers behind them that is required to do the job. The newsletter staff is the largest in the chapter in some regards. Some are core staff while others are more of an adjunct staff since they may only contribute one article or service per year. While not everyone can contribute each month because of time constraints, many do; others have contributed multiple times both monthly and throughout the chapter year. Every one of these people have risen to the challenge and performed admirably.

For those of you who may download this issue and read it but not come to the June meeting, I'd like to introduce to you and thank those people who have helped to make Signature what it has become in chapter year 2001/2002. There are many. This is not a one-person show by any means. They are listed in no particular order. They will be individually recognized at the June meeting.

Copy Editors:
Elizabeth Vollbach
Pamela Fridie

Illustrator:
Ann M. Throckmorton

Authors:
L. Sharon Bradshaw
Lana Walker-Helmuth
Erica Ueland
Karen Field
Matt Sullivan
Nadine Barter Bowlus
Bettina Davis
Barbara Dreyer
Suzanne Hardy
Carla Coleman
Susan Gallagher
Susan Self
Henry Garcia
Noreen Norris
Pamela Fridie
Bonni Graham
Judy Keene

Proofreaders:
Catherine Robinson
Coleen Miller
Mark D. Hall
Maureen Edmond
Stephanie Strout

I also thank all the current council members who have contributed in order to let you, the membership, know what is going on with their efforts on the council.

This month we have a nice assortment of articles for you. Our feature article is on e-learning. While e-learning is not new, it is becoming more widely used. Find out more about it. You might find yourself documenting it or doing some e-learning yourself.

Need a pocket guide of all those FAQs you might need on the job? Check out our book review this month. You might find the answer to your questions in this handy little book.

Are you starting out as a tech writer, or are you out of work and wondering if there is something else you might do to help your chances of employment? Check out our visiting author column. Rhonda Bracey, from the Australian Chapter, has written an excellent article. It was first printed in the Solitary Scrivener: The Newsletter of the Lone Writer SIG (www.stcsig.org/lw/newsletter.htm) and then reprinted in Bracey's home chapter's newsletter, the March 2002 issue of the AuSTCom (www.stc-aus.org.au).

Our usual columnists are also present. Karen Field does her best to pick up our spirits once again this month with an article about performance reviews. Lana Walker-Helmuth introduces yet another member this month while Matt Sullivan provides some good information about creating PDF files.

If you are looking for a position, put an ad in our Employment Desired section. We have had people find positions as a direct result of STC networking. If you have a job to fill, I encourage you to check out those individuals who are listed. Whether you are looking for a position or have a position to fill, increase your chances of finding a match; network within your STC chapter!

Well, that's about it. My final column in my final issue is history. If you would like to help with the newsletter next year, contact Lana (lana@pe.net) or Sharon (sbradsh2@san.rr.com).

Have a great summer, and next year come back with tons of support for the newsletter team.