Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators - Why join the ISTC?

1
Institute of Scientific and Technical
Communicators - Why join the ISTC?

• by Iain Wright, FISTC, BA, IBTEPresident of the
  ISTC, 2000 - 2002

2
The need for truth

• Come the millennium, month twelve,
• In the home of the greatest power,
• The village idiot will come forth
• To be acclaimed the leader'.
• Nostradamus 1555

3
(No Transcript)
4
What is a technical communicator?
A person engaged in the generation, preparation,
communication or dissemination of scientific
and/or technical information.
A scientific or technical communicator provides
the information that enables others to understand
something or to use a product or service safely
and efficiently.
5
Scientific technical communicators
Technical Authors
Quality Managers
Software Designers
Information Designers
Technical Communicators
Professors
Process Managers
Publication Managers
Translators
Illustrators
Desk Top Publishers
Webmasters
Lecturers
Engineers
Multimedia Designers
Documentation Managers
Graphic Designers
Instructors
Indexers
Customer Information Engineers
Editors
Technical Writers
Scientists
6
167 dead
7
Poor communication - the effect on business


8
Institute of Scientific Technical Communicators

• MissionTo improve scientific and technical
  communication in the UK

The ISTC exists to improve technical
communication
9
Vision

• One day all people will have the information that
  will enable them to use a product or service
  safely and efficiently

10
Our history

• The oldest society of its kind in the World
• Presentation of Technical Information
  Group,founded in 1948 by Professor Kapp
• Technical Publications Association, 1953
• Institute of Technical Authors Illustrators
• Institute of Technical Publication Publicity
• Institute of Scientific Technical
  Communicators, 1972

11
Our organisation

• Council
• Officers
• Administrative staff

12
Aims of the ISTC

• Establish professional status
• Promote education and training
• Organise conferences, seminars and meetings
• Publish reports, journals and books
• Provide competitions and awards
• Provide an information service for members
• Collaborate with related institutes

13
INTECOM

• INternational Council for TEchnical COMmunication
  (INTECOM)

• ASTC - Australia
• CPTSC - Canada
• CRT - France
• FTI - Sweden
• ISTC - UK
• NFTI - Norway
• NZTWA - New Zealand

• PCS/IEEE - USA
• SIGDOC - USA
• sqrp - Canada
• STC - USA
• STD - Finland
• STIC - Netherlands
• tecom - Switzerland
• tekom - Germany

14
We are different

• National, cultural
• Recognition (letters after names)
• Strict membership criteria
• Run by its Corporate Members

15
Membership benefits

• Professional recognition
• Code of Conduct
• The Communicator journal
• Newsletter
• Conference
• Events
• Forum
• Local area groups and discussion groups
• Special Interest Groups
• Salary survey

16
Membership benefits

• Software and technology reviews
• Book reviews
• Library
• Competitions and awards
• Links to useful sites
• Special offers
• Indemnity insurance discounts
• Advice on
• training and education
• standards

17
Membership grades

• Fellow (FISTC)Members with specialist knowledge
  and/or managerial experience
• MISTCExperienced professional communicators
• AssociatePeople involved with and wishing to
  learn more about technical communication
• StudentPeople studying subjects relevant to the
  communication of scientific or technical
  information
• Business Affiliate Companies believing in the
  need for good communication

18
Business Affiliate of the ISTC

• Business Affiliate grade 1(typically for
  companies with up to 10 people) 275.00 p.a.
• Business Affiliate grade 2 (typically for
  companies with up to 20 people) 550.00 p.a.
• Business Affiliate grade 3 (typically for
  companies with more than 20 people) 1100.00
  p.a.
• Benefits
• Copies of the Communicator and Newsletters
• Space on ISTC web site
• Named company member/s may join the ISTC
  discussion groups
• Advertisement discounts

The size and type of benefits are at the
discretion of the ISTC Council Use of the logo
does not indicate that the ISTC endorses the
company or its publications
19
How to join

• Application fee 15
• Student concession (first year only) 20
• Other students 30
• Associate 60
• Member 70
• Fellow 80
• Business Affiliate 275, 550, 1100 according
  to grade
• Students must be on a recognised course in
  technical communications

20
Contact details
Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]
390126 e-mail istc_at_istc.org.uk Web
site www.istc.org.uk
21
The future for the ISTC

• Raising the profile of the profession
• Representing communicators in the UK
• Improved services, news and information for
  members
• Working with related societies in Europe
  (TCEurope) and the World (INTECOM)

22
Our role IS To Communicate
23
Document history

• 17/11/2003 Membership fees updated
• 4/4/2002 Contact details updated.
• 20/11/2001 Mission statement revised.
• 3/5/2001 Comments collated and released as Issue
  1.0 by Iain Wright
• 29/3/2001 Draft A prepared by Iain Wright