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The latest change to this website was made on Sunday, August 17, 2008.

The April 2006 Membership Meeting

    Date:

      Wednesday, April 8, 2006

    Times:

      6:00 p.m. Networking
      6:30 p.m. Dinner
      7:15 p.m. Announcements
      7:30 p.m. Presentation
      9:30 p.m. End

    Location:

      Shattuck Plaza Hotel, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, California

    Topic:

      How to Be a Stellar Consultant

      Want to be a rock star? We’re talking about you, a sought-after writer who stands out in the technical communications field. You already have the technical and communication skills your clients need. How can you also become the kind of contractor or consultant that your clients are eager to bring back, and recommend to their colleagues?

      Val Swisher and Mary Rosberg will give you tips for standing way out from the crowd, becoming a superstar for your clients.

      If you are currently a contractor or a consultant, or if this is a direction your career may take, come learn from Val and Mary about the business and customer service end of the consulting life.

    Speakers:

      Val Swisher, President, Oak Hill Corporation
      Mary Rosberg, Director of Business Development, Oak Hill Corporation

      Val Swisher started Oak Hill Corporation as a one-woman show in 1994, and has built the corporation based on dedication to developing client and contractor relationships. Today, Oak Hill provides technical documentation, marketing collateral, and training development services to over 50 nationwide clients in a variety of industries, with more than 125 senior contract professionals.

      Before she started her own business, she was Manager of the Technical Course Development Program for SynOptics, Inc. (now Nortel Networks). She was also an instructional designer and technical instructor for 3Com Corporation.

      Val is co-author of "The Comprehensive Guide to Computer Telephone Integration," published by CT Institute Press, and "Mastering Network Management," published by Numidia Press.

      Val is a mentor for the Women's Technology Cluster, a business incubator in the US dedicated to women leaders building technology-driven businesses.

      Mary Rosberg has accrued 15 years of publications and project management experience working for Autodesk, Neoforma, Openwave, Documentum, and others. Mary enjoys learning about companies' business needs and putting together the right solution for every different situation. She is particularly adept at building "SWAT" teams of the writers, illustrators, editors and production specialists that are optimal for each project.

      Mary is president of the board of San Francisco Women on the Web, and a member of the Society for Technical Communication and the National Writer's Union. She is a relentless networker, and attends numerous professional organizations and gatherings around the Bay Area.

    Reservations:

      Reservations must be received by noon on the Friday prior to the meeting. On-line reservations are available on March 9, 2006.

    Monthly Membership Meetings

    The Berkeley chapter meets the second Wednesday of the month.

    Continuing in April, 2006 we will meet in the Town Room (on the second floor) of the Shattuck Plaza Hotel in Berkeley, CA.

    RSVP

    There are two ways to RSVP:

    • RSVP using our online storefront.

      Use your MasterCard, AMEX, or Visa card to pay for your reservation. Please enjoy our online payment feature.

    • RSVP by regular mail.

      Please send your payment by check (payable to Berkeley STC) to:

        STC-Berkeley
        Atn: Treasurer
        PO Box 1007
        Berkeley, CA 94701

    In either case, reservations for dinner must be received by 5 p.m. on the day before the meeting.

    Membership Meeting Program Ideas?

    If you have a suggestion for a meeting topic you'd like to hear more about or if you'd like to be a presenter, send an email to Joe Devney, Acting VP of Programs.

    Membership Meeting Fees

    For the meeting and dinner, reserved on the Chapter's website in advance:

    • Members: $18
    • Non-members: $21
    • Student members: $15

    For the meeting and dinner at the door:

    • Members: $21
    • Non-members: $24
    • Student members: $18

    Note: If you do not reserve dinner in advance, dinner may or may not be available on a walk-in basis. We order dinner for the number of reservations plus a few walk-ins.

    To attend the program only:

    • Members and non-members: $12
    • Non-STC-Members: $15
    • Students: $10

    NOTE ONE: Non-members are always welcome to STC meetings.

    NOTE TWO: All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings at the member price.

    If you wish to pay by cash or check, send email to that effect to treasurer@stc-berkeley.org, and then bring payment to the meeting.

    If you wish to pay be credit card, please reserve using our online storefront.

    Interested in becoming a member?

    Membership Meetings Agenda

    • 6:00 -- Networking, conversation
    • 6:30 -- Buffet served
    • 7:15 -- Chapter business, announcements, jobs available*
    • 7:30 -- Formal program
    • 8:30 -- Conversation, off-line questions for the speakers, follow-up on job announcements
    • 9:30 -- Clear the room, move conversations to the sidewalk

     *Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions. Please bring job listings for distribution. Recruiters may introduce themselves, but may not describe open positions in detail. Save that for one-on-one after the program.

    Location and Directions

    Shattuck Plaza Hotel
    2086 Allston Way
    Berkeley, CA

    The Shattuck Plaza Hotel is located at 2086 Allston Way in downtown Berkeley, immediately west of Shattuck Ave. We meet in the Towne Room on the second floor.


    The Shattuck Plaza Hotel in Downtown Berkeley, just off of Shattuck

    The hotel is within walking distance from the Berkeley BART station; meter parking on the street is free after 6:00 p.m.


    The Shattuck Plaza Hotel Lobby

    Directions to the Shattuck Plaza Hotel

    By BART:

    1. Emerge from the Berkeley BART station.
    2. Walk south on Shattuck one block.
    3. Turn right on Allston.
    4. The Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the left.

    By car:

    • Metered parking on the street is free after 6:00 p.m.

    From north of Berkeley: I-880 south and get off at the University Avenue exit. Follow University east to Shattuck and turn right. Allston is three blocks south of University, and the Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the South side of the street.

    From south of Oakland: SOUTH: Take I-880 north to downtown Oakland, and then bear right onto I-980. Take the Martin Luther King exit and bear left to merge onto Martin Luther King Way. Turn right onto Adeline just past the sharp curve. Adeline will merge into Shattuck Avenue. Turn left on Allston and the hotel will be on the left side of Allston.

    From San Francisco: Take the Bay Bridge towards Oakland (I-80 East). At the end of the bridge, take I-80 east towards Berkeley. Get off at the University Avenue exit. Follow University east to Shattuck and turn right. Allston is three blocks south of University, and the Shattuck Plaza Hotel is on the South side of the street.

    From far East Bay: Take Highway 24 West through the Caldecott Tunnel. Exit at Highway 13 north towards Berkeley. Turn right on Shattuck Avenue. Turn left on Allston and the hotel will be on the left side of Allston.

    Last updated Sunday, August 17, 2008.
    © 2005-2008, STC-Berkeley Chapter

    Please email webpage corrections or webpage comments to:

    East Bay Chapter North Bay Chapter Sacramento Chapter San Francisco Chapter
    Silicon Valley Chapter STC Region 8 STC International Headquarters
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