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

The September Membership Meeting

    Meeting Date:

      Wednesday, September 14, 2005

    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

    Subject:

      Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): Recognizing the Signs, Confronting the Injury, and Compensating with Voice-Recognition Software

      Do you ever experience pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands or arms after putting in long hours on the computer? When you do, do you push on and postpone self-care until you've met the current deadline (and the next, and the next)? We all know that we should take frequent breaks, stretch and change position often, and set up our workstations ergonomically, but how many of us actually do all this? If you need some incentive to start taking your body's signals seriously, come hear the lessons learned by one "Type A" technical communicator who learned the hard way.

      You'll also see a demonstration of the Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice-recognition software that shows what the software can do, and what it cannot do. Our Dragon NaturallySpeaking consultant will discuss hardware requirements, third-party software compatibility, training experience and needs, funding issues (workers’ comp, rehab, corporate), and reasonable expectations for use of voice recognition software.

    Speakers:

      Barbara Forsberg and David Schorr

      David Schorr , the owner of 1stVoice (www.1stvoice.com), has consulted on Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software since 1996. He has worked with clients with a broad spectrum of needs, in many professions, throughout the Bay Area and northern California.

      Barbara Forsberg has worked for more than 12 years in the field of technical communication, half of that time as a technical writer and half as a manager. Her other computer-intensive jobs in the past two decades have included Japanese pre-press production, Japanese software support, and data processing. She started experiencing symptoms of RSI in early 2003 and was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in the fall of 2004. Voice recognition software has allowed her to continue using the computer during her recovery and to avoid injuring herself further.

    Reservations:

      Reservations must be received by noon on the Tuesday prior to the meeting. On-line reservations are available on August 11, 2005.


    Monthly Membership Meetings

    The Berkeley chapter meets the second Wednesday of the month.

    Continuing in September, 2005 we will meet in the Town Room (on the second floor) of the Shattuck Plaza Hotel in Berkeley, CA.


    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 Valerie Steele, 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:

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