Next Chapter Meeting; Friday, May 16th 11:00am to 1:15pm

The May chapter meeting details have been finalized! We’re meeting once again at The Great Dane in Fitchburg; we’ll be listening to Mollye Barrett of ClearPath discuss CMS tools and methods. The STC 4 Lakes chapter will continue to provide lunch for all attendees! See below for information on how to RSVP. 

Who: All STC 4 Lakes members as well as technical communicators that would like to learn about the STC 4 Lakes chapter.

What: Mollye Barrett will present on CMS tools and methods. See below for information on her presentation.

Where: The Great Dane - Fitchburg. (2980 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, WI 53711)

When: Friday, May 16th 11:00-Noon (networking); 11:30 to Noon (lunch); Noon-1:15 (presentation).

What does the presentation cover?: Mollye has implemented several types of Content Management in the past five years, each starting with FrameMaker single-sourcing. This presentation focuses on the implementation of a department-based CMS, the people involved, the processes used, the tools required, and the technology challenges of this implementation, from concept to application.

Objectives: To share the milestones of a successful CMS implementation and obstacles that can cause failure.

How do I RSVP?  Simply post a comment to this very blog entry (click the ‘Comments’ text in the lower, right-hand corner of this blog entry) by Wednesday, May 14th. When you RSVP, please indicate the following:

• Your first name
• One of the following meal selections:

• Salad (Mandarin Chicken Salad - Mixed greens tossed with Tangy Ginger dressing then topped with hoisin BBQ chicken, mandarin wedges, peanuts, carrots, snow peas, roma tomatoes and crisp wonton strips.)
• Vegetarian (Roasted Garlic, Spinach, and Artichoke Pizza - A hand-crafted semolina crust spread with sweet-roasted garlic and baked creamy spinach, artichoke and parmesan cheese sauce.)
• Wrap (Prime Rib Wrap - Slow-roasted ribeye shaved and wrapped in a warm flatbread with red and green peppers, onions, and gouda cheese, then served with a red wine steak jus.)
• Pasta (Southwest Tortellini - Cheese-filled spinach tortellini with blackened chicken, black bean salsa and fresh spinach in a cilantro pesto cream sauce. Topped with parmesan cheese and served with garlic French bread.)

Job Posting: Instructional Designer/Training Developer

Madison area client has been in the refinery business for 125 years. They transform by-products from the food and meat industries into various useful materials for other sectors of the world. Currently they are looking to have their system (computer software) documented for training purposes. They already have training created for the physical side of the job, but now need to create training for the software side. The biggest need is for somebody to take this more technical information and to bring it down to a digestible level.
 
The client does have some documentation in place and will have many SME’s for the training developer to interview. They would like this created as ILT and to include skills tests along the way.
 
This need would be full time until the project is completed and would consist of on and off-site work. Being they are a chemical processing plant and have much to do with automation and the refinery business, any experience in these areas would be beneficial.
 
The client may be interested in creating web based training as well so skill sets in that would be a plus but not necessary.

Interested in this position? Contact:

Jenifer Gitzen
Staffing Specialist
 
Writing Assistance, Inc.
3131 Fernbrook Lane Suite 200
Plymouth, MN  55447
763-551-9039 (Direct)
877-392-9772 (Toll Free)
763-551-9767 (Fax)
jenifer.gitzen@writingassist.com
http://www.writingassist.com

Job Posting: Technical Writer

Job Code: 3726
Job Title: Technical Writer

Madison client is looking for 2-3 Technical Writers to come in and complete their process documentation.  They are moving their physical location to Missouri and many of the employees are not going.  They need the team of writers to document all processes for the company’s ops.
 
The writer needs to be available onsite and ready to mine and document as much information as possible in 2-months.
 
This documentation will be used to train new hires at the new location.  The writer needs to be thorough about capturing all tasks.  Interviews and questionnaires are being utilized.  However, a writer will ultimately need to get the valuable nuggets of information from the employees.

Interested in this position? Contact:

Jenifer Gitzen
Staffing Specialist
 
Writing Assistance, Inc.
3131 Fernbrook Lane Suite 200
Plymouth, MN  55447
763-551-9039 (Direct)
877-392-9772 (Toll Free)
763-551-9767 (Fax)
jenifer.gitzen@writingassist.com
http://www.writingassist.com

Technical Writer - Contract - TomoTherapy

TomoTherapy is seeking an experienced technical writer to join our Customer Support Documentation team for a six-month, on-site contract position with potential for permanent hire after six months. We seek an experienced and motivated technical writer to work alongside our service engineers to develop and maintain user-focused, technically accurate, high-quality technical instructions that describe how to install and service our equipment in the field. You will research, write, and edit documents, create supporting graphics, and coordinate a thorough, cross-functional documentation review.
Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 to 5 years technical writing experience.
• BA/BS in Technical Communication, English, or related.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
• Excellent grammar, writing, editing, and information-structuring skills.
• Excellent research skills.
• Ability to quickly grasp new information.
• Excellent time-management skills; able to prioritize projects and meet deadlines.
• Experience using Adobe FrameMaker and Photoshop, and Microsoft Visio, Word, and Excel.
• Experience developing supporting graphics and capturing supportive photographs.
• A collaborative work style.

Contact Information:
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please apply online at tomotherapy.com.

Next Chapter Meeting; Friday, March 14th 11:00 to 1:00 (Podcasting Conversations)

The March chapter meeting details have been finalized! We’re trying out a new location this month: Culver’s, located just off Todd Drive on the Beltline. This location is slightly more central to everyone and is located right off the Beltline. Culver’s offers free WiFi and has a separate “Business meeting room” with a large flat screen TV for Keith’s presentation. And, what about a free lunch? The STC 4 Lakes chapter will continue to provide lunch for all attendees! See below for information on how to RSVP.

Who: All STC 4 Lakes members as well as technical communicators that would like to learn about the STC 4 Lakes chapter.

What: Keith Hoffman will present on Podcasting. See below for information on his presentation.

Where: Culver’s off Todd Drive and the Beltline (2102 West Beltline Hwy - Madison, WI 53713)

When: Friday, March 14th 11:00-Noon (networking); 11:30 to Noon (lunch); Noon-1:00 (presentation).

Why: It’s all about the custard, right? Actually, Keith Hoffman (past STC 4 Lakes President/Senior STC Member/Marketing and Communications Manager @ CDW Berbee) will present on podcasting. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people are engaging in conversation on the Internet. As mobile audio and video have risen to prominance, the opportunity to connect to your audience over these channels has never been greater. This presentation will cover podcast overview/history, a podcast demo, and podcast revenue streams.

How do I RSVP?  Simply post a comment to this very blog entry (click the ‘Comments’ text in the lower, right-hand corner of this blog entry) by Thursday, March 13th. When you RSVP, please indicate your first name — that’s all we need this time! Why? We need to know how many gift cards we need to buy. When you arrive, see an STC 4 Lakes board member we’ll give you a free $10 gift card to spend on lunch (and custard, of course!). Here’s an online menu. You can also RSVP by emailing Chad at: cbeery (at sign) us (dot) ibm (dot) com.

STC Wisconsin Chapter (Milwaukee) — April Workshop: Effective Onscreen Editing

The STC Wisconsin Chapter in Milwaukee is holding an onscreen editing workshop. The class is being held on Saturday, April 12th. You can find all of the details here:

http://www.stc-wi.org/newsandevents/eventdisplay.php?id=138

STC Wisconsin Chapter (Milwaukee): Hands-on DITA Training

The STC Wisconsin Chapter in Milwaukee is holding a DITA training class. The class is being held on Thursday, March 6th, so act quickly. You can find all of the details here:

http://www.stc-wi.org/newsandevents/eventdisplay.php?id=133

Training: Framemaker with DITA and structured authoring

Here’s a great opportunity to learn more about DITA and Frame.

Who: Anyone looking to learn more about Framemaker and DITA. There is room for 5 other people to attend the workshop.

What: Deb Correia, a trainer and consultant, is coming for a two-day workshop on Framemaker with DITA and structured authoring.

Where: Philips Medical Systems; 5520 Nobel Drive, Fitchburg, WI

When: February 5th and 6th, 2008

What you’ll need to spend/provide:

• $300 for the cost of the workshop (includes lunch both days)
• A laptop running Frame 7.2 with the DITA plug-in or Frame 8; although, there is one extra laptop to loan someone for the workshop.
• The following books:
  • http://www.comtech-serv.com/dita2.shtml#book
  • http://elementkcourseware.com/productInfo.do?id=39AACCF35546FA4CE040007F01007D23

Want more information? Please contact Sigrid Schoepel if you would like to attend. 608-288-6918 or sigrid.schoepel(at sign)philips.com.

Next Chapter Meeting; Friday, January 18th 11:30 to 1:00

Join us on Friday, January 18, 2008 from 11:30 to 1:00 for our next chapter meeting. Once again, a free lunch will be served. Please remember to RSVP — details on how to do so are listed below.

Our meeting will feature a presentation entitled, “Content Analysis: the Key to Reuse.”

Successful content analysis, tracking and reuse are critical to single sourcing and content management. This presentation discusses the process of analyzing content on conceptual, relational and structural levels. We also focus on ways to track the results of an analysis for use in FrameMaker single sourcing and in a content management system. We also identify some basic questions to ask during a content analysis and show a resulting content matrix with vertical and horizontal content patterns that support reuse and provide to structure.

Objectives:

To facilitate a discussion of proven processes used to analyze content that leads to reuse and, where appropriate, the criteria for rewrite that leads to reuse. Discuss rules and tools used for a case study to analyze, create, review/approve, highlight, archive and delete content in preparation for both single sourcing and content management system implementation.

Speaker Information:

Mollye Barrett has been a professional writer for over 25 years with experience as a technical writer and publications manager, content management and technical communication consultant. She is the president of ClearPath, LLC (www.clearpath.cc) in Milwaukee where she counsels clients in best practices for managing all types of written and illustrated information. Her work includes evaluating, selecting and implementing XML Content Management Systems.

Mollye is the Marketing Communications Director for Content Management Professionals (http://www.cmprofessionals.org/), Mentoring Program Manager for the Wisconsin Chapter of STC and the Immediate Past President of that chapter (http://www.stc-wi.org/).

When? Friday, January 18th, 2008 (networking from 11:30 to Noon; presentation from Noon to 1:00pm)

Where? The Great Dane, 2980 Cahill Main in Fitchburg

Who? All STC 4 Lakes members as well as potential members that want to learn more about STC and our chapter meetings.

How do I RSVP? Simply post a comment to this very blog entry (click the ‘Comments’ text in the lower, right-hand corner of this blog entry) by Wednesday, January 16th. When you RSVP, please indicate the following:

• Your first name
• One meal selection: Fish (New London Bridge Fish Fry), Vegetarian (Taliesin Vegetable Tart), Wrap (Prime Rib Wrap), or Pasta (Southwest Tortellini). You can find detailed descriptions of each selection in the Great Dane online menu (PDF). 

If you have problems RSVPing via the blog, you can also RSVP by emailing Chad: cbeery (at sign) us.ibm.com.

Chapter meeting presentation ideas?

Hello STC 4 Lakes,

Have a presentation idea for a chapter meeting? We’re currently investigating the possibility of having a podcasting-specific presentation for our January meeting; however, things are still in the works. Do you have any ideas on what you’d like to learn about? Can you recommend anyone that might be interested in presenting? Please let the STC 4 Lakes board know. You can either submit your suggestion as a comment to this blog entry, or email the STC 4 Lakes board.

Thanks!