communication department

By Nancy Hoffman, Chair, Associate Fellows Nominating Committee

Each fall, the Associate Fellows Nominating Committee invites STC communities and members to recommend senior members for the rank of STC associate fellow. This honor recognizes members' achievements in the field of technical communication, contributions to STC, or both.

Any voting member of STC may submit a candidate's nomination to the Society office. The office, in turn, sends the nominations to the Associate Fellows Nominating Committee. The committee reviews each candidate's package carefully, contacts the identified references, and-based on the information collected-forwards the names of selected candidates to the STC Board of Directors for consideration.

To be considered for selection as an associate fellow, the candidate must have been active in the field of technical communication for at least fifteen years and a member of the Society for at least ten years. The candidate also must have accomplished at least one of the following: (1) performed important work and attained distinction in the field of technical communication, (2) done notable original work that has contributed to the advancement of that field, or (3) made significant contributions to the Society.

In August, each community will receive an email message describing the nomination process, including the information required for a candidate's consideration by the Associate Fellows Nominating Committee. This information also is available on the STC website. Upon request, the Society office will email community presidents or SIG managers a list of all eligible candidates in their communities. Please email your request to Lloyd Tucker, Director of Education.

Communities and individuals should use the associate fellows nomination form and refer to the completed sample forms on the STC website. The instructions on the form will help submitters assemble a nomination package that is complete and effective.

The Associate Fellows Nominating Committee encourages submitters to work with candidates to ensure that the nomination packages submitted are complete and accurate. The committee also recommends involving associate fellows, fellows, or members who are experienced in submitting associate fellow applications. And most important, the committee strongly recommends that the submitter be fully convinced that the candidate meets all the criteria for nomination as an associate fellow.

Please note: Nominating a community member for associate fellow is no longer a criterion for credit toward the Community of Distinction award. Instead, the requirement is that a community review its membership to consider whether any members might be good associate fellow candidates.

Completed nomination packages are due to the Society office no later than October 6, 2008. The STC Board of Directors will consider candidates for selection as associate fellows in January 2009. The Society will recognize those selected at an honors banquet in May 2009 at STC's 56th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information, refer to the Associate Fellows Nominating Committee web page or contact Nancy Hoffman, chair of the committee.