Letter from the Editor

by Kevin Cox

New Appointments

"Ch-ch-ch-changes!" David Bowie sang. The times certainly have been changing, not only in our profession, but also in our chapter. This issue is the first after many changes and new appointments in Chapter administration. As the new Willamette Galley editor, I'd like to welcome Erica Coco as my replacement for Assistant Editor; Erica brings her experience in writing previous newsletter articles to this position.

I personally would like to thank our outgoing Galley Editor, Cindy Reid, for her hard work and dedication to the newsletter. I wish her well in her new endeavors in Atlanta, and will miss her smiling attitude.

This Issue

This issue's focus is on "Technical Communicator as Strategic Contributor." Recent changes in the focus of our profession are forcing tech writers to make necessary adjustments in their career paths. The following articles in this issue apply to this focus:

• Chatting it up at the water cooler pays off, by Brenda Phillips, provides helpful ideas that can improve your verbal communication skills and recognition
• Why network outside your discipline, by Erica Coco, discusses how this can be an added benefit to your networking skills
• In Tech Communicator as Strategic Contributor, Bay Area Chapter senior member Victoria Maki interviews Anne Mehaffey on moving from a commodity to a strategic contributor
• Valley Chapter member Craig Battrick relates his experience of moving from a commodity to a strategic contributor
• STC Vice President Andrea Ames gives us her Checklist for migrating to strategic contribution.

Also in this issue you'll find Part 2 of Jean Richardson's excellent article, "Collaboration: The New New Thing and This Decade's Hottest Skill" (Part 1 was presented in the July issue).

Next Issue

The focus of the next issue of the Willamette Galley will be "Dealing With Offshore Outsourcing of Technical Communicator Jobs." Volunteers are encouraged to submit ideas and articles on this topic. Also in the issue will be an update from Oregon's Employment Department on the forecast for the technical writing and high tech job markets.

As always, if you are interested in writing an article or column for the Willamette Galley, please drop me a line at knccomm@hotmail.com. We have specific needs that vary from issue to issue, and are currently looking for someone to write a book and/or software review column. It would be fun to also have someone take over Cindy's "Take Our Word For It column," which introduced readers to new and unusual words and their definitions.

See you in the fall!