Letter from the Editor

by Kevin Cox

Happy Holidays!

As I write this letter, it is a blustery, chilling 33 degrees outside, but I'm sitting at my home workstation with a cup of hot chocolate, and hoping it will snow. Hopefully this issue of the Galley will warm you up like a good cup of hot cocoa (can you tell I'm trying to do a sales job here to get you to read on?).

This issue's focus is on offshore outsourcing, and offers two articles on the subject. The lead article, by yours truly, is "Offshore Outsourcing: What It Is and Why It's Important to Understand It." The intent of this article is to inform readers who are unfamiliar with the subject, and gives suggestions on to how to deal with it. Samantha Lizak details her experiences and suggestions for working with an offshore documentation team within one's company in her article, "Working with an Offshore Team."

Also in this issue: Kristy Schnabel's upbeat article, "E-Mail Ettiquette;" Beverly Arnoldy's how-to article, "How to Compete for Projects;" Bill Harrison's article on using technical manuals as marketing material rounds out the issue. Valerie Ball gives us a report on the STC Region 7 Conference, which she attended in early October. Chapter president Rachel Houghton treats us to a Senior Member Spotlight on Kate Evans.

The Willamette Galley needs your writing skills and input! If you're interested in writing an article on any topic related to technical communication for the STC-WVC newsletter, be sure to come to the newsletter meeting on Tuesday, November 18, at 6:00 pm, at the Red Robin restaurant at NE Multnomah and 4th streets. The deadline for articles for the January issue is December 15.