by Phyllis Thompson

Look back on where you were just a few years ago. Are you surprised by the changes you've lived through? Could you have predicted all the cultural and technological changes we've experienced?

I've seen a lot of change and growth in the local job market and the profession. I'm willing to risk saying that every one of you has grown and learned over the past few years, whether you're just getting started in your career in technical communications or are in a senior role and now in a position to teach and advise as well as learn.

As technical communicators we're in a great situation and the future only looks brighter. One trend that stood up and screamed at me was the need to actively manage my own career. Companies may come and go, shrink and grow, but we have skills that are in demand. We need to focus on taking charge of our careers and keep building our skills, so when change happens we're prepared. We can now see how to take advantage of the opportunities that change brings.

How do you know what's happening in the marketplace? Not just who is hiring (fortunately, a lot of companies are hiring), but which companies are customer-focused and supportive of the profession? If you're interested in building a new skill or moving to another job situation, how do you learn enough to make an informed decision? A good way is to call upon the contacts you've made in the STC.

The Willamette Valley chapter sponsors and publicizes a wide variety of special interest groups, training classes, and programs that exist only to help you and me, the membership. By getting involved or remaining involved you help yourself and you help others. You can also meet some wonderful people.

I'm honored to be your chapter president this year and look forward to hearing from you about what is going well and how you think things could be improved. How could this organization better help you manage your career? What programs do you value? How might we help relieve the stresses that come with having a career and also a life? Let me know ó it's my job to listen and I also enjoy it.

Phyllis Thompson serves as president of the STC Willamette Valley chapter and is a documentation manager at Merant. She can be reached at Phyllis.Thompson@Merant.com.