by Rod Allen

It's a scary world for newbies. So many technologies. So many choices. "Should I learn FrameMaker?" "Just what is single-sourcing?" " JavaScript, SchmavaScript." It is easy to become bewildered and frustrated in the wild world of technical communication. Many technical communicators simply teach themselves the ropes. The upside of this is that they learn self-reliance. The downside is that there are holes--some as big as the Sunset Tunnel--in their knowledge.

Enter the Willamette Valley Chapterís year-old mentoring program. (Information about the program can be found at www.stcwvc.org/membership/mentor.shtml). Senior technical communicators are paired with new technical communicators and provide them with insight on the industry and on the protègè's strengths and weaknesses, and help them make their own decisions. "The mentoring program is a place where professionals can stick their hands up and ask a few questions," says Jean Richardson, the programís current head.

Jean has been a communication consultant since 1990, specializing in documentation. Before that, she had worked on corporate publications. Although Jean has never formally been a protègè in a program such as the one she supervises, she has been there. Early in her career, she sought out individuals in the fields of technical communication and software documentation who had professional characteristics she admired. Being alert to opportunities to learn more and broaden your horizons is key to personal growth, she says. Mentors act as catalysts in that process.

How does it work? First, the mentors and protègès meet at a dinner hosted by the chapter. There they decide how they will conduct the learning process. Usually, it is by phone and/or e-mail. Mentoring does not require an ongoing commitment, but it can be that.

Jean is surprised how little is actually required of mentors. She has mentored four protègès, helping them with research, clarifying their goals, and connecting them with the right people. She has seen protègès who seemed a little lost get direction.

Certainly, protègès are not the only ones who benefit. Jean has seen mentors get real satisfaction from sharing their experience. Some mentors have returned to help out after their initial stint in the program. One protègè has even returned to act as a mentor.

"It makes you get some of the excitement back," adds Arlene Krasner, who started the program before handing the reins to Jean. Arlene, who ran a mentoring program for the STC's national management SIG, has been a technical communicator for 15 years. She is currently Director of Engineering Operations at Integrated Measurement Systems. In addition to her vocational duties, she served as Willamette Valley chapter president a number of years ago. While president, a lot of technical communicators approached her with questions.

Arlene is pleased with the success of the mentoring program. "It has been nice for protègès to have someone to talk to, and itís a nice way for mentors to volunteer without excessive time commitment."

Where will the program go from here? Jean would like the program "to be seen as a model for growing good technical communicators."

Rod Allen can be reached at RAllen90211@aol.com.