Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, US, STC is the largest organization of its type in the world according to its website. It includes 50 chapters, 12 Special Interest Groups, and over 4,500 members worldwide. STC members work in a wide range of roles, including:
Most STC members belong to one or more communities, which are either geographic chapters or special interest groups. Most chapters are in the United States, but STC includes members from 14 countries. The largest group outside the U.S. is the chapter in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. STC publishes a quarterly journal, Technical Communication, and a monthly magazine, Intercom.
History
The organization traces its roots to the Society of Technical Writers in Boston and the Association of Technical Writers and Editors in New York. Both were founded in the United States in 1953. These organizations merged in 1957 to form the Society of Technical Writers and Editors. In 1960, this group merged with the Technical Publishing Society, based in Los Angeles, to become the Society of Technical Writers and Publishers. In 1971, the organization's name was changed to the Society for Technical Communication. The organization's main journal developed from the TWE Journal to the STWE Review to the STWP Review to Technical Communications to Technical Communication. Editors of this journal have included Douglas E. Knight, Allan H. Lytel, A. Stanley Higgins, Frank R. Smith, George Hayhoe, and Menno de Jong. Other important leaders in the history of STC include Robert T. Hamlett, A. E. Tyler, Samuel A. Miles, Vernon R. Root, Robert O. Shockney, and Stello Jordan. In 2011, Alan Houser was elected vice president of the organization; per their by-laws, he became president in 2012, and was succeeded by his own vice president Nicky Bleiel in 2013. STC's annual publications competition for 2012-2013 was held in Washington, D.C. The organization also has branches internationally. On November 12, 2012, STC's branch in India held its 14th annual conference in Bangalore.
Technical Communication Summit (Annual Conference)
In May or June of each year, STC holds the , the largest conference for technical communicators in the world. The Summit includes over 80 education session broken up into relevant subject areas or tracks; networking events such as the Opening General Session, Welcome Reception, Communities Reception, and Closing Lunch; an Honors Banquet; and an exhibit hall with dozens of companies offering technical communication products or services. The Summit also includes preconference education for an additional price.
Other education
In addition to the Technical Communication Summit, STC offers online education both to its members and nonmembers, with members receiving discounted registration rates. STC offers both live and recorded online education.
STC Honors
STC recognizes outstanding individuals by conferring the titles of Fellow, Associate Fellow, and Honorary Fellow. STC's Honorary Fellow for 2009 was "Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia." STC also sponsors honorary societies for technical communication students with a grade point average of 3.5 or above:
