Spectrum 2017: Optimizing Your Role in an Evolving Profession

Join us on March 26-28, 2017 at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for Spectrum 2017, STC Rochester's 58th annual conference.

To quote Bob Dylan, “the times they are a’ changin!” Our workplaces and roles are changing rapidly. The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought new challenges and opportunities. User Experience (UX) design is becoming more and more important. All of these changes bring a host of questions.

• How do we transition to supporting the vast array of inter-networked computers and devices?
• Is there still a role for the traditional technical writer?
• What skillsets do we need to keep pace and stay employed?
• Are there soft skills we need to develop?
• Do we need to learn how to develop apps?
• Is knowledge of DITA or content management systems important?
• What are the new opportunities and challenges?
• Should we be interested in the Certified Professional Technical Communicator credential from STC?

The conference will begin on Sunday afternoon, March 26, with Leadership Day. Activities will focus on leadership challenges and best practices, with presentations by seasoned leaders. Sunday Evening will feature a dinner reception and presentation of Rochester Chapter awards, where you'll be able to meet and mingle with speakers and Rochester Chapter members and friends.

Monday, March 27, begins with a keynote address by Joe Gollner, "The Brave New World of Technical Communication." Joe sees an opportunity, and even a need, for Technical Communicators to play an expanded role in helping the next generation of organizations operate and adapt to a digital economy. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading content strategists, Joe will help us kick off our exploration of what we can do, both individually and collectively as a community of professionals, to make the most of the changes that are unfolding all around us.

Tuesday, March 28, we will offer four 1/2 day workshops, Neil Perlin: Single Sourcing to the Max with MadCap Flare, Lee Drake and Kathryn Hutton: Using Office365 for collaboration and creation of technical documentation, Liz Fraley and Janice Summers: How to Attract Opportunities to You, and Margit Poirier, Introduction to Grant Writing: How to Find and Get Grants for Your Program. The workshops are available individually or as add-ons to conference registration.

Benefits of Attending Spectrum 2017

You’ll have the opportunity to network, build skills, and learn about the latest trends and opportunities in the technical communication profession.

Your Spectrum registration includes:

• A keynote presentation titled “The Brave New World of Technical Communication” by Joe Gollner, Managing Director of Gnostyx Research Inc. (www.gnostyx.com) and a world-renowned content strategist.
• A full day of learning and networking on Monday, March 27, with presentations, progression sessions, demos, and Lightning Talks by industry experts.
• Continental breakfast, awards luncheon, and morning and afternoon refreshments.
• Opportunity to participate in a giveaway for several exciting prizes.
• After party on Monday night at Bar Louie on Jefferson Road

You have the option to attend the following events for an additional fee:

• A half-day Leadership Program on Sunday, March 26, which provides an afternoon focused on leadership challenges and best practices, with presentations by seasoned leaders. 
• A dinner reception on Sunday, March 26, to network with conference presenters, chapter leaders, and attendees.
• Your choice of one or two 1/2 day workshops on Tuesday, March 28.

For more details on the conference, see the Spectrum website.

Registration Rates

Register early and save!

 
STC Member
Non Member
Student
Notes

Combo (All Sunday and Monday)

$169 (Until 1/31)

$189 (2/1-2/28)

$219 (3/1-3/19)

$239 (3/20-3/28)

$189 (Until 1/31)

$209 (2/1-2/28)

$239 (3/1-3/19)

$259 (3/20-3/28)

$59 (Until 1/31)

$69 (2/1-2/28)

$89 (3/1-3/19)

$109 (3/20-3/28)

 Best deal

Monday Only

$139 (Until 1/31)

$159 (2/1-2/28)

$179 (3/1-3/19)

$199 (3/20-3/28)

$169 (Until 1/31)

$189 (2/1-2/28)

$209 (3/1-3/19)

$229 (3/20-3/28)

$49 (Until 1/31)

$59 (2/1-2/28)

$69 (3/1-3/19)

$89 (3/20-3/28)

Included in Combo rate

Leadership Program 

$30

 $10
 $5
Included in Combo rate

Sunday Dinner Reception
$30
 $30
 $20
Included in Combo rate

Tuesday 1/2 day Workshop

$85 (Until 3/19)

$105 (3/20-3/28)

$100  (Until 3/19)

$120 (3/20-3/28)

$35 (Until 3/19)

$55 (3/20-3/28)

NOT included in Combo rate

Conference Schedule Overview

Leadership Day (Sunday, March 26) 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

• 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Registration
• 1:30 - 5:00 p.m. Leadership Program
• Presentations and workshops by experienced STC community and international leaders
• Designed for anyone interested in improving leadership skills, including current and future leaders.

• 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Dinner reception and chapter awards (Bistro 252 in the Rochester DoubleTree)

 Full-day Conference (Monday, March 27) 8:30 a.m. -6:00 p.m.

• Registration check-in begins at 7:15 a.m.
• Continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshments, and networking
• Welcome and Keynote Address
• A full day of progressions, lightning talks, vendor demos, and giveaways
• After Party (Location TBA)

Joe Gollner, Managing Director of Gnostyx Research Inc. (www.gnostyx.com) and a world-renowned content strategist

The Brave New World of Technical Communication

Joe sees an opportunity, and even a need, for Technical Communicators to play an expanded role in helping the next generation of organizations operate and adapt to a digital economy. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading content strategists, Joe will help us kick off our exploration of what we can do, both individually and collectively as a community of professionals, to make the most of the changes that are unfolding all around us.

Post-conference Workshops (Tuesday, March 28) 8:30 am - 11:30 am and 1 - 4 pm

• Registration and continental breakfast (7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.) NOTE: Because of low registration for workshops, we are not able to arrange catering for the continental breakfast. Two minutes east down the hall from the workshop and downstairs, CRL-ALT-DELI offers coffee/tea and breakfast sandwiches.
• 8:30 am
  • Neil Perlin: Single Sourcing to the Max with MadCap Flare*
  • Liz Fraley and Janice Summers: How to Attract Opportunities to You
• 12:30 pm
  
  
  • Margit Poirier, Introduction to Grant Writing: How to Find and Get Grants for Your Program
  
  
  • Lee Drake and Kathryn Hutton: Using Office365 for collaboration and creation of technical documentation^
  
  

The workshops will last three hours, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:30 to 4:30 pm. 

*Neil's workshop requirements:

• Bring a laptop with a mouse and your power cord.
• Have a licensed copy or a trial copy of Flare 12 or above. (If you want to use a trial copy, download and install it less than 15 days before the workshop. Note that the trial copy misspells words at random until you enter the key. It's terrifying but harmless.)
• Make sure your laptop has a USB port.

• Attendees must bring their own laptop with chrome, firefox, edge or IE9 or better on it, with wireless internet access and ability to get on RIT’s network. 


• Office offline (word, excel, etc) version 2016 is supported as an option but not required to perform workshop tasks. 


• Users will receive their initial accounts ahead of the speaking date, and must be registered no later than 3 business days prior to the event to be guaranteed an account.

Spectrum Location

Rochester Institute of Technology and Doubletree Rochester

The Leadership Day sessions on Sunday, March 26, will be held in the CIMS Building (SLA/078), also known as Slaughter Hall.

The Dinner Reception on Sunday, March 26, Bistro 252, Doubletree Rochester

The Conference (Keynote and Education Sessions) on Monday, March 27, will be held in the CIMS Building (SLA/078), also known as Slaughter Hall.

The Post-Conference Workshops on Tuesday, March 28, will be held in the CIMS Building (SLA/078), also known as Slaughter Hall.

Interactive RIT Campus Map

Additional Registration and Payment Information

To pay by check: Select your ticket and then select "Show other payment options." Checks should be made payable to "STC Rochester Chapter". Follow the instructions on the Pay By Check screen.
Note: Canadian registrants, please pay in U.S. funds (click the "Pay Offline" button) or by credit card (click the “Order Now” button.)
What if I am registering more than one person? As long as the registrations fall into the same fee category, you can select multiple quantities for the ticket.

Parking

For Sunday's pre-conference Dinner Reception, parking is at the Doubletree Rochester.

For all other events (Conference and Leadership Day), park in Lot T. A parking pass, available at the registration desk, is required on Monday and Tuesday.

For the latest conference news and complete conference information, visit the Spectrum website.

Registration

To register and pay online, go to

<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spectrum-2017-optimizing-your-role-in-an-evolving-profession-registration-30700474947>

For more information about the conference, visit http://stc-rochester.org/spectrum/

If you have any questions, contact us at FFFFFF;line-height:150%;font-size:10pt;">spectrum@stc-rochester.org.

Sponsorships

STC Rochester and the Spectrum committee would like to thank Adobe TECH COMM as the Platinum Sponsor for Spectrum 2017.

We're actively seeking additional sponsors for Spectrum. Please contact spectrum@stc-rochester.org for more information or visit http://stc-rochester.org/spectrum/signing-up-as-a-sponsor/ for information on signing up!