Chip Mega Editor

I often encounter Judy at communication conferences in this country and internationally and I am never surprised as I know she is constantly looking to learn what is new in our field and generously sharing what she knows with young new technical communicators.

Tom Moran
Professor, College of Applied Science and Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology

news

books

Are you a member of a book club? If so, then you know what fun it is to discuss books with others. If not, then give it a try! Your local library may be just the place for you to gather with like-minded folks. For a taste of what our non-fiction book has read — or will yet read — in 2010, take a look:

The book, In Defense of Food by Michael Pollen, opened my eyes to the many diets that offer good food, which is much more than the sum of its nutrients. I learned that food packaged with labels telling you how good the food is for you are likely not as good as real foods that do not need to convince you of their value.
How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, M.D. showed ways to be more savvy when telling our story to our doctors. What we leave out and what our doctor does not see or hear can interfere with making the correct diagnosis. Our health — like a puzzle — requires a doctor's total, concentrated attention. Each of us deserves no less.
For The Age of the Unthinkable by Joshua Ramo, each book club member summarized a chapter. My chapter — Riding the Earthquate — conveyed the value of acting in common with other people, peers, and nations to cope with and solve small and large problems. Respect, trust, and participation are ingredients of real power.

not-so-recent events

EyesExpo and Eyes on the Future Summit, focused on fostering new opportunities for growth, development and innovation of the region’s economy (October 16, 2009)
Third Annual Empowering Women Luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Ursula M. Burns, CEO of the Xerox Corporation (October 6, 2009)
Key4Women Forum®, featuring keynote speaker Nadja Piatka, author of Outrageously Delicious (September 30, 2009)
Fourth Annual Communication Central Build Your Communications Business, featuring first-rate social networkers (September 26, 2009)
Rochester Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) annual conference, spectrum, which celebrated its 50th anniversary, April 6 and 7, 2009
Rochester Museum & Science Center's HIgh School Chemistry and Physics Days program, March 26, 2009, where Judy shared the importance of studying science to careers, such as technical communication
Technical Communication in a Global Economy, Chattanooga, TN, October 10-11, 2008. As part of the conference theme, Technical Communication in a Global Economy, she presented Style Guides—Who Needs Them, which is posted on the presentations page.
Look Professional in Print, Online and in Person, Rochester, NY, September 25-27, 2008. With editorial experts from California, DC, Maryland, Utah, Wisconsin, and New York State, Judy discussed Look Professional in Print: Brand Your Business with Effective Marketing Material, posted on the presentations page.

still a bird in the bush (and not in the hand)

Writing my first book, Moving Forward, has taken a back seat to project work. You likely know that saying about a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush. My interpretation of this saying is that doing real work that clients need and want (and for which payment is forthcoming) has its advantages – particulary during economically challenging times.

Two book publishers offered a polite "no thanks" to my book proposal. The third has not responded to several requests for a decision. I hear that this is all part of the book publishing world. So the birds in the bush – though out of reach at the moment – are still alive.