APEX 2008 NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES

The 20th Annual APEX AWARDS FOR PUBLICATION EXCELLENCE is now accepting entries for APEX 2008 (Entry deadline: MARCH 17, 2008). The APEX AWARDS recognize excellence in graphic design, editorial content and overall communications effectiveness. Communicators can choose from 110 different categories under 11 headings, including:

1. Newsletters,
2. Magazines and journals,
3. Newspapers,
4. Annual reports,
5. Brochures, manuals and reports,
6. Electronic and video publications,
7. Web and intranet sites,
8. Campaigns, programs and plans,
9. Writing,
10. Design and illustration, and
11. One-of-a-Kind publications.

For a list of new and revised categories, see the Apex Awards web site.

The competition’s entry deadline (postmark) is MARCH 17, 2008.

APEX is sponsored by the editors of WRITING THAT WORKS, a newsletter for writing, editing and communications professionals. The contest is open to corporate, nonprofit, freelance and agency communicators. Entrants do not have to be WRITING THAT WORKS subscribers. Entry fees are $69 per entry for WRITING THAT WORKS subscribers; $89 per entry for non-subscribers.

CALL FOR ENTRIES information, brochure and entry form are posted at
http://www.ApexAwards.com/apexawards.htm.

To download the APEX Call for Entries brochure, go to:
http://www.ApexAwards.com/apex_broch.pdf..

Just need the APEX Entry Form? Go to:
http://www.ApexAwards.com/apex_entry_form.pdf.
You can fill out the PDF Easy Entry Form right on your computer screen. (No need to find a typewriter or fill out the form by hand.) Then just mail it with your entries and payment.

Also see the APEX FAQ page for tips and advice on entering, at
http://www.ApexAwards.com/apex2008faqs.htm.

(submitted by Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler)

DocTrain East
Thursday, October 18 & Friday, October 19, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re not able to attend Documentation and Training East 2007, don’t fret. The organizers will be streaming two days of original programming over Internet radio. All you need is a web browser, a computerwith some speakers, and a connection to the internet.

Made possible by the folks at MyTechnologyLawyer.com, the DocTrain East radio shows take place October 18-19, 2007 (schedule below) and will be broadcast live from the event venue. Listeners will be able to ask questions of the guests via email or phone (toll-free in the U.S.). The shows feature interviews with experts attending the conference who will discuss a variety of hot topics in the technical communication and training arena. MyTechnologyLawyer’s Scott Draughon will co-host the show along with Indiana-based technology journalist, Diane Wieland.

To listen to the live broadcast visit the radio show website. Click “Listen Now” to hear the audio. If you’d like to ask a question of the guests, call-in toll free at 866-685-7469 or send an email to radio@mytechnologylawyer.com.

Show Schedule, Thursday, October 18, 2007——-

• 10:00-11:00am ET - “Why Software Sucks” with guest author and keynote presenter, David Platt, Rolling Thunder Computing, and “Changing User Expectations” with guest Kelly Stirman, MarkLogic.
• 11:00-12noon ET - “Convergence and the new Adobe Technical Communication Suite” with RJ Jacquez, Adobe Systems, and “Content Component Management” with Chip Gettinger, Astoria Software.
• 2:00-3:00pm ET - “Why Content Management” with Mary Laplante, Gilbane Group and “What is Dynamic Publishing?” with Joe Gollner, Stilo International.
• 3:00-4:00pm ET - “Localization and Translation” with Christine Fidura, SDL, and “Controlled Vocabularies” with Kent Taylor, Acrolinx.

Show Schedule, Friday, October 19, 2007——-

• 9:00-10:00am ET - “DITA Storm: The DITA Wiki” with Alex Karezin and “DITA in Technical Publications” with Harvey Greenburg, XyEnterprise and Peter Vellikin, PTC.
• 10:00-11:00am ET - “Getting Writer’s To Adopt Structured XML Authoring” with Amanda Cross; “Change Management Challenges” with Emma Hamer, Strategy A; and “Content Management Options” with Dan Dube, DocZone.com.
• 11:00-12noon ET - “XML Authoring in an MS Word Environment” with Michael Boses, Invision Research and “Cool Tools for Tech Writers Under $100 Bucks” with Nicky Bleiel, Component One.

AIIM Wednesday Webinar
Produced By: Association for Information and Image Management – The Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Association

TIME: 2:00-3:00 P.M. (EASTERN), 1:00-2:00 P.M. (CENTRAL), 12:00-1:00 P.M. (MOUNTAIN), 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. (PACIFIC), 7:00-8:00 P.M. (GT)
Speaker: Christine Pierpoint, Welchman Consulting

Your company’s image is often defined by how customers perceive the quality of the communications they receive. But today that means more than just batch statements and policies. Customers are becoming more sophisticated, with increasing demands for real-time information. How can you create, maintain, and deliver this content and make it available in email, fax, print, Web, or SMS – for all of your brands – from a single template?

Attend this Webcast to learn how to:

• Launch new products faster & capture more business by providing personalized quotes, applications, agreements and other critical documents in real time
• Improve efficiency by empowering business users rather than IT to manage document generation
• Reduce operational risk by standardizing communication templates and automating exception management
• Save on total cost of ownership by taking advantage of service-oriented architecture (SOA) and XML to drive your business communications

For further information contact:
Kelly Markiewicz
Phone: 301-587-8202

=====
AIIM is the international authority on Enterprise Content Management (ECM) – the tools and technologies used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to organizational processes. ECM enables four key business drivers: Continuity, Collaboration, Compliance, and Costs.

For over 60 years, AIIM has been the leading non-profit organization focused on helping users to understand the challenges associated with managing documents, content, records, and business processes. Today, AIIM is international in scope, independent, implementation-focused, and, as the representative of the entire ECM industry – including users, suppliers, and the channel – acts as the industry’s intermediary.

Consider attending AIIMexpo
April 16-19, 2007
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA

AIIM Conference & Expo is the largest and most important annual gathering of information management professionals, featuring an educational program covering the breadth and depth of enterprise content and information management issues, while providing face-to-face access to nearly every major solution provider in the space.

The 2007 conference program has been expanded to 14 tracks, offering several new conference themes that address the needs of senior-level information management professionals. Tracks and themes covered include:

* Compliance & Risk Management
* Digital Rights Management
* Document and Records Management
* ECM Fundamentals
* Information Infrastructure
* Information Classification, Taxonomies & Metadata
* Managing Unstructured Data
* Organizational Management
* Product Selection and Implementation Best Practices
* Publishing Automation
* Search and Text Mining
* Web Content Management/Portals
* Web Services
* Workflow/Business Process Management

According to Tom Bliss, Group Conference Director – AIIM and ON DEMAND Conferences & Expos, Questex Media Group, “This year’s program is designed to show business and IT professionals how to manage enterprise content in a way that puts mission-critical information in front of the people who need it, when they need it. Here they’ll learn how to automate business processes and improve decision making by rethinking the way enterprise information is created, organized, accessed, analyzed and used.”

“The volume of content and information being created today far exceeds our ability to consume it. And for most organizations, that gap is growing quickly. The AIIM conference sessions will cover the breadth of information management issues and provide valuable solutions,” John Mancini, President, AIIM – The ECM Association.

For additional details on the conference tracks, go to http://www.aiimexpo.com/aiimexpo2007/v42/index.cvn?ID=10011.

Pre-conference workshops include:
• The ECM Practitioner Training Program session presented by AIIM -The ECM Association will focus on ECM components and technologies for managing information throughout its lifecycle.
• A half-day tutorial on ECM Product Selection presented by ECM guru Alan Pelz-Sharpe of CMS Watch.
• The Developing Enterprise Taxonomies: A Practical Guide, a half-day workshop presented by noted taxonomy expert, Theresa Regli of CMS Watch.

For additional information on the pre-conference sessions, go to: http://www.aiimexpo.com/aiimexpo2007/v42/index.cvn?ID=10027

To register to attend, call 888-824-3004 or visit www.aiimexpo.com.

Directions: Current & Future Trends in Business Communication

Workshops – Friday, March 16
Conference – Saturday, March 17

Dear STC members,

The STC-Philadelphia Metro Chapter Annual Conference & Workshops will take place on March 16 (the two workshops) and March 17 (the conference). Having attended the conference in 2005, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity for learning, networking, and fellowship.

The Philly chapter puts together a great event! Two years ago I saw Jean-luc Doumont give a brilliant keynote presentation on effective page layout. If you’ve ever left an event feeling full of energy and eager to change the way you work, you know how I felt hearing Jean-luc speak.

The keynotes for this year’s Philly conference promise just as much excitement. The dynamic Dr. Robert Glushko of the University of California at Berkeley will discuss Document Engineering: the synthesis of information analysis, system analysis, business process analysis, electronic publishing, and other studies that promise to revolutionize the way we work.

Stephanie Morgan will present the closing keynote, “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword: Using Your Writing Skills for the Greater Good.” Around the office we’re fond of saying that technical communicators have the power to change the world, and Stephanie’s keynote will undoubtedly confirm our beliefs. Stephanie will focus on the experiences that gave her a renewed appreciation of the gift of communication, and how we can use our gifts to make a difference.

Of course, there’s more to a conference than keynotes. I was blown away by the 2005 presentation sessions; this year’s topics include collaborative editing, creating visual training, management, CMS, and information typing. You can visit www.stcpmc.org and select STC-PMC Conference to see details about the sessions, the speakers, and the workshops.

Finally, much of the value of a conference lies in meeting new peers and informal discussions over coffee or lunch. The Philadelphia Metro chapter has an energetic, exciting community of technical communicators. I found my time at their conference extraordinarily valuable. I think you will, too!

Sincerely,

Maurice Martin
Society for Technical Communication
Director of Communication

What makes Jack Welch and Larry Ellison such powerful communicators? What speaking and presentation skills do Cisco CEO John Chambers and Suze Orman possess that many others don’t? How does Steve Jobs inspire and motivate his audiences? Find out the qualities that all persuasive business leaders share – qualities that can help you become more inspiring, engaging and captivating.

Attend this PCMagCast and hear communications coach Carmine Gallo review the simple secrets and techniques he learned from interviewing more than two dozen well-known business leaders. This program is a must for professionals who conduct presentations online or in front of a live audiences.

Topic: Communication Secrets of the Pros
Thursday, February 8, 2006
Time: 11 AM PST/2 PM EST
Speakers:

• Carmine Gallo, author of 10 Simple Secrets of the World’s Greatest Communicators
• Frank Derfler, Moderator, Author and PC Magazine Veteran Editor

Gallo will share practical advice and examples on:

• How to get people to care about your message
• How to tell a business story that is clear, concise and compelling
• How to make an emotional connection with your audience
• How to sound like a leader

Register Now

March 25-27, 2007

Based on the core competencies Chief Learning Officers need to succeed:

• Strategic Management


• Knowledge Management


• Learning Methods and Concepts


• General Management


• Leadership Skills

Program includes:

• Interactive case environment


• Lectures by industry leaders


• Intimate workshops mentored by practicing CLOs


• Stimulating, small-group discussions with peers


• Customized, post-event online course delivered by Capella University

Register now! Space is limited.

Tuition: $1,795
Includes Colloquium and customized post-event course,
“Strategic Planning & the New World of Work,”
delivered online by Capella University

CLO Colloquium Accommodations
National Conference Center
18980 Upper Belmont Place
Lansdowne, VA 20176

The International Webmasters Association and the HTML Writers Guild sponsor a series of online classes. The February 2007 schedule is available at IWA/HWG.

February offerings include (among others):

• Introduction to Designing Accessible Websites
  
  Explore the area of web accessibility using a hand-on and project-based approach.
  Start Date: 05-Feb-07 (8 weeks).
  Non-members: $220.00, Full Members: $120.00


• Design Concepts
  Intimidated by design or creativity? Want to learn how to create more effective site and graphic designs? Then this is the course for you!
  Start Date: 05-Feb-07 (6 weeks).
  Non-members: $200.00, Full Members: $100.00
  


• Introduction to Dreamweaver
  
  Site management, visual design, tools for creating tables and forms, implementing style sheets, and adding javascript or behaviors.
  Start Date: 19-Feb-07 (4 weeks).
  Non-members: $180.00, Full Members: $80.00


• Record and Publish Videos for the Web
  Produce movies in a variety of file types, record the screen, webcam output, audio-only tracks, add special effects, and edit existing video.
  Start Date: 19-Feb-07 (6 weeks).
  Non-members: $200.00, Full Members: $100.00


• Legal Issues for Web Designers and Content Managers
  Learn about information security, copyright and trademark laws.
  Start Date: 19-Feb-07 (6 weeks).
  Non-members: $180.00, Full Members: $80.00


• HTML Forms
  Forms, form objects, form validation and working with user input.
  Start Date: 19-Feb-07 (4 weeks).
  Non-members: $160.00, Full Members: $60.00


• Web Content Writing and Editing
  Utilizes examples, discussions, and exercises designed to demystify the art and science of effective writing and editing for the e-audience.
  Start Date: 05-Mar-07 (6 weeks).
  Non-members: $180.00, Full Members: $80.00

For more information about the sponsoring organizations:
International Webmasters Association
HTML Writers Guild

Please spread the word:

The eBusiness Association (eBA) of Upstate New York will award two $1500 merit-based scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students attending a local academic institution or a to high school seniors with plans to attend an institution in the qualified geographic area.

The recipients of this award will exhibit strong academic achievement, leadership skills and thoughtful vision in the eBusiness arena. The winners will be selected in December 2006. The scholarships will be available for the school year beginning January 2007 and may be used for any academic related expenses, at the student’s discretion.

Applicants must visit the eBA web site and spend about one hour answering the online questions.

The deadline for this scholarship application has been extended to November 30, 2006.

PERSUASIVE 07 - The Second International Conference on Persuasive Technology
26-27 April 2007, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

Can a web site persuade you to be politically active?
Can a mobile phone motivate you to exercise?
Does instant feedback on gasoline use change how people drive?
Do online rating systems inspire people to behave better online?

PERSUASIVE 07 will focus on how digital technology can motivate and influence people. This event will bring together researchers, designers, and developers interested in computers designed to change human attitudes and behaviors in positive ways.

Key themes of PERSUASIVE 07 include health, education, sustainability, productivity, social relationships, trust, credibility, ethics and more. Technologies of interest include web sites, mobile phones, video games, and electronic devices, among others.

Call for Papers
Submission Deadline: December 15, 2006.

Academics and practitioners are invited to submit their work for presentation at PERSUASIVE 07 at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California on April 26-27, 2007. The conference welcomes original papers based on empirical studies of technologies designed to change attitudes or behaviors. Also welcome are papers that advance theoretical understanding of persuasion dynamics, methods for research, and related ethical issues. We also seek case studies of the highest quality that give insight into the design or distribution of persuasive technology products. We will select papers using a blind peer-review process.

For more information, see http://www.persuasivetechnology.org/ or contact:

Dr. BJ Fogg (conference organizer): bjfogg@stanford.edu or
prof.dr. Cees Midden (paper review chair): c.j.h.midden@tm.tue.nl