STC hosted a free webinar on April 4 for first-time attendees and anyone who hasn't attended the Summit in awhile. Get tips and tricks to make the most out of your Summit experience. The presenters covered the kinds of sessions offered, the social events, ticketed events, the location of the Hyatt, and just about anything a first-time attendee would want to know.

1. Welcome to the STC Summit
First Timer Web seminar.
The session will start in a few minutes.
Please mute your phone and/or computer
microphone.
If your phone does not have a mute button, at the top of
the display click the green phone handset icon and
select “Mute my phone”.

2. Getting the Most
(and you can get a lot!)
from Your First
Technical Communication
Summit
60th Anniversary Annual Conference
Your tour guides: Rhyne & Nathaniel

3. Our goal is to help make your
experience at the world’s largest
gathering of technical communication
professionals productive, educational
and fun!

4. Tip #1: Plan a daily schedule.
Factor in back-
Use the up options
guide.
Select from
Technical sessions
Vendor showcases
Special sessions
Lightning talks

5. Choose among different session
formats:
“Lecture”
•Case Study
•Demonstration
•Lightning Talk Project
•Panel Discussion
Mini- •Presentation Showcase
•Research Report
Workshop
Progression

6. Tip #2: Take advantage of conference
resources.
Community Affairs
Body of Committee
Knowledge
STC Central
Publications
Competition
Awards Membership
Display
Nominating
Committee

7. Tip #2: Take advantage of conference
resources. cont.
Message Board Refreshments Student
Lunch
Area
on
Monday
Unofficial
Gatherings

8. Tip #2: Take advantage of conference
resources. cont.
Atlanta Information Booth
Local Info
Give-Aways
Chicago Booth 2012

9. Tip #3: Take advantage of ONLINE
conference resources.
WiFi?
Itinerary
Planner
Lanyrd
Employment Booth
Speaker
Evaluations

16. Tourist Events
Oakland Cemetery Tour Atlanta Ghost Tour
Sunday, 5 May Tuesday, 7 May
1:00-3:30 PM 8:00-10:00 PM
$24.00 $20.00

17. Tip #4: Follow conference “etiquette.”
Always carry business cards
Wear your nametag (then give them away).
(where it can be seen
easily). g
r in
B e
t h le
w xho !
bo
Feel free to
“beam” with
other geeks.

18. Tip #4: Follow conference “etiquette.”
cont.
If a session doesn’t meet
Don’t let your cell phone your needs, leave (Use your
annoy others. back-up plan).
Keep networking!
(It just means talking.)

19. Networking starters. . .
“Hi! I’m (your name) from (your city/state).
Where are you from?”
“What’s new at your company?”
“It’s my first STC Summit -- how
about you?”
• (for newbies) “What do you want to learn?”
• (for non-newbies) “What
sessions do you recommend?”

20. Technical communicator folks
Who are they? What do they do? Where are they from?
Famous folks
Program committee

21. Technical communicator folks, cont.
Who are they? What do they do? Where are they from?
STC office
The rest of us!

22. Tip #5: Don’t miss the Sunday Stuff!
Exposition Hall
Opening (closes 5:00 pm on
session Welcome Tuesday)
(5:30-6:45 pm) reception
(7:00-8:30 pm)
David Pogue

23. Tip #5: Don’t miss the Sunday Stuff!
cont.
Wear your
nametag. Food
Network!
(It just means
meeting people.)

24. Tip #6: Don’t miss the Communities
Reception on Monday night!
Food
Network
!
Give-Aways

25. Or g
Summit TweetUp an
Atla ized b
nta y
Cha STC
pter
TBD
Tuesday at 9:00 PM
Everyone is welcome! (Sort of)

26. Tip #7: Attend Pre-Banquet
Reception for FREE on Tuesday.
After
Reception Party?
Banquet
before
Check
Twitter.
#stc13
Optional Pricing
(Sort of)

28. Tip #8: Attend Special Interest
Group (SIG) Meetings.

29. Tip #9: Be healthy. Live well.
Give yourself breaks (It’s Ask questions (the
OK to “skip a class”.) “famous people” &
“big shots” will talk
to you, too.)
Have fun!
Provide feedback.

30. Recognize yourself. Wear ribbons.
Helpful for networking

31. Any questions
Pick Up Your 1st Time Attendee Ribbon.