Lines & Letters

This picture of a common Merganser with more than 50 ducklings is still astounding. What is going on? Some birds, including ducks and ostriches, raise their babies in a crèche. In a crèche, females leave their ducklings in the care of one female, usually one that is an experienced parent. According to an article at Audubon.org, … Continue reading…

The thistle and milkweed are about to bloom, so the American Goldfinches are getting ready to breed. They are one of the few species that wait till seeds are available before breeding. Many other species switch to a diet of insects during the breeding season. By waiting for seeds, American Goldfinches thwart predation by Brown-Headed … Continue reading…

Associate Fellow Bob Dianetti makes a great contribution to the field. Enjoy his answers to the questions asked. What can you tell us about your experiences in the STC leadership as a director? My term as director took place from 2004-2007.  It was a time of great transition for STC.  We were in the midst … Continue reading…

I’d like to talk about my experience attending the Summit virtually for the first time. It was spectacular! There was so much more to this experience than I could have imagined. People were engaged, friendly, and helpful. There were so many great sessions (perhaps even more than usual), that it was difficult to find just … Continue reading…

Here are a few highlights and observations from this year’s STC Summit 2021, held virtually. Quick Fixes for Bad Slides If you do PowerPoint slides, I recommend checking out Mike Parkinson. His presentation was a fast and fun romp through examples of boring slides and how to make them more interesting. He had a lot … Continue reading…

 When I was asked to write about customer service, just thinking about the level of customer service I find today, the number of angles and topics that came to mind was overwhelming.  Considering you as the audience, it seemed important to focus on what might serve writers and how customer service is critical for our … Continue reading…

We don’t need to tell you that what it means to “go to work” has changed dramatically for many people during a global health crisis. Chances are good that you’ve personally experienced a “new normal” as it pertains to your career, even if temporarily.  One of the side effects of this disruption is that many … Continue reading…

Computer Literacy is the ability to use smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and computer devices. It’s important for people of all ages to use technology to engage with the world. Technology Is Everywhere As automation continues to eliminate jobs, knowing how to use a computer is part of being self-sufficient. Airports, grocery stores, restaurants, libraries, and … Continue reading…

When we held our last drawing for the winner of a $20 gift card for a contributor to Lines & Letters, Paul was the lucky winner. If you submit an article for our newsletter, you are eligible to be in our drawing. Submit articles to newsletter@neostc.org. A big thank you also is in order to … Continue reading…

Therese Longo did a great job with the mini-webinar held May 13 at noon. The topic covered “Start with Accomplishments: How to make your training and technical writing more performance-based” as the webinar looked at making a shift from what people do to what people produce. This shift can provide a performance focus that sets … Continue reading…

I hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter. A big thank you goes out to everyone who has contributed to this and past issues of Lines & Letters with an especially big thank you to Paul Holland who has agreed to be a co-editor for this term.  Paul takes on co-editor tasks in addition … Continue reading…