atw: Re: LAST CALLS for the ASTC(NSW) meeting tomorrow night (23rd)

  • From: "Nancy Rose" <nancyrose73@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:15:50 +1100

Well, I am doing my darndest to attend both meetings. They are both 
supported (e.g. advertised) by the ASTC NSW and are both worthy topics of 
discussion.

Perhaps the wording in the meeting reminder indicated that we may have to 
take minutes because we are Technical Authors (rather than just because) and 
I guess that perhaps that may cause an annoyance? So, to clarify by using my 
own situation...

I am not a secretary nor would I suggest that I have all the secretarial 
skills; however, as part of my role as a Tech. Writer I do occasionally run 
projects and, therefore, meetings. Just as I am required to run meetings, I 
am also (occassionally) required to take minutes (usually voluntarily - in 
my organisation we don't have a lot of secretaries and therefore people 
throughout the hierarchy takes turns with the minutes and other meeting 
roles - 'come to my meeting and you're likely to be given a job to do'). I 
don't attend many board meetings either but I do attend meetings.

I believe that understanding how meetings should run, which includes knowing 
how to take minutes, is a valuable tool to have no matter what type of 
employment. In my role, as a Tech. Writer, I do use these skills in meetings 
and in workshops that I run.

I also use meeting skills in volunteer committees outside of the workplace. 
We don't have the benefit of a secretary but we get through. What else would 
happen in a volunteer organisation or committee, particularly one where you 
are required to take proper notes and follow correct meeting procedures?

I am amost interested in both topics - that is because they BOTH relate to 
what I do both at work and in my outside-of-work life.

I personally find these ASTC get togethers give me the opportunity to learn 
some new skills and to catch up with others who work in the same general 
field and exchange ideas. It's never about just sitting and listening for an 
hour. So, I really look forward to meeting those of you who choose to attend 
either (or both) of these meetings :-)

Cheers
Nancy


From Allan...
************
The ASTC announcement said

>As a technical writer, you may find that you are expected
>at least to know how to take minutes at a meeting, and
>it'll be a useful part of your skills armoury if you can.

No.  Absolutely not.  I make my own notes, and others are welcome to
borrow them.  But I'm not a secretary.  That's a completely different
skill set.

I wouldn't feel happy about a secretary taking on a technical
documentation task on the basis of good typing skills, and I doubt that
secretaries feel happy about technical writers taking secretarial work.

Some of my colleagues occasionally borrow my meeting notes, and I don't
mind at all.  But they are *my* notes, concerned with my interest in the
meeting's subject matter.  In the meetings I go to, the chairman usually
makes sufficient notes to build minutes from.  But then, I'm a simple
technical soul, and I don't go to high-falutin' events like board
meetings 'n' stuff.

I'm going to Westies tonight though, and Steve and I will discuss style
guides.  My bit will be brief, and I'm sure Steve will be brief too,
because we all want a good discussion.  None of us wants to hear a
monologue.

Come along to Westies!
Commercial Hotel, opposite the Parramatta railway station.
If you can't find the place, call 0413 022 056 and I'll try to help.
If you live in Melbourne, you've got just enough time to get on a plane
and get up here.

Allan


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