Notes from 56th International STC Conference
Atlanta, Georgia, May 2-5, 2009

Leadership Day Tidbits

Session Description: Random collection of observations, insights, and inspiration.

• Susan Burton’s statistical analysis of membership in associations
   
• 10% leaders
• 30% define “Active” as attending one event a year
• 50% inactive; join for professional affiliation, resume, publications, and web site access (information)
• 10% “dissidents”
• Half of those are dissident in whatever organization they belong (inveterate complainers who don’t do anything to fix the problem)
• Half of those are abrasive but actually have identified true problems and often have the kernel of the solution; the key is not to be put off by their initial attack, try to engage them, and get them into the 10% leaders category
• Cindy Currie’s metaphor of the sea otters during the Exxon Valdez disaster.
   
• Sea otters were trapping oil in their thick fur, causing them to sink and drown
• Many attempts were made to help them. The solution was finally to create baffles that closely mimicked the otters’ fur, drag those through the water, and trap the oil
• Moral: look outside the box for solutions (e.g., the 5% abrasive STC dissidents may be trapping “oil” that can save the rest of us ... listen to them).
• Susan Burton’s Conference registration: January, 150; 3 weeks before event, 300; at event, 700. Key was innovative thinking (scholarships, discounts, etc.) and community support. Society was able to minimize the contractual attrition charge of $200K to the Hyatt for not filling a block of rooms booked several years ago.
• STC strategic goals:
   
• Define the profession
• Communicate the value
• Improve the practice
• Expand our partnerships
• Ensure the viability