One of the greatest benefits of membership in STC is the opportunity to network with other technical communicators. Networking can lead not only to practical advantages, such as a better job, a new work contract, or an improved way of working; it can also enrich our lives with new friends and acquaintances. This article will consider how chapter leaders can provide meaningful networking opportunities for all members, from independent contractors and business owners for whom networking is second nature, to the more introverted members who don't attend chapter meetings because they're uncomfortable in crowds.

What Networking Is (And Isn't)
Take a minute to think about what all of these things have in common: your computer, your doctor, your first job, your automobile mechanic, your favorite restaurant, and your home. The answer is people. Most of the decisions that you and I make in our daily lives involve other people and the advice they give us. It is almost always another person who tells you about a great job opening, a terrific book, or a dependable contract technical communicator who is looking for work. When you need advice, you usually call on someone you know.

So, everyone networks to some degree. But what, exactly, is networking? Networking is the process of getting to know people well enough to discover how you can create opportunities for one another. It is a lifelong process of meeting people, making contacts, developing friendships, and building professional relationships. Your network is unlimited if you build it and make it grow. It includes the people you grew up with, went to school with, family, friends, clients, colleagues, and neighbors.

Networking is not a method of manipulating people into meeting your particular needs. Rather, it is an exchange of information in which the emphasis is on giving, not taking. It is not a forum for hard-core selling or self-promotion; it is a forum in which both teaching and learning can take place among professionals. It is not a one-person show, but a collection of people connecting with one another as needed so everyone achieves success.

The Real Value of Networking
No matter what your career path or role in life, your ability to build a strong support system is a key factor in your success. If you own a consulting business, the ability to build strong client relationships is instrumental in developing repeat business, new business, and referral business. If you work in the corporate environment, you must create your own job security by building a support system of contacts. And if you are looking for a better job, your personal and professional contacts will help you find that job in a timely manner.

Networking has been around forever, and it always will be an integral part of success--so why does it have negative connotations for some people? I think mostly it's because we have all been exposed to aggressive people who want nothing more than to sell us something. We're afraid of being pressured into granting favors or buying products. If some of your chapter members have a negative attitude towards networking, they need to be reassured that networking, in the context of STC, means building strong relationships, enhancing teamwork and camaraderie, and sharing valuable information. We simply cannot achieve success in isolation. We need people whom we can support and assist, and who can be counted on to reciprocate the gesture.

Overcoming Fears
A large percentage of STC members consider themselves introverts. Some of your chapter members may be fearful of networking for a variety of reasons. Possible fears that can hamper a member's ability to make the most of STC's networking opportunities are fear of rejection, fear of obligation, fear of appearing pushy or aggressive, fear of small talk, and fear of joining small group discussions. The leaders' challenge is to provide a variety of networking opportunities that allow members to overcome or circumvent their fears. Chapter leaders can use the following tips to meet this challenge:

• Provide a special networking time before each chapter meeting for those who wish to arrive early to visit with others. Members who aren't interested in networking can plan to arrive later.
  
  
• Set up listservs for help developers or scientific writers, for example, to network on specific topics, such as. Remember that networking doesn't have to involve face-to-face contact. I know one chapter that has several different listservs for groups such as administrative council members, members of various committees, competition planners, and so forth. Don't hesitate to use this inexpensive method to let people connect in ways your members feel are beneficial.
  
  
• Plan social activities that allow members to network as they get better acquainted with one another. I've seen members attend a "social" function who don't normally even attend the meetings.
  
  
• Be accessible. A network is only as strong as its channels of communication, so make sure your members can get hold of you if they need you. Remember that the telephone is an effective, and often underused, instrument of networking.

Rating Your Chapter's Opportunities
Networking within organizations is important for promoting bonds with other members, attracting new members, and meeting the needs of members. Remember that people usually retain their membership in the organization that best meets their needs. To make sure you meet those needs and retain a higher percentage of members, you must encourage networking awareness. Consider the questions below and my responses to evaluate how well your chapter rates at providing networking opportunities.

• Are your members aware of the vast network available to them through STC? There are many ways to teach them about the benefits of networking--newsletter articles, announcements at meetings, e-mail, telephone messages, or even listservs or Web sites. When members truly understand the benefits they can derive from networking, they are more likely to take advantage of the opportunities.
  
  
• Is there a favorable attitude among your members regarding networking? One way to promote a better attitude towards networking is to make it fun. You can create a "mixer" game that involves finding an answer to a question. As members arrive, give them a question that they can answer by talking to the other members. This gets them started talking with one another, and they may discover things they have in common. As a result, they all get better acquainted and everyone wins.
  
  
• Do you find that people are "selling" instead of networking? If so, they probably don't understand the principles of networking. Explain to them that networking is getting to know people well enough to discover how you can create opportunities for one another. It is a give-and-take process, one that helps both sides achieve something they need. Once people have become friends, they are much more likely to do business.
  
  
• Is the room arrangement conducive to mingling? If your networking event is held prior to the meeting, make sure there is enough room to move around and visit. During the meeting, use smaller tables of six to encourage visiting. With fewer people at the table, everyone has more opportunities to speak.
  
  
• What activities encourage more networking? Any activity that enables people to visit, ask questions, and get better acquainted is a networking opportunity. Every chance you provide for members to get to know one another better helps make them more comfortable talking and working with one another.
  
  
• Are members sitting and mixing with the new members and guests? If not, assign certain members to perform this much-needed task. Suggest that they introduce the new person to other members with whom they have something in common. A great networking habit to form is sitting with someone you don't know.

Once your chapter members learn the value of networking, they will be eager to attend meetings, form closer bonds of friendliness, and retain their membership. The result is that your whole chapter benefits because you help members move beyond simply collecting business cards to making their networks accomplish something positive.
Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!" Try to make networking the "ultimate sport" in your chapter, and you will all reap the benefits.