A Great Chapter
by Judy Harper

It's official—again. The Southwestern Ohio chapter of STC is a Chapter of Excellence.

Repeating last year's accomplishment, our chapter has earned an Award of Excellence for chapter achievement and service to members. In a program that acknowledges "performance well beyond expectations," SWO was cited as a "solid, well-rounded chapter/community with a lot to offer the Southwestern Ohio area and STC as a whole."

Looking Back

What did we offer in 2004-2005? Here's a short list:

• Our inexpensive, interactive monthly programs provided valuable information and local networking opportunities.

• Our 2004 Employment Workshop was a huge success, with almost 50 attendees learning the ins and outs of a successful job search.

• Our new Active Member Program, where members earned points and qualified for an SWO polo shirt by participating in chapter activities, recognized the importance of member involvement.

• Our decision to join user groups (Apress, McGraw-Hill/Osborne, Peachpit Press, and O'Reilly) gave chapter members access to useful resources, discounts, and information.

In addition, our newly redesigned Web site made chapter life easier for every member by providing access to:

• Online bulletin boards for exchange of ideas and information, as well as local job postings and other employment leads

• Clickable event calendars on every page

• Online event registrations

• Real-time job postings from the Yahoo employment group

Looking Forward

Can we three-peat in 2006? Of course we can--with your help. Past president Sarah Wigser said it clearly in the April/May issue of Between the Lines: "Our chapter is only as strong as our volunteers. Maybe it’s time for you to step up and volunteer."

Your ideas, your skills, and your participation can help us experience another year of excellence, earn another Chapter of Excellence award, and add an even higher award to our (virtual) trophy case. Let's shoot for Chapter of Distinction in 2006!