STC Rochester Chapter

The fun has just begun for judges in this year’s Summit Awards competition. Entries are in, and judges are busy reviewing them. As usual, there is a good variety of work from local and regional organizations.

STC has changed its approach to assessing entries, so the comments that entrants get this year will be structured differently than it has been in previous years. This change offers an opportunity for new insights for entrants and judges alike. If you are interested in learning more about how entries are evaluated, STC makes judging materials available to members at http://www.stc.org/membership/recognition/competitions

Award winners will be recognized at the Spectrum conference in April.

If you missed this year’s opportunity to enter, it is not too early to set a goal for entering in 2012. The Summit Awards program offers a professional development opportunity and a chance for professional recognition rolled into one.  Put entering the STC Rochester Summit Awards Competition in your plan for September 2012!

Related articles

• Local Entries Receive STC International Summit Awards of Excellence (stc-rochester.org)

The STC Summit Awards, the Rochester Chapter annual technical publications competition,  is now open to everyone who produces technical communication. Entrants do not have to be members of STC. You may enter work as an individual or on behalf of a colleague.

We hope you’ll join your fellow technical communicators and take advantage of this opportunity to receive recognition and feedback from your peers on your best work. Please read on for competition details and links to documents you will need to enter.

What can be entered?

All entries must:

• Contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as technical communication
• Have been produced or substantially revised within 24 months preceding September 1 of the current year
• Have been originally prepared for and accepted for publication by a client, employer, or publisher

Entries are subject to all conditions listed in the General Information and Competition Rules.

What awards are given?

Three levels of recognition are possible in each competition category. These awards, in descending order, are:

• Distinguished Technical Communication
• Excellence
• Merit

One Best of Show award is presented for each of the four submission categories. Those are:

• Informational Materials
• Instructional Materials
• Promotional Materials
• User Support Materials

What are the Deadlines and Fees?

Entries will be accepted beginning Sept. 26, 2011.

Entry deadline is October 21, 2011, 5:00 pm. Please note that this is a firm deadline and that there can be no exceptions.

Fees per entry are:

• Member – STC Rochester chapter: $75.00
• Member – Another STC chapter: $85.00
• Non-member: $100.00
• Student: $40.00
• Early bird discount  (received by 10/7) : $15.00

If any contributor of the entry is an STC member, the entry qualifies for the applicable member rate.

How do I enter?

Follow these steps to submit your work:

1.  Sign up and pay your entry fee online. (If you prefer to pay by check, please sign up on the EventBrite site, make your check payable to Rochester STC, and deliver the check with your entry.)

http://stcrochesterpubscompetition.eventbrite.com

2.  Complete the Description of the Competition Entry form (3 pages) and the Entry Submission form (1 page). 

3.   Deliver or mail (in one package) four copies of your entry, four copies of the Description of the Competition Entry form, and four copies of the Entry Submission Form to:

Jan Peartree
Novatek Communications
500 Helendale Road
Suite 280
Rochester, NY 14609

Forms and Competition Information

Use the following forms for more infomation about competition rules, and to submit your entry. Both MS Word and PDF forms are available in the following list. Use the format that works best for you.

• 2011_General_Information_Competition_Rules2 (Word)
• General Information and Competition Rules (PDF)
• Rochester_2011_Annual_Competition_Entry_Form1(Word)
• Description of the Competition Entry (PDF)
• Rochester_2011_Annual_Competition_Entry_Form1 (Word)
• Entry Submission Form (PDF)

Questions

If you have questions about entering this competition, please contact Doug Eaton, Publications Competition Manager, at competitions@stc-rochester.org. Tel: 315.634.7284

You have an opportunity to respond to some of the best technical communications published in the past two years by volunteering to serve as a judge in the Rochester Chapter’s 2011 Summit Awards Competition. Participating in the judging of competition entries is a great way to learn some new ideas and to interact with communications professionals.

Judges usually focus on one or two competition categories and review approximately four submissions. After you receive a packet of entries to review, you have approximately three weeks to complete your evaluations. Then, you will meet with the other judges who evaluated those same entries to reach consensus on a single evaluation for each entry. This year, the consensus judging day meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 (9:00 AM – noon).

If you are interested in judging, complete the application form linked below (either MS Word or PDF version) and send it to Jan Peartree by October 19, 2011.

• 2011 Summit Awards Judging Application (Word)
• 2011 Summit Awards Judging Application (PDF)

Doug Eaton, Technical Communications
Saab Sensis Corporation
315.634.7284

Congratulations to the recipients of Awards of Excellence in this year’s STC International Summit Awards:

• Xerox Color 800/1000 Presses Brochure
  Contributors: Xerox Creative Communications Group
• Fundamentals of Imaging Technology
  Contributors: Jeff Denmark, Sue Inzero, Dave McClelland, Patricia Roesch, Debra Stamp

These entries first received awards in the STC Rochester chapter’s 2010-2011 Summit Awards competition, the professional competition for technical publications, qualifying them for entry for the international competition.

An entry that wins an award of Excellence consistently meets high standards in all areas. The entry might contain a single major flaw or a few minor flaws. The entry clearly (if slightly imperfectly) demonstrates an exceptional understanding of technical communication principles.

Congratulations!

We proudly honor the winners of our chapter’s 2010-2011 Summit Awards, the professional competition for technical publications.

The following entries were recognized at Spectrum 2011, the region’s premier technical communications conference.  These entries were also on display for conference attendees to peruse and admire.

All recipients of the Distinguished Technical Communication and Excellence awards are eligible for the STC Summit Awards, the international competition.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

Distinguished Technical Communication

Xerox® Color 800/1000 Presses Brochure
Category: Promotional
Contributors: Xerox Creative Communications Group
Best in Show winner!

Excellence

Fundamentals of Imaging Technology
Category: Instructional
Contributors: Jeff Denmark, Sue Inzero, Dave McClelland, Patricia Roesch, Debra Stamp

Quick Reference Guide for Worldwide Wireless
Category: User Support
Contributors: Heather Ferrin-Germani, Elaine Lanni, Beth Noble, Dennis Swarthout, Pam Laycock

Vital Signs Monitor 6000 Series Quick Reference Card
Category: User Support
Contributors: Bobbi Werner, Corrie Baum

Merit

Customizing Line Circuit Operation
Category: User Support
Contributor: REDCOM Technical Publications Team

Engineers Can Write!
Category: Informational
Contributors: Tom Moran, Georgia Stelluto

MarkView 6.5 System Upgrade Guide for Oracle E-Business Suite
Category: User Support
Contributor: Deborah Holmes

MarkView AP Advisor Operation and Administration
Category: Informational
Contributors: Anna Pratt, Taryn Light

The Wallace Center’s Supported Technologies Portal & Wiki Spaces
Category: User Support
Contributors: Jessica Hooper, Katie McDonald, James DeWitt, Randall Church

Xerox Mobile Print Solution
Category: User Support
Contributors: Brian Laing, Orilee Ireland-Delfs

Xerox® Color 800/1000 Presses Clear Dry Ink Design Guide
Category: User Support
Contributor: Xerox Creative Communications Group