The San Antonio Alamo Chapter of the STC has voted “yes” to become a satellite of the Austin Chapter. Now it’s our turn to review what that means and vote on it. San Antonio would become a satellite committee of the Austin Chapter. San Antonio is asking for our help, and they are offering their help. We need your feedback over the next two weeks, and then we will all vote on it.

Note: Most the text in this posting comes from Heather Parsons, Alamo Chapter President, as posted to the Alamo Chapter web site. It has been adapted for use on the Austin Chapter web site.

This consideration is taking place for several reasons and we would like to get your feedback before the vote takes place. If you feel strongly one way or the other about San Antonio becoming a satellite committee of the Austin Chapter, please respond with your feedback to the questions below. Also below are benefits, disadvantages, and reasons for merging as a satellite.

Thank you for your consideration and please send us feedback.

Brett Youngblood, Chapter President
Marilyn Rogers, Chapter Vice President
Frank Giffin, Treasurer

What Is a Satellite Group and What Are the Benefits?

A satellite group is similar to a special interest group (SIG) or local interest group (LIG) within a host chapter. A satellite does not have elected officers and it is set up to cover a specific topic or geographic area. In our situation, the Alamo Chapter would become a satellite group within the Austin Chapter. The Alamo Chapter would be dissolved and the Austin Chapter would be the governing body. As a satellite group, Alamo members would receive the same chapter benefits as Austin members (i.e., voting for elected officers, attend meetings, access to member-only areas of website, etc.). Alamo members would have the benefit of attending both Alamo and Austin meetings. The Alamo satellite can still hold program meetings, but the group would be financed through the Austin Chapter and would follow the Austin Chapter’s bylaws and guidelines.

Reasons and Benefits behind the Satellite Proposal

1. Even though the number of members grew in San Antonio in the last six months of 2008, the membership over the past several years has had a significant drop. Their number of members was 36 as of April 1, 2009. The number of members attending meetings has dropped over the last year even though there have been almost monthly meetings either at locations or online. The lack of attendance at meetings is a serious concern for the leaders because the purpose of STC is to not only learn from other technical communicators, but also to network.
2. There has been a severe need for volunteers to grow the chapter despite several announcements asking for volunteers via the web site, the email list, and phone calls. The Alamo Chapter applauds the work of its volunteers in the past few months, but the amount of administrative work in growing a chapter requires more active volunteers who are dedicated to reaching out to other technical communicators.

San Antonio currently has four volunteers – president, treasurer, webmaster, and their “idea person” who helps contact potential speakers for meetings. They are all wearing multiple hats, which limits how much they can do for their roles and for the chapter.

At a minimum, they need a formal newsletter editor, a programs/speaker manager, and a secretary. The STC main office requires each chapter to have a president, treasurer, and secretary at a minimum to remain active. It is San Antonio’s belief as chapter leaders that (in addition to the secretary position) without a newsletter editor and programs/speaker manager, they lack the presence necessary to reach out to people and grow the chapter.

3. The Austin Chapter currently holds location-specific meetings and would like to start holding online meetings. Because the Alamo Chapter has been doing online meetings for six months now, they would benefit both chapters by coordinating the online meetings.

Cons to Becoming a Satellite

1. The Alamo Chapter would lose control of its funding unless specifically reviewed and approved by the Austin Chapter. As a satellite, San Antonio would have a line item budget for meetings that is maintained and approved by the Austin Chapter. A satellite committee leader would be responsible for coordinating meeting expense reimbursement with the Austin Chapter.
2. If a new chapter were to be started in San Antonio in the future, it would start from scratch through the STC head office. The leaders of that new chapter would be responsible for coordinating funding and forms with the STC main office. The Austin Chapter and past Alamo Chapter leadership would not be involved in the process of starting the new chapter.
3. The Alamo Chapter members would have the option of joining the Austin Chapter, which is a benefit in terms of the Austin membership base; however, the location-specific chapter meetings are held in Austin. They could have socials and possibly meetings in San Antonio, but the cost of these would be controlled by the Austin group.

Request for Feedback

This is an informal notice only, not a formal vote. The formal vote will take place at a later date. However, we want your comments to the preceding information as well as any thoughts, feelings, and questions. When the formal vote is conducted, it will only be open to members of the Austin Chapter.

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