From the President

July 2014

Welcome to the first issue of the TechCommNZ monthly newsletter. It will give you some insight into TechCommNZ activities, with a special focus on our role as advocate for technical communicators in New Zealand.

You'll hear about what we are currently doing and what we are planning, so watch out for updates on:

In the longer term, watch out too for news on the development of enhanced TechCommNZ membership grades as a way of recognising the skills of experienced technical communicators.

We will also be telling you more about our new communication and marketing strategy. Its main focus is to spread the word about the value of technical communication and the value of involving technical communicators in all types of projects. Some businesses already appreciate how we, as technical communicators, can add value by communicating clearly with their customers and users of their products but many are still missing out. By working with other industry organisations, with all types of businesses, government and educational institutions, we can increase their awareness of the benefits of working with a technical communicator. We can help make sure that whenever anyone thinks "we need to communicate this information effectively", their next thought is "we need a technical communicator".

To round off these inaugural Words from the President, I would like to thank Emma Harding, our Vice President, for her work with Claire Nicholson in getting our communication and marketing strategy underway. Thanks also to Emily Cotlier and Graeme Wilson who have been working on setting up the new TechCommNZ blog. The blog and this newsletter are the first tangible products of that strategy, so stand by for further developments!

Finally, I would like to welcome Rhiannon Davies, who was appointed in March as our Communications Coordinator. Rhiannon comes to us (I'm told) from deepest, darkest Wellington and is currently studying a Bachelor of Communications at Massey University. In her free time, she volunteers at the Cats Protection League, brews her own mead, and makes dreadful puns. As Communications Coordinator she will work with the TechCommNZ committee to produce this newsletter and ensure that you are kept fully informed of our ongoing work.

Thanks for your time and your support. I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with you through this newsletter - and you are of course welcome to contact me at any time.

Steve