Letter from the Editor
Professional Endeavors
By Margaret Garcia-Nokes
My introduction to STC began two years ago with Saul Carliner's "Career Ladders" program on September 13, 2001. I was contracting with the state at the time and was evacuated from the McCormack building on what seemed to be a daily basis. Anticipating an end to my contract, I had planned to attend a multitude of networking events that week. STC was the only organization that did not cancel its event.
Despite a suffocating time of grief, bewilderment, and shock, a novice networker in a room full of people whom she had never met found small comfort in a gathering of folks trying to take stock and move on. Nearly two years later, we are striving for the same mobility amidst even greater economic challenges.
Active participation in networking and professional communities of practice is therefore more important than ever, as we struggle to find the balance between taking or holding on to any job we can, and doing what we love. What are our interests, talents, and skill sets, and which are essential to landing the next interview? How can we move and grow professionally when we feel so lucky for what we have? How many more program talks and pro-bono projects can we expend in what often seems a vain hope to be recognized for our potential and incredible contribution to the bottom line? How do we re-invent ourselves to move past the ratio of jobs in our field to those of us looking for work?
I do not know the answers to these questions. I do know that both mentoring and seeking counsel from those with experience that we hope to gain is the best path toward mastering our practice—much more so than landing that mythical "perfect job." As one who has worked a total of 12 months in the past 30, sometimes in my field and often not, all I can say for certain is that we grow most quickly and fully in any journey outside our daily routines.
Become Involved
Visit http://www.stc-boston.org/chapter-info/jobs/volunteers.shtml to learn of chapter and Broadside project work that you can become involved with to enhance your skills and to help your chapter peers.
Tell us what you think of the Broadside and what can be done to improve the newsletter. Write to me at bostonbroadside@yahoo.com or visit http://www.stc-boston.org/broadside/survey.shtml anytime to record your comments. They will be taken seriously.
In this Issue
Take a peek at the content of this issue, where you will find articles on your role in improving the development process and building support for internal change (Paper Prototyping and Leadership Is Key to Change). Link to competition information and encourage your workplace to enter (Mark your calendar and Talk it Up). Read about new tool solutions and resume approaches (Using JSPs, Tiles, & Struts and Showcase your Talents). Look to the Broadside recurring columns to learn more about chapter and society happenings in the President's Message, Society Highlights, and Announcements and Activities.
As this is my first issue as managing editor, I would like to extend many thanks to Daphna Edgar for leading the Broadside through its final phase to a full-fledged online publication over the past two years. Daphna, I am also most grateful for your continued support and counsel.
Margaret Garcia-Nokes is an instructional designer and managing editor of the Boston Broadside. You can reach her at bostonbroadside@yahoo.com.
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