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The WDCB Chapter is a proud member of the STC Alliance.

Information for Entrants and Judges

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The Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter was chartered in December 1955. Volunteers manage the chapter and serve as officers, committee managers, and committee members. The chapter provides education, networking, recognition, and leadership skills to technical communication professionals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

About the Competitions

The Alliance Competitions

• About The STC Alliance Competition

The WDCB Chapter Competitions

Since 1965, the Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter sponsors an annual competition for technical communication. In the late 1960s, Washington, DC chapter member, Peter A. Smith, played a key role in the establishment of what has become a major society program: publications competitions. After conducting a successful chapter-level competition, he was asked to help organize and guide the first Society-level publications competition.

The competition is open to members and nonmembers, who submit samples of their work for judging by their peers. Entries may include books, brochures, graphic and packaging designs, hardware and software documentation, newsletters, online presentations and publications, periodicals, promotional material, technical reports, technical graphics, and video.

The Competition Awards

Awards are presented at four levels: Distinguished Technical Communication, Excellence, and Merit. Winners are honored at a gala Awards Celebration and the best of the winning entries are submitted to compete in the International Summit Awards Competition.

• About The Competition Awards
• Competition Awards Celebration Photos

The Competition Judges

• About The Competition Judges

What is STC?

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is a Section 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational, scientific, and charitable organization dedicated to furthering the art of communicating technical information and promoting the education, improvement, and advancement of its members. STC was established in 1953 and currently has 37 professional chapters, 9 student chapters, 12 special interest groups (SIGs), and around 6,000 members worldwide in about 50 countries.

For information about the history of STC and the Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter

• See our STC History page.
• Learn how to become an STC member and why you should join our chapter on our STC Membership information page.
• See our Join STC page for what the Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter offers you as a member.
• Read the Ethical Principles for Technical Communicators page.

How to Contact STC Headquarters

Support the STC Annual Fund

Make a donation to STC

By making a donation to the Society for Technical Communication, you support STC's mission to advance technical communication as the discipline of transforming complex information into usable content for products, processes, and services.

You could be helping a friend or a future colleague tomorrow. One hundred percent of your donation will go directly toward STC's mission to serve its members by identifying and promoting best practices in the field and by demonstrating the economic value delivered by technical communicators. By providing lifelong learning opportunities, STC helps its members develop their skills and competencies so that they may advance in a variety of career paths.

STC Membership Information

STC has the resources you need to help you do your job better and move your career forward. This website helps you find job openings and provides information about many employment resources for looking for a new job or a career change.

STC is a professional organization serving multiple fields in the technical communication profession. STC members include:

Technical communicators translate technical information into plain language that is easily understood by the user. They can convey scientific and technical information precisely, accurately, and clearly. Technical communication is recognized as an increasingly essential occupation in business and government. Technical communicators work with scientists and engineers in offices, factories, banks, hospitals, laboratories, from home, and on military bases. They work on a team, by themselves, as staff writers, managers, contractors, and consultants.

Related STC Chapters

STC chapters were once grouped into regions. In 2005, the regions were disbanded and individual chapters and special interest groups (SIGs) now work as separate communities. The following are chapters in our former region and other nearby chapters. The Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter collaborates with these chapters and with others on projects of mutual interest.

Nearby STC Professional Chapters

• Carolina
• Philadelphia Metro
• Pittsburgh
• Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter

Find Other STC Communities

See STC's Communities page for the full lists of

• STC Professional Chapters
• STC Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
• STC Student Chapters

Starting a Student Chapter connected to our chapter

Contact us if you are interested in starting a student chapter affiliated with the Washington, DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter. Please send email to student chapter information.

STC Academic Resources

Find local certificate and degree programs. For a list of local educational programs, see Education Information. Watch for announcements about upcoming seminars and workshops.

• Sigma Tau Chi and Alpha Sigma STC's honorary societies for students of technical communication  Updated
• STC Academic Database

STC Annual Conference Information

• STC annual conference—Technical Communication Summit
  • Annual conference dates
  • Past session materials

Related Links