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Several STC chapters
have active local CIC SIGs associated with them. These chapter SIGs carry
on a variety of activities, such as holding regular meetings and maintaining a Web
site.
Starting a Chapter-Level CIC SIG
If your chapter does
not have a local CIC SIG and you want to start one, read Cheri
Taylor's article, "Starting Your
Chapter's CIC SIG." (HTML version or PDF version) This is an excellent, step-by-step
guide for getting your CIC SIG off and running.
If your chapter already has a chapter-level CIC SIG, perhaps you can use some of the ideas presented by Deanne Levander (Twin Cities Chapter) in this April 2003 Tieline excerpt.
List of Chapter-Level CIC SIG Links
Most of the links
shown below connect directly to the SIG’s home page; for others, you
will need to navigate from the chapter’s home page to the CIC SIG information.
If you belong to your local CIC SIG and your chapter is not listed,
please send e-mail to
and let her know your SIG exists!
Chapter CIC SIG Directories
Several chapter
CIC SIGs publish an online directory of their members and their
members' services. Chapters with online directories are marked with
"(directory)" in the list of links below.
Chapter CIC SIG Leaders' Newsgroup
Join the newsgroup for the
leaders of STC's chapter CIC SIGs. You can share your ideas
and ask advice of other chapter CIC SIG leaders.
Region 1
Boston
www.stc-boston.org
Toronto
www.stctoronto.org
Region 2
Carolina (Research Triangle Park area)
(directory)
www.stc-carolina.org/www/PICs/cic/
(Note: PIC must be capitalized)
Washington, DC (directory)
www.stcwdc.org/doc-company_resources.shtml
Region 3
Atlanta
www.stcatlanta.org
Region 4
Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana area) (directory)
www.prairienet.org/cil_stc/
Chicago (directory)
www.stc-chicago.org
Northeast Ohio (Cleveland area) (directory)
www.neostc.org/sig/cicsig.htm
Pittsburgh
www.stcpgh.org
Region 5
Austin
www.stcaustin.org/sigs/indepsig.html
Houston (directory)
http://www.stc-houston.org/sigs.html
Lone Star (Dallas/Ft. Worth)
www.stc-dfw.org/sigs_cic.htm
Region 6
Manitoba (Winnipeg) (directory)
www.stcmanitoba.org
St. Louis
www.stc-stlouis.org Contact:
Twin Cities (Mpls./St.Paul)
http://www.stctc.org/sigs/cic.htm
Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
http://www.stc-wi.org/
(Contact
)
Region 7
Canada West Coast
www.stcwestcoast.ca/03_resources/sig_cic.asp
Rocky Mountain (Denver) (directory)
www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/freelance.htm
Willamette Valley (Portland, OR)
www.stcwvc.org/sigs/sigs_contractors.htm
Region 8
San Diego (directory)
www.stc-sd.org/
Silicon Valley (San Jose)
www.stc-siliconvalley.org

Possible Meeting Topics
The following is an unordered list of topics that may interest your chapter's CIC SIG members. If you're stuck for a topic, browse the list for brainstorming purposes! If you have an idea for a great meeting topic, please e-mail
!
- Marketing, services, self promotion
- Low-cost marketing (see http://www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/freefaq.htm#q15
- Taxes, 1099s for subcontracts, CPS
- Hourly rates, estimating, W-2 vs. 1099
- Contracts, fixed vs. Hourly, writing, legal requirements -- also see http://www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/freefaq.htm#q10
- Locating clients, need for independents, new business areas
- Internet networking, PIC home page, list server
- Client relations, disputes, problem-resolution, value added
- Insurance, liability, health -- see also http://www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/fr_samples/insurance.htm
- Rates, raising without losing clients, value of tech writing
- Business management, office organization, expanding, with a household
- Negotiating, rates, work locations, fixed bids
- Writing proposals
- Estimating projects and project calculation
- Sole proprietor vs. incorporation
- Professional and technological skills: improving for home workers
- Telecommuting, promote, trends, how to
- Legal issues
- Collections, encouraging on-time payments, billing, late fees
- Subcontracting, working with agencies, educating agencies
- Collaboration, working with other independents, sharing overload
- Training, affordable retraining
- Innovative communications technology: keeping up with and using
- Becoming an independent, case studies
- Saying no to too much work
- Time management, project management
- Bidding on projects, fixed-price bids
- Computer maintenance and back-up information
- Tax issues
- Writing proposals
- Sharing resources (Web sites, books, publications)
- High-speed Internet access options for small businesses
- Creating a professional image
- Creating and maintaining a portfolio
- Financial planning (consider having a professional financial planner speak)
The St. Louis Chapter SIG has a great meetings page that might give you some ideas for CIC SIG meeting topics. Check it out at http://www.stc-stlouis.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=19

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