What a year
Rachel Fowler, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief | TLT Publisher's Pen December 2020
Through all the hardships this year and in the future, TLT is here for you.
Through the pandemic this year, we made sure to keep TLT relevant and provide up-to-date content.
It’s difficult to summarize the ups and downs of everything that has happened in 2020. Personally, my basement flooded, a tornado hit my town, my air conditioner stopped working during the hottest week of the year, and my brother had COVID-19 (he’s doing fine now). On the other hand, my daughter was born, and I was promoted to TLT publisher/editor-in-chief. That’s the shortened version of my year.
STLE had to adjust to the new world we live in as well. Our headquarters staff has been adapting to working from home and occasionally going into the office. We moved from in-person staff meetings to WebEx and Microsoft Teams meetings. We’ve offered numerous STLE Webinars this year that you can view on-demand and are working on online certification exams. We launched a new learning management system for easier access to purchased webinars and courses. The Tribology Frontiers Conference went virtual, which was a new experience, but it went very well. Luckily, it’s still easy to communicate with STLE members and experts in the field. We rely on technology more than ever these days.
Through the pandemic this year, we made sure to keep TLT relevant and provide up-to-date content. We published articles on COVID-19 and how it is impacting the lubricants and metalworking fluids industries. Newsmakers has been a big item in TLT as things have been changing for companies in the industry. There were articles on hot topics such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. As we learn more, we’ll provide more.
In this issue’s Sounding Board, we asked readers to share their professional and personal goals for 2021. Most answers were different than previous years, including keeping jobs and surviving the pandemic. Things will still look different around the world next year, but TLT will maintain the same high quality, high-level information geared toward the technical professional. TLT is always here for you through the print and digital editions, and I’m excited about the TLT content lined up for 2021. To view the 2021 TLT editorial calendar and Marketing Resource Guide, visit the Technical Library tab at
www.stle.org.
Reflecting on 2020, my first year as TLT publisher/editor-in-chief, I started right after my maternity leave ended in April. It was strange starting this new role at home in the beginning of a pandemic, but we’ve all been able to adapt. I brought my daughter into the office for a visit right before the U.S. lockdown. That was the last time I saw some colleagues in person this year. Fortunately, we’ve been able to see and talk to each other through video chats.
So, what are my goals for 2021? Professionally, maintain the high-quality and relevant content in TLT. Personally, go on a vacation when things are safer.
Thank you for your continued support of TLT and STLE in 2020. Through all the hardships, I’m proud of how we adapted this year.
You can reach TLT publisher/editor-in-chief Rachel Fowler at rfowler@stle.org.