Virginia Court Reporters Association (VCRA) News

Introducing your 2026-2027 VCRA Board members!

Elizabeth Whitlock — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:19:44 GMT

Please join us in welcoming the 2026-2027 VCRA Board members!

President, Dana Pon, RPR, CCR

Vice President, Ruth Levy, RPR, CCR

Secretary, Rachel Cramer, CCR

Treasurer, Paula Kugelman, RPR, CCR

Director, Stephanie Barnes, RSR, CCR

Director, MaryTheresa Ferris, RPR, CCR

Director, Kelly Hopkins, CCR

Director, Yulonda Miller, CCR

Director, Marie Olson, CVR, CCR

Director, Bria Pintado, RPR

Director, Samantha Robertson, CCR

Director Tony Spratley, CCR

Student Liaison, Jennifer Shen

Student Liaison, Jane Harkness

Introducing the candidates for the 2026-2027 VCRA Board of Directors!

Elizabeth Whitlock — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:16:35 GMT

We are proud to present the candidates for the VCRA Board of Directors for 2026-2027!

You may view their bios here.

President's Message - Winter 2026

Elizabeth Whitlock — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:25:11 GMT

As we turn the page on the holidays and settle into the winter months, we hope you had time to rest, recharge, and enjoy moments with family, friends, and loved ones. The end of the year often gives us a chance to reflect—on challenges met, milestones reached, and the vital role court reporters and captioners continue to play in ensuring access to justice and communication for all.

As we look ahead, there’s plenty to be excited about. February brings Court Reporting & Captioning Week, a time to celebrate our profession, educate the public about what we do, and recognize the skill, dedication, and professionalism required to preserve the record and provide access through captioning. We encourage you to take part—whether that means sharing your story, mentoring a student, posting on social media, participating in software trainings we are offering, joining one of our many socials, or simply taking pride in the work you do every day.

In March, we’re thrilled to gather for our upcoming MAR Education Day, where members will have the opportunity to earn continuing education, hear from engaging speakers, and connect with colleagues from across the state. Education Day is always a highlight, offering both practical takeaways and a renewed sense of community. We hope you’ll plan to join us.

Winter may be a quieter season in some ways, but for our organization, it’s a time of momentum and purpose. Thank you for being part of this profession and this community. We look forward to celebrating, learning, and moving forward together in the months ahead.

Warm regards,

Dana M. Pon, RPR, CCR

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message - Fall 2025

Elizabeth Whitlock — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:46:48 GMT

As we settle into the fall season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the energy and engagement we’ve seen across our association this year. Our Fall Virtual Event in September was a tremendous success — filled with strong participation, insightful sessions, and meaningful discussion. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped make it possible. Each event like this reminds us how much we gain when we come together to learn, share, and support one another.

Looking ahead, we’re already turning our focus to MAR Education Day in March, which promises to be another opportunity to strengthen our skills and connect with colleagues from across Virginia. Details will be coming soon, and I encourage everyone to mark their calendars and plan to join us.

As always, I’m grateful for the dedication and professionalism that each of you brings to our field every day. The work you do matters — not just in the record you create, but in the integrity and trust you bring to every proceeding. Thank you for representing our profession with excellence.

Warm regards,

Dana M. Pon

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message - Summer 2025

Elizabeth Whitlock — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:58:02 GMT

Dear Members,

I hope you’re enjoying a well-deserved summer break—whether that means time to relax, recharge, or just soak up a little sunshine.

As we hit the midpoint of the year, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work each of you is doing. Whether you’re a freelancer or an official, whether you provide CART or captioning services, or whether you support our field in another important way, your dedication to accuracy, professionalism, and excellence continues to move our profession forward.

Behind the scenes, our organization has been busy this summer—planning new educational opportunities, advocating for the profession, and finding new ways to support and connect with members. We’re seeing more engagement in our committees and fresh energy around mentorship and innovation.

Looking ahead, be sure to save the date for our upcoming Miles of Knowledge Virtual Fall Event on September 13th. It will be a great chance to learn, connect, and celebrate the amazing talent in our community. Details are in the newsletter!

In the meantime, I hope you’ll take a little time this summer to reflect on your professional goals and maybe think about how you can get more involved. Whether that’s mentoring a new reporter, joining a committee, or just sharing your experiences, your voice makes a difference.

Wishing you a relaxing and safe summer. Thanks for all you do to support the court reporting profession.

Warmly,

Dana M. Pon

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message - Spring 2025

Elizabeth Whitlock — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:34:08 GMT

I am so excited and truly honored to write to you for the first time as President of the Virginia Court Reporters Association. Taking on this role means a lot to me, and I’m committed to representing all of you and the future of court reporting here in Virginia. If we haven’t had a chance to meet yet, here’s a little about me. I run Fiduciary Reporting out of the beautiful Virginia Beach area, and I’ve been in this field for over twenty years. Building a business, working with amazing clients, and helping train the next generation of court reporters has been a rewarding ride. This profession has given me so much, and I feel lucky to be apart of it every day.

Outside of work, I’m a proud crazy cat lady. I’ve got three of my own, Twinkie, Chewy, and Tootsie, and they definitely keep things interesting. There’s something about cats’ mix of independence and snuggly affection that I just love. I also spend time volunteering at the VBSPCA on Sundays, which is one of the most fulfilling parts of my week. Whether it’s helping ashy cat come out of its shell or playing with a bunch of kittens, it always lifts my spirits. Honestly, I think they do more for me than I do for them!

On the professional side, I’ve earned my RPR from the NCRA and my CCR through VCRA. If you haven’t looked into these certifications yet, I really encourage you to consider them. They’re not just about testing your skills. They can boost your confidence, open new doors, and show your commitment to growing in this field. They’ve definitely helped me grow, and I know they can do the same for others.

the past two years, I’ve served on a few VCRA committees, and it’s been amazing to see how passionate and dedicated our members are. You all inspire me. As we head into this new chapter, I’m feeling optimistic. Thanks to the strong leadership before me (thank you, Michele and Christopher!) and the effort all of you put in, VCRA is in a great place. We’ve got exciting things ahead: more advocacy, more education, more ways to connect with the public and support new students coming into the profession.

My vision as President is pretty simple: keep the integrity of our work front and center, highlight the value of what we do, and make sure stenographic and voice reporters have a strong, respected place in the legal system for years to come. I’d love for you to be a part of that, whether that means attending events, volunteering, or just sharing your ideas.

Thanks so much for letting me serve in this role. I can’t wait to connect with more of you and keep moving our profession forward, together.

With appreciation and enthusiasm,

Dana M. Pon, RPR, CCR President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

Introducing the candidates for the 2025-2026 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 14:34:29 GMT

To view the PDF version, please click here.

Celebrate Court Reporting and Captioning Week with VCRA – February 1 - 8!

Christopher Reho — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:28:15 GMT

We're hosting socials across the Commonwealth of Virginia (and D.C.!) to bring together court reporters, captioners, and friends for an afternoon/evening of fun, networking, and celebration!

Here’s where we’ll be:

Norfolk

February 7, 4:00 – 7:00

Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen 330 W 21st Street, Norfolk, VA 23517

RSVP to Dana Pon at stenochica@cox.net

Manassas

February 8, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

2 Silos Manassas

RSVP to Stephanie Barnes at Barnes.Stephanie90@gmail.com

Richmond

February 5, 6:00 p.m.

Crafted RVA, Libbie Mill Midtown, 4900 Libbie Mill East Blvd, Richmond, VA 23230

RSVP to Ruth Levy at ruthlevyrpr@gmail.com

Roanoke

February 4, 6:00 p.m.

Cast, Pint & Plates 3555 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

RSVP by Jan 30 to Terri Ferris at mtheresaferris@gmail.com or Kelly Hopkins at kelhopkins@aol.com

Washington, D.C. (in collaboration with the Maryland Court Reporters Association)

February 7, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Mission 1606 20th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

RSVP to Stephanie Barnes at Barnes.Stephanie90@gmail.com

Don’t miss out—mark your calendars, RSVP, and join us for an unforgettable celebration! See you there! #CRCW2025 #VCRA #CourtReporting #CaptioningWeek

President's Message - Fall 2024

Elizabeth Whitlock — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 20:15:57 GMT

As we close another exciting chapter with our recent event, the Virtual Autumn Event, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact each one of us has on our profession. Court reporting is not just a job—it’s a calling, a craft that requires precision, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility. Every time we take down testimony, provide captions, or produce a record, we’re contributing to the truth, preserving justice, and making a difference in the lives of many.

But our contributions don’t stop at the courtroom or the deposition table. Our profession thrives on the strength of our community and the willingness of each of us to give back. Whether you’ve been reporting for decades or are just beginning your journey, there is always an opportunity to make a difference by supporting the next generation of reporters and strengthening the foundation of our field.

I encourage you to get involved, volunteer your time, and mentor the students who are eager to follow in your footsteps. One of the most rewarding ways to give back is by participating in the A to Z Program. Teaching students the fundamental of stenography not only opens doors for them but also reminds us of the beauty and importance of what we do. There is no better feeling than knowing you’ve helped someone find their path and passion.

You can also make a significant impact by volunteering at our table during the Virginia School Counselor Association event held every October in Hampton, Virginia. Although, by the time this article publishes, this event will have already taken place, led by Vice President Dana Pon, I want to emphasize that this is an incredible opportunity to highlight the unique skills we bring to the legal system and beyond, including the general public by CART and captioning. It gives us an opportunity to help spread the word about our profession, offering school counselors the opportunity to learn about our profession so they can turn around and inspire young people to consider court reporting as a career. If you didn’t help us out this year, I hope you will consider doing so next year.

Additionally, serving as a board member or volunteering at VCRA events can deepen your connection to our community and give you the chance to shape the future of court reporting in Virginia. We are always looking for passionate professionals who are ready to lead, share their insights, and help guide our organization’s mission to new heights. Look for more information soon about events we are planning to organize during the week of Court Reporting and Captioning in February 2025 and where we need you to help lend support to educate and spread the word about our profession.

Lastly, we can’t forget what the important, hard efforts of the Virginia Court Reporting Foundation does to support the VCRA. The Foundation, led by President Kim Ribaric, will be reaching out soon, asking for your valued sponsorship funds, participation in a virtual 5K, and donations for the annual Silent Auction. Your tax-deductible donations to the VCRF greatly support your organization, the VCRA, in strongly fulfilling its mission.

The future of our profession depends on us. It’s up to us to spread the word about court reporting—whether it’s through social media, community events, or just casual conversations. Every word we share can ignite curiosity and open new doors for others to explore this rewarding career.

I challenge each of you to be the best reporter you can be, not only by continuing to refine your skills but also by actively giving back. The time and knowledge you share with others will not only strengthen our profession but also enrich your own journey as a court reporter. Together, we can ensure the longevity, success, and growth of court reporting for generations to come.

Thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence. Let’s continue to inspire one another and build a stronger, more united profession.

With gratitude,

Michele Eddy President,

Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message - Summer 2024

Elizabeth Whitlock — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:33:41 GMT

As we navigate through the developments and challenges of our profession, I am filled with immense pride and optimism for the future of the Virginia Court Reporters Association (VCRA). Our community is built on a foundation of support, growth, and excellence, and together, we can continue to elevate the standards of court reporting with your invaluable support.

Catch the Summer Vibe: Reach Out and Connect

As we bask in the warmth of summer, it's the perfect time to reach out to your colleagues and invite them to join our esteemed association. Membership in the VCRA offers unparalleled opportunities for professional development, networking, and advocacy. By expanding our membership, we strengthen our collective voice and ensure that we continue to provide the highest level of service in our industry.

Upcoming Events:

SAVE THE DATE – September 28, 2024, 9:00 - 12:30 (.3 CEUs)

Embrace the Fall Spirit and join us VIRTUALLY on September 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for 0.3 CEUs of Autumn Advancements: Embracing Innovation, Advocacy, and Global Excellence in Court Reporting.

Meet our Innovative Speaker Mike Hensley, RDR on Mastering the Future: Court Reporters Harnessing AI Excellence. AI is a hot topic in tech lately. This session will discuss exactly what is, and what isn’t, AI. We will also discuss how AI can be used to enhance court reporters’ abilities on and off the job. Additionally, there will be a discussion on what to look out for so that court reporters and captioners alike can guard the record and protect their consumers against any potential harms or pitfalls in the AI space.

Steno & Voice: Connecting, Collaborating, and Conquering – D.C. Convention – March 21 - 23, 2025

Looking ahead, our Spring 2025 Convention in Washington, D.C. will be an exceptional gathering of professionals dedicated to advancing the field of court reporting. This convention will offer a diverse array of sessions, featuring renowned speakers who will share their insights and experiences. By attending, you not only earn CEUs but also gain invaluable tools and inspiration to enhance your professional career.

Embrace the Future Together:

As we prepare for these events, let’s embrace the future with the same enthusiasm and determination that summer inspires in us. Our profession is evolving, and with it, our opportunities to make a significant impact. By staying united and committed to continuous learning, we can achieve new heights of success.

Thank you for being an integral part of the VCRA. Your dedication and passion are what make our association strong. I look forward to seeing you at our Virtual Autumn Educational Event and the Spring 2025 Convention in D.C. Together, let’s make these events memorable and transformative experiences.

Wishing you a bright and sunny summer,

Michele Eddy, President

Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message -- Spring 2024 -- Charting the Path Forward

Elizabeth Whitlock — Tue, 14 May 2024 23:48:56 GMT

Our new Board officially took office at MAR Ed Day on March 16, 2024, but before I introduce that new Board, let me say thank you to the Board of 2023-2024 for your dedication and hard work this past year. You are the backbone of this Association and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Christopher Reho, Past President; Kim Ribaric, Vice President; Rachel Cramer, Treasurer; Tasiana Basdekis, Secretary; and Directors Stephanie Barnes, Sindie Bragg, Terri Ferris, Paula Maddern, Dana Pon, and Ziyacdah Atkinson; and Natalie Jones, student liaison.

I am thrilled to introduce our new Board members: Christopher Reho, Past President; Dana Pon, Vice President; Rachel Cramer, Treasurer; Paula Maddern, Secretary, and Directors Stephanie Barnes, Terri Ferris, Ruth Levy, Kim Ribaric, and Taylor Smith; and Natalie Jones and Kate Flora, student liaisons.

A significant portion of the Board convened in Moseley on April 14, 2024, for a retreat. During this gathering, we delved into the MAR Ed Day Questionnaire, the online survey, VCRA Policies and Procedures, and VCRA Bylaws. We also engaged in fruitful discussions about committee initiatives, fostered team cohesion, and enjoyed a delightful potluck lunch.

The input from our MAR Ed Day attendees underscored their interest in VCRA's focus areas, which include student recruitment, educating legal professionals about the court reporter shortage and our profession's value, and concern about artificial intelligence. Rest assured, we are committed to keeping you informed about the impact of artificial intelligence on our profession and what we can do about it.

Our Board team collaborated and generated some innovative ideas surrounding these important topics. So, as we navigate the upcoming year, expect a plethora of opportunities for member engagement as our Board continues to generate and develop ways to further these areas of interest. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates and where we will need your help.

Following our fruitful discussion, the Board collectively prioritized student recruitment. We will continue to collect and maintain an inventory of steno machines to loan to students for the A to Z program across the Commonwealth. If you have a machine you’re no longer using and want to donate it to the A to Z program, please reach out to me. (We have had three loaner requests from potential students in Northern Virginia alone this past week). The word is getting out there!

We will aim to inspire high school students and career seekers to join our profession by creating events to showcase our profession, as well as engage with schools and vocational institutions. This includes our participation in the Virginia School Counselor Association event in Hampton from October 19-21, 2025. Vice President Dana Pon will spearhead our efforts at the VSCA event and will seek assistance from local members. We've secured a vendor table already in a great location at the Embassy Suites, and we foresee very meaningful interactions with school counselors across the Commonwealth.

Last but not least, mark your calendars. During the last few months, the Convention Committee has met several times, and with Board consultation, and based on feedback from MAR Ed Day and the online survey, we have decided to host the 2025 3-day Convention in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for further details about booking your stay at the Yotel Washington D.C. from March 21-23, 2025. We've secured an exceptional room rate and timed the event perfectly for the cherry blossom season.

The journey ahead is filled with promise, and we are eager to embark on it together with you.

Michele Eddy, RPR, CRR, CRI, CCR

President

Introducing the candidates for the 2024-2025 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 03:33:42 GMT

To view a PDF version, please click here.

President's Message -- Winter 2024 -- Embracing the Magic of the New Year and Discovering the Wonders of Winter

Christopher Reho — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 23:04:53 GMT

As the days grow shorter and a crisp chill fills the air, the world undergoes a magical transformation into a winter wonderland. Winter, often misunderstood as a season of cold and darkness, is a time of unparalleled beauty and inspiration. It's a season that invites us to slow down, appreciate the simple joys, and discover the wonders that lie beneath the frosty surface.

One of the most enchanting aspects of winter is the transformation of the landscape. A blanket of snow turns ordinary scenes into extraordinary vistas in some areas of our state, covering everything in a soft, shimmering white. Trees, once bare, now wear intricate coats of frost, turning the world into a canvas painted by nature's own hand. The sparkle of ice on branches and the crunch of snow underfoot create a symphony of sensations that awaken our senses to the beauty that surrounds us.

Winter is also a season of contrasts. The stillness of a snowy landscape is juxtaposed with the vibrant hues of winter sunsets, casting a warm, golden glow across the horizon. The world seems to hold its breath, inviting us to pause and marvel at the breathtaking spectacle unfolding before our eyes. It's a reminder that even in the coldest of times, there is beauty waiting to be discovered.

For me, the best part of the wonders of winter extends beyond the visual realm. It's a time for cozy gatherings, where the warmth of shared moments melts away the chill of the outside world. Whether it's sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace, exchanging stories with loved ones, or simply enjoying the quietude of the season, winter fosters a sense of togetherness that warms the heart.

Embracing winter also means embracing activities that are unique to the season. From the exhilaration of gliding down snow-covered slopes on skis or a snowboard to the joy of building a snowman in the backyard, winter offers a plethora of opportunities for outdoor adventure. The crisp air invigorates both body and mind, encouraging us to stay active and appreciate the invigorating feeling of cold air against our cheeks.

Furthermore, winter encourages reflection and introspection. The world may appear dormant, but beneath the surface, nature is preparing for the rebirth that spring will bring. Similarly, winter invites us to turn inward, assess our goals, and make space for personal growth. It's a season to hibernate not only physically but also emotionally—to recharge and emerge stronger, just like nature does with the arrival of spring.

In the tapestry of seasons, winter is a thread that adds depth and richness to the overall narrative of life. It teaches us resilience, patience, and the art of finding beauty in simplicity. So, as winter wraps its frosty arms around the world, let us open our hearts to its wonders. Embrace the magic of winter, and you may find that it's not a season to endure but a season to celebrate—a season that reveals the extraordinary in the ordinary and the beauty in the cold. I would challenge you to look inward, assess your goals, and recharge by including in your goals daily practice time of new briefs and set your sights on learning something new about your software by attending a February Court and Captioning Week free software training session we plan on offering. Look for more details in this newsletter.

In addition, please be sure to attend MAR Ed Day on March 16, 2023, for a fun-filled day of learning. Our keynote speaker Matthew Jones will inspire, encourage, and motivate us. From Matt’s story and the many lessons he learned from conquering cancer three times and completing a marathon on every continent after relearning how to walk, we will: a) Discover one of the most important and easiest ways to reduce anxiety and increase resilience; b) Learn the three choices to develop a Marathon Mindset of Victory; c) Experience revitalization for Court Reporting and Life.

I can’t wait to see you all in a software training session in February and at MAR Ed Day in March 2024.

Michele Eddy, RPR, CRR, CRI, CCR

President

President's Message -- Fall 2023 -- Unveiling the Power of Persistence: The Journey of a Virginia Court Reporter

Christopher Reho — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 01:58:56 GMT

In the world of legal proceedings, our role as court reporters often goes unnoticed, working silently behind the scenes to ensure that justice is served. Yet, it's essential to remember that our work is the cornerstone of a just and transparent legal system. As we continue to face challenges and embrace change, let us draw inspiration from our own journeys as court reporters in Virginia.

Every one of us has a unique story, a testament to our perseverance and dedication to our profession. Our paths may have been different, but they all share a common thread – the unwavering commitment to excellence.

Embracing the Challenges:

From the moment we began our journey as court reporters, we knew it was not going to be an easy path. The demands of the job, the technical intricacies, and the pressure to deliver accurate and timely transcripts could be overwhelming. However, we didn't let these challenges deter us. Instead, we faced them head-on, determined to overcome every obstacle.

Learning and Growing:

Our profession is dynamic, constantly evolving with technological advancements and changing legal landscapes. To stay relevant, we've had to adapt and embrace new tools and techniques. Learning stenography or mastering voice recognition software may have seemed daunting at first, but we persevered. We took courses, attended workshops, and continuously honed our skills. And in doing so, we demonstrated our resilience and determination.

Supporting Each Other:

In the Virginia Court Reporters Association, we've found a community of like-minded professionals who share our passion for the craft. We've relied on each other for support, guidance, and inspiration. Through networking events, conferences, and mentorship programs, we've strengthened our bonds and encouraged each other to reach new heights.

Celebrating Success:

Our journey has been filled with countless small victories. Each time we delivered a flawless transcript, passed a certification exam, or successfully navigated a highstress courtroom situation, we celebrated those moments. It's these small successes that have fueled our passion and kept us moving forward, even when the road was tough.

Inspire Future Generations:

As seasoned court reporters, we have a responsibility to inspire the next generation of professionals. Let's share our stories, our experiences, and our

wisdom with those who are just beginning their journey. By mentoring and guiding them, we can ensure that our profession continues to thrive and uphold the values of justice and transparency.

In conclusion, in the world of court reporting, persistence is not just a virtue; it's a necessity. Our profession demands it, and we've proven time and again that we have what it takes to succeed. Our journey as Virginia court reporters is a testament to our dedication, adaptability, and resilience. Let's continue to draw inspiration from our own stories and use them as a source of strength as we navigate the ever-changing legal landscape.

Thank you for being a part of this remarkable profession. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of excellence and ensure that justice is served.

Get Involved:

Lastly, get involved – give back to your profession – and reap the benefits. We need each of you to keep our profession alive and well. Mentor a

student, get involved in committee work, give back to your community by participating on Veterans Day in our Veterans History Project. Give a little and get back a lot. When you give back, you will be rewarded with a sense of satisfaction like nothing else. I feel that satisfaction as I lead your association as President. It’s rewarding, and I appreciate all that have given me great support these last six months, most especially the Board, Donna Linton, Carol Naughton, and Leslie Etheredge.

President

Michele Eddy, RPR, CRR, CRI, CCR

President's Message -- Summer 2023 -- Navigating the AI Era: Harnessing Skills, Inspiring Change

Christopher Reho — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:36:02 GMT

Dear fellow stenographers and voice writers,

As technology continues to reshape the landscape of our profession, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. The rise of digital recordings and artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal field poses challenges to our traditional role as court reporters. However, let us not view this as a threat but as an opportunity to showcase our unique value and engage with the legal community in an interactive and productive way. In this ever-changing landscape, it is imperative that we continue to hone our skills and adapt to the evolving demands of the industry. Embracing change does not mean relinquishing our expertise; it means harnessing the power of technology to enhance our abilities and expand our reach. Let us embark on this journey together, inspired to educate lawyers and judges about the pitfalls of digital recordings and AI, and showcase our superior skills.

1. Embrace Lifelong Learning

In a world driven by technological advancements, continuous learning is essential for professional growth. Seek out opportunities to enhance your skills, whether it's attending tech trainings, participating in webinars, or exploring new software and tools. In addition, familiarize yourself with AI technologies, understanding their limitations and potential impact on our profession. By staying informed and adaptable, we position ourselves as informed ambassadors of our craft.

2. Engage and Educate

The legal community may not be fully aware of the pitfalls of digital recordings and AI in capturing accurate records. Take the initiative to reach out and educate lawyers and judges about the distinct advantages of human stenography while you are on the job. Use real-life examples and case studies to illustrate the crucial role stenographers play in ensuring accurate and reliable records. Case studies and information about DR pitfalls can be found here through NCRA’s Strong Committee: https://www.ncra.org/home/get-involved/ncra-strong---home/ncra-strong-resource-library.

I would suggest as well that we offer to conduct informational sessions, workshops, or seminars to enlighten the legal field about the nuances and complexities that digital recordings may miss. If this is not your forte, it’s mine, as well as others on your Board. Inform, offer, and then invite us to conduct such informational sessions if you are not comfortable, but we need you to make the initial contact and offer. Educating the legal profession will be invaluable to successfully stay relevant and at the forefront of our profession.

3. Showcase Your Expertise

As ambassadors of our profession, it is vital to highlight our unique value proposition. Demonstrate your expertise and unrivaled accuracy by providing samples of your work, showcasing the level of detail and precision that digital recordings cannot match. Share success stories and testimonials from legal professionals who have experienced the undeniable advantages of having a skilled stenographer present during proceedings. By exemplifying our abilities, we instill confidence in the legal community and encourage them to seek our services.

4. Collaborate and Innovate

In this era of technological convergence, let us not be isolated but seek knowledge we need to stay relevant and educated. Together, we can explore innovative solutions that integrate technology into our workflow while preserving the essence of court reporting. Let us consider engaging in constructive dialogue, sharing insights and ideas that promote efficiency, accuracy, and the seamless integration of AI technologies into our practice. Let’s do this as a cohesive body and not a divided body. I believe we must re-invent and re-define ourselves as we envision our future and embrace and incorporate new technology. Let us not let technology define our roles as court reporters. It surely will if we do not take the initiative to do it ourselves. I am calling for a volunteer to spearhead this endeavor. We cannot miss this opportunity to take the wheel and steer our future course or we will be stuck in reverse.

5. Emphasize the Human Touch

While AI may excel in certain tasks, it lacks the human touch that is essential in the deposition room, courtroom, or classroom. We need to highlight the value of ourselves as human stenographers in capturing not just words, but emotions, pauses, and non-verbal cues that can significantly impact legal proceedings. Let us emphasize the importance of our adaptability, professionalism, and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Showcasing our irreplaceable presence and expertise reinforces the need for human court reporters in an increasingly automated world.

Fellow colleagues, let us embrace this new era with confidence and resilience. By honing our skills, engaging with the legal community, and leveraging the power of technology, we can ensure our continued relevance and indispensability. Together, let us navigate these uncharted waters, united in our commitment to preserving the integrity and accuracy of the legal record.

Stay inspired, stay connected, and let your voices be heard.

Please contact me at micheleeddy@gmail.com to discuss further this initiative to educate the legal profession. We need your help to take this initiative to a higher level.

President

Michele Eddy, RPR, CRR, CRI, CCR

VCRA Board welcomes new director pro tempore, Stephanie Barnes

Christopher Reho — Mon, 15 May 2023 10:11:21 GMT

At the board meeting on May 13, 2023, the VCRA Board of Directors voted to appoint Stephanie Barnes to an open director slot on the board. She will serve the remainder of the term as a director pro tempore. This gives us the maximum six directors, allowing us to better serve our members.

My name is Stephanie Barnes. I have been a freelance reporter in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area for about six years now. I have done everything from depositions, Senate Committee hearings, trials, arbitrations, and school board meetings. I also have experience working for InnoCaption as a captioner. So far, I would say captioning was immensely rewarding, especially as I captioned during the height of COVID, and in my own way, helped many stay connected. My passion, though, is depositions.

Since being a freelance reporter, I have had two amazing children, who are now one and three. Freelance has allowed me the opportunity to both pursue my passion and raise my small babies, which I am eternally grateful for.

I look forward to serving on the board and bringing whatever expertise and assistance is needed. This career holds a special spot in my heart, and I look forward to promoting the profession in any way I can.

VCRA Board welcomes new director pro tempore, MaryTheresa Ferris, RPR

Christopher Reho — Wed, 03 May 2023 12:30:43 GMT

At the board meeting on April 29, 2023, the VCRA Board of Directors voted to appoint MaryTheresa Ferris, RPR, to an open director slot on the board. She will serve the remainder of the term as a director pro tempore.

MaryTheresa “Terri” Ferris, RPR (Roanoke, Virginia)

I have been a freelance reporter for almost 40 years, most of that time in Roanoke, Virginia, and the surrounding area. I graduated from Youngstown State University’s court/conference reporting program with an associate degree. I then started my reporting career in Akron, Ohio before marrying my husband Ray and moving to Roanoke.

I have loved being a freelance reporter, as it has enabled me to work and raise my family with the freedom of setting my own schedule.

I look forward to serving on the VCRA board and getting involved in helping promote and encourage others to join this very rewarding profession.

In my spare time I like to read and travel. I especially enjoy entertaining and spending time with my family and friends.

President's Message -- Spring 2023 -- The Changing Landscape

Christopher Reho — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:27:50 GMT

What comes to mind when you read the title of my first President’s Message? Artificial intelligence and digital recorders replacing stenographers?

Have you heard the news that the Stenograph MaxScribe product can now realtime? MaxScribe is Stenograph’s artificial intelligence software. This is the advertisement taken directly from Stenograph’s website:

MAXScribe is a new product from Stenograph which is designed for the digital court reporting and legal transcription industry. It combines multi-channel or single-channel audio with our industry-leading knowledge of editing tools specialized for efficient editing and transcript creation, increasing the number of pages that can be produced per hour by up to 50%.

Unlike the competition, it is the only software that provides multi-channel recording, annotation, Phoenix ASR engine, and advanced editing features within a single application, providing the complete solution for digital reporters, transcribers, and agencies from recording to production. By using MAXScribe, certified digital reporters can double their earnings and certified transcribers can increase their efficiency by up to 50%.

Multi-channel recording, annotations, realtime streaming, editing and layout, combined with the integration with Stenograph’s CaseViewNet®, RealTeam™, and YesLaw® make MAXScribe a true end-to-end solution for digital reporters.

AutoScript is another such software by VoiceScript. From their website they tout: “Advanced legal speech recognition online platform and powerful desktop editing tool leveraging the latest breakthroughs in AI technologies to produce high-quality transcripts.”

Sindie Bragg, VCRA Director, spoke at VCRA’s MAR Ed Day on March 18, 2023, about AutoScript. She personally tested out this product against a digital recording from one of her proceedings in federal court. She said, “It’s pretty accurate.”

Now, after reading about MAXScribe and AutoScript, I want to share this article by a company called Calloquy. I am only publishing a portion of it here and have permission to do so: Alex Murdaugh Transcript Snafu Gives New Regard for (Human) Court Reporters’ Reliability by Calloquy, Feb 28, 2023.

In a trial evocative of a Shakespearean tragedy, when Circuit Court Judge Clifton B. Newman, presiding over the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, sought to ascertain the “why” of how a prior day’s trial transcript was, as Defense Attorney Dick Harpootlian described it, a “deficit product” and “not of much use,” the wherefore was astonishingly simple: a human court reporter did not produce it.

The transcript, riddled with incorrect testimony or omissions from the day’s testimony and replaced with designations of “inaudible,” was produced by a company using a digital recorder and not a licensed court reporter. South Carolina court reporter and Grand Strand Young Professional of the Year, Lauren A. Balogh, RPR, said with regard to the Murdaugh snafu, “This is truly another example of why digital reporting should not have a place in the courtroom. The importance of using an NCRA [National Court Reporters Association] certified court reporter is critical in order to maintain the integrity and accuracy of a transcript.”

The NCRA maintains a partial list of other such digital failures available here (https://www.thejcr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Failure-Doc-Edited_February_11_2023.pdf). Link to video: https://www.thejcr.com/2023/02/13/digital-failure-noted-in-major-south-carolina-trial/

There are two common elements to these two articles: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). Our CAT softwares--ProCat, DigitalCat, Eclipse, Case Catalyst--all use AI when providing instant brief suggestions, for instance. The latest version of Eclipse is touting it can fill in the words a stenographer drops. A couple of my colleagues have said they’ve tried it out and it’s not accurate, but it exists and will improve by learning as you use it, according to the software vendors.

The court reporting landscape is changing rapidly. AI has been here for some time, but now reporting schools that only used to offer steno programs are now offering digital recording programs. Software companies that used to only provide steno products are now providing digital recording products.

I dare you to Google what is digital court reporting to see what pops up - what the normal consumer will find on the web. It’s not just one or two companies offering digital services; it is many! It is everywhere we turn.

We can’t deny there is a shortage of stenographers and voice writers. There are firms across the United States who have no choice but to turn to digital recording to cover their calendars. What does that mean for our profession? It means our competition, digital recording, is in demand, is 100x stronger than it was only a few years ago. I wholeheartedly believe stenography and voice writing is in high demand as well. Will we be replaced? I do not believe so.

However, when a client (an attorney) decides who to hire, a digital recorder or a stenographer or a voice writer, what is their decision based on? That is a question each of us needs to answer based on where we live. It may be based on price. It may be based on “no choice” because that’s the only offering. It may be based on a personal relationship or personal preference from personal experience.

Please ask yourself: What sets me above my competition? If you’re a stenographer, your fellow stenographers are your competitors, but so are your fellow voice writers and digital recorders.

You have heard me say this before if you know me well: Realtime will set you apart from the rest. I know many areas of Virginia do not use real time, but are you writing as a real-time reporter? I believe this will set you apart. It will also help you produce your transcripts faster, giving you more time to do the things you love to do.

Don’t wait to become a better voice writer or a better real-time stenographer. Start now. Start today. Practice briefs every day and improve your skills. I know from experience that that consistent, daily, “focused” practice will produce results. You can become a real-time voice writer or stenographer if you start today and consistently work on your skills. You must set yourself apart or you will get lost in the changing landscape within which we live.

Let me end this article by taking a few moments to outline the goals I am hoping to lead the Board of VCRA to accomplish this year. After our survey goes out and I hear from you, our membership, what you feel is important for VCRA to focus on, these goals may be tweaked:

Promoting stenography and voice writing by: (i) Contacting high schools and promoting A to Z or Project Steno program, as well as the “Intro to Voice Writing” program that’s currently being created by NVRA; (ii) getting creative with social media, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Educating the legal profession about the pitfalls of digital reporting and AI.
Offering mini legislative bootcamps for our members to learn the importance of being involved with their legislators.
Offering seminars to improve your stenography or voice writing skills.

Michele E. Eddy, CCR, RPR, CRR, CRI, Certified Realtime Systems Administrator

VCRA President

(Updated) Introducing Your 2023-2024 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:21:23 GMT

Introducing Your 2023-2024 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:47:21 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is here!

Christopher Reho — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 15:08:10 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is here!

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is February 4th through 11th, and the VCRA has a huge week planned!

Free Software Training for Members and Students

In honor of 2023 Court Reporting & Captioning Week, VCRA is offering free virtual software training for members and students! Non-members can attend for only $25.

Five training seminars are being offered. The registration period for StenoCAT and Eclipse has closed, but you can still register for ProCAT, EclipseVox (voice) and Case Catalyst. Please use the links below to register for the seminar(s) that you are interested in!

Free EclipseVox (Voice) Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Jennifer Thompson, CCR, CVR-M.

Time: February 5, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Online via Zoom

Registration closes February 4, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Free ProCAT Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Robin Delloro, RPR.

Time: February 5, 2023, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Online via Zoom

Registration closes February 4, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Free Case Catalyst Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Grace Molson.

Time: February 11, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Online via GoToMeeting

Registration closes February 10, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Governor's Proclamation

For yet another year, VCRA has obtained an official proclamation recognizing Court Reporting & Captioning Week from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia! You can view the proclamation by clicking here. We also received a hard copy, which will be on display at the Mario A. Rodriguez Education Day in March!

Local Advertising

If you are at The Craft of Brewing in Ashburn, Virginia, look at the screens! You'll see an ad promoting court reporting and the VCRA cycling on the screen throughout the month of February. Thank you to Amicus Court Reporting for graciously donating this ad space.

Zoom Backgrounds

Tell the world (or at least the people in your Zoom deps) about Court Reporting & Captioning Week with custom Zoom backgrounds! Follow the guide below to add these backgrounds to Zoom.

Right-click the image
Click "Save Image As..." (Wording can vary depending on browser)
Follow the guide on this page to add a virtual background to Zoom.

Training to Celebrate You! - 2023 Court Reporting & Captioning Week

Christopher Reho — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 02:35:04 GMT

In honor of 2023 Court Reporting & Captioning Week, VCRA is offering free virtual software training for members and students! Non-members can attend for only $25. Let's celebrate Court Reporting & Captioning Week by improving our skills!

Five training seminars are being offered, each covering a different software, StenoCAT, ProCAT, Eclipse, EclipseVox (voice) and Case Catalyst. Please use the links below to register for the seminar(s) that you are interested in!

Free StenoCAT Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Paula Mecke.

Time: February 4, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Online

Free Eclipse Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Dave Stanley.

Time: February 4, 2023, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Online via GoToMeeting

Free EclipseVox (Voice) Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Jennifer Thompson, CCR, CVR-M.

Time: February 5, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Online via Zoom

Free ProCAT Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Robin Delloro, RPR.

Time: February 5, 2023, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Online

Free Case Catalyst Training for Members and Students

Training will be provided by Grace Molson.

Time: February 11, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Online via GoToMeeting

The links to join the training will be emailed to registrants closer to the event date.

President’s Message – Winter 2023

Christopher Reho — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 10:54:48 GMT

This is the final message that I will write as VCRA President. Though my tenure is not over quite yet, I must say that time has flown by. Then again, when you become VCRA President and a new father in the same year, you don’t have much time to stop and smell the roses!

My time on the Board started in 2018. I distinctly remember my first board meeting when committee assignments were being handed out. There were committees for legislation, PR, student relations, so many topics that I, frankly, didn’t know anything about. As we went around the room discussing what each person’s interests were, I kept hoping no one said technology because that’s something I knew well. Finally, it was my turn, and I was asked what committee I thought was right for me. “Technology,” I said, and the room burst into applause. What had I done!? It turns out the committee I worried would get taken from me was the one no one else wanted!

Though I have served on many committees since that time, Technology is still “my thing.” My first major push after joining the Board was replacing our old, inefficient website. It started out as a simple redesign, making information more accessible and updates easier, but I soon found myself going down the membership management platform rabbit hole. Before I knew it, my redesign had become an overhaul of how VCRA does business. The new website has allowed us to go almost fully paperless, streamline our processes and even conduct elections online when we were unable to gather in person. I’m glad I could use my skills to leave this mark on the association.

My time on the VCRA Board has led me to meet some of the top talents in our field, both in Virginia and across the country. After several years working, it’s easy to grow complacent, and I admit I was guilty of this. Having the opportunity to meet and interact with these giants in our industry has given me the renewed drive I needed to set new goals for myself and strive to achieve them. I know you hear all the time about how rewarding board service is, but this unintended consequence is worth it in its own right. You don’t need to be a rockstar to serve; I’m certainly not. But board service has done a lot to improve my skills and my confidence.

As usual, VCRA has been busy over the last few months. In October, we participated in the Virginia School Counselors Association Annual Meeting in Hampton Roads. We’ve attended in the past and have found it to be a great opportunity to show off our profession to the people advising Virginia’s youth on career opportunities. You can learn more about the event in the newsletter. Thank you to all the volunteers who made our participation possible!

VCRA Day was November 5^th, 2022, and I’m happy to report it was a great success. We had over 70 registrants, comprised of members, non-members and students. Our speakers, Bryce Hall and Jean Hammond, were fantastic. We’re so grateful for them taking the time to speak to us. And we can’t forget about the socials! It was wonderful seeing reporters gather across our Commonwealth for some much-needed camaraderie. I also want to thank everyone who donated, both individuals and sponsors. This was a free event for members, and there was no obligation to donate. But you gave so generously. Truly inspirational.

We are now in full swing preparing for the Mario A. Rodriguez Education Day, which will be held on March 18^th, 2023, at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia. We’re excited about the new venue, a beautiful botanical garden just a few days before the official start of spring, but the lineup of speakers is just as enticing! Be sure to register (and register early to get that Early Bird discount!). You can earn CEUs, catch up with friends and enjoy a beautiful stroll through the garden. It’s a win-win-win!

The Virginia Court Reporters Foundation (VCRF) will be holding their second online silent auction at this year’s Education Day. All proceeds benefit their Carolyn M. O’Connor Education Fund. The online silent auction at the convention in Lynchburg was an unprecedented success, bringing in over $1,400 despite launching only shortly before the event. We’re starting earlier this time, so start searching those attics and getting crafty. Let’s beat last year’s record!

I appreciate the opportunity to serve you as President of VCRA. Especially when paired with the significant changes in my personal life, this has been a crazy year for me -- hugely rewarding, but crazy. When elections are held in March, I will transition to Immediate Past President. Though this is an important role in its own right – and I will serve dutifully – it does come with a shorter list of responsibilities. Maybe I’ll finally have time to smell those roses – or the daffodils, because apparently the roses don’t bloom until May.

Christopher Reho, RPR, CCR

VCRA President

President’s Message – Fall 2022

Christopher Reho — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 15:03:00 GMT

A couple weeks ago, I was setting up my equipment for a deposition that was set to start shortly. The witness and her attorney were already in the room, and, as I’m sure you’ve all experienced, she took interest in my equipment. “So, you can type really fast?” she asked. I explained to her that, yes, I can write at 225 words per minute. She told me she can type at about 60 words per minute, and I said that’s probably about what I can type on a keyboard, but the steno machine allows for much greater speed. She then said, “Wait, you were serious about 225 words per minute!?” I laughed and explained that all stenographers have to write at this speed to keep up with the spoken word, and I described the three different legs we have to pass for the speed portion of the RPR. At this point, the attorney interjected and said, “Really? I didn’t know that.”

This interaction underscored for me what I think we all know. While the court reporting community, both voice and steno, emphasizes certification and obtaining greater and greater credentials, large segments of the legal community are still unaware of the standards that underpin what it means to be a competent professional in our field. I know that our association and others have tried to educate attorneys about our profession, but there is still work to be done. After all, in my opinion, it’s our skill, knowledge and dedication to continuing education that separates us from the other options encroaching on our field today.

When I became president in March of this year, one of the principal goals for my presidency was adding greater value for members of the VCRA. To this end, we recently announced that VCRA Day will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022. VCRA Day is a celebration of our association and its members and will consist of a webinar with informative speakers in the morning and unique socials held all over the Commonwealth in the afternoon. Best of all, this event is free for all VCRA members and students! That means 0.25 NCRA- and NVRA-approved CEUs available for free to every member. I hope you all decide to attend the webinar, and I hope you’ll consider attending one of the socials as well. It will be great to get together with friends and colleagues once again!

I can’t stress enough how important each of you are to the continued success of VCRA and its mission to advocate for court reporters within the Commonwealth of Virginia. As president and also having been a member of NCSA (National Congress of State Associations) for a number of years, I have heard firsthand the struggle that many state associations are having adding and retaining members. I have even heard about associations at risk of dissolving due to lack of interest. We’re fortunate to have an active member base willing to step up, volunteer for outreach efforts and serve on the VCRA Board and committees. But we can’t rest on our laurels. We have to work every day to increase our numbers, and member benefits like VCRA Day play a huge role in accomplishing that. You can help the cause by sharing our posts on Facebook and other social media platforms. It only takes a second, but it helps a lot!

VCRA will be an exhibitor at the upcoming Virginia School Counselor Association conference in Hampton on October 19^th through 21^st. This three-day event pulls in counselors from all grade levels plus administrators, social workers and others. We are happy to be returning to this event, as it’s a great opportunity to showcase court reporting to the people advising students and other career seekers in Virginia. Thank you to all the volunteers helping with this event!

VCRA’s Mario A. Rodriguez Education Day is scheduled for March 18^th, 2023, at a new venue, the Kelly Education Center at the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia. We’ll have more details in the coming months. Please save the date!

I hope you enjoy the cool fall weather in our beautiful Commonwealth and have a wonderful holiday season.

Christopher D. Reho, RPR, CCR

VCRA President

President’s Message – Summer 2022

Christopher Reho — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:33:32 GMT

Summer is finally here, and you know what that means! Yes, working on pages while on vacation (kidding, of course)! I hope you’ve all had a great summer so far. While the members of the VCRA Board have all been enjoying summertime with their friends and family, we have also been working for the benefit of all reporters in the Commonwealth.

I have a bit of personal joy to share before we get down to business. On the morning of July 25^th, my wife and I welcomed our first child, Isaac. There are a couple photos of our handsome boy later in the newsletter. It has been a simultaneously joyous and hectic time for me, getting the hang of fatherhood while also working and fulfilling my duties as President of VCRA. There are far too many friends in the court reporting field to thank individually, but truly thank you all for the encouragement and support and for coming together to celebrate the arrival of Isaac!

One of the goals I set out for my presidency was expanding our numbers. As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers, so having a robust membership is key to VCRA’s continued success. Reviewing our current member rolls shows an obvious area for improvement: voice writers. VCRA loves our voice writers, but we have struggled to convince them to join us. To that end, the VCRA Board voted in June to create the Voice Writers Committee. This committee, headed by Linda Kia and Monica Anderson, our two voice writer board members, will help bring a voice for voice writers within the VCRA (pardon the pun). The Voice Writers Committee will help advocate for voice writers in the Commonwealth of Virginia and also encourage them to join our ranks.

Another significant step occurred in June when Board Member Kristina Tan attended the NASA (National Alliance of State Associations) Leadership Training during the 2022 NVRA Convention in Memphis, Tennessee. For those unfamiliar, NVRA’s NASA is similar to NCRA’s NCSA, giving the states a voice within the national association. You can read more about Kristina’s experience in her article in this newsletter; it sounds like it was a wonderfully welcoming event and hopefully the start of VCRA playing a bigger role in the NVRA. Kristina, along with Monica Anderson, will serve as NASA rep for the next year.

NCRA’s annual convention was held recently in Orlando, Florida, and Virginia was well-represented. Tasiana Basdekis, who was recently appointed as one of Virginia’s two NCSA representatives, attended the NCSA meeting, and you can learn more about her experience in her article in this newsletter. Our own Carol Naughton, former President of the VCRA, has served as NCSA Chair for the past year and will serve for one more year. NCSA has done amazing work this year – most notably convincing NCRA to modify their test retention policy. Tasiana and Vice President Cynthia Bragg will serve as Virginia’s NCSA reps for the next year.

As has already been announced on Facebook and via email, VCRA Board Member Michele Eddy’s five-week challenge begins August 15^th. She is challenging us all to exercise our body and mind. Find more details in her article below. We all know how hard it is to focus on our health in our unpredictable and demanding profession, so hopefully this challenge can bring some balance to our lives. I will be participating because, with a newborn, I need all the balance I can get!

VCRA continues to be your advocate in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I thank you so much for your continued support. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your summer. Let’s hope for modest temperatures and low humidity… and some free time to enjoy it!

Christopher D. Reho, RPR, CCR

VCRA President

Challenge Your Limits

Christopher Reho — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 21:13:40 GMT

Life is like a bicycle. You won't fall off unless you stop pedaling.

It is all about balance. CHALLENGE your limits. But always remember life is not a race, but a journey.

Starting August 15, I hope you will take this journey and challenge with me. The challenge is, every week, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks, come up with 5 new Briefs a day and cycle 5 miles a day, 5 Days a Week, for 5 WEEKS - or 2 New Briefs a day, 2 Miles of Walking a day, 5 days a week for 5 WEEKS.

Everyone who takes this challenge and posts their results every day for 5 WEEKS, I will make a $50 donation on your behalf to the American Heart Association. Yes, I'll donate $50 on your behalf and will challenge you to match my gift.

Let's challenge ourselves and give back as we do! Look for more details in our August Newsletter and on Facebook.SEE YOU ON AUGUST 15 on Facebook. We will post our progress 5 DAYS a WEEK for 5 WEEKS!

Michele Eddy, RPR, CRR, CRI, CCR

President’s Message -- Spring 2022

Christopher Reho — Tue, 24 May 2022 18:18:10 GMT

After years of delay and anticipation, I am pleased to say our “Roaring 20’s” convention at the beautiful Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg was a tremendous success! The court reporting community in the Commonwealth of Virginia were finally able to come together and celebrate our profession, and what a celebration it was!

Festivities began with VCRA’s first ever speed and realtime contest. I want to commend all the brave reporters who took this challenge! Michele Eddy and Juan Garcia proctored the tests, consisting of realtime Q&A at 225 wpm and a speed contest at 280 wpm. In the end, Gwenda Applegate won the realtime contest with 96.56 percent accuracy. Tori Pittman took the speed contest with 99.25 percent accuracy. Congratulations to you both!

Following the speed contest, Kristina Tan kicked of the informative weekend with a fun showcase of gadgets and tech tips to make our day run just a little bit smoother. After that, it was time for our long-awaited (seriously, some members bought their costumes two years ago!) Speak Easy Welcome Reception. While we’ve all made the best of our virtual socials and educational events over the past couple years, it was so refreshing to finally be face to face with all our friends and colleagues from across the Commonwealth.

Saturday and Sunday continued the trend of good food and great speakers. My head is still spinning a little bit from Mark Kislingbury’s incredible four-hour presentation! I hope everyone has been able to incorporate some of what he showed us. Jim DeCrescenzo followed up with a thought-provoking presentation about ASR and what it means for our profession. He also spoke about Project Steno and bringing young people into court reporting. Michele Eddy and NCRA President Debbie Dibble capped off an amazing weekend on Sunday with powerful and informative speeches. Michele gave a look into realtime, comparing the available options and providing her expert insight. And Debbie had us all laughing at her anecdotes as she encouraged us to stay motivated and keep working hard.

Pulling off a convention like this is a team effort, and I want to commend all the board members who made this weekend possible – some of whom have already left the board, given the extended delay. I’d also like to thank Donna Linton for two dedicated years as president of the VCRA. I extend a special congratulations to Leslie Etheredge, recipient of this year’s Tayloe Award and now officially enjoying the title of “past president.” Leslie and Donna led the VCRA through a truly unique and challenging period, and you both did a great job!

Court Reporting & Captioning Week was February 5^th through 12^th this year, and VCRA went all-out! In addition to receiving a proclamation from the Governor for yet another year, the VCRA produced a short, informative video entitled "What on Earth does this say?" promoting greater appreciation of our profession. The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/OH-K3cnXOJw. We also held the We LOVE Our Members Online Social, a fun-filled hour of games and prize giveaways. Finally, the VCRA took out ad space in Virginia Lawyers Weekly directing readers to our website with information about CRCW and the video we produced.

Earlier this year, the VCRA established a new 501(c)(3) called the Virginia Court Reporters Foundation (VCRF). This new organization, while independent, will work alongside the VCRA and provide greater flexibility to fundraise and advance educational efforts for verbatim reporting in Virginia. As a first act, the VCRF held an online silent auction during VCRA’s convention in Lynchburg to benefit the Carolyn M. O'Connor Education Fund (COEF). The online auction was a huge success, bringing in over $1,400. Thank you to all the donors and bidders!

This is going to be a great year for the VCRA. We will focus on increasing our numbers and adding value to your membership. And as always, the VCRA will be a zealous advocate for court reporters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VCRA is an organization that consistently punches above its weight, and it’s thanks to the dedicated people that serve on its board and committees.

Finally, on a personal note, I want to thank you all for trusting me to lead this organization for the next year. It’s truly an honor.

Christopher D. Reho, RPR, CCR

VCRA President

Thank you for making our 2022 convention a resounding success!

Christopher Reho — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 21:28:44 GMT

The VCRA's long-awaited 2022 convention in Lynchburg, Virginia, was held on March 25-27, and we want to thank each and every attendee, speaker, board members and everyone else who helped make the weekend a success! It was so wonderful to once again meet face to face with our amazing court reporting community here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Congratulations to our award winners. Leslie Etheredge received the Tayloe Award in recognition of all that she has done for court reporting in Virginia. And the Carolyn O'Connor Education Fund Scholarship went to Loretta Berrigan, who is a student at Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA. (Go, Steelers!)

Congratulations also to the winners of VCRA's first ever speed and realtime contests. Tori Pittman took the speed contest, 99.14% accuracy at 280 wpm! And Gwenda Applegate was the realtime contest winner!

A special thank you also to Debbie Dibble, NCRA's president, who helped swear in our 2022-2023 Board of Directors and gave a fantastic motivational presentation. We love you, Debbie!

VCRF's first online auction is now live!

Christopher Reho — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:03:56 GMT

The VIRGINIA COURT REPORTERS FOUNDATION auction, being hosted this year by the Virginia Court Reporters Association, is now online on BetterWorld! Head to the link below to bid on great items. The auction is open to attendees and non-attendees of our convention in Lynchburg. If necessary, items will be shipped to non-attendees; however, certain items will be pickup only due to size or shipping cost.

Click here to view the auction

Bidding runs from now until March 26, 2022, 4:30 P.M. EDT.

Donations are tax-deductible.

All donations and auction proceeds will be directed to the Virginia Court Reporters Foundation to fund the Carolyn M. O'Connor Education Fund.

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is here!

Christopher Reho — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is a weeklong event that highlights the many aspects of court reporting and captioning that make it a viable profession, including good salaries, flexibility, interesting venues and the increasing demand for more reporters and captioners to meet the growing number of employment opportunities available in the field. The event sends a message about the important and vital role human court reporters and captioners play in providing the most accurate mode of capturing the spoken word and turning it into text.

"What on Earth does this say?"

Members of the VCRA offer insight and friendly advice to attorneys in recognition of Court Reporting & Captioning Week.

Governor's Proclamation

For yet another year, the VCRA obtained official recognition for Court Reporting & Captioning Week from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Click here to view the proclamation on virginia.gov.

Zoom Backgrounds

Tell the world (or at least the people in your Zoom deps) about Court Reporting & Captioning Week with custom Zoom backgrounds! Follow the guide below to add these backgrounds to Zoom.

Right-click the image
Click "Save Image As..." (Wording can vary depending on browser)
Follow the guide on this page to add a virtual background to Zoom.

President's Message -- Winter 2022

Christopher Reho — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:21:04 GMT

It is very hard to believe that this will be my last president’s message to you. Thinking back over the last two years, I became your president just as COVID restrictions were upon us. We have all been through a lot together from getting our electronic notary license, trying to figure out the PPP, learning or strengthening our remote talents, to attending virtual seminars and conventions, to playing games remotely at our socials, to getting back out there in person and learning how to be hybrid. We have had great moments of success. We have all worked together, sharing information, uplifting each other. I couldn’t have asked for two better boards and members to work with and for.

As many of you know, this was not my first rodeo with board service, or even being president. Back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s I served. When I was approached by Carol Naughton in 2017 to see if I could help be on the board of directors, there was a spot to be filled, I thought, well, okay, sure. It would be nice to help out. My daughter was going to school down where most of the meetings were, so I’d get to have an excuse to see her. I had no idea at the first board meeting when they said the secretary couldn’t come, could someone take the minutes, and I’m raising my hand, “I always loved taking the minutes. I’ll take the minutes,” that I was going to become “the secretary.”

My focus over the last two years has been about building relationships through our paralegal and lawyer liaison committee. The committee chair, Michele Eddy, and members Kim Riberick, Sindie Bragg, Matt Ridge, and Linda Kia have done fabulous work with attending paralegal conventions, reaching out to the different chapters to ask what reporters can do for them and letting them know what helps us do the best job we can for them. On December 3rd we thought it prudent to attend the Virginia Attorneys Defense Association Young Lawyers Boot Camp. There VCRA was able to get the word out about our CCRs and how we also, like them, earn continuing education credits; let them know about VCRA’s Pro Bono Program; and shared with them NCRA’s How to Make the Record. What better way to help us by helping them know how it makes a better record when they speak one at a time, not read too fast from documents, and the like.

Also my focus has been the notary license under which we are commissioned. I still am going to collaborate with the legislative committee on trying to get us under the Courts of Justice. The notary rules are just too structured for a notary performing actual notarizations of documents and not towards giving the oath/affirmation for testimony. We have Court Reporting & Captioning Week coming up February 6, 2022. By now you would have received an email asking if you could help out with a two-minute video for us to share information to the legal community and the public about our profession. I hope you have participated and will have fun doing it. We are planning a one-hour virtual social and having a giveaway every 15 minutes during Court Reporting & Captioning Week. Keep an eye out on social media and email blasts for the date and time as well as a new screen background to commemorate the celebration of our profession.

We all are really looking forward to seeing you in person March 25-27, 2022, at the Virginian in Lynchburg. It is going to be amazing to see each other face to face. And though I will see many of you there, I know some I will not. I want to have my last message be to encourage you all to be involved whether on the board or on a committee. I cannot tell you how rewarding board service has been. Yes, sometimes there can be disagreements on how to best proceed with, let’s say, a bylaw change, or perhaps what speakers our members would like to see at a virtual convention, and there are busier times than others for what work needs to be done. What outweighs all of that is the friendships made and what we learn from each other. While the pandemic hit, I decided to finally get my notary signing agent certification and supplemented the lack of income by doing notary signings. I found out board member Rachel had been doing notary signing for years, and I called upon her when I first got started with my questions and flubs, and she always was there and patiently helped me. Then there was sharing remote work in covering our calendars when we got busy. There are a lot of laughs when collaborating on fundraising and door prizes. There is sharing in sad news of the passing of a family member, a beloved pet, the need for a medication run when you’re too sick to get it yourself, sharing in happy news of an expectant parent or grandparent, celebration of a college graduation, shipping off a tripod to someone in need. Personally, I know I have had several board members and members pick up where I left off because I could not. That is the bond that lasts forever.

We have a highly active state association that we are all a part of. You have a board that is working on things as of this writing that are going to help our association as well as the legal community and consumers of court reporting services when Christopher Reho becomes president.

I profusely thank all the board members I’ve worked with the last two years; the sponsors and those that have donated over the last two years that keep our association’s education opportunities supported; and I thank the members for your kindness and patience during unparalleled times.

Donna Linton, RDR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

President's Message -- Fall 2021

Christopher Reho — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 09:56:39 GMT

Welcome cool breezes and colorful landscapes. I hope you all enjoyed your summer. From what I have heard around the state, it sure has been a busy one workwise.

In the President’s Message in the Summer newsletter, I informed members of my writing to Fairfax Circuit Court Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate along with the sheriff’s department requesting they reconsider giving ID badges to VCRA members for entry into the building. I received a genuinely nice letter back in August from Chief Judge Azcarate starting off with her expression of great appreciation for the work all the court reporters do at the courthouse and gratitude for our commitment and patience in and outside the courtroom as being exemplary. Though it is not the outcome I wanted -- we were declined the ability to receive ID cards. She explained she did meet with the Courthouse Security Committee to discuss the matter. She acknowledged that other jurisdictions have different rules, but with 35 courtrooms and over 1,000 people a day entering the building, and with growing security issues, they just would not be issuing IDs to those other than court employees and “licensed” attorneys. If anyone has a medical issue, you can notify the sheriff’s department upon entry and special procedures will be deployed to get you through security.

You know how we have struggled with the rules of giving the oath remotely; how what the Secretary of the Commonwealth Notary rules do not really mesh with how, say, the Clerk of the Court administers the oath? It apparently is no different for lawyers. I have had a few conversations concerning whether a witness has a right to read their deposition transcript if it has been given de bene esse (for trial), and even if it was video just for discovery. Rule 4:7(A)(f) unequivocally states Rule 4:5(3) - governing deposition submission to the witness for changes - does not apply to audio-visual depositions. I was told by more than one attorney that The Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia thus clearly dictate errata sheet changes to audio-visual depositions is a nullity and may not be used at the trial of a matter or for any purpose. And yet another attorney shared that he had argued this to the Supreme Court on appeal, and they overruled. So moving forward, you can only do what all parties agree to at the time of closing out the deposition regarding this, and if there is no agreement, include the errata sheet with your transcript and let counsel do their thing: fight it out later, if they deem necessary.

When you are president of a state association, you get put onto NCRA’s Leader Board, which is an email system that you are included on important information from NCRA and other state leaders. Presidents and vice presidents can collaborate on ideas for speakers at conventions, sharing scholarship information, what new laws are being implemented in your state, and how to get members more involved in their association, to name a few. I was surprised to find out for 20 years Vermont has not had an association. I had not noticed because there are a few reporters that still collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, lawmakers and make it look effortless and like they have a full-blown association. We are so lucky in Virginia to have as many reporters as we do be together as one family in their association, VCRA. We are lucky to have as many agencies as we do that are supportive with their sponsorship, and to have the associate members show an interest in our profession. The board does a lot, and we are always open to hearing what else you might like to see from your state association.

A common theme that has come into my email is what are we going to do about how busy we are and filling the demand for reporters. I know a lot of reporters cannot or will not go out in person. I know a lot of reporters have their own preference for whether they like to go to court or do not want to drive too far. Some would like to wind down and spend more time with family. I get it. What we need to do, together, is get more people into the profession. I am asking now every member to contact one high school. Just one. If everyone does this, at least 160 schools will have been contacted. Reach out and tell a guidance counselor what you do and tell them you would like to give their contact information to a program.

Give Michele Eddy, VCRA’s Education chair, at micheleeddy@gmail.com their name and email, and we will put them in touch with Project Steno. They will take it from there. Are you a voice writer? Great. Make that call, get their name and number, and Michele will direct them to NVRA. They have information for courses.

The Lawyer and Paralegal Liaison Committee has been in touch with a couple of the paralegal chapters across the Commonwealth to discuss having joint webinars, socials, and even a 5k race. This year’s National Paralegal Day is October 23. Be sure to reach out and acknowledge a paralegal or two that day.

We are really looking forward to seeing you in person March 25-27, 2022, at the Virginian in Lynchburg. We are so overdue for some real face time.

I hope you all have an enjoyable holiday season with your family and friends.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

ATTENTION COURT REPORTING STUDENTS and INSTRUCTORS….

Christopher Reho — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 19:51:45 GMT

Did you know that the Virginia Court Reporters Association has a scholarship fund? We do! And we are looking for our next recipient(s) of the Carolyn M. O’Connor Education Fund Scholarship, with an award of up to $1,000.

If you are a student who is actively engaged in the study of court reporting, either enrolled in a traditional school setting or attending an online program, and you have completed at least 1 semester of court reporting school, along with passing at least 1 test at a minimum of 160 words per minute, then YOU should apply!

Instructors, please encourage your students who qualify to apply! The deadline for application submission is JANUARY 10, 2022. The recipient(s) of the award will be notified by FEBRUARY 15, 2022, along with being invited as our guest to our 2022 Convention being held March 25^th – 27^th in beautiful Lynchburg, Virginia, where they will be recognized and receive their award, along with a 1-year membership to VCRA.

You can download the application by contacting Rachel Cramer at coef@vcra.net or from our website www.vcra.net.

Questions? Please feel free reach out via social media, email, or telephone!

VCRA's Football Kickoff Raffle starts today!

Christopher Reho — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:58:09 GMT

1 ticket for $25. No limit on the number of tickets purchased.

The more you buy, the better your chances of winning!

Click here to buy tickets!

Each ticket has a chance to win one of the following fantastic four prizes:

Grand Prize: 4 tickets [plus parking pass] to the 11/14/21 Washington Football Team v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in Landover, MD.
Second Prize: 2 tickets to the 11/13/21 UVA v. Notre Dame game in Charlottesville, VA.
Third Prize: Authentic NFL Washington Redskins football signed by Adrian Peterson.
Fourth Prize: $150 NFL.com gift card.

4 tickets to see the Washington Football Team play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 1:00 PM at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, PLUS parking pass.

Seats: Section 222, Row 16, Seat 21-24

The parking pass details:

A - Orange Parking Lot

Sec ORGA, (General Admission)

2 tickets to see the Virginia Cavaliers play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA.

2 Lower Level Seats : Section 122, Row GG, Seats 3 & 4

Face value $300.00 ($150.00 each)

These game tickets are very sought after and difficult to get!

Authentic NFL Washington Redskins football signed by Adrian Peterson, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

$150 NFL.com Gift Card.

VCRA’s raffle will end ticket sales on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at midnight.

Raffle drawing will be on Facebook Live on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 7:00 PM (EST).

All proceeds go to VCRA’s Strongbox, our fund used to support the legislative efforts of the Virginia Court Reporters Association.

All raffle tickets will be digital (NO paper tickets) and will be automatically logged. Your receipt is proof of entry.

Game tickets will be digitally transferred to raffle winners. (Winner is permitted to resell tickets if they choose; we will work with winner to accomplish this)

Questions? events@vcra.net

President's Message -- Summer 2021

Christopher Reho — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:46:19 GMT

“The heat is on…the heat is on, on, on….” I think that’s an ‘80’s song. It’s summertime, and the heat sure has been on. It’s about to get even hotter in Vegas and Georgia. NVRA has their annual convention July 29 in Savannah, Georgia, and one of our student liaisons, Monica Anderson, will be attending, as well as take her first certification test. We all wish her well and look forward to hearing how the convention goes in Savannah. The board had to designate their two NCSA delegates to serve for the 2021/2022 year and who were to attend in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 28 through the 30th. VCRA put forth a resolution regarding NCRA giving states some more advanced notice of their virtual webinars and conventions by sharing a Google calendar, as an example. Some states were taken by surprise to learn after having been approved for their March virtual seminars that NCRA was going to hold one on the same date. We don’t want our members to have to struggle with making a choice of whether to attend and support their national association or their state association on the same day. We’re also going to roll the dice and have our first social for VCRA members that are in Las Vegas after the annual business meeting. If you’re planning to attend NVRA convention or NCRA convention, please reach out and let me know. I would love for Monica to meet you in Georgia, and we’d love to see you in Vegas at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill.

Your board is planning to have their first in-person board meeting since June 2020 on Saturday, September 25, 2021, in Charlottesville with a social thereafter. Please save the date, and we’ll keep you posted on the details. Members are more than welcome to attend board meetings. We’re working for you. And you’re always more than welcome to work on committees. The more members involved, the more unity and strength we have in numbers.

I have so enjoyed members reaching out asking questions or looking for guidance. It is what I signed up for, to be helpful and to guide. It’s what the whole board signed up for. Any association’s goal is to help its members, as well as show solidarity and strength in their profession. I know the more seasoned reporters can remember first joining associations to get mentorship, make connections to find agencies to work for, to learn how to handle certain situations, to become stronger in their skill set. Wasn’t it worth it? It sure was to me. I know many students have come through and expressed how invaluable it has been to them. And the seasoned reporters want to continue to be involved to keep up with the ever-changing technology, commiserate, share war stories, and share solutions. Some have even become agency owners themselves and network to find reporters to help cover their clients. It is a win-win.

Our Lawyer and Paralegal Liaison Committee sponsored and put together a video for the Virginia State Bar Association’s virtual convention. It was so nice to be thanked for our support, and you can see that at VCRA’s Facebook page. We promoted hiring our members and agencies for assignments, explained our CCR program and how it’s the only body of certified court reporters in Virginia. We stressed scheduling early with agencies, as well as utilizing VCRA’s Pro Bono member volunteers.

I don’t know how every single court in Virginia works their security, but in Fairfax, they stopped giving out badges to court reporters unless they were part of the reporting pool for the criminal docket. I have become, quite honestly, tired of feeling like a criminal having to take off my shoes, step on an icky floor in paper shoes way too big for my size 6 feet, and be interrogated over the material in my new hips. I’ve had reporters express frustration over having “the list” taken away and having to go through the security scrutiny. I have written a letter to Fairfax Circuit Court chief judge and sheriff’s department asking them to reconsider giving badges to Virginia Court Reporter Association members. The biggest reason I was told they would not give us badges is because there was no governing body with which to complain to in order reprimand us, sanction us, like the lawyers are members of the bar association, so they can go to the bar associations for reprimanding. Gee, if we only had our licensure bill passed, we would have a governing body, right? Well, I’m suggesting that if they’re Virginia Court Reporter Association members, then there is a body with which to file a complaint. We have a CCR ethics complaint system in place. You wonder what would we be reprimanded for? Usually leaving the cell phone on, talking on the cell phone in court. Oh, it has happened.

I want to share something that came up in the last couple weeks. As many of you know, I have my own homegrown agency. I had a client reach out to me to express frustration over large price quotes to receive copies of two-hour depositions regular delivery. He explained there were exorbitant charges from the big-box agency that doesn’t even have a home office in the Commonwealth to the tune of $1,000. He also shared how the defense counsel forced to use the big-box agencies are not too happy either with their services. I discussed his option of filing a complaint in court because of the anti-contracting legislation that is in place. His idea was to just hire his own court reporter not to be the official record but just so he could purchase a reasonably priced transcript he could give to his expert witnesses. He’d be paying an original price to get a transcript that would be cheaper than the big-box agency’s cost for a copy. Now, big-box agencies are touting the shortage of court reporters. Is this really a good use of resources? Do you agencies and reporters really want to lose out on copy sales? I suggest those engaged in such practices rethink their business model. You are hurting your business and reporters’ livelihoods if this takes off as a practice utilized by attorneys who are fed up.

I hope everyone is able to go somewhere on vacation now that restrictions have been lifted. We all work hard and need time away to rejuvenate. I hope you all have a fabulous summer!

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

A Message from Donna Linton, VCRA President

Christopher Reho — Wed, 26 May 2021 14:16:52 GMT

It is hard to believe we are almost at the halfway mark of the year! And it is that time of the year to renew your valuable membership.

For the past few years, the Board has discussed the need to raise the membership dues. They actually haven’t been raised since 2005. That’s over 15 years. We were planning to implement it last year, but due to the unknown of what financial impact COVID would have, we postponed. For Professional membership, the dues will now be $120. For Professional members who hold a CCR, the renewal price will be $150 ($120 membership dues + $30 CCR renewal fee).

The Board has been getting the word out about the CCR, the only state-level certification program in the Commonwealth. We have promoted it to paralegal associations and bar associations by sponsoring and attending their virtual conventions and meetings. The dues increase will allow us to promote it even more enthusiastically in the coming years. We are letting everyone know VCRA members are their only go-to professionals in the Commonwealth.

Save the date for Saturday, October 2^nd for VCRA’s Virtual Wellness Webinar and Friday, March 25^th through Sunday, March 27^th, 2022, for the much anticipated in-person Roaring ‘20’s convention, in Lynchburg, Virginia. We can’t wait to see you!

Finally, renew early, and you could win! Members who renew between now and June 15^th will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card. Renewal reminders will start arriving in inboxes in about a week, but if you’d like to renew now, please click this link.

Membership is a crucial part of VCRA’s mission to promote our profession. We are stronger together. Thank you for your continued support!

With warm regards,

Donna L. Linton, RMR-CCR-CLR

President, VCRA

President's Message -- Spring 2021

Christopher Reho — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:55:50 GMT

Spring has sprung, and more reporters are springing into action with in-person jury trials. There is a sense of happiness to be getting back into some normalcy with seeing friends and family in person, and apprehension about having to dress up and commute for job assignments. Some would be happy not to ever have to attempt a remote deposition or nonjury trial again. I’ve found it all depends on the quality of the WiFi and It’s not about the reporter being afraid of the technology.

We definitely had more people comfortable attending virtually when we held our second virtual continuing education event on Saturday, March 20 for Spring Education Day. Our attendance doubled from November’s Zoomvention. It was a great success due to our generous sponsors and donators, our over 40 raffle prize winners, and fantastic speakers Margie Wakeman Wells and Kristina Tan. They got fantastic reviews, and we will be sure to have them back again soon. We had attendees share their past vacation photos. It was so nice to see the places people have traveled and enjoyed themselves. The survey results had everyone saying even when we can get together in person, for convenience, they would still like to see remote opportunities for CEUs. We will definitely be taking this feedback into consideration.

We also announced on March 20 the results of our 2021/2022 election. Welcome to our new board members Linda Kia, Monica Anderson, and Alicia Greenland. We were really sad to see our student liaison Zelma Lee have to leave us after her two-year term was up, and we look forward to seeing her name on the ballot next year for a board position when she graduates. Lori McCoin Jones stepped off the board, but she will be helping out on committees when she can.

If you’re an electronic notary, I’m sure you received the email from the Notary Commission pertaining to HB2064. Not on VCRA’s behalf, but on my own behalf, I did write the following: “I need clarification. Are you wishing the certification page of deposition transcripts to have this information – location of notary at time of administering the oath and whether remote or in person – or is this just for notarizing documents?” Response: “This is information that must be included in the notarial area of an electronic notarizations.” I wrote back: “When court reporters/notaries are swearing in a witness electronically, via Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, et cetera, do you consider that an electronic notary act where we have to put this information on our certification page that gets attached to the back of a transcript attesting to the fact that we swore the witness in, we’re not a party to the case, we have no financial interest in the outcome?” Okay. I realize that was quite a long sentence. Their response: “Please refer to the Handbook for information on allowed notarial acts and requirements. If it is not specifically listed, your question would be legal in nature and you will need to contact an attorney for guidance.”

We’ve included in the newsletter the actual HB2064 bill, and I am going to reach out to the original authors to find out what their intent was. VCRA has already consulted a lawyer in the past about interpretations of the Handbook and at this point, as your president, I’ve gone in circles more than once with this with the Supreme Court and Notary Commission.

Back in February I wrote to the Attorney General, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Supreme Court about issues members have brought to us of email solicitations from overseas to do transcription, the notary questions that have continued to come up, concerns about pressing record on Zoom in place of a videographer, and anti-contracting laws not being enforced.

Since we’re still under an Executive Emergency Order, education days have been virtual. The Education Committee made a video to share for virtual high school career days and had its first showing was at South Lakes High School located in Reston, Virginia. We’re reaching out to guidance counselors across the state to attend their virtual career days.

You can read the January board meeting minutes to see what the board has been working on. If you would like to participate on a committee, please let us know. We are always looking for new ideas and perspective, and you will make a difference. One of the greatest rewards of donating your time to the board is the friends you make. One of the other greatest rewards is knowing you are helping so many people.

We are hoping to have a board meeting in person in September and a social after. And we are very much looking forward to seeing everyone in Lynchburg for our much anticipated in-person convention March 25-27, 2022, with our headline speaker Mark Kislingbury. Be sure to save that date... again.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

2021 Tayloe and Pro Bono Awards

Christopher Reho — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 03:38:41 GMT

The recipients of the 2021 Tayloe and Pro Bono Awards were announced at the VCRA Virtual Spring Education Day on March 20th, 2021. Below are the videos of the announcements. Congratulations to Gwenda Applegate for winning the Tayloe Award and Rose Adams for winning the Pro Bono Award!

Tayloe Award

Pro Bono Award

Thank you to our sponsors!

Christopher Reho — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:33:01 GMT

The VCRA would like to thank the sponsors and donors who helped make our Virtual Spring Education Day possible!

The sights (no sounds) of the Virtual Spring Education Day!

Christopher Reho — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:11:42 GMT

Our Virtual Spring Education Day was held on March 20th, 2021, and we're happy to say it was huge success! 90 attendees, great speakers and dozens of prizes given away (and don't forget the now famous wheel of names)! Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to make this Education Day so great!

Introducing Your 2021-2022 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 14:00:00 GMT

Board of Directors Election – March 18th through 19th

Christopher Reho — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:37:33 GMT

Greetings VCRA voting members,

We hope you are planning to join us on Saturday, March 20, 2021, for our Virtual Spring Education Day. Due to COVID restrictions, we currently are prohibited from gathering together indoors in groups larger than 10; and, therefore, it once again will be necessary that our election of officers and directors will need to be held electronically to allow our new Board of Directors to begin serving the membership of VCRA and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. Our current Bylaws do not have a provision for electronic voting and require that at least 20 voting members be present at a meeting where elections are held.

In light of the current governmental ban prohibiting such gatherings due to COVID-19 restrictions, the VCRA Board of Directors is once again requesting our membership vote to suspend, for these special purposes only, Article IX, Section 3(b) and Section 4 of the Bylaws. Our complete Bylaws may be located at VCRA.net, but the pertinent sections regarding the election read as follows:

Section 3 – Voting
b) Voting of the membership by proxy on any issue, or for officers and directors, shall be permitted when such action is authorized by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Board of Directors and such proxy is delivered with the notice of the meeting and shall be permissible by mail, e-mail, or fax.

Section 4 – Quorum of Professional Members
At the annual business meeting or any meeting of this Association, twenty-five percent (25%) of voting members present, in person or by proxy, constitute a quorum, provided that no fewer than twenty (20) voting members are physically present. The action of a majority of the voting members at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the voting members.

If you would like to submit any write-in candidates to be considered for election on the board, please send an e-mail to Liz Phillips at vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com by March 17, 2021.

The complete ballot with instructions will be available beginning on March 18, 2021, and there will be a 36-hour window in which to cast your vote.

Announcement of voting results will be posted by Saturday, March 20, 2021.

Please see the introduction to the incoming officers and directors below.

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

New items added to Spring Education Day raffle

Christopher Reho — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:17:39 GMT

Buy more raffle tickets on the VCRA Store online

If you've already registered or if you are unable to attend our Education Day, you can now purchase raffle tickets on the VCRA Store on VCRA.net! You do not need to be present at the time of the drawings to win, and one ticket enters you into drawings for all the prizes. This is one of the largest raffles we've ever held, so buy those tickets!

Click here to buy raffle tickets

More prizes added to the Spring Education Day raffle

If the seven amazing prizes in our Spring Education Day raffle weren't enough encouragement to buy a ticket (or 10), we are adding two more awesome items, bringing the total to nine. One ticket enters you into drawings for all of them!

Martel Zoom Court Reporter Teleconference and Audiosync Kit - Compatible with all CAT programs One on One Help with Support!

($199.99 value)
Donated by Martel

Choice of Saverna Leather Tote (various colors) or Canvas Messenger Bag

($53.00 to $107.00 value)

Donated by Andrea Paige

Got questions for Stenograph?

Stenograph representative Andrea Paige will be available to answer those questions in the Zoom chat during our Virtual Spring Education Day lunch break!

VCRA wins national drawing in recognition of Court Reporting & Captioning Week effort

Christopher Reho — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:07:43 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week was a huge success this year. The VCRA received recognition from the Governor and on the floor of the Virginia House by Delegate David Reid. We held Tech Talk Tuesday to answer members' tech questions, gave out daily prizes and more.

The NCRA held a drawing for all states who received official proclamations for one free registration to NCRA’s 2021 Conference & Expo happening July 29-Aug. 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and we won!

Recognition of Court Reporting & Captioning Week in Virginia

Christopher Reho — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 02:49:49 GMT

Governor's Proclamation

Today, the VCRA received the Governor's proclamation in recognition of Court Reporting & Captioning Week in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Recognition on the House Floor

Thank you to Delegate David Reid for recognizing Court Reporting & Captioning Week on the House floor!

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is coming!

Christopher Reho — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:06:49 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is coming!

Court Reporting & Captioning Week is February 6th through 13th, and the VCRA has a huge week planned! From tech talks to Zoom backgrounds, we have something for everyone!

Tech Talk Tuesday

Join us in celebrating Court Reporting & Captioning Week as Kristina and Juan are hosting a Tech Talk Tuesday for VCRA members on Tuesday, February 9, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Come hang out or pop in and ask any burning questions about technology, or share some of your favorite gizmos, tips, and experience! Any and all levels of nerdiness or non-nerdiness are welcome for this social event. Hope to see you there!

Note: This is a social event. CEUs will not be awarded.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Prize Giveaways

Stay tuned for daily prize giveaways throughout the week!

Governor's Proclamation

VCRA Vice President, Lori McCoin Jones, applied for the Governor's Proclamation, in honor of Court Reporting & Captioning Week, which we are told is in the works, and their office acknowledges they are behind in processing proclamations.

Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association Education Conference

The Lawyer and Paralegal Liaison Committee along with Juan Ortega are working on a video to show at the Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association Education Conference on February 15.

Zoom Backgrounds

Tell the world (or at least the people in your Zoom deps) about Court Reporting & Captioning Week with custom Zoom backgrounds! Follow the guide below to add these backgrounds to Zoom.

1. Right-click the image
2. Click "Save Image As..." (Wording can vary depending on browser)
3. Follow the guide on this page to add a virtual background to Zoom.

PNG Format (High quality, large file size)

JPG Format (Good quality, small file size)

President's Message -- Winter 2021

Christopher Reho — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:14:35 GMT

Happy 2021 to you! I started writing this message on New Year’s Day. As I sat, watched, and listened to Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with Ryan Seacrest, I pondered the video footage of 2019’s year-end celebration in comparison. We had no idea back on December 31, 2019, what awaited us. I for one sure was looking forward to VCRA’s Roaring 2020 convention and getting a lot of wear out of my flapper dress during the year. It was to be the year of celebration and excitement. And it turned out to be a year of learning a lot of new things and FAST. The phrase “new normal” was in our daily speech. We all have had to overcome a lot of challenges, but we did it, and we still will continue to do it because there is no other option.

And now I pick up writing on Saturday the 9th. What a week it’s been. I’ve talked to a few reporters this week who have shared that though they are enjoying being remote, they are mentally exhausted from all the screen time, the sad news coming from our nation’s Capitol, the COVID numbers rising, tired of feeling isolated, tired of not being able to go where they want and when they want, tired of the mask.

As your president, I’ll admit: Personally, I’ve had my days of feeling over-whelmed and tired of not being able to be with family and friends freely. As your president, I’ll admit: It’s exciting to work with the board and plan events and keep us moving forward in positive momentum.

The board has planned our first Virtual Spring Education Day for March 20, and at the request of the members, not having it be all day. You can find details in the newsletter. We’re going to have some fantastically useful items up for raffle as well. We will be holding our annual election of board members electronically the week of March 14 and announcing results on Education Day. We are also working on presenting other virtual opportunities throughout the year with another half day and software-specific training. With COVID still among us and slow rollout of vaccine, it’s just best to accept that this is the safest alternative for earning CEUs and being together. We’re hoping, fingers crossed, we can have an in-person social in September.

We have quite a few things planned for Court Reporting & Captioning Week, which is February 6 through 13. We’re going to “kick” it off with a Super Bowl Half Time raffle. Be watchful of your emails for how you can participate in this week of recognition of you!

We’ve noticed a lot of discussion about recording the video at attorneys’ request. Reporters are an impartial party doing their reporting job and it’s always best to direct counsel to hiring a professional videographer for quality and usable video, especially to be synched. In today’s Town Hall, NCRA President Phipps said they are working on a best-practices guideline for that.

We want to give a shout out to the reporters working on the Hill January 6th. You worked until the wee hours the following morning with what looked like nerves of steel. Professionalism for us all to work by.

At first glance, things may not appear to be what they really are. I was shocked to find out I misread this. Why did I misread this? Was it the photograph I was more fixated on? Was it my jumping to conclusions of just seeing the first couple of words with the photograph as to what the full message was about?   And why did I do that? What did you first read it as?

We all can admit we have done it. We probably are surprised when we get an errata sheet back that we missed that word, glossed over that word.   It could have been just a bad day or we just need to slow our brains down, take a break, go back to it before sending out.

We all have our own opinions and feelings. That’s what makes us unique. We all have our own paces with which we work or how we perform tasks. This year, let’s make it a goal, a resolution, to have empathy and   respect for each reporter's preferences for remote versus in person, good days versus bad days, likes and dislikes.

We have each other and a great profession. It’s a gift. Let’s hold onto that as we move forward through 2021.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR
VCRA President

President's Message -- Fall 2020

Christopher Reho — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 01:05:18 GMT

For a COVID year, your board has been busier than any other year. I have to say again how blessed I feel to have such a dedicated, energetic, enthusiastic group to work with for this association. We have had to have more emergency pop-up meetings than ever in VCRA’s history. We have come across, as many professions have come across, the necessity to add new policies to conform to the new circumstances we are living in.

We were disappointed to have to postpone our convention at Lynchburg again due to COVID. Based on the questionnaire and feedback, even if registrants weren’t worried about COVID, they would find wearing a mask for that many hours uncomfortable and it just wouldn’t be as fun if we had to maintain such distance. The Virginian was amazing to work with and we’re happy to say we’re keeping the date March 2022 in place with them and Mark Kislingbury. We would have loved to make it for 2021, but due to what we’re hearing with when Jepson Hall would take reservations again, when movie theatres would be playing long-awaited movies, when courts will have trials, when other associations are still planning virtual conventions into mid-2021, we felt it safest to lock in a realistic date.

BUT...we have moved quickly to put together a one-day virtual convention on Saturday, November 14, that will include our beloved 50/50, some fantastic door prizes, and a social for registrants at the end of the day. By now you have received the information. We just can’t get enough tech advice and Kristina Tan and Michele Eddy will have their latest and greatest tips. We also will have John Stirrup there to help us feel comfortable going to our representatives with issues that concern us and how to establish a relationship with our representatives. We’ll also get a recap on the efforts for the last bill and have open Q&A. And we’ll have national award-winning health journalist Pilar Gerasimo to talk about our circadian rhythms and more. You won’t want to miss it.

Speaking of pushing things out because of COVID, we have followed guidelines for the retention of our notes for seven years on civil matters. You may want to just hold onto them two or so years longer because of trials being pushed off. I’ve had trials scheduled to go March 2021 and being told they’ll get back to me for a date in 2023. Yes, 2023. So I thought, gosh, I started depositions in that case in 2014. We’re just going to need a little bit more cloud storage.

We have had so many of our members turn to us for assistance in getting answers to questions that we are happy to give or get the answers to if we don’t already know it.

As mentioned in the summer issue, we tried to get answers to questions that, yes, still keep coming up about where the reporter needs to be to swear in the witness, do you need to ask to see their ID, do you need to record the ID and oath. Christopher Reho, your membership chair, and I met with two associates of the Supreme Court of Virginia via WebEx to express the concerns members have brought before us. I particularly brought up security concerns about asking for ID in front of other participants on camera, keeping that recording, storing that recording, and why is it a judge or a clerk, even in person, never asks to see the ID of a witness before they’re sworn in? Shouldn’t we be governed by the same rules? The Secretary of the Commonwealth has stated it sounds like our duties should fall under the court system, yet we’re directed back to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the Supreme Court. The Commonwealth Electronic Notary Handbook says we have to ask for their ID. We gave examples of how other states are giving Supreme Court mandates regarding

the court reporters’ duties, this would forego having to follow the Electronic Notary Handbook, which really seems to be geared more towards signing agents. We discussed the questions we commonly get: Does it have to be a Virginia case and you can swear a witness in that is located in another state? Does the reporter have to be in Virginia to administer the oath? We were directed by the Supreme Court back to legal counsel (trust me, we’ve done that), to continue to reach out to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office, and Statute Va. Code Va. Code 47.1-6.1. Do I have a plan C for getting us clarity? You betcha.

National Paralegal Day is October 23. Reach out to a paralegal and let them know you appreciate them. VCRA has reached out to the various paralegal associations throughout the Commonwealth during Virginia’s Paralegal Week. We have come up with some of their input of what they would like to see from reporters and we have shared with them what reporters would like. It also encourages them to utilize reporting services from our member CCRs.

I, for one, am happy not to be sweating…sweating from summer and sweating from worry. We do have a convention! And the fall leaves are beautiful. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, November 14.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

Introducing the New CCR

Christopher Reho — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 17:07:44 GMT

The VCRA is very excited to announce the relaunch of our VCRA Voluntary Certified Court Reporter Program. As you are likely aware, the CCR, which is administered by the Virginia Court Reporters Association, is the only state-based certification for court reporters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have endeavored to update the program to better reflect our changing industry and provide new avenues for obtaining CEUs.

While we have made changes, the core requirements for the CCR remain the same. To qualify, one must be a member of the VCRA in good standing and abide by all rules, policies, and procedures of the program and the VCRA. Once approved, the member must obtain 2.0 CEUs each three-year cycle.

Our relaunched CCR program now provides greater flexibility for obtaining and applying CEUs. As always, CEUs can be obtained by attending NCRA-, NVRA- and VCRA-sponsored events. Now, CEUs can also be obtained for providing pro bono services, attending college courses and serving on a VCRA board or committee. Additionally, if you exceed 2.0 CEUs in a given three-year cycle, a portion of those CEUs may be carried over into the new cycle.

Along with this relaunch, the VCRA plans to aggressively promote the CCR to the Virginia legal community. We want attorneys and paralegals to know that, if they hire a CCR, they are in good hands. To this end, the VCRA has created a new logo for the CCR designation. Reporters who have their CCR are free to use this logo in marketing and all other communications.

We know many of you have proudly displayed your CCR designation on your business card for years, and we hope the changes we have implemented will further advance this program. If you’re a Professional member without a CCR designation, we hope you’ll consider applying. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the CCR Committee at ccr@vcra.net.

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

Important announcement about our October Convention

Christopher Reho — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 18:11:46 GMT

Dear VCRA members, sponsors, vendors, speakers and friends,

After careful consideration of the comments from members and the widespread health risks posed by COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 Convention scheduled for October 22-24 in Lynchburg, VA. Due to the circumstances, all registration fees will be fully refunded and checks will be mailed to all registrants. The hotel has been very gracious in working with us throughout this difficult time. We ask that you cancel your room reservation as soon as possible to allow the hotel to open those rooms up for other reservations, if possible. The number for The Virginian Hotel is 434-329-3200.

Please know that this decision was not taken lightly. Having the opportunity to interact with our members in person is our favorite time of the year. However, the ongoing pandemic has made the logistics of holding a large in-person event paired with health risks while traveling for our members increasingly difficult. Most importantly, the health, comfort and safety of our members, speakers and vendors are our highest priority.

VCRA is working on a virtual program to offer CEUs for this November, and details will follow soon. We appreciate your patience as we strive to work through the logistics of the cancellation and finalizing an enjoyable and educational virtual experience for you.

VCRA Board of Directors

Proposed Bylaw Amendments

Christopher Reho — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:48:24 GMT

In keeping with VCRA's bylaws, Article XII, Amendments, Section 2, we are notifying you of proposed bylaw amendment changes 60 days prior to the annual business meeting set for October 24, 2020, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Please go to the link below to review.

Click here to review proposed bylaw amendments.

President's Message -- Summer 2020

Christopher Reho — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:40:54 GMT

Hopefully this message finds you adjusting to your new normal. It definitely has been a whirlwind of constant changes the past three months and, for most, extremely stressful keeping up with: the informational webinars, online platform trainings, electronic sticker marking, knowing what are the electronic notary rules, will I get unemployment or PPP or EIDL, does this mask offend anyone, and listening to the voices through the computer say, “Can you hear me now?”

There have been some wonderful and less exhausting events. We’ve had some virtual Zoom happy hours that have been informational and fun. I know some reporters have enjoyed the downtime to visit with family or help family.

The board of VCRA has been staying very busy for you. You’ll see in this issue a Q & A article about the electronic notary. Though I had a very pleasant conversation with the Commonwealth Notary Commission Office, I was unable to get responses to the questions. It just solidifies for me, as your president, as a reporter, as an agency owner, how our profession has very little guidance even with a notary license. They just don’t know what to do with us. We don’t fit into the typical notary practice. I do plan to have our voices be heard in a different venue, virus or no virus.

The convention committee has spoken with the hotel and we have peace of mind knowing we can successfully hold our convention with social distancing. Their ballroom is more than adequate to accommodate social distancing for our seminars and meals being served by staff.

We added a Facebook Members-Only page to help lend clarity when members are reaching out for help or to discuss topics that pertain to Virginia procedures so not to be confused by other wonderful state’s suggestions. Our volunteer seamstresses Michele Eddy, Tasiana Basdekis, and Rose Marie Adams created three different style masks to give to our members. The idea was thought of early on. Once we saw there was no escaping wearing them, the material we had preselected was ordered and they were fast at work.

We had our first board meeting in person with social distancing in Richmond on June 20. I feel so blessed to have a great board working for us. They are enthusiastic, have tons of ideas, are implementing those ideas, and are always speaking about what is best for the members. With social distancing in place, one of the hardest things to plan for is career education days. We still don’t know what the school schedule is going to look like, but we have some ideas of how to bring attention to our profession.

On behalf of our members, I wrote to VTLA to remind them to go to VCRA’s membership directory for hiring a court reporter. We have CCRs that take their continuing education serious like they do. Why wouldn’t they want to reach out to you for reporting services first, right? We all stick together to be the best that we can, so why wouldn’t they want the best!

Also, I wrote on behalf of VCRA to the Supreme Court Task Force on Jury Trials requesting they consider putting a court reporter on their task force to give input on bench conferences, seeing witnesses without a mask to testify, courtroom setup, and the like.

Finally, I leave you with this little story and thought that popped into my head walking my dog a few weeks ago. We’re going around the lake like we usually do for our afternoon stroll, and I say hello to fellow neighbors passing by. Most are wearing masks. I notice that they don’t look up. They barely say hello. It’s as if looking down will keep them safe. It’s as if not saying a word will keep me safe. We have to take precautions, yes. But we cannot look down. We cannot stay silent. When reporting remotely, if you can’t hear, say something. We have to protect the record. It’s our job. When together in a room, hold your head up high. You are the MVP, as one attorney just told me today. Be the strong protector of the record. Spread your love of the profession, not your germs: get your free member mask.

Looking forward sharing in an educational and roaring fun time with you October 23 in Lynchburg, VA.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

Change made to "Professional without CCR" membership level

Christopher Reho — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:34:37 GMT

The membership level "Professional without CCR" has been renamed to "Professional." Besides the name change, all other aspects of this membership level remain the same.

Location change for VCRA Board meeting

Christopher Reho — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 17:11:23 GMT

The location of the VCRA Board meeting on June 20, 2020, has changed. The new address is listed below.

Doubletree by Hilton Richmond Midlothian

1021 Koger Center Blvd

Richmond, VA 23235

Announcing the new VCRA Store with a special offer for members!

Christopher Reho — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 13:33:33 GMT

Announcing the VCRA Members Group on Facebook!

Christopher Reho — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 16:51:47 GMT

We are excited to announce the VCRA Members Group on Facebook, a brand new membership benefit. This is a private Facebook group for VCRA members only where you can ask questions, get to know your fellow members and have fun!

To join, simply click the link below and request to join the group. Of course, you need to be a member of VCRA (Join here). The $50 Membership Drive is still running!

Join Now!

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

Policies and Procedures:

• The VCRA Members Group is to be utilized in a manner that encourages informative and effective communication and discussion.

• Members are encouraged to share advice, ask questions, and share ideas with each other respectfully and professionally.

• Administrators and moderators have discretion to remove posts that do not comply with these policies. Posts that are deemed personal, business, or political attacks will be removed immediately.

• The opinions expressed by members of the group do not reflect those of the VCRA.

President's Message -- Spring 2020

Christopher Reho — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:04:29 GMT

I certainly didn’t think I would be writing my first President’s Message as your president without having our convention and annual board meeting. These are definitely unique times we’re living through, and as one reporter, Anita Glover pointed out, would rather be reading about them in history.

The Roaring ‘20s we are living in a very different way than we imagined. We’re certainly not able to live it up with themed gatherings or even able to celebrate momentous occasions. This virus has affected us all in our professional lives as well. Yet I have noticed how so many have reached out with support, financial information, free trainings, free dictations, free grammar classes, discounts on maintenance and remote services, and the list goes on. You see the evidence daily of what a great group of professionals we are, helping each other, supporting each other, despite some differences of opinions we had prior to the virus on licensure, methods, rates.

Times like these can bring out the worst in people, as the expression is used. It’s panic. It’s normal. A lot of reporters are geared to feast or famine, and it seems this is a famine none of us have seen. But we are all in this together. We’re not the only profession that is having to adjust and adapt. One thing to keep in mind to adapt is living in the moment. Life doesn’t wait for us to get over our imaginary fears and worries. It’s going to keep moving on. Move on with it is what you have control over. Take this time now to embrace new technology so you can move on with it. Remote depositions might become a more routine avenue for deposing out-of-state witnesses after all of this is over with to save attorneys’ clients’ money for travel. It will save you as the reporter the cost of parking, high tolls, wear and tear on your vehicle. And it is certainly going to give you more quality time at home and time to get your transcripts out faster. I know, for me, that is something I want to embrace.

VCRA has been working hard to help get the Governor to enter an emergency order to allow those having difficulty obtaining their electronic notary to keep the wheels of justice rolling along and keeping us a part of it. VCRA has been helping members and nonmembers successfully submit their electronic notary applications. VCRA has written to the VA Lawyers Weekly to let them know that many of VCRA’s members have their electronic notary license and are Zoom proficient and ready to work for their subscribers. VCRA has been here to answer your questions the best we can. We want to thank all of the members for your contributions and suggestions towards these efforts, especially Linda Kia and Misty Klapper.

Your new VCRA board wants to thank all of our registrants, speakers, vendors and sponsors for your patience while we successfully worked through the logistics in the most cost-effective way possible to move the convention to October. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone there and the fall leaves will be a hit as well as our speakers.

We still have a ways to go to get through this quarantine. Please feel free to reach out to VCRA for any help you may need or suggestions you have. We wish you much good health and happiness and please don’t forget…wash your hands.

Donna Linton, RMR,CCR,CLR

VCRA President

Former Member or New to the VCRA? Join now for $50!

Christopher Reho — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:30:00 GMT

The VCRA is running a membership drive! If you are brand new to the VCRA or if you were previously a member but haven't been a member for the past three years, you're qualified to join for only $50 (with CCR, $75). If that wasn't incentive enough, your membership will be valid through July 1, 2021!

So what are you waiting for? Join the association that is fighting for court reporters in Virginia, and take advantage of Early Bird member pricing for our 2020 Convention this March! See you in Lynchburg!

What Membership Does For You

- VCRA fought off electronic recording going into Williamsburg and Norfolk courts.
- VCRA helped to push through SB 545, stopping contracting and keeping impartiality.
- VCRA has socials for reporters throughout the state to stay in touch.
- VCRA gives you opportunities for CEUs and special training.
- VCRA keeps you informed of legislative matters that concern you and your career.
- VCRA members get exclusive access to our quarterly newsletter.
- Remember, numbers speak volumes. As individuals, we’re weaker; together, we’re stronger.

Those who qualify:

People who have never been a member of the VCRA
Former members who have not had an active membership for the past three years

To receive the discount:

Enter VCRASTRONG in the box marked "Enter discount code" on the application.

Click here to join now!

(Eligibility will be confirmed before application is approved. Discount only applies to Professional with/without CCR applicants. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Executive Director at executive-director@vcra.net.)

The Votes are In! Meet your 2020-2021 VCRA Board of Directors!

Christopher Reho — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:54:22 GMT

(Updated) New Dates for VCRA 2020 Convention

Christopher Reho — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:40:57 GMT

Dear VCRA Members, Convention Registrants, Sponsors and Vendors,

Our 2020 court reporting convention has now been rescheduled to October 23 to 25, 2020. The season might be different, but the rest of the convention will be identical to all planned events and speakers from March. Our keynote speaker will be Mark Kislingbury, along with featured speakers Jim DeCrescenzo from Project Steno, Michele Eddy, and NCRA representative Yolanda Walton.

Total Event CEUs: NCRA 1.2/NVRA 12.0

VCRA members with a CCR designation and CEU cycle expiring on June 30, 2020, the deadline will automatically be extended to January 31, 2021.

NEW DATES: October 23 to 25, 2020

SAME LOCATION: The Virginian Hotel, Lynchburg, Virginia

Current registrations for the original March convention will automatically transfer to the rescheduled October convention.

While we hope to see all of you in October, we know there may be some who might have prior commitments or will be unavailable in October. If you are already registered but unable to attend the rescheduled convention, please email admin@vcra.net to request a registration cancellation and refund. If you weren’t able to attend in March but now will be able to join us in October, please visit our website at vcra.net for registration details.

Hotel booking link:

Book Now

Please note: The cut-off date for reserving rooms in the discounted room block is 4:00 p.m. on September 23, 2020.

Thank you for your patience this past week while VCRA coordinated rescheduling with The Virginian Hotel and our speakers. We appreciate all our sponsors and are looking forward to seeing our vendors and attendees soon.

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

Board of Directors Election – April 3rd thru April 5th

Christopher Reho — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:49:50 GMT

Greetings VCRA voting members,

With the postponement of our 2020 convention, our annual business meeting is also being postponed, which is when our election of officers and directors typically takes place. In order for your new Board of Directors to begin serving its membership and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors would like to hold our elections electronically. While our current Bylaws do allow for electronic voting, they also require that at least 20 voting members be present at a meeting where elections are held.

In light of the governmental ban on meetings of 10 or more people pursuant to the outbreak of COVID-19, the entire Board met via Zoom on March 21, 2020, and voted to propose to the membership to suspend, for these special purposes only, Article IX, Section 3(b) and Section 4 of the Bylaws. Our complete Bylaws can be located here, but the pertinent sections regarding the election read as follows:

Section 3 – Voting

b) Voting of the membership by proxy on any issue, or for officers and directors, shall be permitted when such action is authorized by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Board of Directors and such proxy is delivered with the notice of the meeting and shall be permissible by mail, e-mail, or fax.

Section 4 – Quorum of Professional Members

At the annual business meeting or any meeting of this Association, twenty-five percent (25%) of voting members present, in person or by proxy, constitute a quorum, provided that no fewer than twenty (20) voting members are physically present. The action of a majority of the voting members at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the voting members.

We are asking that you consider this e-mail as notification of our intent to hold elections in this manner. If you would like to submit any write-in candidates to be considered for election on the board, please send an e-mail to Liz Phillips at vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com by April 2nd, 2020.

The complete ballot with instructions will be available April 3rd, and there will be a 48-hour window in which to cast your vote. Mail-in ballots will be made available upon reasonable request. Announcement of voting results will be posted by April 7th.

Please see the introduction to the incoming officers and directors below.

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

Postponement of VCRA 2020 Convention

Christopher Reho — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 18:25:30 GMT

Dear VCRA Members, Convention Registrants, Sponsors and Vendors,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association has decided at this time, due to the recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, it would be in everyone's best interest to postpone our upcoming VCRA Convention scheduled for March 20 - 22, 2020, at The Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia.

We are coordinating now with the hotel and our speakers regarding a new date and plan to make our announcement early next week.

Please be sure to cancel your hotel reservations.

We will be sending announcements soon to notify you of the rescheduled date for the annual business meeting and methods of attendance and voting.

With warm regards,

The Virginia Court Reporters Association Board of Directors

Update regarding VCRA 2020 Convention

Christopher Reho — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 03:06:52 GMT

Message to VCRA members and convention registrants:

As a member of VCRA or convention registrant, we wanted to let you know we have been monitoring the recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. We understand your concerns and how it might affect our upcoming convention in Lynchburg, Virginia, scheduled for March 20 - 22, 2020.

We have been in contact with our speakers, and they are still comfortable moving forward with their speaking obligations; but due to the developments in the last 24 hours, we are touching base again with the hotel to see how best to proceed. We plan to send out an update to everyone tomorrow.

Leslie Etheredge, Registered Merit Reporter, Certified Court Reporter

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

Governor's Proclamation in recognition of Court Reporting & Captioning Week

Christopher Reho — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 02:26:00 GMT

UPDATED - A to Z Intro to Steno Program Now Starts February 25

Christopher Reho — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:41:29 GMT

Court Reporting & Captioning Week starts today!

Christopher Reho — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 16:55:46 GMT

It's Court Reporting & Captioning Week! Join the VCRA as we celebrate our profession all across the commonwealth! We're hosting four socials, so there's sure to be an event near you!

Northern Virginia

Where: Founding Farmers Tysons, 1800 Tysons Blvd, Tysons, VA 22102

When: Sunday, Feb 9, 2020, 1:30 PM

Please RSVP to amicusreporting@aol.com

Richmond

Where: Caturra on Grove, 5811 Grove Ave, Richmond, VA 23226

When: Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020, 5:00 PM

Please RSVP to vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com

Roanoke

Where: Los Amigos Restaurant, 2207 Colonial Ave, Roanoke, VA 24015

When: Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020, 6:00 PM

Please RSVP to vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com

Hampton Roads

Where: Bahama Breeze, 4554 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 10, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

When: Thursday, Feb 13, 2020, 5:30 PM

Please RSVP to vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com

Legislation Update

Christopher Reho — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 03:44:00 GMT

Good evening, VCRA Members,

As you know, our proposed bill for licensure of court reporters in Virginia was heard before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Courts of Justice Civil Subcommittee yesterday. Unfortunately, it did not pass from committee in either body.

There was strong opposition to the bill, and even though we have tried to reach out to those opposed to it in order to reach a compromise, even as late as yesterday afternoon, they have shown no desire to work with us on the bill or to have licensure in Virginia.

The board of the Virginia Court Reporters Association will be meeting to discuss how we want to move forward on this issue. If you have any input you would like to give, please let us know. We are here to serve our membership and address your concerns.

We appreciate everyone's help in contacting the members of the Senate and House committees. Even though the bill will not be moving forward this session of the Virginia General Assembly, feel free to continue writing or speaking with your representatives and letting them know your feelings regarding this issue.

As the only established and credible court reporting association in Virginia, we will continue to fight for our profession as the irreplaceable guardians of the record.

VCRA Legislative Committee

President's Message -- Winter 2020

Christopher Reho — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 15:19:12 GMT

This is my final newsletter message as President of VCRA, but that does not mean my duties have concluded. The next two months appear to be the busiest time ever and will be filled with activities on behalf of the Virginia Court Reporters Association.

The General Assembly went into session this month, and VCRA will continue to lobby for the creation of the Virginia Board for Court Reporters as an independent board to establish the qualification of applicants for licensure or registration in our state.

VCRA has a brand-new website, which may be found at VCRA.net, and this is where you will find updates on the progression of the bills through Virginia’s Senate and House of Delegates.

If you have not yet been to our website, take a moment to stop by. Our very own board member, Christopher Reho, undertook the task of redesigning our website and moving it to a different platform. The website has a members-only section. In addition, you may register for the convention, read the newsletter, edit your membership information and locate all things relevant to court reporting. I would like to extend a huge thank you to Christopher for undertaking this project.

Our convention in Lynchburg, Virginia, is scheduled for March 20 - 22, 2020. Mark Kislingbury will be our keynote presenter. We hope you will join us for a weekend of networking with your fellow reporters and learning new skills along the way. In addition to our inaugural speed contest, there will be a Friday evening social, where we invite you to Roar into the ‘20s by dressing up in your flapper dress or zoot suit. Bring your steno machine and laptop and be ready to learn new skills during our presentations on Saturday and Sunday.

As I reflect back over the past two years as VCRA President, there is one word that is ever present in my mind. The word is gratitude. The current board of directors has been one of the most active and dynamic boards I have ever had the privilege to work with, and I am so very fortunate to have been part of this team.

Our members are at the heart of everything VCRA does, and I thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as your President. Our Immediate Past President, Carol Naughton, left behind some very big shoes to fill, and I would like to thank her for all the guidance and assistance she has provided to me during my time as president.

VCRA will be in very good hands with our incoming President, Donna Linton. Donna has worked tirelessly for VCRA during the past few years, and she is always one of the first people to volunteer and will jump in and do whatever needs to be done. She was president of VCRA during the years 2001 to 2002. Donna was featured recently in The Washington Post, and the article written about her may be found in this newsletter. Thank you, Donna, for sharing your wisdom, your willingness to always lend a hand, and positive attitude.

I would be remiss if I did not also give credit where it is due, and that would be to Rachel Cramer, Michele Eddy, Sindie Bragg, Cherrylynn Gerardo, Lori McCoin Jones, Grace Lengmueller, Christopher Reho, Kristina Tan and Zelma Lee. The committees these individuals have participated in and activities they have performed over my time as VCRA president have been phenomenal.

Liz Phillips, our Executive Director, works tirelessly in the background and does not seek accolades, but she deserves them. Liz provides continuity from one board to the next, has a wealth of knowledge of VCRA and is always willing to share with others.

As I shift towards the role of immediate past president, I thank you for your support, and I appreciate the trust you placed in me. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our membership.

I would encourage each of you to give back in some small way to the court reporting profession. Get involved. It is your future!

With warm regards,

Leslie Etheredge, RMR, CCR

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

Nominations Are Open!!

Christopher Reho — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 13:23:38 GMT

Do you know someone who is a true advocate for the court reporting profession, and you feel they would be a great asset to the Virginia Court Reporters Association?

Or maybe you’d like to volunteer to serve!!

The VCRA Nominating Committee is looking for nominations to serve on the 2020-2021 Board of Directors. Board service at the state level is one of the most rewarding opportunities for individual court reporters or captioners. It’s a chance to connect with your colleagues, make new friends, and make a difference for all VCRA members!!

Our next Board will be working together to continue VCRA’s success in advocacy for all Virginia reporters, and we are looking for fresh, innovative ideas to help in our continued support of the profession!

Please submit your nominations to our executive director, Liz Phillips, by January 31, 2020, at vcraexecutivedirector@gmail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!!

VCRA 2020 Convention Registration is now LIVE!

Christopher Reho — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 21:04:22 GMT

Join us for the 2020 VCRA Convention on March 20th through 22nd at the beautiful Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia. It will be a three-day celebration of our profession! Our keynote speaker is Mark Kislingbury, the Guinness World Record holder for "Fastest Court Reporter." Register today! You're not going to want to miss this!

Register now! Early Bird pricing ends January 31!

Learn More and Register

Carolyn M. O'Connor Education Fund Scholarship Applications Due January 10

Christopher Reho — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 18:51:52 GMT

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING….

You still have time, but Virginia Court Reporters Association’s deadline to submit your application for the Carolyn M. O’Connor Education Scholarship Fund is fast approaching. All applications must be received by January 10, 2020 to be eligible for consideration.

Instructors, please encourage your students who qualify to apply! The recipient(s) of the award (up to $1,000) will be notified by February 15, 2020, along with being invited as our guest to our 2020 Convention in Lynchburg, Virginia, where they will be recognized and receive their award, along with a 1-year membership to VCRA.

Please submit your application to Rachel Cramer at treasurer@vcra.net .

Questions? Please feel free reach out via social media, email, or telephone!

Click Here to Learn More and Download the Application

Claim Your Account!

Christopher Reho — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 22:07:31 GMT

The VCRA has launched a new website that provides greater ways to connect with our membership. All members now have an account where they can update their directory information, register for events and change preferences. Setting up your account is easy and should only take a few minutes. In order to set up your account, follow the steps below.

1. Go to the following link: https://vcra.net/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest

2. Input the email address you used to register your VCRA account, and copy the characters in the image on that page into the box marked “Code.” Click “Submit.”

3. You will then receive an email with a link to reset your password. Click this link and enter your new password (Minimum of seven characters).

4. Once your password is set, use it and your email address to log into your VCRA account by clicking the “Log in” button in the top right corner of the website.

5. You should now be logged in and see your name in the top right corner of the website. To edit your profile, click your name and click “View profile.” This page displays your current profile information and settings.

6. To update your profile, click “Edit profile.”

7. From this page, you can update your profile information, which will also update your listing in the directory.

8. Next, click “Privacy.” Here, you can control what is and is not visible to other people from the directory. By default, certain items are set to “Anybody” and certain to “No Access.” Go through the list and decide which items you would like to share in the directory. Be sure to click “Save” to save your changes.

Congratulations! You’re done! Your account is now set up.

Christopher D. Reho, RPR, CCR

Hello, World!

Christopher Reho — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 03:16:45 GMT

After several months of work behind the scenes, the new website for the Virginia Court Reporters Association is now LIVE! Besides a visual upgrade, the new website offers a range of new features for our members and visitors. Current members will receive information about how to log into their accounts shortly.

Peloton Bike Raffle Winner Announced!

Christopher Reho — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 15:59:32 GMT

VCRA would like to congratulate our raffle winner, Becky Remsen, all the way from California! Thank you all for supporting the VCRA StrongBox! With your help, the raffle was a resounding success, selling through all of our tickets. Enjoy your wonderful prize, Becky!

Peloton Bike Raffle

Christopher Reho — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:44:37 GMT

VCRA is excited to announce our raffle for a Peloton bike and a year of unlimited class content! If you’re not familiar with the Peloton bike, it is the latest exercise craze. It is immersive indoor cycling where you can join live classes with realtime instructors directly in your home. You will also have 24-hour access to a library of cycling classes. There are classes ranging from 5 to 90 minutes with varying exercise levels and music genres. The Peloton exercise experience will keep you coming back for more! As an added bonus, if a court reporter wins the raffle, Mary Ann Payonk has donated free registration to her 2020 Empowerment Conference! What could be better than that?!

The prize package is worth $2,713.
The drawing will be held on 12/14/19 via Facebook Live.
The cost per ticket is only $25.00, and we are limiting the tickets to 325.
All proceeds are to benefit VCRA’s StrongBox Legislative Fund

If you would like to purchase a ticket (or two or three), contact one of the VCRA board members or send a message via our Facebook page or the email address below, and we’ll take care of you. Good luck!

To order tickets or inquire further, please contact vcraraffle@vcra.net

VCRA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE RAFFLE RULES

Below are the official rules of the Peloton Bicycle raffle being held by VCRA:

The winning ticket will be blindly drawn at random in a method which gives all parties a fair chance.
Participants do not have to be present at the drawing to win.
Any tax implications from winning this raffle are solely the responsibility of the winner.
If the winner desires to upgrade from the Peloton Bicycle to the Peloton Treadmill, they may do so by paying the difference.
If the winner lives in AK, HI, PR, U.S. Virgin Islands, or at a ferry-only accessible location, Peloton may charge delivery fees, which will be the sole responsibility of the winner.
If the winner is a court reporter, their name will be submitted to Mary Ann Payonk for the 2020 Empowerment Conference, and the arrangements will be made directly with Mary Ann Payonk.
If at least 110 tickets are not sold, it is within the Board’s discretion to not hold the drawing and refund all monies.
VCRA Board members and their families are eligible to participate.

President's Message -- Fall 2019

Christopher Reho — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 13:55:23 GMT

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” I recently came across this quote by motivational speaker Les Brown. So why do we let our fears hold us back?

For more years than I would care to admit, I knew I should focus more of my time towards improving my writing skills. While I would write realtime for myself every day, until recently I would become very anxious when sharing my screen with attorneys. At present, I dedicate a portion of every day towards learning new brief forms and adding them to my dictionary. It is astonishing how many words I continue to add to my CAT dictionary, but there is great satisfaction in setting a goal and getting closer and closer to reaching it.

Perhaps your goal is to write at faster speeds with a higher translation rate? Our March 2020 convention keynote speaker will be Mark Kislingbury, who holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest court reporter by writing 360 words per minute with a 97.23 percent accuracy. Mark founded the Mark Kislingbury Academy of Court Reporting in Houston, Texas, in 2011; and, in addition to teaching, he also captions for a national political radio program. During his hands-on presentation, Mark will share his short-writing methods and speed-building techniques.

Have you ever considered entering a speed contest or realtime contest? VCRA will be holding our first-ever speed contest during the convention and will be offering two separate tests, one consisting of a 280 WPM Q&A selection and a 225 WPM realtime selection.

There is no better time than now to start planning your flapper dress or zoot suit from the Roaring ‘20s for our convention’s welcome reception extravaganza.

But before we get to March and our next convention, VCRA has scheduled several software training events and town halls. The town halls will focus on the highlights of the bill for licensure, which includes a provision for apprenticeship licensure, and we are inviting the audience to ask questions and share your views. The Virginia General Assembly will begin their next legislative session on January 8, 2020. Times and locations of these events may be found on our VCRA website and Facebook page.

Do you have an older steno machine sitting in your closet? Consider donating it to the VCRA loaner program. At present, there are two introduction to steno machine programs being offered, one by NCRA’s A to Z and one by Project Steno’s Basic Training. Over the past few months, numerous people have submitted applications to begin these programs, and there are waiting lists due to the shortage of available machines.

Our strength remains in our numbers. The membership of VCRA has continued to grow over the past several years, and membership has almost doubled over the past five years. As your Board of Directors, we continue to explore the best ways we may serve you, our members, and we thank you for your continued support.

VCRA offers programs such as mentorship and pro bono, and we encourage all members to become involved in your association. Don’t let you fears hold you back. The benefits of volunteering are enormous and very rewarding!

With warm regards,

Leslie Etheredge, RMR, CCR

President, Virginia Court Reporters Association

President's Message -- Summer 2019

Christopher Reho — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 21:11:24 GMT

Lynchburg, here we come! Our March 20-22, 2020, convention will be held at the beautiful location of The Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia. The year will be 2020, and our convention’s theme is The Roaring ‘20s. This will be a wonderful time for us to reflect on the past and future of court reporting. VCRA is now in the process of securing speakers and planning events for our convention, and it is shaping up to be a convention with many new speakers mixed in with some old favorites.

Recently, during a discussion with a potential speaker for our convention, I was asked to describe the certification requirements in Virginia for a practicing court reporter. As our members know, literally anyone can hold himself or herself out to be a court reporter. At present, our Code of Virginia is silent with regard to who may practice as a court reporter in our commonwealth. This particular convention presenter lives in a state where there is mandatory certification and was astounded to learn Virginia does not have any requirements in place for court reporters.

On the same day, another conversation, I was asked the question, “Why do you even care about licensure?” I have given much thought to this question. Why should we care if court reporters are certified and licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia? The answer to why is state certification ensures a standard of competence to protect the consumer. Court reporters are responsible for protecting the record for all parties. The work of court reporters is of critical importance in the production of accurate and timely recording and transcriptions of proceedings. The public should be able to rely on the fact that their court reporter has attained the necessary skill levels of proficiency and competency.

The Board of Directors of VCRA will be holding a series of town halls beginning in the fall so we may share the provisions of the proposed bill for licensure, and we will be available to answer questions.

VCRA is planning on once again appearing as an exhibitor in Hampton at the 2019 Virginia School Counselor Association Conference. The dates are October 16-18, 2019. Many court reporters volunteered their time last year to promote our profession, and all who did so expressed this was a rewarding experience for them. Volunteers demonstrated their writing skills and shared information about court reporting with the school counselors.

Stay tuned as we make announcements of the dates and locations of our planned town halls, meet-and-greet socials and fundraising events; and please let us know if you are able to participate in October in Hampton or perhaps teach an A-to-Z class.

The Board of Directors of VCRA appreciates the support of our members and sponsors. We arededicated to promoting the profession of court reporting and the general welfare and mutual professional interests of Virginia's freelance and official court reporters.

Warm Regards,

Leslie Etheredge, RMR, CCR

VCRA President

president@vcra.net