The National Committee of State Associations (NCSA) has issued a friendly challenge among state associations and individuals to spread the word about the benefits of a career in court reporting or captioning for the chance to win complimentary registrations to NCRA events or vouchers for continuing education. This is the third consecutive year NCSA has sponsored the challenge.
The challenge calls on all state associations to join forces with their members to participate in career fairs, provide realtime demonstrations at high schools and guidance counselor meetings, participate in the Veterans History Project, and celebrate 2017 Court Reporting & Captioning Week being held Feb. 11-18.
“Court reporting and captioning are great careers. We all know that, and it’s time that we get that message out to the rest of the world,” said NCSA Chair Mary Bader, RPR, an official court reporter from Medford, Wis. “NCSA’s Take Note Campaign has grown each year, and we expect the current challenge to be even bigger and better than the last.”
The competition, which officially launched Aug. 8, runs through Feb. 18, 2017. Anyone participating in a qualifying event during that time period can receive credit for it by documenting their efforts at the NCSA contest site. All entries will automatically be entered into the contest. There is no limit to the number of contest entries states can have. Click on the NSCA challenge registration site to register your event.
“The spirit of Court Reporting & Captioning Week reflects the spirit and pride we have as members of this profession. It is never too soon or too late to share that spirit and pride with the members of our communities and to spread the word about the endless opportunities court reporting and captioning offer as a career path. I’m looking forward to learning about the many ways our members across the nation celebrate our wonderful profession,” said NCRA President Tiva Wood, RDR, CMRS, a freelance reporter from Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Bader encourages those interested in participating to visit the NCRA website for access to information and numerous suggestions about ways to showcase the court reporting and captioning professions. She also encourages those who are participating in the competition to share with other states their ideas about activities that have worked well in helping to promote the profession. Those wanting to participate who might have additional questions can also contact their regional representative directly or reach out to state leaders at leaders@ncralists.ncra.org for more information.
Participants are also encouraged to post pictures of presentations on their state association’s website and social media pages, as well as tweet using the hashtag #crTakeNote. In addition, please contact NCRA’s Assistant Director of Communications Annemarie Roketenetz at aroketenetz@ncra.org with information about activities for possible inclusion in the JCR Weekly.
The prizes for the competition are tiered. Each entry into the raffle-type competition qualifies for the first, second, and third prizes. Each prize awarded is to be used at the state’s discretion, i.e. registrations for the president/delegate, raffle items/fundraising for future conventions, student gifts, etc. In addition, there is a grand prize for an individual reporter or captioner.
First prize is five free NCRA webinars, while the grand prize is a complimentary registration to the 2017 NCRA Convention & Expo, being held in July in Las Vegas, Nev.
“This past year has been phenomenal, being a part of showcasing our profession, talking to so many students, and showing our millennials how to write at the speed of sound,” said Erminia Uviedo, RMR, CRR, a freelancer from San Antonio, Texas, and winner of last year’s NCSA challenge grand prize.
“Seeing interested students, who are so amazed and fascinated by watching a court reporter or captioner writing realtime, brings such a rewarding and accomplished feeling as a court reporter. Our profession must continue to make appearances in schools because we must dispel the myth that the profession is obsolete and put it front and center in every way possible, especially with media coverage,” she added.
Uviedo, who won last year’s challenge after participation in more than a dozen high school career fairs in just several weeks, noted that she is ready to break last year’s record.
“Partner up with a friend. Get out there and promote our fabulous career. Challenge your friends to see who can complete the most demos, attend the most career fairs, and report the most Veterans History Project testimonials,” said Bader.
“We will celebrate our successes during Court Reporting & Captioning Week. Together we can make a difference. Together we can fill our schools with qualified and enthusiastic court reporting students!”
