“I am so looking forward to this year’s NCRA Convention & Expo,” says Carol Studenmund, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, a broadcast captioner based in Portland, Ore. “The convention is our one face-to-face experience of the year. I’m making plans to see the folks I work with and work for; hit the receptions, the Awards Luncheon, and the President’s Party on Saturday night; and rub elbows with my online friends.” NCRA’s Broadcast and CART Captioning Committee members worked with the Education Content Committee to find “timely, interesting, and dynamic presentations from today’s leaders in broadcast captioning and CART captioning,” says Steve Clark, CRC, a CART captioner in Washington, D.C., who chairs the Captioning Committee. The NCRA Convention includes sessions for those interested in switching to captioning as well as for the brand-new and the seasoned professional. “What exactly does it take to become a broadcast captioner,” taught by Cathy Holiday, RMR, CRR, CRC; Heidi Thomas, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC; and Darlene Parker, FAPR, RPR, will offer a step-by-step guide for newcomers to take to become a broadcast captioner. “We will talk about the skills, software, and know-how you will need to succeed,” says Parker.
Some of the other sessions currently being planned are:
- Transitioning from judicial reporting to CART/captioning
- Negotiation 101
- Ditch the transcripts: Captioning is for you
- How marketable am I?
- Preserving the profession: How to promote and spread the word
Captioners looking to expand their opportunities may also be interested in attending the “Firm owners roundtable: What firm owners and captioning agencies are looking for in new hires.”
Clark also reminds captioning attendees to explore the Expo Hall: “Technology is changing rapidly. This is your chance to see the latest and greatest our professional vendors have for you.”
Certification opportunity
Attendees who are working toward earning the Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) certification can participate in the CRC Workshop Aug. 10-11 and take the Written Knowledge Test on Friday, Aug. 11, completing two of the three steps to the certification. (The third step, a Skills Test, can be taken anytime online.) Candidates who took passed the Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) Skills Test prior to 2011 are eligible to use that test history toward the CRC Skills Test, so they can potentially complete their CRC requirements by the end of Convention (candidates should receive the results of the Written Knowledge Test by the end of September).
Studenmund, who heads the Certified Realtime Captioner Certification Committee, says of the CRC Workshop: “I know you will learn something new, no matter how long you have been captioning. Then take the Written Knowledge Test right after the workshop — while the material is fresh in your mind — and before you know it, you are two thirds of the way to earning the certification.”
Networking
The networking is beyond compare, according to many captioners.
“I’ve made a lot of money from just a very few conversations with a few folks at Convention. Seriously, hands down the best value: networking,” says captioner Cindy Hinds, CRC, a broadcast captioner from Marbank, Texas, and a member of NCRA’s Broadcast and CART Captioning Committee.
“It’s the perfect setting to expand your professional network, meet new colleagues, and share your skill set with fellow captioners,” agrees Clark.
“The Opening Reception is a great place to connect and then make plans for the rest of the night. The same for the CART/Captioning Reception on Friday night. And when you attend the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, you will be motivated to move your skills to a higher level,” says Studenmund.
Don’t miss the savings on lodging at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, the host hotel for the 2017 NCRA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., happening, Aug. 10-13. July 4 is the deadline to register to stay and qualify for the special room rates secured by NCRA. Plus, register before the July 4 deadline will be automatically entered to win one of two full refunds of your entire registration to the event. Also, attendees who register to stay at Planet Hollywood on Friday and Saturday nights are eligible for free breakfast and to win one of six new Kindle Fire tablets in a giveaway. Don’t miss the magic of the 2017 NCRA Convention & Expo, and the big savings on room rates and convention registration rates. Hurry, register now before the savings disappears. For more information or to register, visit NCRA.org/convention.
