The Creative Content Task Force (CCTF) was created in 2021 to assist with identifying and providing content that can be shared internally and externally to help promote the stenographic court reporting and captioning professions. Among the group’s charges is the promotion of NCRA committees and the work their members are doing to help move the professions into the future. To meet this charge, CCTF Chair Anthony D. Frisolone, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, CRI, reached out to committee chairs with several questions to learn more. These profiles will appear periodically in the JCR Weekly.
Focus on: NCRA Council on Approved Student Education (CASE)
Chair: Melissa S. Blake, CRI, Program Coordinator, Alfred State College, Alfred, N.Y.
Committee Description: The Council on Approved Student Education is responsible for the certification and development of court reporter student training and education programs.
CCTF | Briefly, what are some of the main initiatives this committee is especially focused on this year?
MB | This year the CASE Committee is completing our normal duties such as reviewing schools that are up for their five-year review and approval, releasing information on the CASE scholarship applications for students and the CASE Award of Excellence for educators, and then choosing the winners. We are also reviewing the General Requirements and Minimum Standards (GRMS) to see if any updates or changes are needed. We are exploring topics that can be presented as webinars for educators. And we are also discussing ways that we can help court reporting programs that wish to transition to an online format.
CCTF | What drives the committee members to feel so passionate about the work this group is doing?
MB | Our committee members are passionate about our work because we all understand how important an excellent education is for the students. Whether our members are educators or people in the industry, we all understand how important it is that we keep producing graduates who can continue the tradition of excellence that live court reporters and captioners bring to the profession. With all the talk about digital recording and other technologies that threaten that they will replace court reporters and captioners, we must continue to train those who will show how superior the record is when created by a live person.
CCTF | What impact do the committee members hope their work meeting the charges of this group will have on the profession both internally (on NCRA members) and externally (on the public and those working in the legal arena)?
MB | Our committee members hope that our work will help schools to continue to graduate excellent court reporters and captioners. As we all work together, we forge relationships that allow us all to reach out and support not only members of NCRA, but also students and teachers around the country. As we review and develop the GRMS that schools adhere to in their programs, we ensure that students get a quality education so that those looking to hire them can know that they have been through a comprehensive program to prepare them for their careers. Graduating students can depend on an NCRA-approved program to prepare them for both the Written Knowledge Tests and the Skills Tests required for certification. It is an awesome responsibility for schools to take on, and the rewards are tremendous.
CCFT | As chair, what is the one message you would like to share with NCRA members about getting involved in committee work?
MB | I have had the opportunity to serve on various NCRA committees and communities of interest for the last 17 years. Being involved with others in the professions allows us to get to know so many great people. Committee service not only allows us to meet others, it allows us to help shape what happens in our industry and to advocate for all NCRA members.
Interested in joining an NCRA committee? Find out more information about NCRA committees and how to volunteer at NCRA.org/volunteer.
Anthony D. Frisolone, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, CRI, is an official court reporter for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. He can be reached at Anthony.frisolone@gmail.com.
