Behind NCRA’s successful events and programs are a veritable host of dedicated individuals who quietly sacrifice their time and energy (and even money) to help you. Their dedication isn’t about gaining recognition – it’s about making a difference for the profession. From JCR articles to webinars and Conference sessions, from creating exams to working with state associations, the force behind the programs you enjoy are our many volunteers. Let’s take this time to offer a heartfelt “thank you” to the many volunteers on our NCRA committees as we celebrate National Volunteer Month this April.
“From committee member to chair of a committee, it doesn’t matter how we volunteer as long as we volunteer,” says Chris DeGrazio, a freelance court reporter from Fort Pierce, Fla., and chair of the Membership, Marketing, & Outreach Committee. For many of our current volunteers, it’s not just what they give. It’s what they get.
“From the very start, NCRA has given so much to me – the many members/mentors who poured into me as I started my career (many no longer with us), the immeasurable encouragement and camaraderie, the advice and wisdom, and the sense of belonging,” says Geanell Adams, FAPR, RMR, CRR, CRC, CRI, a captioner and agency owner based in Terry, Miss., and current chair of the Council on Approved Student Education; the Student/Teacher Committee; and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. “I volunteer to give back to an association that I realize would not exist without the work and effort of volunteer members … [and] I continue to volunteer so my fellow members can continue to enjoy the rewards and benefits NCRA membership has to offer.”
Someone once said, “Time is the most valuable gift you can give because, once given, it cannot be returned.”
When we’re thinking benefits, it’s easy to try to evaluate NCRA with a list of pros and cons, that is, what are the advantages you gain by being a part of the Association. “In life we tend to look at things through the lens of ‘me, myself, and I.’ While that’s normal and human nature, volunteering allows us to explore and use a part of our minds that we often may not have a chance to utilize,” says DeGrazio.
That’s one of the reasons that associations are unique. The opportunity to volunteer on a committee or in other ways can sometimes expand your understanding of an aspect of the profession. And it can also give you a deeper understanding of the association itself.
“I wanted to understand the overall testing process, and at the time I’d just started working with students at Clark State,” explains Allison Kimmel, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, CRI, chair of the Written Knowledge Test Committee. “I wanted to be a more effective instructor – and I think it has done that!
“As a long-time member of the WKT committee, I appreciate the hard work of the team in working on creating relevant, fair, and up-to-date WKT questions,” she adds. “We couldn’t do what we do without our committee’s volunteers from various areas of the country and work in various arenas. Our committee forms a well-rounded group. I think that’s an important aspect as well. The more voices, the better the end result.
“I’ve since branched out to other committees and task forces because I wanted to understand more clearly our Association along with the issues we face and the common goals of the profession,” Kimmel concludes. “It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and wonder the ‘why’ of things. Sitting on the sidelines wringing our hands and worrying doesn’t improve a situation. You’ve got to get involved if you want things to be different. That’s true of life, and our Association and profession are no exception to that.”
“Whether it’s thinking in a different analytical way, problem-solving as a group, or trying to meet multiple deadlines for multiple tasks, volunteering (for NCRA) is an exercise of the mind unlike anything I’ve ever done,” explains DeGrazio. “Volunteering is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Volunteering feeds your soul, and volunteering for NCRA feeds your soul and mind … The work of a committee is like a puzzle, and you and your skills are some of the pieces. It’s not until the other committee members lean in to collaborate that the puzzle is complete.”
Alan Peacock, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, a freelance court reporter and captioner in Mobile, Ala., and chair of the Distinguished Service Award Committee and the Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) Certification Committee, shares: “Choosing a career in the field of court reporting and CART captioning was the best and smartest decision I made in my life. Over the many years of reporting, I have acquired a lot of experience, and I have fallen down more times than I care to admit. But with each experience, I’ve learned and grown and developed my skill set to be the best reporter I can be. I think that anyone that has benefited from years of experience has an obligation to share some of that experience with others, especially our new reporters. If someone can learn from my mistakes, then it’s a win-win situation. That’s why I write articles and participate in Conferences and share my time with others.”
NCRA is looking for volunteers. Could it be you? NCRA is currently seeking members to volunteer for committees for the 2025-2026 year. If you want to be one of our treasured volunteers who moves the court reporting, captioning, and legal videography professions forward, check out NCRA.org/Committees and fill out the Committee Volunteer Form.
Peacock, like many volunteers, also points out that volunteering benefits the volunteers. “You will meet other people and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. At every Conference I look forward to seeing my friends that I have served with and spending time with them. I am still learning and growing, in large part because of my experiences with volunteering.”
“Someone once said, ‘Time is the most valuable gift you can give because, once given, it cannot be returned,'” says Tami Smith Keenan, FAPR, RPR, CPE, a court reporter based in Battle Creek, Mich., and chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee. She has also served NCRA as a past president and as a member and chair of many committees as well as a past Chair of the National Court Reporters Foundation. “Thank you to our many volunteers who give unselfishly of your time and talents. A reporter in Idaho once told a group of reporters ‘Everyone is as busy as they want to be.’ Susan, you were 100 percent right. We can all make time to volunteer if we want to.”
Our volunteers keep our Association running, but they can’t do it alone. NCRA will continue to need people who will step up to lead, nourish, and grow our Association; and we are currently seeking volunteers for 2025-2026.
“If you’re unsure what skills or talents you have that could benefit a committee, please reach out because there’s a place for you in at least one committee,” advises DeGrazio. “You don’t know what you can bring to a committee until you’re in it, and the experience can be life-changing.”
As Cindy Isaacsen, RPR, NCRA President-Elect, says: “You may ask yourself, ‘Why should I volunteer?’ Not only will you accomplish a common goal with like-minded people, but you will also expand your network. Association work is full of volunteer opportunities, and I believe there is no better way to give back to the profession that has given so much to me. Let’s work together to build a better Association that supports our incredible profession.”
