Stacy Drohosky, right, and her sister Christina, at the 2023 Virtual 5K
Everyone is invited to kick off NCRA’s 2024 Court Reporting & Captioning Week by participating in the fourth annual Strides for Steno Virtual 5k Walk/Run being held Feb. 3-11. The event is sponsored by StenoStrides, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting verbatim reporting and supporting students on their journey to 225 and beyond. The event brings together reporters, along with their family, friends, and coworkers, to promote court reporting and captioning, according to Stacy L. Drohosky, RMR, CRR, CRI, an official court reporter from Hammond, Ind.
“This year participants will have a little fun, if they choose to do so, competing with one another by recording their race times, making it more like an in-person race. Donations received from this event go to our StenoScholars Scholarship Program to help assist students pursuing a court reporting education,” Drohosky said. The 2023 event raised enough for the group to award three $1,000 scholarships, she noted. For more information or to register for this year’s race, visit StenoStrides.
The group is also holding a Strides for Students Silent Auction during the week. All money raised during this virtual silent auction will go directly to the StenoScholars program. The auction is open to anyone interested in bidding on a variety of items donated by small business and court reporters who support the group’s mission. The auction goes live on Feb. 3 and closes on Feb. 10. For more information about the auction, the items available, or to register to bid, visit StenoStrides.com.
“We rely on the funds raised from these events to support students by providing scholarships. It’s as simple as that. These two events help support StenoStrides’ mission all year long,” Drohosky said.
“We are committed to preserving and promoting the field of court reporting and captioning – that has been so generous to us and our livelihoods – for future generations. There is no limitation to the level of participation. It connects reporters across states in all genres of stenography – students, officials, freelancers, firm owners, broadcast captioners, CART captioners. Anyone, anywhere – friends, family, coworkers – can participate in these virtual events and support students for years to come.”
Students, tune in for a special webinar
On Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. Eastern, students can take part in special Court Reporting & Captioning Week webinar entitled “Practicing in the 21st Century.” The webinar is being offered free to NCRA members and for a $10 fee for nonmembers. The webinar, which is being presented by NCRA’s Student-Teacher Committee, will feature Bethan Williams, RSR, and Alex Lederer, RPR, a court reporter from Tappan, N.Y.
Williams and Lederer will share their experiences practicing in school and as new professionals. Attendees will learn how to make and keep a practice routine as well as different techniques for practice to help them jump over those speed hurdles. The presenters will also share their strategies for success and motivation to keep going. For more information or to register for this webinar visit the NCRA Learning Center. (No CEUs awarded)
Share how you plan to celebrate
NCRA’s 2024 Court Reporting & Captioning Week, being held Feb. 3-10, marks the 12th year this event has taken place and coincides this year with the Association’s 125th Anniversary. The theme for 2024: 125 years of accuracy and integrity.
Be sure to visit the 2023 Court Reporting & Captioning Week resources page to find the latest in logos, press release templates, social media messages and tips, and more.
As part of this year’s celebration, NCRA’s Communications Team will be distributing a series of press releases and media advisories that showcase the history of stenographic court reporting and how far the profession has come in conjunction with the Association’s 125th Anniversary. If you have a story you would like to share about the state of the profession and how far it’s come, please send your ideas or articles to pr@ncra.org.
And remember, please share with us how you plan to showcase the profession so that we can spread the celebration throughout the community by including the hashtag #CRCW2024 on your social media posts.
