President's Message

      

Welcome to Summertime, My Friends! 

It’s been a busy Spring with Mother’s Day, Graduations and schools getting out.  If you’ve been too busy to register for the MCRA All Star Computer Software Training, we still have room for you to join us.  It is being held on June 14th, 2008, at the St. Charles Convention Center.  Well, don’t delay!  Pick up your cell phone today and call in your reservation to our Treasurer, Mr. Brett Harrison at 417-840-5480!  You can also e-mail your information to Brett by using this address:  Brett.Harrison@courts.mo.gov. 

We’ve lined up the greatest trainers for your court reporting software.  This is scheduled for a Saturday, so your calendar will be free!  We’re going to have Beth Sousa training on Advantage Software’s Eclipse, Pam Szczeninski training on Stenograph’s CaseCatalyst and Lea Ann More training on Audioscribe!   

This will be an easy drive for so many of our members as St. Charles is on the outskirts of St. Louis.  We have registration going from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.   Software training classes run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., all designed to streamline your Saturday.  There are five CE points awarded, so don’t forget to pack your power strip and your extension cord!   

And for those who get their five CE points at our All Star Training, you’ll have the luxury of picking up another five to ten CE points of YOUR CHOICE at our 2008 Convention at the Lodge of the Four Seasons!   Please sign up for the All Star Training immediately because we’re ordering the lunches tomorrow! 

All of the Board Members and I wish to express our sincere gratitude to Linda Dattilo, Debbie McLaughlin and Karen Rottmann for their hours of dedication to create the CCR Preparation Classes for the students who are preparing for their tests!  This was a tremendous opportunity for students to have additional timed testimony, grade their accuracy and encourage their success!  We applaud your remarkable devotion to the students who are the future of our profession! 

Congratulations to our nine new Certified Court Reporters who have successfully passed their tests on April 19th, 2008!  We rejoice with you in your certification!!!

MCRA extends a warm welcome to join our state association as we build bridges to the future together! 

 Soon your Regional Vice Presidents will be setting dates for the Regional Meetings in your home areas.  It would be delightful if we could set new records for attendance at our Regional Meetings in 2008!  I encourage all of your to bring your cooperative spirit together as we work on the common goals of our profession.  And if you know of any court reporters in your region who are not members of MCRA, please bring them to the regional meetings.  It’s the perfect place to meet the friendly faces of our association.

 If you have any address changes, we ask that you call our MCRA Secretary, Dawn McTeer quickly.  We are finalizing the information for the 2008 MCRA Membership Directory and we want to keep your information current. 

 The 2008 Convention Committee has been hard at work, laying the foundation for a fabulous Fall 2008 Convention!  We hope you will take the time to read and review the Convention Agenda and Registration Form included in this publication!  It won’t be a party without YOU, so mark your calendars and save the date for “Cruisin’ To  Success!” 

 Count Your Blessings!

Cheers!

Angie Culler, CCR # 158
MCRA President 2007-2008