NCRA’s 2018 Convention & Expo being held Aug. 2-5 in New Orleans, La., at the Hyatt Regency, New Orleans is the perfect event to earn CEUs or even prepare to add a new certification to your resume.
With a wide range of sessions and workshops to choose from, attendees at this year’s event can earn up to 2.3 CEUs. Workshops include the ever popular CRC Workshop, the CRR Boot Camp, the Punctuation Workshop, and the CLVS Certification Workshop, which features the Intro to CLVS and CLVS Hands-on Training.
This year’s schedule is chock-full of cutting-edge educational sessions led by some of the profession’s key leaders and experts. Take a sneak peak at some of what’s being offered below in the words of the presenters.
Theater Captioning 101
Linda S. Hershey, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, Chattanooga, Tenn.
There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing live theater – Les Miserables, Wicked, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Whether you are tackling a play on Broadway, a traveling production, a local theater performance, or even a performance at a high school, access means so much to so many people. This seminar will cover the different types of productions, the equipment needed, placement of equipment, working with a director, how to use the script, how to prep, and the other nuts and bolts of theater captioning. Attendees will also find out about specific ethics that must be considered, including copyright issues. This session will have plenty of time for specific Q&A.
Being Proactive, Not Reactive
Cindy L. Isaacsen RPR, official court reporter from Olathe, Kan.
Do you feel unprepared and not sure what to do when state and local government want to get rid of us? Are you prepared to fight? This will be an interactive, fun, and encouraging session about what we all can do to be proactive to protect our jobs through educating our legislators, community leaders, judges, lawyers, and the general public. I’ll give many examples of how each one of us can assist our state boards and our state and national associations. Be prepared to laugh, be inspired, encouraged, and take some great ideas home to share with your association and other reporters. There will be a Q&A session, as well as prizes distributed throughout the session!
The Good, the Bad, and the Embarrassing!
Teresa Evans, RMR, CRR, freelance court reporter and agency owner, Charleston, W.V.
Have you ever misspelled a word in a transcript and were humiliated when you realized it was too late to correct it? Since we make our living with words, we’ve got to get them right! Don’t embarrass yourself with lack of knowledge or depend upon spellcheck or a proofreader to cover your rear. There are things you just have to know, and we will teach you in this advanced homonym seminar!
See if you can pick out the errors in this sentence: “He was a trooper, the way he handled his forced immigration to another country, based solely on his principles.” If you don’t see two errors, you need our course. Make it a goal this year to showcase your knowledge and make everything you write perfect.
The Challenges of Online Teaching
Jeff Moody, President, College of Court Reporting, Valparaiso, Ind.
Many reporters and prospective students do not believe that the court reporting skill and knowledge can be developed in an online college environment. Jeff Moody, president of the College of Court Reporting in Valparaiso, Ind., will demonstrate how everything a teacher does in a brick-and-mortar classroom can be done effectively online. Moody, with members of his staff and some students, will conduct an interactive discussion/demonstration regarding online teaching. The advantages and disadvantages regarding online distance education will be discussed. Participants will be registered in an online learning management system (LMS) to interact with teachers using proven academic and skill-development methodologies. Topics will include motivation, testing, attendance, feedback, professionalism, interaction, and camaraderie between teachers and students in teaching all required court reporting courses. Attendees can bring their laptops to this seminar.
Attendees also won’t want to miss the new Saturday night Member Recognition Gala that will feature a wonderful night of dinner, drinks, dancing, and celebrating NCRA members. The Gala and a special VIP reception are both being hosted by President-Elect Sue Terry, FAPR, RPR, CRR, CRC. Guests are free to dress up or dress business casual for the gala and are encouraged to join in celebrating the profession along with sharing their stories.
Other notables on this year’s schedule include a student learning zone that features a special meet-and-greet with NCRA’s Board of Directors; Ethics Jeopardy, where participants will have fun while testing their knowledge; a look at the future of court reporting; and a special presentation that showcases the Innocence Project New Orleans, which works to free the wrongfully convicted. The session will also highlight the importance of old records.
And don’t forget the numerous networking opportunities that range from coffee with the vendors on the Expo floor to nightly receptions.
NCRA’s 2018 Convention & Expo is the largest annual gathering of court reporters, captioners, scopists, legal videographers, trial presenters, students, and other legal services professionals. Register now for the 2018 NCRA Annual Convention & Expo before July 23 to avoid late fees. Reserve a hotel room at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans using NCRA’s special discount rate by July 6 and get a free breakfast on Friday and Saturday (a $75 value).
To jazz things up even more, check out this party playlist of songs selected by NCRA staff to get everyone excited to meet in New Orleans!
For more information about the 2018 NCRA Annual Convention & Expo, or to register, visit NCRA.org/Convention.
For sponsorship information please contact Mary Petto, Senior Director of External Affairs, at mpetto@ncra.org.
