Melanie Sonntag elected NCRA president

[Bill Parsons]

To view the NCRA election results, go to http://www.ncraonline.org/

Melanie Sonntag won the election for president.

A bylaws amendment to do away with requiring an endorsing member for enrolling new members was passed.

A bylaws amendment to allow videographers to join as full members was defeated.

Bill

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hi, Karen. You mentioned doing what you say you're going to do. I heard a lot of threats by reporters who said they would drop out of NCRA if the MtR failed ... yet I'm puzzled by the fact that some of them were there at the convention taking classes for points. I guess it was optimistic thinking that the MtR would sail through ... which I actually thought it would! I never dreamed that the MtR had a chance of not overwhelmingly passing and stopping the forward movement of NCRA towards an umbrella association.

Speaking of downsizing to serve its core membership, I feel quite certain that NCRA will re-up Mark Golden as their leader. Mark Golden gets a lot of bad PR from the reporters who believe (I'm one of them) that he's really leading the association, orchestrating (nice musical reference, huh?) every move. Trust me when I say he's despised by many. But what a huge feather in his cap he'll receive when he emerges victorious after leading the association through these rocky times, having managed to steer the troubled NCRA on a path that will ensure their survival, albeit at the expense of the core membership that they formerly were supposed to be working for. Ahh, such is life in the big world of business. "It's just business."

Sadly, it's our livelihoods at stake. One of the major things I think will happen gradually, down the road ... maybe sooner, maybe later ... is the complete erosion and falling away of page rates, as the playing field is leveled to that of a transcriber. Not to make light of the transcriber's duties by any means, but the court reporting profession has always commanded the great respect of the bar and legal community. When we are lumped in with "other," not so much.

I do not speak for myself, as I am a realtime writer, and very good at what I do. My heart bleeds for the bread-and-butter reporters who are the rock-solid backbone of every reporting agency out there. My work will not suffer because ER can do something better than me ... ER cannot begin to compete with what I can offer with realtime. But those B&B reporters will be the first to suffer low rates and job loss when competing with ER transcribers who will eventually (my prediction) be certified by NCRA.

I urge reporters to embrace realtime, and make your state associations strong.

M.A.

[Karen Klein]

Hi, MaryAnn - agree with everything in your email. I never thought the MTR would pass because of the location of the convention (so far from Calif. and Texas) and the onerous
2/3 requirement - I think the MTR proponents did a wonderful job of making their case, but reporters are so apathetic unfortunately. I believe NCRA is counting on reporters who promised they would quit to rethink their threat because they don't want to lose their certifications (I was an RDR) - in California the certifications really mean little, if anything, but I know in many states that is not true. In my dreams, I would love to have a nationwide clearinghouse for state associations set up on the web to share information, work together, and, yes, advocate for the steno reporter in all venues. Oh, and to
eliminate the need for steno reporters to belong to NCRA. I'm afraid it will take the
denigration of the B&B reporter's status both professionally and financially before they will wake up.

I completely agree about realtime, but many reporters refuse to embrace it, both experienced and new reporters. Now that NCRA has chosen not to advocate for steno reporters going forward, it is imperative that all reporters provide realtime as that will be the only way to compete when NCRA certifies our competitors. I know that's tough for people to hear, but it's where we're headed. While I disagree with NCRA's strategic plan,
I understand why they are doing it. I just wish they'd be intellectually honest about it and admit they will NOT be able to advocate for steno reporters once they being to certify
non-steno, which is clearly the Strategic Plan's recommendation.

Take care.

[Mary Ann Payonk]

AND THERE YOU GO, Karen! It seems that even with the explanations given on the why's and how's, even pointing out that, gee, RIGHT THERE IT IS in the JCR ... the intentions of NCRA going forward, that is ... I can't point to any one thing in particular, but I see a hijacking of NCRA from within, and I have this very uneasy feeling when I think about how it was all done. It was never a front-and-center statement that, "Yes, People, THIS is what we're doing, and THIS is where we're going, and you need to get onboard, keep up, or fall behind." Even still, I think they (NCRA True Believers) are trying to stroke and pacify reporters by saying, oh, there, there, it won't be that bad, and we really really ARE working for your benefit (blink,blink) we really really ARE.

It's a dahmn shame that your GREAT suggestion that state associations work together, share information, and advocate for the steno reporter in all venues is exactly what NCRA should be actively doing for the steno reporter and the steno reporter alone.

I'm going to hang in here, but it's only half-heartedly. I've vascillated back and forth between staying and going, staying and going. One side says NCRA is worthless, the other side says NCRA is our only hope. One side says they've done very well in their careers without the first letter of certification by NCRA, thankyouverymuch, and the other side says they treasure their NCRA certifications and would never dream of giving all that up. Jeez, it makes me want to pull my hair out!

... which reminds me of a quick funny story I'll tell, simply because I got so many compliments on my hair while I was at the convention. My website and other places show my lovely frosted hairdo that I wore for a long time ... brown hair, frosted, LOVED IT. But I got tired of all the fuss to keep it up, so I let my natural gray grow out over the last two years ... "Where DID you get that color! Love the frosting!"

Yeah, right. It's frosted.

When my daughter was about 10 years old (she's 28 now), we were sitting on the front porch, and she was brushing my hair down over my face ... I always liked someone to brush my hair for me. And she said something that I'll never forget. She said, "Mommie, you have some brown hair too."

Hmmm ... I guess it was right about then that I started coloring my hair!

Just a little break in the seriousness of the whole discussion.

M.A.

[Judy]

"I've vascillated back and forth between staying and going, staying and going. One side says NCRA is worthless, the other side says NCRA is our only hope."

It's a lost cause. It's already been hijacked. They control too much from within and cannot be changed without a massive uprising from the mostly apathetic reporters that send them dues money every year. NCRA's Board knows this and is using it against the members.

I say apathetic because out of 16,000 members, only 1400 took the time to vote. 800ish were at the convention, and I'll assume that all 800ish took use of the computers set up in the halls for them to vote. All the rest had to do was go to the e-mail NCRA sent them, click on the link, and log on and vote during a 12-hour window. And 15,400 couldn't find the time.

If 15,400 dues-paying members can't find the time to take 30 seconds out of one day each year to vote, how do you think there will ever be a change?

I refuse to give them any more of my stenographic machine-earned money so that they can take an association that is supposed to be there for stenographic reporters (me!) and hijack it into something for their (individual?) benefit.

Instead, I'll be taking the money I've been spending on a yearly basis on NCRA (starting with my subscription to RealTime Coach... gone) and will be joining state associations that are fighting my fight. What's my fight? Plain and simple: The promotion of stenographic machine reporters.

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Judy! You've said a whole hell of a lot in a very few words -- something I'm not famous for, for sure. Until someone else comes along with an amazingly insightful argument that convinces me otherwise, or pulls me back over to the "stay and fight" mode, that's the best suggestion I've heard yet! Give monetary support at the state association level! I like it!

M.A.

[Quyen]

Judy, you always say exactly what I meant to say. You're just ... much more eloquent. :)

I, too, will be spending the money I would've have spent on NCRA dues to donate to my state associations. I regret having paid my NCRA membership this year before I became aware of the issues surrounding the MtR.

The NCRA did not raise a finger to help us in our CA ER fight, and they never will -- no matter what state you're in. They are fighting against us. They know it, no matter how they want to pitch the BS they have been pitching over and over. I have never been so disgusted with anyone/-thing in my life.

[Quyen]

Thanks, Karen. I am glad you also had the integrity, self-respect and cojones to abandon a sinking ship. Shamefully, I have not been aware of the NCRA's vile attempt to pull the wool over our eyes for the past several years. Sadly, they have succeeded.

I just can't believe what I still hear from reporter(s) after the failure of the MtR. One reporter said to me that she wasn't going to write off the NCRA on "one issue." OMG.

I said, "But it's a MONUMENTAL issue." Made no difference to her.

And then there are the new reporters who are completely oblivious to the issues, and they are going to join NCRA.

The NCRA is broken beyond reparation. Realtime reporter and ten NCRA certifications or no, continuing to pays dues, in my oh-so-humble opinion, makes us look like fools, fueling and financially supporting our own demise. Unfortunately, when the time comes, hindsight is as valuable as used Charmin. By then, being sorry is too little to late.

[Adam D. Miller]

Quyen and Judy:

I'm sorry I missed you at the Business Meeting and Convention. I was so looking forward to meeting you both.

admadm

[Judy]

admadm,

I'll take your response to be speaking on NCRA's entire behalf, considering you're a member of the board.

Is that all NCRA can say to two angry members: Shell out over a thousand bucks to go across the country for a day so you can come and make your opinion known? Why? So somebody can call the question a few speakers into it? No, thanks, I've got better things to spend my money on (and it's not NCRA's dues, certifications, programs, books, CDs, tapes, etc.). Last time I looked, there were a lot of other vendors for the books, etc., and, well, Quyen and I don't need your certifications. byebye adadm.

[Adam D. Miller]

Oh, my. See, this is the drawback to being an arrogant jackass: No one takes a sincere comment at face value.

No, Judy, I'm speaking for myself (hence the use of the first person singular). I assumed, based on the sound and fury of your postings here and on other forums that you and Quyen were at least at the Business Meeting -- even if you didn't stick around for the Convention -- and that I just missed you. (I guess the Bard was right about that, as usual.)

NCRA has many members -- some angry, some ambivalent, some happy -- who shell out a lot more than a thousand bucks and crisscross the country for weeks and even months away from their homes, businesses, and families, serving on various, often multiple, committees and the boards of NCRA and NCRF.

As far as the canard about calling the question:

at least 13 people spoke on the issue, over 40+ minutes;

the Board did not call the question;

the attendees vote overwhelmingly (above the required 2/3 majority) in favor of the motion to call the question -- i.e., to end debate and proceed to a vote. It was the judgment of the members that enough had been said and heard; nobody's mind was going to be changed by anything anyone else had to say. (As Laurel quoted Mark -- who probably stole it from somewhere else -- over on Depoman, "Everything has been said; just not everyone has had a chance to say it yet.")


I hope that you do someday in the future have an opportunity to derive benefit from NCRA certifications. The primary upshot of the failure of the Motion to Rescind is that NCRA will go forward investigating certification for non-member stenographic reporters.

adm

[Judy]

Oh, my. See, this is the drawback to being an arrogant jackass: No one takes a sincere comment at face value.

No, Judy, I'm speaking for myself

No, admadm, when you post your arrogant, jackass-type comments, you are speaking for every single member of the board of NCRA.

[Judy]

Matter of fact, admadm, by the tone of many of your online postings on many different forums, I'm surprised The Powers That Be at NCRA have not charged you with abandoning your Code of Ethics in regard to your duties as an NCRA Board member (specifically the bolded sentences):

Professional Responsibilities
7. Refrain from publicizing position/title on the Board with regard to personal business communications for promotional or marketing purposes (e.g., any publication or Web site, business cards, letterhead, giveaways, etc.).

8. Exercise extreme care in all statements, written or oral, to separate expression of personal opinion or belief from communications carrying the color of authority of the Association. Further, position/title on the Board will not be used when expressing a personal opinion unless acting within one’s capacity and duties as a Board member and representing the Board and the Association’s position on such issue.

9. Refrain from discussing outside of the meeting room individual differences and opinions about Board and Board Committee decisions.

10. Strive to develop, encourage and uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct among one’s colleagues and the NCRA membership as a whole.

11. Exercise the powers vested for the good of all members and the Association itself rather than for personal benefit.

12. Avoid situations which may be improper or may give the appearance of impropriety.