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I
just returned within the hour from the NCRA
convention held at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando,
Florida. It was an
excellent convention (photos), and I learned a lot about what’s going on in
other states around the country.
The
convention started out with the NCSA meeting, held on Thursday, August
8, at the bright hour of 8 a.m. Amanda
Maze attended the meeting with me as the second delegate from
Colorado.
Brenda
Anderson called the meeting to order and gave an introductory welcome,
followed by the Credentials Committee report, which was accepted.
The four main topics of discussion were contracting, the court
reporter shortage, student recruitment, and the never-ending issue of
ER.
Contracting
is still an issue in several states.
Some states have passed noncontracting legislation and are
dealing with how to handle sanctions against reporters who violate that
legislation.
The
court reporter shortage seems to be a problem nationwide.
There aren’t enough reporters to fill the positions as
officials or freelancers. The
good news, however, is that most court reporting schools are showing
increased enrollment, including Denver
Academy of Court Reporting. There was only one report of schools
closing, and that was two schools out of four in the Chicago area have
closed.
The
biggest issue is that of ER. There
is a digital recording system called For The Record (FTR)
that seems to be showing up in several states, including Colorado.
This issue first
came to the attention of the Board approximately three weeks ago when we
received news that FTR systems were being purchased in two counties.
I found from listening to what’s happened in other states that
the FTR system just shows up one day without anyone knowing about it.
In some instances it is used only as an alternative means of
making the record when a reporter isn’t available, and in other
instances the reporters have come to work and found out they are being
totally replaced.
As of this time we are not sure what the plans
are for the use of FTR in Colorado.
We will be finding out what we can about the plans for this
alternative method of making the record, and I will update you in future
Ramblings editions as to the status of FTR.
(cont. p. 4) |
