National Court Reporters Association Convention, August 8-11, 2013

Court reporters from around the country will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, for their annual conference to network, talk about issues affecting our profession, and learn about the latest technology and products.  Sure to be a hot topic this year will be the increasing use of iPads by attorneys to receive realtime feeds and the push by our national association to Take Realtime Awareness and Innovation Nationwide, or TRAIN.

Our most talented writers will also compete to become this year’s National Speed Champion.  To qualify, contestants must write, with at least 95 percent accuracy to qualify, a Q&A leg at 280 wpm, a legal opinion leg at 230 wpm, and a literary leg at 220 wpm.  Another coveted distinction up for grabs is the Realtime trophy where contestants try to write as perfectly as possible straight matter at 220 wpm and two-voice dictation at 225 wpm without the benefit of editing.  Tensions are high as one-tenth of a percentage point can separate the winner from the runner up!

But excitement this year is ratcheted up a notch because six of our profession’s most elite writers will participate in the Guinness World Record Challenge as they try to break the current speed record of 360 words per minute!   There will be eight one-minute Q&A takes of up to 400 words per minute.  WOW!

Aside from the installation of our new officers and board members, another highlight of the convention will be the announcement of NCRA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to an individual who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the reporting profession.  Doris Wong, NCRA’s president in 1980, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in 1987.

This year’s convention is particularly noteworthy because Nancy Varallo of The Varallo Group in Worcester, and reporter extraordinaire in her own right, will be sworn in as our president.   Nancy will be the fifth president from Massachusetts.  We are very proud of Nancy and know that she will serve our profession with honor and distinction.  Congratulations, Nancy!