volume 17, no. 3 summer 2012 message from the …
TRANSCRIPT
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The
offic
ial p
ublic
atio
n of
the
Soci
ety
for
the
Tech
nolo
gica
l Adv
ance
men
t of R
epor
ting
VOLUME 17, NO. 3SUMMER 2012
By Nicholas G. Rennillo, CLVS, STAR PresidentS
TA
R d
ot
ST
AR
NICHOLAS G. RENNILLO, CLVS STAR President
So, I got an email from our wonder-ful editor of STAR dot STAR, Chris-tine Randall, proposing that we focus this issue of the newsletter on court reporting families. I was very excited by the suggestion to write about court reporting and family, because of all the topics for me to write about, this one is perfect!
I think we would all be hard-pressed to think of another profession that is as generational as court reporting. When you think about how pervasive family is in this profession, it is truly amaz-ing. While I don’t have any metrics to support my contention about this industry, just take a look at the STAR Membership Directory, and you know what I am talking about!
Like many of you, there are a number of reasons why I chose to join this profession, but what brought me to court reporting? As a child I would often get asked, “What does your dad do for a living?” This was never an easy question for me to answer as a child. I would try to explain what a deposition is and the little machine that my dad “typed” on. I would describe how my dad would sit at the dining room table with a stack of steno notes in one hand and a Stenorette in the other dictat-ing away. I don’t think people really understood what I was talking about; they just accepted my description, without truly knowing what a court reporter does. Or maybe it was my simultaneous yearning and frustration to get people to understand what I was explaining all those years that brought me to this profession. Maybe it was those friendships with kids of other court reporters that I developed over the years. Maybe it was the fact that family vacations were often centered
around a STAR or NCRA conference that developed a desire to be a part of this profession.
But when I really think about what brought me to where I am today and the passion I have for this profession, it is because of my father, Louis Ren-nillo. He showed me what it means to work hard at a craft you love and run a successful business while still finding the time to be at every football game, wrestling match and school function, even if it meant sitting at that dining room table all night long to get that transcript to the client.
For those who are new to the profession or considering becoming a part of a family business, please allow me to share the most important of the countless number of lessons I learned from my business partners, Lou and Irene. The most valuable lesson is that family comes first, and business is second. Without the first, the second could not happen.
For the past 14 years I have been a member of another family, “The STAR Family,” and that “family” has
Continued on page 4
Remember, STAR members are eligible for special pricing on the Diamante®, CaseViewNet, annual support agreements and protection plans.
To learn more, visit www.stenograph.com or call 800.323.4247.
...even better together!
and
The perfect match...
®
STAR Dot STAR • 2
PRESIDENTNicholas G. Rennillo, CLVS
Rennillo Deposition & Discovery, a Veritext Company1301 E. Ninth St, #100 • Cleveland, OH 44114
W: 216-523-1313 • FAX: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTRosalie A. Kramm, RPR, CRR, CSR (CA)
Kramm & Associates, Inc.2224 Third Avenue • San Diego, CA 92101
W: 619-239-0080 • FAX: [email protected]
SECRETARYMatthew A. Spievak, RPR, CSR (CA)
Sarnoff Court Reporters450 Sansome Street, #1550 • San Francisco, CA 94111
W: 415-274-9977 • FAX: [email protected]
TREASURERTodd A. Mobley
Mike Mobley Reporting334 S Main St • Dayton, OH 45402
W: 937-222-2259 • FAX: [email protected]
DIRECTORSLinda S. Fifield
Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc.50 Franklin St, 3rd Floor, #300 • Boston, MA 02110
W: 617-426-2432 • FAX: [email protected]
William M. Fredericks, RPR, CSRFredericks Reporting
3305 Northland Dr, Ste 4B • Austin, TX 78731W: 512-241-3600 • FAX: 512-345-1417
Shelly Hunter, RPR, CRRHunter + Geist, Inc.
1900 Grant St, #800 • Denver, CO 80203W: 303-832-5966 • FAX: 303-832-9525
Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR (TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA)Johnson Reporting Services
2205 Flaming Tree Ct • Cedar Park, TX 78613W: 512-331-1161
Jane M. Jones, RMR, CRRBrown & Jones Reporting, Inc.
735 N. Water St, Ste. M185 • Milwaukee, WI 53202W: 414-224-9533 • FAX: 414-224-9635
Christine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA)Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters
423 Truxtun Ave • Bakersfield, CA 93301W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTMark H. Renzi, RPR, CCR (NJ)
Guy J. Renzi & AssociatesGolden Crest Corporate Center • Trenton, NJ 08690
W: 609-989-9199 • FAX: [email protected]
EDITORChristine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA)
Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters423 Truxtun Ave • Bakersfield, CA 93301W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORTina Kautter, CAESTAR Headquarters
222 S. Westmonte Dr., #101Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
W: 407-774-7880 • FAX: [email protected]
Society for the Technological
Advancement of Reporting Officers & Directors
Table of Contents
President’s Message .............................................................................................. 1
Editor's Note - Family is Everything! ...................................................................... 4 By Christine Randall
Announcing...STAR Advertorial Guidelines ........................................................... 6
Report of the Nominating Committee .............................................................7 - 11
Proposed Bylaws Amendments ........................................................................... 11
Talk Nerdy to Me - Behind Every iCloud is a Silver Lining! .................................. 13 By Robin Nodland
The STARs are Shining Bright in New Orleans .................................................... 14 By Linda Fifield
Case CATalyst® Version 13 ................................................................................. 15 By Vickie M. Main
Irv is a Class Act .................................................................................................. 15
NCRA Recognizes STAR Members ...................................................................... 15
Mission, Marketing, Messaging - Part III ............................................................... 16 By Al Betz
What's Holding You Back from Switching to e-KeyTM? ......................................... 17 By James Kuta
Stenograph Announces New iPad® App for CaseViewNet® .................................. 17
Angie's List of Trending Trends ............................................................................ 18 By Angie Ballman-Punton
New CEO and a Revamped Platform for MyLegal.com ....................................... 21
Three Tips on Website Homepage Strategy ......................................................... 21 By Gabrielle DeCrescenzo
STAR Membership Application ............................................................................ 28
The Great STAR Suggestion Box ........................................................................ 29
Advertisements ................................................................................................... 30
In Memoriam ...................................................................................................... 31
Welcome Mat ...................................................................................................... 34
STAR Dot STAR • 3
also contributed greatly to my growth, not only as a court reporting professional but as a person. I think we all would acknowledge that STAR as an organization has also fostered a great number of business and personal relationships.
I never want to lose site of what brought me to this pro-fession and the value that it created in our society. The past year has been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to spending many more years with all of you.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTContinued from page 1
Mark Renzi with Guy J. Renzi & Associates
Guy Renzi
“My father, John, was a machine writer who started back in the 1930s, and opened our firm in 1962. He was 94 years old when he passed away in 2005. My son Andrew joined the firm in December of 2005.” This is a quote from an email Jim Connor sent me regarding my request for a picture of the Connor Reporting family. Three generations have now worked at Connor Reporting in Indianapolis, Indiana. And I must agree with President Nick Rennillo’s message, “When you think about how pervasive family is in this profession, it is truly amazing.”
On a personal note, my youngest daughter Sarah now works for Wood & Randall. After years of her helping my staff bind depositions and hanging out at the office waiting for her mom, it is rewarding to see her shine as a young woman in a professional setting. I am also tickled to see the dedication to our company. Business and family have
Editor’s Note - Family is Everything!By Christine Randall
always been intertwined for me. After all, the business is what supports the family, and family is everything!
From the DiMontes and their new addition, Ariana, the future CEO of Planet Depos, to the beautiful picture of Jan Ballman and her daughter Angie in her wedding dress, it is just a nice reminder of why we all work so hard and what this is all about.
Since there are so many reporting families in the industry, we plan to do this again in our next edition. So if you are a part of a reporting family and would like to share a family picture, please send your pictures to [email protected] by November 1, 2012.
Enjoy the pictures, and thank you for sharing!
STAR Dot STAR • 4
Ariana DiMonte
“Future CEO of Planet Depos”
Freida Sclafani Williams (L) and Mom Rosie Sclafani
The DeCrescenzos of
James DeCrescenzo Reporting
Vicki Pohlman and
Lydia Pohlman-Figueroa of PohlmanUSA
Irv Starkman of Starkman Reporting and Videoconferencing and Michael
Starkman with Eclipse
The DiMontes of Planet Depos
Jan Ballman and Angie Ballman-Punton of Paradigm Reporting and Captioning
Nick and Lou Rennillo of
Rennillo Deposition & Discovery,
A Veritext Company
Bill and David Roberts of
A. William Roberts, Jr., &
Associates
Mr. & Mrs. John Connor
Original office of A. William Roberts and Associates
Mike & Todd Mobley of
Mike Mobley Reporting
OuR “FAMIly” OF COuRT REPORTERS
STAR Dot STAR • 5
SOCIETY FOR THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF REPORTING
Advertorial Guidelines
The Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting (STAR) is pleased to offer our advertisers an opportunity to deliver their messages and tell about their products or services through a new medium called “advertorials.” An advertorial is a hybrid of editorial and advertising content which resembles an editorial page in appearance but allows you to promote your product or service in greater detail than would be possible in a display advertisement. It is common knowledge that readers give more credibility to editorial content than to paid advertise-ments, so advertorials are gaining popularity, particularly in elec-tronic publications.
STAR-dot-STAR Newsletter advertorials get results because they look and read like editorials while at the same time providing you a platform for highlighting the benefits and advantages of your products and services.
GuIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Star-dot-STAR has established guidelines to maintain consistency, accuracy, and good taste of advertorials. These guidelines can help ensure the success of your advertorial and can help you create the “magazine look” for your advertising.
COPY- Write from a third-person point of view.- Quote outside sources for authoritative copy and to support your viewpoint.- Identify the writer and include a brief biography, if applicable.
DESIGN- Typefaces, fonts and layout should bear no resemblance to standard editorial templates in STAR-dot-STAR. Our production
staff can assist you in selecting font size, leading, layout style and color to ensure that your design features are not similar to edito-rial content in the newsletter.
- Charts and graphs may be used.- STAR production staff will add the text “Paid Advertisement” at the top of each page of the advertorial.- Use of a logo is generally not recommended.
GENERAL- Identification of advertorials, or any advertisement that resembles editorial material, must be clearly indicated at the top of each
page with any of the following: “Advertisement,” “Advertising,” “Special Advertising Section,” or “Special Advertising Report.”- Type size should be a minimum of 9 points .- All advertisements, including editorials, are subject to approval of STAR (publisher), which reserves the right to reject or cancel
any advertisement or advertorial at any time.- STAR reserves the right to reject articles that are poorly written, contain inappropriate content or do not meet other requirements.- No advertorial piece is acceptable if it is misleading or deceitful, fraudulent, unlawful, or reflects unfavorably on an individual,
race, religion, gender, occupation or institution. It cannot malign the products and/or services of another.
ADVERTORIAL RATES (per insertion)
1X 4X
2-page spread $650.00 $500.00
Full page $425.00 $300.00
Half-Page $250.00 $195.00
To reserve your advertorial space, please contact Elaine York at 407-571-1135 or [email protected].
BIG NEWSFROM STAR
A CAN'T MISS CHANCE
SIGN
UP
TODAY!
CALL
OR
NOW
DON'T
MISS
OUT
STAR Dot STAR • 6
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Report of the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee puts forth the names of the following people to be considered by the membership for election as Officers for the term of one year and members of the Board of Directors for the terms designated.
OFFICERS - (One-year term expiring 10/2013)
President Rosalie A. Kramm, RPR, CRR, CSR (CA, NV) Kramm & Associates, Inc2224 Third AvenueSan Diego, CA [email protected]
Vice PresidentChristine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA)Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters423 Truxtun AveBakersfield, CA [email protected]
SecretaryShelly Hunter, RPR, CRR Hunter + Geist, Inc1900 Grant St, #800Denver, CO [email protected]
TreasurerTodd A. MobleyMike Mobley Reporting334 S. Main StreetDayton, OH [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda S. Fifield, MBA – (Continuing second year of three-year term expiring 10/2014)Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc50 Franklin St, 3rd Flr, Ste 300Boston, MA [email protected]
Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR (TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA) – (Continuing third year of three-year term expiring 10/2013)Johnson Reporting Services2205 Flaming Tree CtCedar Park, TX [email protected]
Jane M. Jones, RPR, RMR, CRR – (Continuing third year of three-year term expiring 10/2013)Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc735 N Water St Ste M185Milwaukee, WI [email protected]
Matt Alley – (Three-year term expiring 10/2015)Tiffany Alley Reporting & Video, Inc3348 Peachtree Rd, NE, Tower Pl 200, Ste 700Atlanta, GA [email protected]
Jan Ballman, RPR, CMRS – (Fulfilling two years left for Shelly Hunter of three-year term expiring 10/2014)Paradigm Reporting & Captioning, Inc527 Marquette Ave S1400 Rand TowerMinneapolis, MN [email protected]
Victoria Pohlman, RPR, CMRS, CSR (IL), CCR (MO) - (Three-year term expiring 10/2015)Pohlman USA Reporting Company10 S Broadway Ste 1400St Louis, MO [email protected]
STAR Dot STAR • 7
FOR PRESIDENT:ROSALIE A. KRAMM, RPR, CRR, CSR (CA, NV)San Diego, California
Rosalie A. Kramm, CSR, CCR, CRR, is the President of Kramm & Associates, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California. Rosalie became a California Certified Shorthand Reporter in 1981 and founded Kramm Court Reporting in 1985. Rosalie decided in the late
‘90s that technology was the “key to success” and has concentrated on keeping Kramm Court Reporting focused on cutting-edge technological services. Rosalie has given dozens of presentations to both court reporters and law firms on technology, including realtime reporting, video sync, online repositories, and research on the internet.
Rosalie began her service work for the court reporting industry by first serving as President of the General Reporters Association of San Diego (GRASD) in the late 1980s, was President of the Deposition Reporters Association of California and presently serves on the STAR Board of Directors.
Rosalie is married to Chris Jordan, owner of Jordan Media, Inc., a San Diego-based legal video company, and is on the board of directors of her Rotary Club. She plays soccer and loves to travel.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT:CHRISTINE RANDALL, RPR, CSR (CA)Bakersfield, California
Christine Randall, CSR, RPR, is the President of Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters, headquartered in Bakersfield, California. Wood & Randall also has offices in Fresno and Visalia and covers the Central Valley of California. Christine began her
reporting career in 1981 when computer-compatible theory was in its early years. After moving to Bakersfield in 1982, she became one of the first computerized reporters in Bakersfield. In 1990 Christine became a partner in what now is known as Wood & Randall. With a mantra of “Moving Forward with Technology and Excellence,” Christine continues to manage the firm with an eye on the latest technology.
Christine began her service work in 1998 as the District 8 representative for the Deposition Reporters Association of California (DRA). She served on the board until 2005 and became its president the following year.
Christine is also a member of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and served as a delegate on its Russia trip in October of 2008. As a long-time Stenograph user, and with a focus on technology, she proudly has served on the STAR board since 2008. She has co-chaired several conferences, and she most recently became the editor of the STAR newsletter.
Christine is also quite active in her local community. Not only is she a proud Rotarian and the President, she also is on the board of directors of the Taft College Court Reporting Program.
Christine is married to Dave Nielsen, a Realtor and partner in McKinzie Nielsen Real Estate. Together they have six children and four grandchildren.
FOR SECRETARY:SHELLY HUNTER, RPR, CRRDenver, Colorado
Shelly Hunter graduated from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1983. She began her court reporting career with Park Spangler & Wedgwood in Denver, Colorado, in 1983 and has remained with this firm to the present time. In 1994, she became the firm owner
when she purchased the court reporting firm and changed its name to Hunter + Geist, Inc. Hunter + Geist, Inc., is the leader in cutting edge technology in the court reporting industry in Denver.
Shelly has been a speaker for the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Association of Legal Support Professionals, and the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association, addressing new attorneys on the topic of “How to Make a Good Record,” paralegals on the topic of “Technology in Court Reporting,” and law firms on “iPad Apps for the Busy Professional.”
She is currently a member of Colorado Court Reporters Association (CCRA), her state association. Shelly has held the office of Director for CCRA. For five years, she served on the fundraising committee for CCRA where she assisted in seeking sponsors and vendors for their various meetings.
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Report of the Nominating CommitteeFor the 2012-2013 Officers and Board of Directors
STAR Dot STAR • 8
She currently serves on the freelance committee for CCRA. Shelly has been a member of STAR since September of 2002. Shelly wants to contribute more to STAR and feels she can accomplish this as a Director. Serving on the STAR board is not new to Shelly. She has served twice on the STAR board, fulfilling two one-year director terms which became vacant at mid-year.
Shelly enjoys giving back to her community and is involved with the “Avon Walks for Breast Cancer.” She participated in her fifth walk in June 2011. She has been married to her husband, Bill, for 23 years and they have a 21-year-old daughter, Jordan. Their dog, Kozmo, gives them many hours of pleasure and love, too!
FOR TREASURER:TODD A. MOBLEYDayton, Ohio
Todd Mobley joined the firm of Mike Mobley Reporting in 1995. Todd graduated from the University of Dayton in 1993 with a degree in Accounting. Upon graduation, he went to work for The Analytical Sciences Corporation (TASC) where he served as a consultant to the Department of Defense and Department of Energy
regarding the estimation of costs for environmental cleanup efforts. He also worked on a document management project for the Air Force in the C-17 litigation that electronically saved millions of exhibits.
In 1995, he joined his parents’ firm, Mike Mobley Reporting, full time, after many years of helping out on a part-time basis. He currently is the Secretary/Treasurer, accountant, and videographer for the firm. He received his Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 1998.
Todd is also active in the Ohio Court Reporters Association, where he serves on the Legislative Committee and is on the Liaison Committee with the attorneys who represent the Ohio Court Reporters in legislative matters. He has been involved with these matters since 1996. Todd served as STAR Treasurer from 1998-99; 2000-2001; 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012.
FOR DIRECTOR:E. MATTHEw ALLEYAtlanta, Georgia
Matt Alley got his start in the litigation support industry when he helped his wife start Tiffany Alley & Associates in 1986. Five years later it was time to come on board full-time and begin the growth and transformation process that resulted in Tiffany Alley Reporting and Video, now one of the largest reporting
firms in the Southeast.
Matt holds a BS in Industrial Management and a minor in Economics from Georgia Tech. His first career was in technical sales in the plant-floor electronic controls industry, but whatever he learned about programming devices is long since forgotten, and the iPhone and Siri are his current fascination. He is the President of TARV, and his focus is on the Accounting and Finance side of operations. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of several Atlanta ministries and NPOs, including Camp Highland, Veritas Church, P.A.C.T. Ministries, and Metro Atlanta Seminary.
Matt is virtually a native of the north-Atlanta metro area (moving there at the age of three), and has never lived anywhere else. He and Tiffany married in 1985 and have a daughter, Ciara, in graduate school in Nashville. When not in the office, Matt enjoys western backpacking trips, road cycling at home and abroad, and reading snooty literary novels that he often doesn’t understand. He and Tiffany are members (currently in good standing, but that’s always touch-and-go) of Perimeter Presbyterian Church in Johns Creek, Georgia, where Matt enjoys mentoring a fatherless boy through the Youth Mentoring program.
FOR DIRECTOR:VICTORIA POHLMAN, RPR, CMRS, CSR (MO, IL), CCR (MO, IL)St. Louis, Missouri
A court reporter for eight years, Vicki Pohlman sought to realize her entrepreneurial dream in 1990 and founded PohlmanUSA, a deposition and litigation support service provider. Today, with offices in downtown St.
Louis and Chicago, PohlmanUSA serves hundreds of law firms across the country and ranks among the nation’s leaders in a complex, highly specialized field. Its geographic scope
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Report of the Nominating Committee
STAR Dot STAR • 9
has tasked Pohlman to establish and sustain a nationwide network of court reporters and videographers as well as interpreters and translators skilled in multiple languages and versed in legal protocol. Following two acquisitions in 2009, PohlmanUSA employs 45 with an additional network of 340 partner-contractors nationwide.
Pohlman’s technology-forward philosophy keeps her team at the forefront of cutting-edge litigation support services, enabling PohlmanUSA to excel. In 2009, the firm launched a state-of-the-industry interactive website that includes a 24/7, self-service deposition management database called MyCase. The following year Pohlman launched a new application service provider (ASP) business entity called Pohlman Document Services and a custom file server solution known as MyDocServe.com. In early 2012, the firm introduced MyRecordsRetrival.com, a first-of-its-kind document-storage and -sharing site that allows the upload/download of critical case material, plus storage of all historical case records.
Pohlman is dedicated to advancing her profession and serving her community. She is a board member for Women In Charge, providing abused and/or impoverished young women and their families with career counseling, GED and job interview preparation, computer skills and childcare. Additionally, Pohlman mentors court reporting students in her leadership role with the Missouri Court Reporters Association. Nationally, she is active in the National Court Reporters’ Association, the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting and the Women Presidents’ Organization. Each year, Pohlman’s firm adopts disadvantaged families for Christmas, providing gifts, clothing and food.
Pohlman is a recipient of St. Louis Business Journal’s 2010 Most Influential Business Women award. She has been named a 2011 Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine and recognized by Winning Women with a Women Influencing Now 2011 Regional Economic Development Award. Her office was named a 2010 Winning Workplace by St. Louis Small Business Monthly. PohlmanUSA is a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. The firm also earned Green Business certification from the Green Business Bureau.
Pohlman completed the court reporting program at Brown College in Springfield, IL. in 1982. She is nationally certified as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) and a Certified Manager of Reporting Services (CMRS). Pohlman is also state-certified in Missouri and Illinois as a Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) and a Certified Court Reporter (CCR).
FOR DIRECTOR:JAN BALLMAN, RPR, CMRSMinneapolis, Minnesota
Jan Ballman is a RPR, CMRS, and was awarded the DSA by The Minnesota Association of Verbatim Reporters and Captioners in 2004.
She started her reporting career in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1981. By 1990, she had developed a client base large
enough to start her own business, Ballman Court Reporting, Inc, out of St. Paul, which employed three reporters. Three years later, Jan invited the top captioner in Minnesota, Lisa Richardson, and a trusted and talented colleague, Jayne Seward, to join her in forming a court reporting firm, and in January of 1993 Ballman, Richardson & Seward Reporting opened in the premier office tower in Minneapolis. Jan served as president of her state reporters association from 1990 to 1991. Throughout the course of her association work, she met and worked with many firm owners. In 1996, at the NCRA annual conference in San Diego, Jan broached two of the state’s top firms with the concept of merging together and utilizing joint resources to build a technology-driven court reporting agency that would attract and retain the most talented reporters in the state. Two years later, that vision became a reality. On January 1, 1998, Paradigm Reporting & Captioning opened its doors in the Rand Tower in the financial district of Minneapolis, where it remains headquartered today, with a second office in its Twin City of St. Paul. In 2002, Jan was unanimously elected as Managing Partner, and in June of 2010, she finalized the purchase of the firm from her five partners. Paradigm Reporting & Captioning remains the largest reporting firm in the upper Midwest and is synonymous with industry-leading technologies and high-end reporters and captioners.
Jan Ballman currently serves in the following capacities: President & CEO, Paradigm Reporting & Captioning / Digital Videography/Worldwide Videoconferencing; Secretary-Treasurer, National Court Reporters Foundation; Executive Board, TeamWOMENMN; Chairperson, Minnesota Women Lawyers Legal Wine Lovers; Chairperson, Minnesota Women Lawyers Research Committee; Member, Women Presidents Organization; Member, Minneapolis Rotary; Mentor, Dress for Success; Minnesota Chapter; and Mentor, MAVRC Student Mentoring Program.
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Report of the Nominating Committee
STAR Dot STAR • 10
FOR DIRECTOR:LINDA S. FIFIELD, MBABoston, Massachusetts
Linda Fifield started with Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., in 1977 and joined the firm full-time as the computer manager in 1978. As the firm grew and as technology changed, Linda moved into the positions of finance and marketing in 1986 where she currently holds the position of
vice president. Other responsibilities with the firm include CaseCatalyst training and setup for reporters as well as law firm training in interactive realtime and litigation support services.
Linda has served on the boards of the Baron Users Group (1990-1993) and the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporters (1993-1995) and is currently serving on the STAR Liaison Committee. She has also served as seminar chair and has given seminars for both organizations. Linda has been attending NCRA conventions since 1978 and became a member when they finally allowed non-reporters to join.
Other interests include volunteering for the Wakefield Music Boosters and The Center for Performing Arts in her hometown, helping to raise thousands of dollars each year in support of the performing arts programs. She is also an active member of the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry which helps local families in need.
Linda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Salem State College and a Master in Business Administration from Suffolk University. She is married and is a proud mother of Samantha and Tyler.
FOR DIRECTOR:MICHEAL A. JOHNSON, RPR, CSR (TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA)Cedar Park, Texas
Micheal attended Stenograph Institute of Texas and began working as a court reporter in 1994 and is currently the owner of Johnson Reporting Services since 2005. Previously, he was agency owner of North Texas Court Reporters, Inc., from 1995 to 2005. He has been a
working reporter for 18 years, a member of the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting (STAR) for 8 years and a member of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) for 15 years.
Micheal will commit his time to the STAR Board of Directors in attendance of meetings and its goals and strive to increase STAR Membership. His 18 years of experience as a working freelance reporter and his hard work and determination to achieve his professional goals gives him the desire to give back to his profession using the things he’s learned. His realization that STAR was a major player in his own success gives him the commitment to help others reach their goals as well.
FOR DIRECTOR:JANE M. JONES, RMR, CRRMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Jane Jones has over 30 years of personal experience as a freelance court reporter since 1976. She has been a partner of Brown & Jones Reporting Inc., since 1987. Having obtained her certifications as an RMR and CRR, she is at the top of her profession. She has received the
Distinguished Service Award for her role as Chief Examiner for the State of Wisconsin, for which she conducts yearly certification testing of court reporters for the National Court Reporting Association.
Jane also enjoys training and mentoring court reporters, so that they can reach their maximum potential in their chosen field. Currently, she is serving a three-year term as Director of STAR. She attends the bi-yearly conventions where she works with others in the furtherance of STAR’s goals and objectives.
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Report of the Nominating Committee
Proposed Bylaws AmendmentsOn November 14, 2011, the STAR Board of Directors re-
viewed the proposed Bylaws amendments shown below. The Board of Directors recommends adoption of these amend-ments.
In accordance with Article XIII, Section 2, the following Bylaws amendments are hereby presented to the STAR mem-bership within sixty (60) days of the Annual Business Meeting. These amendments will be voted upon at the Friday, October 5, 2012, Annual Business Meeting.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP - Section 4. Agency Member – Any person who owns, leases, manages, or supervises or assists in the operation of a court shorthand reporting firm.
ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Adding New Sec-tion 7)
7. Eligibility – Only voting members shall be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.
STAR Dot STAR • 11
STAR Dot STAR • 12
Talk Nerdy to MeBehind Every iCloud is a Silver Lining!
By Robin Nodland
Good lessons can come in the least expected ways. My latest tech lesson involved the value of backup to the cloud. My home was recently burglarized. A burglar – aka, “dirtbag” -- broke in, while we were upstairs sleeping, taking not only my beloved iPad, my Kindle, a myriad of other items, but also our sense of security.
After calling the police, who was the next person I called? My insurance agent? My mother? My best friend? Nope. It was Mike, my IT genius. I realized, with a “V-8 slap to the forehead,” that with a simple swipe on the iPad, my email was accessible.
Mike was up early at home, so he was immediately on task. First he changed my email password, which also secured the remote access program I use to log in to the office server, LogMeIn. Then Mike asked me if I wanted him to send a “wipe” command to the iPad, which would make it unusable to Dirtbag.
Me: “Yeah, let’s do that.”Now, if Mike could wipe my iPad remotely, could
Amazon do the same for my Kindle? After all, “Dirt” was now the proud new owner of my Kindle library.
If you’ve ever dealt with Amazon – and who hasn’t?! – then you know what great customer service they have. I called the 800 number, talked to a very friendly rep, and told him I had two requests: (1) could he explode my Kindle, preferable with indelible ink, but a light/harsh elec-trical shock would also suffice; and (2) could I download my Kindle’s content to my laptop? Although amused, he said no explosion/shock option was available, but he could send a code to “wipe” it and render it useless. And, yes, I could download a program to my laptop and have access to my entire library.
Me: “Yeah, let’s do that.”It is very empowering to hit back. Dirt now had two
interesting paperweights instead of my tech toys. Now for the happy ending. All booty was recovered!
And because IT genius Mike had recently updated my iPad’s iOS and backed it up on my office desktop, he had it restored and functioning in minutes. Mike added a passcode, which stops Dirt at the front door. He also turned on the iCloud feature, which backs up my most treasured apps, photos, and documents daily, without me having to remember a thing. I also added the app Locate my iPhone, which works on all “i” deivices, and has been very instrumental in helping the police nab the bad guys nationwide. (And Amazon emailed me the next day, offering condolences on the loss of said Kindle and also including a hyperlink to restore everything if it was recovered. I will be reading that novel comfortably in bed tonight.)
Postscript: Genius Mikes love company. After return-ing from NCRA’s Realtime System Administrator work-shop in 2010, I asked Mike to implement a tip I received from the other Genius Mike, Mike Miller. He wrote a simple command for my laptop that would, while shutting down, back up any new files in my CAT software direc-tory to an 8G memory card (like in a camera)…automati-cally. As in I don’t have to remember to do this either.
For me, the smartest tools are the ones that just hap-pen, that are on a schedule, and that I don’t have to think about. I am thanking my lucky clouds these days. And guys named Mike.
(Robin Nodland is the president of LNS Court Re-porting and Videoconferencing in Portland, Oregon.)
STAR Dot STAR • 13
This year’s convention is innovative and exciting for new and old Case CATalyst users and firm owners. The conven-tion chairs, Nancy Bistany, Michael Johnson and myself, really mixed things up to give all of you an opportunity to learn more about the software and also to hear about what exciting things are happening in the field of court reporting.
This fall, Vickie Main will start things off by sharing the stage with NCRA’s 2011 Speed Champion Donna Urlaub. In the “Let’s Get Real” seminar, Vickie will go through the steps of setting up realtime using Case CATalyst realtime features and Donna will set up as the court reporter. She’ll go through the typical setup options which includes the software and equipment needed to make a secure realtime connection.
Additionally, Donna will share her realtime secrets with us.
We’re also lucky to have Peggy Antone, former NCRA 1979 speed champion and Liaison Chairperson, and Michael Johnson who will share the stage for the “Technology for Realtime” seminar. Writing realtime and CART is in and of itself a skill. Additionally, understanding your equipment is another. Peggy and Michael will address what equipment and tools they use as a firm owner and reporter to make sure you have what is needed to be successful in the field.
Ever hear about the GTMO hearings? STAR is fortunate to have four realtime court reporters who have passed the rigorous testing protocols needed to report these hearings participate on this panel. They include Mike Miller a/k/a Depoman, Micheal Johnson, Rick Greenspan, and former NCRA Past President Bill Weber. Also on the panel is Keith McCready, programmer extraordinaire. The Diamante is the official machine used at the GTMO hearings and Case CATa-lyst the official software. Like the careful selection of court reporters, the Diamante and Case CATalyst also had to be approved of by the GTMO Board. Together, this team will tell us what it’s like to write realtime at GTMO, the travel, the witnesses, the accommodations and their thoughts about liv-ing and writing history.
There are many more great seminars for everyone to par-ticipate in. Stenograph’s Vickie Main will have one full track of Case CATalyst training seminars. An amazing teacher, she has such a clear understanding of the software and is so helpful in explaining the software so that everyone leaves her seminars with more knowledge. She also provides use-ful handouts for notes and review. Having been on Case CATalsyt since it was “born,” I’m still learning features that the software can do that makes my job easier. The other track will feature the seminars touched upon earlier as well as a presentation from LiveDeposition, Networking for Firm Owners, and so much more.
Don’t forget the nightlife. After a long day of learning, there’s lots of wining and dining to be had. Try the beignets at Cafe du Monde and the classic Creole dishes in the French Quar-ter.
Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones while in New Orleans. Come to live, laugh and LEARN!!!
(Linda Fifield is with Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., in Bos-ton, Massachusetts.)
2012 ANNUAL
CONVENTIONOctober 4-6, 2012
Loews New Orleans HotelNew Orleans, Louisiana
The STARs are Shining Bright in New Orleans By Linda Fifield
STAR Dot STAR • 14
New Orleans October 4-6, 2012
Jazz, Mardi Gras, French Quarter, and if you throw in some beads, we have a party! Well, the French Quarter is great, but the real party will be in Irv’s Hospitality Suite. Join Irv, the new STAR Board, and your fellow members as Irv mixes, shakes, and stirs up the fun.
In the meantime, enjoy another selection from Irv, a pricey but wonderful bottle of Caymus Vineyards, 2009, Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley.
Case CATalyst V13 is released and getting great reviews. Don’t miss out on fabulous timesaving and revolutionary features – update now.
Check for Updates from within CATalystGet the latest version of Case CATalyst without ever leaving CATalyst. Simply click Help and Check for Updates (internet connection required). If you are on V12.53 or higher, Help/Check for Updates is a fast and easy way to update to Case CATalyst V13.
Track ChangesThe Track Changes option records changes made to the tran-script. Inserting, deleting and replacing text, including files, etc., are tracked and displayed in colors associated and labeled with the person who makes the changes. View the changes in the body of the transcript or in a pane and instantly access changes within the transcript.
Autolink ExhibitsEverything your client wants! Case CATalyst V12 allowed at-tachments of electronic exhibits and V13 makes it quick and easy to link that attachment to all references of that exhibit in your transcript. Print the transcript to PDF with the attachments or give them even more by exporting the transcript to TextMap. Your client can open it in the free TextMap Reader and have access to the exhibits, hyperlinked all word index and more.
Print to PDF and Attach it to an E-mailPrinting to PDF is not new in CATalyst but now you can print to PDF and attach the PDF to an e-mail all in one step! Forget about opening your e-mail package and searching for the PDF, CATalyst makes it easy.
Backup is a Part of Finish 'emThe revolutionary Finish 'em feature just got better! In one step you can print to PDF, print to a printer, create a compressed print, export to multiple ASCII formats, etc., and now make a backup of your file(s) as part of the one-step process.
Rapid Power DefiningPower Defining has a new meaning now that you can quickly and easily create one define after another without closing the Power Define dialog box. Whether you are a reporter identify-ing the last-minute speakers that just walked in the door or a captioner preparing for your next session, it is a snap with a Power Define and your hands never leave the steno keyboard.
PDF/A Compliant for Federal RequirementsNo waiting to create a PDF/A compliant PDF – CATalyst V13 includes the option with a simple check of a box.
TrueStroke Drag/DropThe Diamante/Wave’s revolutionary TrueStroke Data is in-corporated into CATalyst to intelligently translate ‘would be untranslates’. TrueStroke does so much more than just track your shadows and this is not your ordinary Drag/Drop feature. CATalyst translates what you meant because it knows what you wrote and exactly how you wrote it.
Integrated Video Training with Practice FilesEssential Skills and Productivity Booster videos are available at your fingertips. Play and pause the videos as needed. Eas-ily pause the video and try what you are learning in CATalyst. Whether you want to learn something new or need a reminder, these helpful videos are always there.
Mike Miller, Depoman, was named as a 2012 Fellow at the NCRA Annual Convention Awards Luncheon in Philadelphia. This fellowship in the Academy of Professional Reporters is a pro-fessional distinction conferred upon a person of outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in the field of short-hand reporting.
Jerry Kelley, described as a “true visionary,” someone with “the highest standards and integrity,” was awarded the 2012 NCRA Distinguished Service Award. Described as the highest honor NCRA can bestow upon a member, our fellow STAR mem-ber was awarded this honor during the Premier Session at NCRA’s Annual Convention.
Last but not least, NCRF’s most prestigious award, the Santo J. Aurelio Award for Altruism, was given to Irv Starkman. This award is given to a working court reporter with over 25 years of experience who has given back to the profession, and to the com-munity, with no expectation of any reward.
Congratulations to our SuperSTARs!
Case CATalyst® Version 13By Vickie M. Main, Development Project Manager, Stenograph, LLC
Irv is a Class act! NCRA Recognizes STAR Members
STAR Dot STAR • 15
Mission, Marketing, Messaging - Part IIIBy Al Betz, Al Betz & Associates, Inc.
Welcome back! In parts I and II of this three-part series we learned how to de-velop a mission statement and we learned how your small business can market to corporate America. In this final installation we will learn how to create and deliver our message to corporate America. Now that we’ve gained entrance to corporate Ameri-ca, how do we make our pitch? But before that . . .
Right about now someone reading this is having that conversation with himself that reveals his self-esteem issues. That conver-sation is an inner conflict that results from his successful life experiences that give him confidence, but also reflect failures in his life that cause him to fail to act in circum-stances similar to his past failures. It’s that inner conflict that causes us to rush toward an opportunity, and then pull back at the last second. That conversation goes some-thing like this:
“I’m going to do that. I’m going to go after corporate clients. That’s exactly what I need to do.”
“But wait. I’m just a small town firm. Why would corporate America listen to me? The last time I tried to step out of my comfort zone, I got shot down. I remember how devastated I was.”
A friend of mine calls that inner con-flict the result of hot wiring. It comes from the reptilian part of the brain whose job is to keep us safe. Our life experience af-fects our behavior. Our brain doesn’t for-get those early bad experiences that scared us, or hurt us. When the brain recognizes the pattern, the hot wire kicks in and our behavior response is to stop before we get scared or hurt again. That’s the reason in an audience of 100 people hearing the same motivational message, only one or two will actually take the action described. Those one or two people are hot-wired differently either through training or by na-ture. When we have those conversations that create inner conflict we are hot wired to respond in a certain way. The only way to change our hot wiring is to create a new
neuro pathway. The neuro pathway has to be clear or the pattern will repeat itself and at the moment of truth the inner voice that stops us from taking the final step, picking up the phone and making the call, for ex-ample, will surface and take control of our behavior.
Part II ended with this question regard-ing the message component of our series on MissionMarketingMessage: “Just what do you say and how do you say it?” What you say depends on with whom you are speaking. How you say it is always with en-ergy, with confidence, with good eye con-tact and with awareness of the silent com-munication surrounding the moment. Let’s first focus on how we get to the right person to whom we want to deliver our message.
The first step is to find a champion of your message within the company. That person represents your initial connection with the company, someone who knows you and is willing to advocate for you. It is not necessary that you have had a long his-tory with this champion; what is important is that your champion likes you and trusts you. Often the champion is identified by a third party, a friend, who knows of the champion and agrees to introduce you.
Large corporations have many roots, many paths. Your champion will help you identify the paths and, most importantly, the bridges that take you from one path to the next. The bridges represent to you growth within the company. For example, you may start within HR but your goal is to end up on the Executive floor. You will have to identify which path is most relevant to the services or products you are bringing to the company and where the bridges to growth are. Trust that your champion will open the appropriate doors for you.
Remember, at this point you know what your mission is, you have done your marketing work and you know that this particular corporation can use what you are bringing to it. Your message should contain references to your knowledge of the corpo-ration. It will be important to express your
understanding of the mission of the corpo-ration, trends in its industry, and challenges that it faces. Your proposal will then cre-atively present how your service or prod-uct will help the corporation meet one or more of its challenges, address trends in the industry, and better serve its marketplace. Components of your proposal should be awareness...awareness of issues, circum-stances, surroundings, competitors both in-ternal and external, culture, personal char-acteristics of decisionmakers and key staff . . . and a strategy of thoughtful, purposeful and genuine silent communication.
Silent communication reveals under-lying messages of character, competence, and judgment upon which we judge each other and, most importantly, how promi-nent corporations – the corporations you want to work with – value you.
Your silent communication style will be determined by your personality and de-meanor, the personality and demeanor of your prospect, and by your ability to make situational adjustments to your silent com-municators. Silent communication in the 21st Century, known as body language in earlier times, is a very sophisticated com-municator. Silent communication involves much more than body movement. Silent communication encompasses sensory per-ception and Constant Messaging®, for ex-ample.
There are nuances to every situation, of course. The goal of this series of articles was to present an overview of the pro-cess of getting your small business into the stream of opportunities available to you in corporate America. In summary, opportu-nities exist in corporate America for small business. In order to capitalize on the op-portunities, you need to have a clear mis-sion, the target corporation must have an identifiable need for your product or ser-vice, and you must be able to clearly articu-late your message.
(Al Betz is a court reporting firm owner and America’s silent communicator. He can be reached at [email protected].)
STAR Dot STAR • 16
Mission, Marketing, Messaging - Part IIIStenograph introduced e-Key more than a year ago. Since
that time, over 7,000 Case CATalyst® users have successfully adopted e-Key and they are thrilled! It’s free to anyone on version 12 or higher, you are not required to stay current on support to continue e-Key and it just plain works! However, there may be a few questions holding you back from exchang-ing your security device for e-Key, so let’s address them one by one.
Is a Security Device more secure than e-Key? The answer to that question is no. A security device does not protect you. There is nothing on a security device that prevents someone from accessing your Case CATalyst transcripts or any of the files stored on your laptop’s hard drive.
What are the real solutions to file security? Encryption soft-ware will secure your Case CATalyst transcripts and all other files on your computer. A good Windows password will pre-vent an individual from logging into Windows and having easy access to your files.
How do I access my Premier Power or CATalyst Version 1-3 files once I send back my security device? It is true that e-Key is not going to allow access to your old software or software ver-sions. However, you can import those files directly into Case CATalyst. If you are maintaining older hardware just so you can
Stenograph, the world’s leading manu-facturer and marketer of shorthand machines and computer-aided transcrip-tion software, today un-veiled iCVNet, its Apple iPad app based on their popular CaseViewNet re-altime transcript viewer.
The extremely in-tuitive, and free, app provides attorneys and judges instant viewing of
realtime deposition and trial transcripts on an iPad. Attorneys and legal professionals can connect to a Case CATalyst® court reporter’s secure WiFi network to receive, view, mark, search and email transcripts.
“With the rise in popularity of iPads in the legal profes-sion, we developed a revolutionary wireless solution that gives
What’s Holding you Back from Switching to e-KeyTM?By James Kuta, Case CATalyst Technical Advisor, Product Specialist, Stenograph, LLC
access older transcripts, backup those files and import them into Case CATalyst. Not only will importing those files remove the need to access your older software, it will help ensure that you do not lose your transcripts due to the failure of old hardware.
I have never had issues with my Security Device. Are there reasons I should switch to e-Key? A Security Device is a physi-cal piece of hardware. Hardware will eventually fail. The hard-ware used in the Security Device in no longer being produced. Stenograph cannot order new Security Devices to replace the old ones. In the future, Stenograph may not be able to provide replacement Security Device hardware. Replacing a lost or sto-len button is expensive. The Security Device also contains a battery which will fail with age. Most batteries will last around 10 years. Many of the Security Devices are close to that age.
The Security Device also has a limited storage capacity. As of version 13, Stenograph has reached the security device space limit for programmable options and there is no more room for future options. As a result, Case CATalyst 14 will not support the Security Device. To get all the great features com-ing in version 14 and higher, you need to move to e-Key.
Come join over 7,000 court reporting professionals. Just give us a call at (800) 323-4247. We’re here to help make your switch to e-key simple and successful. www.stenograph.com.
Stenograph Announces New iPad® App for CaseViewNet®
Case CATalyst reporters a unique and innovative offering to attorneys,” remarks John Wenclawski, Stenograph President. “With the iCVNet, we’ve provided reporters yet another state-of-the-art tool that positions them to be the preferred reporter of choice in interactive, realtime solutions.”
The iPad app compliments Stenograph’s existing line of wireless, interactive realtime technology solutions, including the Diamante® writer, Case CATalyst software, and various network router solutions. The free app is available online at Apple’s app store by searching for iCVNet.
Stenograph is dedicated to supporting the court reporting community and its programs. The company is the number one manufacturer and marketer of shorthand writers and computer-aided transcription software, offers online education and pro-vides other industry-related supplies. It also owns the Prince Institute of Professional Studies, with locations in Alabama, Denver and Illinois. For more information about Stenograph, please visit stenograph.com.
STAR Dot STAR • 17
I am delighted to accept an invitation to write a regular column in STARdotSTAR on trends in social media.
At the top of my list and to launch my column, I’d like to start with PINTEREST, one of the hottest online trends of the day.
I know you’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve even seen references to it on your Facebook page. But what exactly is Pin-terest? Simply stated, the concept is that Pinterest becomes an organizer’s “virtual” heaven. The most eloquent explanation of “pinning” that I have yet to see comes from Courtney Lowery Cowgill, who states: “Pinning by any other name is something we all do every day. We clip recipes, we bookmark blog posts, we note the cut of the jacket of a passer-by, we take a mental picture of a neighbor’s living room layout, we marvel at the colors in a photograph on the gallery wall, we read a passage we like somewhere and save it for later.” Said another way, as we encounter things that inspire, motivate or capture us, Pinterest provides an organized space to collect and later access this information.
Before we get too far ahead of our-selves, it is important to note one important thing: In order to join this social media phenomenon, you must be “invited.” This invitation can occur in one of two ways: Either go to www.pinterest.com and request an invite, or have one of your friends who already has been “accepted” to Pinterest invite you to join. Be fore-warned that going the route of requesting an invitation via Pinterest may take a while due to the huge influx of interest. You’re better off accepting a friend’s request to join, which shouldn’t be too onerous, as there are already over 12 million Pinterest users. But the exclusivity factor created by the invitation piece has definitely created a buzz. Quite smart, actually, and duly noted, as perhaps this could be applied to other aspects of marketing equally suc-cessfully, right?
Once you’re accepted into the Pin-terest space, it’s time to create themed “boards,” or categories, to help sort
through the fabulous content you’re about to encounter. Think bulletin boards. They can be anything you want them to be, and you create and title them to pertain to your interests. (Is the name “PINTER-EST” starting to make more sense? So you’re Pinning things of interest to a virtual bulletin board.) For instance, some of my boards are “Health and Wellness,” “For the Home,” and “Yum!” But maybe yours are related to sports, or gardening, or wine. The sky’s the limit! Now, to add content to your board. You can find content all over the internet in general, but one common place to find it is through other peoples’ pins on Pinterest, whether friends or com-plete strangers.
Okay, now you’ve found something of interest to you on the internet. Now what? Easy. When you find something you like, simply click the “Pin It” button. (This button will get added to your bookmarks upon setting up your Pinterest account.) Now you can pull content from anywhere on the worldwide web with one click! The pin usually appears as a photo on your board, and when you click on the pin, it redirects you to the original source via a link. For example, let’s say you find a
great recipe on Food Network’s website for grilled chicken. By “pinning” the photo of the delicious meal, it saves to your “Yum” board. Thus, when you’re looking through your recipes in “Yum” and you’re in the mood for chicken, you click on the picture of the grilled chicken and it will redirect you back to the Food Network page that contains the recipe.
Of course, there is a social compo-nent to Pinterest as well. It’s different from Facebook or Twitter in that it isn’t a play-by-play of one’s day or what’s going on in your life. Instead, the social piece comes from viewing your friends’ boards and commenting, “liking,” and re-pinning. Just be careful here, because unless you check the appropriate security settings when setting up your Pinterest account, the things you are pinning to boards may be posting on your friends’ Facebook walls, unbeknownst to you!
Pinterest opens a whole new world, albeit in many cases a fantasy world, of what you would do or would buy with an unlimited supply of time or money. So enjoy! But I warn you in advance…Pinterest is addicting!
Angie’s list of Trending TrendsBy Angie Ballman-Punton @angelanicolebp
STAR Dot STAR • 18
7 reasonsWhy our out-of-town referrals
will keep you smiling.
Each member is an independently owned local firm. We are experts on our local area and can be trusted with YOUR client.Our members are rigorously chosen for their skill, integrity, dependability and access to the latest technologies.One-stop shopping for local services.We will treat your client with a high level of professionalism.We provide nationwide service for your client.Our members are accustomed to working with out-of-town referrals. We will network with you so you retain control of transcript production.We are easy to work with and provide the most helpful, courteous and complete service anywhere.
•
•
••
••
•
Certified Professional Reporters • Conference RoomsRealtime • Internet Realtime • Condensed Transcripts
Word Indices • e-Transcripts™ • Exhibit scanning Videography • Videoconferencing
Visit us on the Web at www.depospan.com or call us at 877-724-0001
STAR Dot STAR • 19
What began in 2009 as a social network exclusively for the legal profession was just re-introduced with a simpler interface and much narrower focus. The result: a valuable tool for law-yers, paralegals and legal secretaries around the globe.
Despite the evolution and re-engineering over the past three years, MyLegal.com still maintains its niche in the legal industry – the only legal vendor directory for lawyers and their teams to find professional service providers around the globe. While a typical Internet search to find a legal vendor requires the user to review each website individually, MyLegal.com ag-gregates thousands of legal vendors from around the world and from more than 150 service categories into one go-to resource.
In addition to the revamped platform at MyLegal.com, the former Vice President of Business Development, Kathy DiLorenzo, is the new CEO. The new MyLegal.com removed the social media components of the site in favor of the more valuable offering to both lawyers and vendors – what some in the business have coined “a combination of Angie’s List and Groupon for the legal industry” – the Legal Vendor Directory where service providers are rated and reviewed, with many en-hancing their listings by offering discounts on their services.
MyLegal.com is committed to providing lawyers, parale-gals and legal teams with the most efficient and relevant means of searching and vetting service providers around the globe. One of the key additions to the newly designed website is the integration of Google Places, which provides law firms a virtual universe of service provider options using a familiar search box and results that make it easy to find the most qualified vendor for their needs.
Additionally, the MyLegal.com search function is intuitive. When the location of a service is specified in the search crite-ria, all matching vendors whose office locations are within a 100-mile radius are displayed. When a lawyer is searching for a “virtual” service provider, where location is not an issue, all vendors with matching service categories are returned. In both cases, Premier listings are given priority rank according to Rat-ings & Reviews and whether there is a discount deal attached.
A Basic listing is only $10 per month and includes a com-prehensive summary of the vendor’s services and expertise, photo or logo, contact information, and active email and web-site links. In addition to preferred placement in the search re-sults, a Premier listing provides links to the vendor’s social me-dia pages, as well as the ability to invite and share client Ratings & Reviews and to promote and share a Legal Vendor Deal to the global legal community. A Premier listing is just $50 per month. There is no cost to the user to search the directory. For vendors, MyLegal.com presents an affordable option to market products and services to a targeted audience, allowing satisfied clients to post ratings and reviews to drive more business for the service provider. Ratings & Reviews may not be posted anonymously; the client, firm name and location are required.
With the new platform, including a mobile application, both the user and vendor experience have been greatly enhanced. The company expects rapid growth as it begins to actively pro-mote the site to lawyers and vendors worldwide.
Studies have shown that your website homepage will ei-ther attract or repel a visitor in as little as 10 seconds. I rede-signed the JDReporting.com website recently and learned a significant amount about the theory behind a quality, attention-grabbing small business website. Below are three questions I kept in mind during my project and why.
1. Is there a call to action? The ultimate goal of a busi-ness website is to turn a visitor into a customer. The most effective way to do this is to tell the customer the best way she can contact you. Examples of a call to action are a phone number, email address, or scheduling form. Calls to action lead to conversion, which is the transformation of a website visitor to a paying customer, and is an example of inbound marketing.
2. How does the homepage match up with search terms? If a Nebraska-based client is looking for a reporter in your city, she may type something like “Court Reporter Phila-delphia” into a search engine. Since your homepage is one of many that the potential client may click on, it is important that she feel like she should choose you. If you have an of-fice in Philadelphia, is the address displayed on your header
New CEO and a Revamped Platform for Mylegal.comIntegration of Google Places Provides Lawyers with Universal Vendor Search
Three Tips on Website Homepage StrategyBy Gabrielle DeCrescenzo
or footer? The same goes for services. If you’re looking for more clients who want realtime depositions, make sure your homepage clearly directs the visitor to learn more about your realtime services and how you should be contacted if they choose to schedule.
3. Has “Why us?” been answered? The court reporting industry is competitive and your website has only a few sec-onds to make a good first impression. Make sure your cli-ent knows why you should be the one they call. Do this by making your message clear. Why are you the best? Whether it is due to your professional and talented reporters, timely transcript delivery, or variety of services, make this obvious on your homepage. You want to attract the right clients. The right clients turn into longtime clients.
These three questions will help you build a solid founda-tion for a business website. If you keep your customers in mind and listen to their feedback — and always challenge yourself to improve — your website will be a stellar online representation of your firm.
(Gabrielle DeCrescenzo is with James DeCrescenzo Re-porting, LLC, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)
STAR Dot STAR • 21
STAR Dot STAR • 22
For Your Informationk STARonline.org has a searchable member database. Search by name, city, state, or zip code.
k STAR members save money on Pengad products by receiving the lowest catalog price, on most
items, regardless of the quantities ordered.
k STAR members who spend $3,000 or more annually through Pengad will be refunded their STAR membership dues.
k STAR members save money on Stenograph products including a $100 discount for professional
software. (See staronline.org for more discounts.)
k STAR members are entitled to $100 off the initial purchase of a CaseViewNet license and $20 off the
renewal price.
k STAR members can advertise their firms on the STAR website or in the STARdotSTAR newsletter at an
affordable price.
STAR Dot STAR • 23
STAR Dot STAR • 24
Elegant, High-tech Conference Facilities(Seating up to 50)
Realtime
Videography
Videoconferencing
Trial Consulting and Presentation
Nationwide Scheduling
Certified Trainers on Staff
Telephone 888.644.8080
Facsimile 248.644.1120
www.bienenstock.com
C o v e r i n g t h e E n t i r e S t a t e o f M i c h i g a n
B I N G H A M F A R M S
A n n A r b o r | D e t r o i t | F l i n t | G r a n d R a p i d s | J a c k s o n | L a n s i n g | M o u n t C l e m e n s
STAR Dot STAR • 25
Continued on page 17
STAR Dot STAR • 26
STAR Dot STAR • 27
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting
Membership ApplicationSTAR’s membership dues cover a period that begins November 1 and ends October 31. Membership is on an individual basis and is not transferable. Information in the STAR Membership Directory is based on information provided on this form. Please complete the entire form. (Please type or print.)
Please check preferred mailing address:
Name: ____________________________________________________Business Name: _________________________________________
r Home Address/City/St/Zip: _______________________________________________________________________________________
r Business Address/City/St/Zip: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number(s) Office: ____________________________________Home: _______________________________________________
Toll Free Number: ______________________________________________ Cell: _______________________________________________
Fax: _________________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________
Website Address: ________________________________________________ NCRA #: _________________________________________
r Okay to publish home number r Do not publish home number
Certifications: r RPR r RMR r RDR r CRR r CLVS r CMRS r CRI r CPE r FAPR
r CBC
CSR State(s)__________________________________CSR#__________Other: __________________________________
NOTE: NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY FORMAT!Be sure your company description is included by emailing your descriptive paragraph to jclark@ kmgnet.com.
Here is a sample:XYZ Court Reporting is a full-service freelance firm based in San Diego, CA, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Dallas. Services include, but are not limited to, CaseView, realtime reporting, CART captioning, condensed transcript, conference rooms, digital video, document production/management, E-Transcript, litigation support, expedited delivery, and Internet Depos.
MEMBERSHIP TYPE (category descriptions on reverse):r Reporting Member ____ Freelance ____ Official Reporter ....................................................................$150.00 per yearr Agency Member ____ Firm Owner ____ Co-owner ................................................................................$150.00 per yearr Associate Member (Vendor, other support professional) ...........................................................................$ 75.00 per yearr Student ..............................................................................................................................................................$ 40.00 per year
I hereby make application for membership in the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting and pledge myself to abide by the requirements of the Bylaws of the Society as they are now and may be amended in the future. My signature below constitutes my consent to receive faxes, emails and other communications from STAR or on be-half of STAR.Signature: ______________________________________________________ Date: _____________________________________________Name of the STAR member you were referred by: ___________________________________________________________________
r Check #_________________ Enclosed Charge My Credit Card: r Visa r MC r American Express Acct No.: _______________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date: _______________________Print cardholder name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________Signature of cardholder: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Membership Dues (choose from membership type above): ............................................................ $ _____________________ TOTAL .......................................................................................................................................................... $ _____________________
STAR, 222 S. Westmonte Dr, #101, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714; Phone: 407.774.7880 • Fax: 407.774.6440 (Credit Card Payments Only) • www.staronline.org
FOR STAR OFFICE USE ONLY
Reference # _________________ Amount: _________________________Process Date: __________________________________________________
Revised 9/2011
STAR Dot STAR • 28
Twinkle Twinkle Little STAR . . . THE GREAT STAR SUGGESTION BOXP P
P
All STAR members are encouraged to submit ideas, complaints, and suggestions for improvement to the STAR Liaison/Technology Committee. This committee meets with Stenograph representatives throughout the year to voice concerns and requests of you, the user. All STAR newsletters include this form that you can use to relay your thoughts to the Liaison/Technology Committee. The more feedback and/or input you can provide, the better the committee can represent you and your wishes to Stenograph. The committee will publish responses to your input in future STAR newsletters.
$TO: STAR Liaison/Technology Committee STAR Headquarters 222 S. Westmonte Drive, Suite 101 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 (Fax: 407/774-6440) (or email Peggy Antone)
Please relay the following p question p complaint p request to Stenograph
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(Use additional sheet if more space necessary)
Submitted by: (Optional) ____________________________________________
P P
STAR Dot STAR • 29
“When your clients require court reporting in Ontario, rest assured knowing that your firm will be well represented by Neeson & Associates. Our commitment to technology combined with highly qualified reporters and staff will ensure a well executed deposition. You have my word.” Kim Neeson, RPR, CRR, CSR, CCP, CBCPresident
REALTIME * REALTIME LAPTOPS FOR CLIENTS * ROUGH DRAFT * EXPEDITED TRANSCRIPT * VIDEOCONFERENCINGNETWORKING WITH U.S. AGENCIES * COMPLIMENTARY BOARDROOMS * VIDEOGRAPHY
Contact us at 416.413.7755 or [email protected] Adelaide St. W., Suite 1108, Toronto, ON M5H 3L5 | www.neesoncourtreporting.com
24-Hour Scheduling800.697.3210
www.hutchings.comfax 323.888.6333
email: [email protected] since 1953
Calm, cool and collected.
We can help.
The way you’ll feel when wehandle your out-of-area assignments.
� Local and worldwide services � Court reporters, interpreters, and videography � Videoconferencing, video streaming and conference rooms � Realtime reporters � Email transcript delivery � Imaged/linked bundles � Depositories � In-house technical support
CALIFORNIA, CANADA
STAR Dot STAR • 30
COLORADO, FLORIDA
Your Partner in Making the Record
Court Reporting, Legal Videography, and Videoconferencing
Proud Member of the Society for the TechnologicalAdvancement of Reporting
• Full-Service Court ReportingCourtroom Reporting, Arbitrations, and Depositions
• In-House Videoconferencing• Videotape Services• 24/7 ShareFile Repository• Realtime and Rough Draft Reporting• Internet Realtime With Messaging• Scanned Exhibits / Linked Exhibits with Transcript• Conference Rooms• Experienced and Courteous Staff• Timely, Accurate, and Highly Skilled Certified Court
Reporters
Denver, CO 80203
1900 Grant Street, Suite1025
303.832.5966800.525.8490
Hunter+Geist, Inc.
In MemoriamJerome E. Miller Lake Bluff, IllinoisWilliam M. “Bill” DeLoach Savannah, GeorgiaMargaret Kerr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
STAR Dot STAR • 31
Your Key to SuccessNationally recognized for excellence in reporting
DORIS O. WONG ASSOCIATES, INC.Professional Court Reporters / Videoconference Center
Incorporated in 1967
www.doriswong.com
• Highest accuracy and service standards in the reporting business• All of our reporters are certified by our state and national asssociations and work exclusively for us to ensure consistency of product and quality control• Expertise in interactive realtime technology, expedited delivery, and complex litigation• Electronic files in various formats• Videotape depositions• Videoconferencing services• Scanned and linked exhibits• Three complimentary conference suites ...and more
50 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 617-426-2432 • 800-546-WONG (9664) • [email protected]
Celebrating 44 years
For all of your litigation support needs in Florida and nationwide
Contact us now at 800-939-0093
For all of your litigation support needs in Florida and nationwide
Contact us now at 800-939-0093
For all of your litigation support needs in Florida and nationwide
Contact us now at 800-939-0093
MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NORTH CAROLINA
STAR Dot STAR • 32
Conference Facilities (Seating up to 50)
Realtime
Videoconferencing
Trial Presentation
Nationwide Scheduling
Certified Trainers
Telephone 888.644.8080
Facsimile 248.644.1120
www.bienenstock.com
Covering the Ent ire State of Michigan
B I N G H A M F A R M SAnn Arbor | Detroit | Flint | Grand Rapids | Jackson
Lansing | Mount Clemens
MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, TEXAS
UNITED AMERICANReporting Services, Inc.
(214) 855-5300
5220 Renaissance Tower1201 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75270
DepositionsVideo - VideoconferencingRecords - PhotocopyingTwo Deposition Suites
1-800-445-7718Fax: 214-855-1478
www.uars.net
Serving All of Lower Michigan Including:
Allegan, Alma, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Benton Harbor, Big Rapids, Birmingham, Cadillac, Dearborn, De-troit, Farmington Hills, Flint, Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Grosse Point, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Livonia, Ludington, Midland, Monroe, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Niles, Pontiac, Port Huron, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Saginaw, St. Joseph, St. Clair Shores, South Haven, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Three Rivers, Traverse City, Troy, Warren.
Deposition Services:RealtimeCaseview, LiveNoteCondensed TranscriptsWord Indexes Daily, expedited, encrypted e-mail and ASCII deliveries (E-Transcript format)Litigation Support Diskettes
Expertise:Medical MalpracticeEnvironmentalPharmaceuticalTechnicalPatent InfringementAviationProduct Liability
Videotaping:DepositionsDay-In-The-LifeMock trialsAccident reconstructionSite preservationPhotography
Additional Services:Conference Rooms (Call for details on Specific locations)TranslationsInterpretingProcess Server Referrals
Professional Affiliations:Michigan Association of Court Reporters (MAPCR)National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting (STAR)Florida Court Reporters Association (FCRA)National Association of Legal Support Professionals (NALS)
Arlene M. Wright, RPR, CSR, OwnerSuzanne L. Christensen, Office Manager
Call us today to schedule your next Michigan deposition.
Great Lakes Shorthand • P.O. Box 2002Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-20021-800-234-2044 * 1-888-329-6776 Fax
[email protected] www.greatlakesshorthand.com Online Scheduling
STAR Dot STAR • 33
Welcome MatWe extend a hearty welcome to the following new members...A BIG welcome to:
(As of 8/23/12)
Lori Cobb ............................................................................................................... Baton Rouge, LA
Peter Hecht ...............................................................................................................Philadelphia, PA
Stephen Metschl ............................................................................................................... Buffalo, NY
WASHINGTON
SEE YOU IN NEW ORLEANS!
STAR 2012 Annual ConventionOctober 4-6, 2012
Loews Hotel • New Orleans, LA
STAR Dot STAR • 34