2016 tcra annual convention agendafiles.ctctcdn.com/f5e54f35201/1edf237c-3fc3-4d17-849f...1.0 ce...

2016 TCRA Annual Convention Agenda2016 TCRA Annual Convention Agenda2016 TCRA Annual Convention Agenda

Friday, July 8, 2016

7:00am — Registration & Exhibit Hall Open

7:30am — Realtime Contest

8:30am — CART Exam

7:30am to 8:30am (Early Bird Session)

How to Unleash Your True Potential Speaker: Ronald C. Palmer, Jr.

1.0 CE hour Ron Palmer is a licensed professional counselor who will address the

reasons why people seldom pursue their true dreams. He will inspire

you to reflect on why you first pursued your career and will explore

the definition of success, happiness and purpose of life.

8:30am to 9:00am — BREAK

9:00am to 10:00am (Opening Session)

Laughter in the Third Degree Speaker: Cleto Rodriguez and Bettina Williams

1.0 CE hour

San Antonio’s Mayor Ivy Taylor kicks off the 2016 TCRA Annual

Convention. Cleto and Bettina connect with audiences by relating

everyday life experiences. Anything and everything is fair game, from

marriage mishaps to the challenges of dieting to the most

embarrassing and funniest moments in the courtroom. This comedy

is high‐energy, observational and hilarious.


Choose one to attend:

10:15am to 11:45am

Creating the Demand for Draft Transcripts

Speaker: Ed Varallo

1.5 CE hours

To be truly realtime capable—able to turn out fast, accurate drafts

and fast certified transcripts—we need to write smarter. Ed Varallo,

six‐time NCRA speed contest champion, will share with you his tips

and techniques to create the demand for rough draft transcripts.

Delivery by dinnertime, not bedtime is what your clients need. Learn

how to provide this valuable service and increase your bottom line.

10:30am to 11:30am

Are Your Weapons Loaded?

Speaker: Michael Harrison

1.0 CE hour

The Texas Open Carry new legislation allowing Texas residents to

openly carry loaded firearms has sparked much debate and

confusion. In this discussion, we will explore aspects of the legislation

and how it affects everyday citizens and businesses. We will seek to

clarify the conflict between the rights of Open Carry practitioners and

those who challenge Open Carry in public and private settings.

12:00pm to 1:30pm

Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon

0.5 CE Hour

Grassroots Lobbying

Speaker: Jimmy Evans

1:45pm to 2:45pm

A Live Interview with an American Hero

Speaker: Judge David Alan Ezra

1.0 CE hour

The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project

(VHP) in 2000. The VHP of the American Folklife Center collects,

preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American

war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from

veterans and better understand the realities of war. Today

The Honorable David A. Ezra, Senior U.S. District Judge, a retired

Army officer, will assist a surviving WWII veteran in preserving his

oral history regarding his wartime service.

2:45pm to 3:00pm — BREAK

3:00pm to 4:00pm — Choose one to attend:

Keys to e‐EVERYTHING

Speakers: Justice Jason Pulliam and Justice Rebecca Martinez

1.0 CE hour (Ethics/Rules)

Hear Ye Hear Ye...from the Fourth Court of Appeals. Learn the ins

and outs of what’s required and expected when you file your

Reporter’s Record with the Court of Appeals. Topics covered will

include electronic filing, notifications of late record, appellate

timetables, exhibits, indexing and more.

Yours is Not a Sit‐in‐Silence Job (Asserting Yourself Effectively

and Professionally)

Speaker: Nancy Varallo

1.0 CE hour

Nancy will explore with you how to gain confidence and boost your

ability to get what you need from the calendar manager, the firm

owner and the attorneys. Nancy will discuss how your situation

might have been handled differently to get a better outcome. Don’t

miss the opportunity to ask “Dear Nancy” your questions!

Thursday, July 7, 2016 Speed Contest — 9:00am

Board Meeting — 2:00pm

Friday, July 8, 2016 (cont’d) 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Depo 101

Speakers: Jan Carter and Jana Richter

1.0 CE hour

The Day in the Life of a Freelancer! This session will cover everything

from building your resume to taking a deposition to job production.

This is an intense look into all the ins and outs of freelancing.


4:15pm — TCRR and TMR Exams


Civility, Rudity and Crudity: How to Rid Yourself of Friends and

Allies in the Workplace, and at Any Other Place

Speaker: Justice Jim Wright, 11th Court of Appeals

1.0 CE hour

Justice Wright will explore ways in which our communication and

attitude can make or break us in the workplace. We will examine the

detrimental effect that an over‐active sense of self‐worth has on our

relationship with others and ultimately the toll that it takes on our

own lives. We will try to answer the question: Are we becoming

bankrupt in assets of compassion and understanding, while building

up an abundance in liabilities of incivility , rudity, and crudity?

Dictation—The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Speakers: Karen Morris, Sonia Trevino, and Kimberly Xavier

1.0 CE hour

There is no greater gift than giving a small amount of time to help a

court reporting student be successful. Join us for an entertaining and

interactive session of learning how to mark dictation material and

“read on the clock.” Trust us! It’s much more fun from the other side.

Transitioning to Officialing

Speakers: Lisa Morton and Shari Steen


Who says you can’t have it all? Working in the court setting can be

more profitable than you realize. Learn from the seasoned reporters

the expectations, the protocols, and the things you need to know to

be successful and confident in the courtroom setting.

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Vendor Sessions — Choose your software vendor to attend.

2.0 CE hours

Case CATalyst, Eclipse, ProCAT, and Stenovations

7:30pm Happy Hour by the Pool & Student Mixer

Cash Bar and Music by David Villanueva

Saturday, July 9, 2016

6:00am — Registration Open & 7:00am — Exhibit Hall Open

6:00am to 7:00am

Fun Walk/Run

Get your exercise early in honor of Courtney Guthrie on a 2.5 mile

route along the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk.

($25—FAIR‐PAC Donation)

6:30am to 7:30 am (Early Bird Session)

The Sassy Guide to Healing Foods and Harmful Foods

Speaker: Sassy Chef (Heather)

1.0 CE hour

Have fun cooking foods that prevent/aid against cancer. Sassy Chef

will educate us on preventing cancer the fun and healthy way.

Nutrition for optimal mental performance.


8:00am to 9:30am

Wrongly Convicted — Keynote Speaker

Speaker: Michael Morton

1.5 CE hours

Since his time in prison, Morton has written a book about his

experience, titled Getting Life: An Innocent Man’s 25‐Year Journey

from Prison to Peace: A Memoir, and his experience was also the focus

of An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story, a documentary.

Morton's case was a highly influential one, resulting in the Texas

Legislature passing the Michael Morton Act, which effectively

revolutionized the approach toward criminal cases in the state.

Among the changes were the handling of open‐file discoveries. The

presence of Morton at this legal event certainly says something

about the desire for legal transparency in Texas.


10:00am to 11:00am — Choose one to attend:

Conviction Integrity Unit

Speaker: Nico Lahood, Bexar County Criminal District Attorney

1.0 CE hour

The DA will be discussing the new units he established during his first year in office, such as the Convic on Integrity Unit, changing the culture of the office and building a rela onship with the community built on trust and transparency.

HIPAA and Data Privacy

Speaker: Nancy Varallo


Personal Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable

Information (PII) are protected by government regulations. Is a

lawyer a covered entity? Is a court reporter a business associate?

Nancy will review best practices for handling the protected

information you encounter every day.


Saturday, July 9, 2016 (cont’d) 11:00am to 11:15am — BREAK

11:15am to 12:15pm — Choose one to attend:

Q&A with Evans and Slayton

Speakers: Jimmy Evans and David Slayton


Open discussion with your TCRA lobbyist, Jimmy Evans, and the

Administrative Director of the Office of Court Administration,

David Slayton. Get your questions ready for these two who can

provide answers and information regarding legislative issues and

governmental issues affecting court reporting and YOU!

Leaks, Signs and Cyber Fraud

Speaker: Willie Ng, Chief of Investigation Division, Bexar County

1.0 CE hours

Willie Ng will be discussing the changes he has made pertaining to

the Criminal Inves ga on Division, new units established and

partnerships created. Willie will also be covering a few crime

preven on ps and crime trends.


12:30pm to 1:30pm — President’s Banquet and Luncheon


1:30pm to 3:00pm

Your Worst Nightmare — The Active Shooter

Speaker: Mark Herrera

1.5 CE hours

This live demonstration is designed to enhance situational

awareness by providing training to enhance mental preparation,

response and mitigation to environmental threats. Attendees will

receive the tools of survival by learning to scan the environment and

sense danger, challenges and opportunities, while maintaining the

ability to conduct normal activities.

1:45pm to 2:45pm

The Technojunkie Fix

Speaker: Brooke Wagner

1.0 CE hour

From useful apps to portable printers, videotaping your own

videoconferences and wireless microphones, there’s a lot more to

reporting technology than your steno machine and CAT software.



Freelance Forum or Officials Forum

1.5 CE hours (Ethics/Rules)

Please join the respective committees in a robust discussion of

current scenarios that reporters have to deal with on a daily basis.



Brotherly Love

Speakers: Wallace Jefferson, Former Chief Justice of the

Supreme Court of Texas, and Lamont Jefferson, Attorney

1.0 CE hour

Wallace Jefferson, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of

Texas, and his brother, Lamont Jefferson, a top litigator across the

state of Texas, team up in this session and offer an opportunity to

learn from the legal minds of two brothers whose combined

experience with court reporters and the legal system is unmatched

in our legal community. Their extensive knowledge ranges from the

partnership of court reporter and attorney in deposition work to the

use of the Reporter's Record in the Supreme Court of Texas.

Controlling Your Retirement Before It Controls You

Speaker: Trel Lloyd

1.0 CE hour

Trel Lloyd of MassMutual specializes in advanced preparing for

retirement, social security, tax‐free income for life. He will discuss

how to set up protective insurance while on the way to retirement

such as life insurance, long‐term care and disability insurance.


6:00pm to 7:00pm

Realtime TRAIN—The Rhythm of Your Future

Speaker: Kristen Kopp

1.0 CE hour

From the reasons to do realtime to how to conquer realtime

challenges, this session will definitely set you up for your success.

8:00pm to 8:30pm

Awards Ceremony Honoring TCRA’s Shining Stars

8:30pm to 12:00am

Dancing With the Stars

Music and dancing with San Antonio’s very own Court Jesters—a

local band of judges and lawyers. Live auction during the first break.


Court Jesters

Sunday, July 10, 2016


8:00am to 9:00am

Seven Practices of Highly Profitable Court Reporters

Speaker: Steve Zinone

1.0 CE hour

This presentation contains valuable information regarding

current trends in the industry based upon NCRA’s Firm Owners

Benchmark Survey. Marketing, branding, online presence and

professionalism will also be covered in this fast‐paced information

packed session given by NCRA’s President, Steve Zinone, RPR.

8:00am to 10:00am

Shorthand for the 21st Century

Speaker: Ed Varallo

2.0 CE hours

Our fast‐paced court reporting world demands that we write

smarter. Ed Varallo, a six‐time NCRA speed contest champion, will

outline his systematic approach to writing shorthand which is

designed to require less physical effort, produce better realtime

output and thus reduce editing/scoping time. Ed will share his tips

and techniques that will set you on the path to unleash the Realtime

Superstar inside you!


9:15am to 10:15am

Create Your Dream Team

Speaker: Luis Munoz

1.0 CE hour

This session will focus on how building an all‐star team around you

and utilizing it can make any dream come true. Whether business or

personal, we all need the right people around us. In addition, we need

to know how to be a part of a team and how to find those who

complement our strengths and weaknesses.

9:15am to 12:15pm

Let’s Edit from the Steno Machine on the Job!

Speaker: Mark Kislingbury

3.0 CE hours

The more you’re able to fix while on the job, the less work you have

to do when you get home! Mark will show you the kinds of

commands/macros he launches from the steno keyboard to edit

while on the job. Time is money and these will save you time!

10:30am to 11:30am

Dreams in Action

Speaker: Rob Zeke

1.0 CE hour

Allow comedy hypnotist Rob Zeke to take you through a journey of

the mind with his fun –filled and energetic comedy hypnosis show.

You will laugh and be amazed while participating in this volunteer

driven comedy hypnosis event. Get ready to experience your dreams

in action.

(CE, CEUs pending at time of printing with JBCC and NCRA.)


Fun Walk/Run Info $25—FAIR‐PAC Donation

Get your exercise early in honor of

Courtney Guthrie.

A 2.5 mile route along the

beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk.

Please join us along with LifeGift, a not‐for‐profit organ procurement organization, Saturday, July 9th, at 6:00 a.m., for a memorial "dash" on the Riverwalk in honor of one of our fellow colleagues and a member of the 2016 Annual Convention Committee, Courtney Guthrie. Courtney truly made her 27‐year‐long dash count in the lives she touched personally and also those to whom she donated her organs and those who will receive the organs. She never took any day for granted, and she lived life to the fullest and always wore a smile and spread joy. Due to a heart and double lung transplant, Courtney was not able to run while here on earth. However, we are grateful knowing that she is now running in heaven. We thought that there was no better way to celebrate her life than to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Defect and organ donation. You won't want to miss this. Spots are limited. If you are unable to attend, please consider donating to FAIR‐PAC in honor of Courtney.

NCRA Certified Realtime Captioner WorkshopNCRA Certified Realtime Captioner WorkshopNCRA Certified Realtime Captioner Workshop

Friday, July 8, 2016

8:30am — Texas CART Exam (Optional)

10:30am to 11:15am — Choose one to attend:

Captioning Overview and Introductions

Employee vs. I.C.

Why captioning? Myths (including word substitutions)

What is captioning? Differences between CART and broadcast.

Who are the consumers? Role of the captioner.

Transition from Legal Reporting

Theory 101 and writing changes.

Prefix/suffix handouts and homework.

Captioning specific defines, positioning, punctuation, blank and pass

and speaker identification.

11:15am to 12:00pm

Creating Your Own Unabridged Dictionary

Dictionary maintenance and briefs, conflicts, numbers, finger‐

spelling, parentheticals, job dictionaries and word boundary

problems.

12:00pm to 1:30pm — Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon &

Grassroots Lobbying

Speaker: Jimmy Evans, Includes 0.5 CE Hour

1:45pm to 2:45pm

What’s the Story? Insights on Prepping

Upper/lower case, foreign terms, scripting, music and lyrics,

research and prepping for captioning.


Friday, July 8, 2016 (cont’d)

3:00pm to 4:00pm

How Truly Accurate is Your Writing

5 minute news video, review writing, address issues, calculate TER,

and repeat.

4:00pm to 5:15pm

Day in the Life of a Certified Realtime Captioner

Day in the life of a Certified Realtime Captioner. How to set up

home office, hardware and software.


10:00am to 11:00am

Preparing for an Assignment

Step by step before an assignment, troubleshooting, steps after an

assignment.


11:15am to 12:15pm

Organizing the Home Office

Organizational skills, paperwork, invoicing, record keeping, business

Management and time for Q&A.


1:45pm to 2:45pm

Your Visual Display: Achieving the Best Outcome

CART captioning screen display, various settings: internet,

classroom and various platforms—1CapApp, StreamText,

Blackboard Collaborate and Skype.


3:00pm to 4:30pm

CART Captioning Venues Near and Far

Venues—onsite and Remote CART captioning.

Captioning from a hotel, theatre captioning, radio captioning,

mobile and other venues.


4:45pm to 5:45pm

Professional Standards and Guidelines

NCRA Captioning Guidelines, NCRA CART Guidelines, COPE, FCC,

Q&A.

Become a Certified Realtime Captioner and take advantage of the growing number of opportunities becoming available to realtime captioners. The CRC is a special‐training certification designed for those who either currently work or would like to begin working in the broadcast captioning or CART captioning fields. Attend the CRC workshop and become eligible to sit for Skills & Written exams.

Earn 10.75 CE hours! Learn more about the CRC here.

Classes will be presented by Deanna Baker, RMR, FAPR

and Heidi Thomas, FAPR, RDR, RMR, CRR, CBC.

http://www.ncra.org/Certifications/content.cfm?ItemNumber=16511&navItemNumber=16518

Student SeminarStudent SeminarStudent Seminar


6:00am — Registration Opens

8:00am to 9:30am — Wrongly Convicted

Speaker: Michael Morton, see page 2 for full details.

10:00am to 11:00am

B4YKI

Speaker: Karen Morris

You will be a Texas CSR #2016. Tips and Tricks in preparing yourself

to become a Texas CSR, in addition to what you learn in school.

Karen Morris will introduce you to what she and her husband have

discovered in the 20‐plus years of their journey tutoring students to

complete and compete in the reporting field. Come ready to leave

positive and to move forward and B4YKI — ULB a Texas CSR #2016.

11:15am to 12:15pm

The Many Uses of CART

Speakers: Sara Filippone, Deafness Resource Specialist‐Region 8,

Sylvia Kerr and Kristi Herrera

Learn how CART is utilized by the deaf and hard of hearing

consumers and the many benefits it provides. Find out the many

places it is used in and the different ways it is projected and

transmitted.


1:45pm to 2:45pm

Preparation and Organizational Tips for Success

Speakers: Kensie Benoit and Candice Andino

Reporters Kensie and Candice reveal informative tips they have

adopted throughout their careers, sharing with you effective and

efficient techniques to facilitate the transition from student to

working reporter.

3:00pm to 4:30pm

Beyond Words: The Subconscious Language of Body and Dress

Speaker: Brittany Mann

Unfair as it may be, we judge others and, in turn, we are judged on

appearance. Learn how having a professional appearance can boost

the chance for workplace success and how not having one can lead to

disaster.

4:45pm to 5:45pm

Perfecting Your Practicing Skills

Speakers: Erminia Uviedo and Leticia Salas

Learn how practice makes perfection. When to practice and when not

to practice. Take your speed to the next level.

8:00pm to 8:30pm — Awards Ceremony

Honoring TCRA’s Shining Stars

8:30pm to 12:00am — Dancing With the Stars

See Full Agenda for more details.

Silent Auction benefitting the

Student Scholarship Fund

The TCRA Student Committee is asking all

reporters and firms to consider donating an item to be

auctioned. Items may be mailed to TCRA Headquarters by

Friday, June 17, or you may bring the item with you to the

convention. Please email TCRA HQ at

[email protected] with the name of the item,

description, a photo to include on social media and its

retail value.

Your continued support of students helps ensure the

protection of our profession in the future. Thank you!

Sponsor a Student to Attend $110 will allow a court reporting student to attend the

Student Seminar on Saturday.

$165 will allow a court reporting student to attend the

Full Convention & Student Seminar on Saturday.

Both sponsorships include a complimentary TCRA

Student Membership through 8/31/2017.

Student Sponsorship Criteria Be reporting through the use of shorthand machine

method.

Be currently enrolled and in actual attendance in a court

reporting school in the State of Texas.

Be able to commit to volunteer on‐site at the

convention a minimum of 2 hours.

Fill out the request form completely and submit no later

than May 15, 2016. Find form here.

Students will be notified via email if they have been

sponsored no later than June 1, 2016. If you are

sponsored and unable to attend, it is your responsibility to

contact TCRA immediately. This allows us to open up the

spot to another deserving student. By being a

no‐show, you prevent another student from attending.

If a ending as a sponsored student, you

will be emailed a link to sign up for

volunteer mes.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.tcra-online.com/docDownload/681516

You will only pay for the exam if you wish for it to be graded.

Total: $________________

Please consider paying with cash or check to save TCRA on credit card fees.

Return to: Texas Court Reporters Association, PO Box 2379, Athens, TX 75751

Email: [email protected] // Phone: 903‐675‐1806 or Toll Free 877‐277‐8272 // Fax: 903‐675‐2619

Name: CSR #: NCRA #:

Nickname for Badge: Court/Firm:

Address:

City, State, ZIP: Please circle one: Freelance Official CART/Captioner

Phone: Email:

Dietary Restrictions: Special Accessibility Needs:

Payment Method: Payment must accompany registration form. Government Agencies must attach a purchase order.

Check Number: ____________ Purchase Order Number: _____________ County: _____________

Credit Card: American Express Discover MasterCard Visa

Card Number __________________________________________________ Expiration Date _____________________

Name on Card _________________________________________________ Billing Zip Code _____________________

Full Convention Registration Rates Member Non‐Member Guest

Early Bird $325 $450 $225

NCRA Certified Realtime Captioner Workshop & Full Convention $325 $425

1‐Day Registration Rates Member Non‐Member Guest

Friday Only Early Bird $175 $300 $125

Saturday Only Early Bird $175 $300 $125

Individual Event Tickets — (Full Convention registration includes one (1) entry for each event. Friday Only includes one (1) entry for Friday’s

Happy Hour. Saturday Only includes one (1) entry for Saturday’s Dancing With the Stars )

Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon $50 x ____ $50 x ____ $50 x ____

President’s Banquet Luncheon $50 x ____ $50 x ____ $50 x ____

President’s Party (Dancing With the Stars) $25 x ____ $25 x ____ $25 x ____

Guests Name(s): _________________________________________________________________ Quan ty of Tickets: ______

Student or Student Sponsor — (Includes TCRA Student Membership through August 31, 2017.)

Full $165 x ____________ Total:

Saturday Only $110 x ____________ Total:

Fun Walk/Run — FAIR‐PAC Donation $25 $25

NCRA Certified Realtime Captioner Workshop Only $275 $375

Speed Cup — Thursday, 7/7 $50 CART Exam — Friday, 7/8 RSVP

Realtime — Friday, 7/8 $50 TMR Exam — Friday 7/8 RSVP

TCRR Exam — Friday 7/8 RSVP

Contests/Exams

2016 TCRA Annual Convention2016 TCRA Annual Convention2016 TCRA Annual Convention Grand Hyatt Grand Hyatt Grand Hyatt ‐‐‐ San Antonio, TX San Antonio, TX San Antonio, TX ‐‐‐ July 7July 7July 7‐‐‐10, 201610, 201610, 2016 REGISTRATION FORM REGISTRATION FORM REGISTRATION FORM ‐‐‐ EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: June 17, 2016EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: June 17, 2016EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: June 17, 2016

Early Bird Registration Deadline: June 17, 2016.

After Early Bird Registration, prices will increase to the following:

Full Convention: Individuals who purchase a “Full” registration (Friday‐Sunday) will receive a name badge, access to general/concurrent

sessions, handouts, convention program, CE hours, admittance to Exhibit Hall, refreshment breaks and lunch on Friday & Saturday.

1‐Day Only: Individuals who purchase a “1‐Day Only” registration will receive a name badge, access to general/concurrent sessions,

handouts, convention program, CE hours, access to Exhibit Hall, refreshment breaks and lunch on either Friday or Saturday.

CRC Full: Individuals who purchase a CRC Full registra on (Friday‐Sunday) will receive a name badge, access to general/concurrent sessions,

handouts, conven on program, CE hours, admi ance to Exhibit Hall, refreshments, lunch on Friday & Saturday and evening events.

CRC Only: Individuals who purchase a CRC Only registra on (Friday‐Saturday) will receive a name badge, access to CRC workshop sessions

only, handouts, conven on program, CE hours, admi ance to Exhibit Hall, refreshments, lunch on Friday & Saturday and evening

events. No general or concurrent sessions access will be awarded.

Spouse/Guests receive all above except CE hours.

TCRA Registration & Cancellation Policies

1. Payment in full must accompany all registrations. Registrations received without payment will not be processed.

Registration forms must be mailed, faxed, telephoned or emailed to TCRA Headquarters.

2. Confirmation & event details will be sent to each registrant whose registration form is marked with an email address and is

received by Friday, July 1, 2016 at 5:00 pm.

3. Substitutions may be made for the entire convention (no “split” registrations.) Written notifications of substitution must be

received by mail, email or fax and received by Friday, June 17, 2016 at 5:00 pm.

4. If you plan to register on‐site, please contact TCRA prior to the annual convention about optional events to ensure space

availability. There is a possibility that this event may sell out and TCRA may not be able to accept on‐site optional events.

5. The Annual Convention and optional events will be limited to the number of registrations we are able to adequately accommodate.

6. Written requests for refund must be postmarked by the early registration cutoff date. A 15% administrative fee shall be assessed for

each cancellation. No refunds will be given to requests received after the deadline or for “no shows.”

7. Refunds will be processed after the event; please allow 4‐6 weeks. TCRA is not responsible for nonrefundable airline tickets or other

travel expenses.

8. Food guarantees must be given to all meal events, and packets must be prepared in advance; therefore, no refunds will be given for

cancellations received after the cancellation time/date.

9. Should you have need for a specialized (vegetarian or gluten‐free) meal, please be sure that this need is identified. We are unable to

serve specialized meals without advanced notice (2 weeks prior to event).

10. To obtain the TCRA Membership registration fee rate, registrant must join or renew their TCRA Membership before or at the same

time the registration fee is submitted.

11. CE credits will not be awarded to students or to non‐reporter attendees, unless the “CSR” registration is paid.

Questions?

TCRA Staff will be happy to answer any questions you have pertaining to convention registration.

For on‐site availability, please call TCRA.

Please note that Staff will depart on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. Please call TCRA Staff at (903) 675‐1806.

TCRATCRATCRA Registration PoliciesRegistration PoliciesRegistration Policies

Full Convention Registration Rates Member Non‐Member Guest

On‐Site $425 $550 $325

1‐Day Registration Rates Member Non‐Member Guest

Friday Only On‐Site $275 $400 $225

Saturday Only On‐Site $275 $400 $225

Thursday, July 7th at 9:00am Friday, July 8th at 7:30am

The Speed Cup is awarded to the reporter displaying the highest accuracy and speed in a timed writing. The dictation speeds are 220 wpm Literary, 230 wpm Legal Opinion, and 280 wpm Q&A. In order to qualify, a contestant must have at least 95% accuracy in all three categories. Registrants must be a TCRA Professional member, NCRA member, a current resident of Texas and a Registered Merit Reporter. Registrants must also bring their own equipment, extension cord, and a power strip.

This competition consists of five minutes of Q&A dictation at 200 wpm written via realtime to a computer, no editing allowed. The contestants must create an ASCII file of the unedited contest material and in order to qualify, they must have at least 96% accuracy. Registrants must be a Texas CSR, a TCRA Professional member and a current resident of Texas. Contestants must bring their own equipment, extension cord, power strip and provide backup media.

Fee: $50 Fee: $50

Speed Cup Contest Realtime Contest

CART Exam, Friday, July 8th at 8:30am Written Knowledge Exam available on the TCRA website

The Texas CART Certification Exam is a two‐part exam consisting of a Written Knowledge Test (WKT) and a Skills Exam. The CART Exam consists of a seven‐minute skills exam, dictated (live or oral). Individuals must bring their steno machine, laptop computer, extension cord, power strip and removable media to store and export a text file. Removable media will not be returned. Fee: $100

The Written Knowledge Exam is a 45‐minute, 50‐question, multiple‐choice test. The exam may be taken by the applicant at anytime prior to or after the machine (skills exam). The online exam fee is $75 and you may register for that on the TCRA website.

TMR (Texas Merit Reporter) Exam Friday, July 8th at 4:15pm

Written Knowledge Exam available on the TCRA website

The TMR exam is a 2‐part exam consisting of a skills and writ‐ten knowledge exam. The skills exam will consist of five minutes each of Literary at 200 wpm, Jury Charge at 240 wpm, and Q&A at 260 wpm. The examinee must pass at a rate of 95% accuracy. Participants must bring their steno machine, laptop computer, CD or other removable media, extension cord and power strip. You will have 3 hours to complete your transcripts. Printers will be provided on‐site for final drafts only. If you want to print for proofing, you must bring your own printer. Fee: $100

The written knowledge exam will consist of 100 multiple‐choice test questions which you will have an hour to answer. The online exam fee is $75 and you may register for that on the TCRA website.

Read more about the Specialization Exams at:

https://www.tcra‐online.com/index.cfm?pg=SpecializationExams

TCRR (Texas Certified Realtime Reporter) Exam Friday, July 8th at 4:15pm

The Texas Certified Realtime Reporter exam certifies that a reporter possesses an enhanced level of skills, knowledge, and experience required to make a realtime verbatim record in this state, and that the reporter possesses a professional membership in TCRA while earning continuing education to advance his/her knowledge in all aspects of reporting that go above and beyond those required by statute. Fee: $120

The TCRR exam consists of seven minutes of Q&A at 200 wpm, of which only five minutes will be graded. The examinee must write via realtime to a computer without editing. Upon instruction, must create an ASCII file. In order to receive the TCRR designation, examinee must achieve at least 96% accuracy. Registrant must also bring their steno machine, laptop computer, CD or other removable media, extension cord and power strip.

Specialization Exams

Any registered and eligible attendee may sit for the Specialization Exams that will be given and only pay the exam fee if you wish for it to be graded.

You MUST RSVP on the registration form by the Early Bird deadline in order to reserve your spot. Seating is limited.

ContestsContestsContests and Specialization Examsand Specialization Examsand Specialization Exams

Grand Hyatt

600 E. Market Street

San Antonio, TX 78205

For reservations, click here: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/TCRA2016

The cut‐off date for room reservations is June 17, 2016 or earlier if the room block sells out. Act early to ensure

room and rate availability.

Parking

Self‐parking is discounted to $12 per vehicle, for all attendees. Valet parking is available for $39 per day. Travel Directions

Coming from Austin and Dallas (I‐35) Follow I‐35 South to I‐37 South and exit 141A to Commerce Street. Turn left on South Alamo Street and then a left on Market Street.

Coming from Houston (I‐10) Follow I‐10 West to I‐37 North, exit 141A towards Commerce Street. Turn left on South Alamo Street and then a left on Market Street.

Coming From El Paso, San Angelo and Kerrville (I‐10 East) Take I‐10 East to I‐35 North and exit I‐37 South. Exit 141A towards Commerce Street. Turn left on South Alamo Street and then a left on Market Street.

Coming From Laredo (I‐35 North) Take 1‐35 North and exit I‐37 South. Exit 141A towards Commerce Street. Turn left on South Alamo Street and then a left on Market Street.

Coming from Corpus Christi (I‐37 North) Take I‐35 North and exit I‐37 South. Exit 141 A Commerce Street. Turn Left on South Alamo Street and then a left on Market Street.

Shuttle transportation to and from San Antonio International Airport and downtown (8 miles) is provided for a fee by SATRANS, the city's official airport shuttle, between 7:00 AM and 1:00 AM daily. Reservations are required. For more information, call +1‐210‐281‐9900, or visit www.saairportshuttle.com

Taxis can be pre‐arranged to provide you with the quickest and most efficient mode of transportation. You can pre‐arrange your taxi by visiting their website at http://sataxis.com/ or call 210 ‐444‐2222.

San Antonio’s Riverwalk, Spanish colonial architecture, and parks and plazas make it one of America’s most picturesque cities. As one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, San Antonio

offers modern convenience in the middle of a historic city with diverse artistry, ethnic cuisine and

exquisite culture.

Hotel and TravelHotel and TravelHotel and Travel

https://resweb.passkey.com/go/TCRA2016

http://www.saairportshuttle.com

http://sataxis.com/

Texas Court Reporters Association

PO Box 2379

Athens, TX 75751

www.tcra‐online.com

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