Stardotstar – Winter 2015
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VOLUME 19, NO. 4 WINTER 2015 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT By Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR(TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA), STAR President What an exciting time to be a part of STAR. I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to lead this association for the upcoming year. We have one of this association’s biggest challenges ahead of us and I hope to steer STAR in the direction of success. More on that in a minute. I first want to thank those on the Nominating Committee last year for having the confidence in me to step up into this position. I follow some real movers and shakers in this business and hope to leave this association in good Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR (TX), shape upon my departure in a year. I’m CRR, CLR, CCR (LA) sure Tina and Dave will hold my hand along the way or set me straight if I need – perfect! I enjoyed getting to see all the it. I also look forward to working with a usual suspects as well as meeting some phenomenal Board in the year to come. new faces. And it goes without saying, As you may have heard, STAR has but “Mr. Hospitality” Irv Starkman made the decision to go to one confer- continues to outdo himself every year. ence a year beginning in 2015. That Rosalie Kramm, Kim Neeson and Zack decision came after evaluating many Miller chaired the San Diego conference factors, including all the choices and and they did a great job. conflicts out there, as well as polling As they might say in the TV busi- the members. Now that that decision ness, I’m going to give you a little teaser has been made, we have to make our for what to expect next year in New STAR annual conferences bigger and Orleans and give you the big reveal later. better than before. I have enlisted one of the top names in I have formed a new Strategic the court reporting profession to chair Planning Committee to be chaired by the NOLA conference. And when I Christine Randall that will meet early say “enlisted,” I mean he volunteered next year and will lay out the direction of to step up and take on this challenge. STAR going forward. We have enlisted Not because he may or may not owe some of the profession’s most critical me a favor, but because his passion for thinkers to meet and come up with the reporting industry is at an all-time our vision for new membership, STAR high. The speaker lineup should be identity, marketing and the vision of a spectacular. There may be things you once-a-year large conference. see in NOLA that regular attendees to For those of you who had the op- STAR have never seen before. We’re portunity to come out to San Diego in looking to shake up the perception of October for our fall conference, thanks the standard conference and make it again for joining us. For those who did exciting and fun for all. The hope is that not get to make it, you certainly missed after NOLA every reporter will block off The official publication of the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting the Technological The official publication of the Society for a good one. The lineup of speakers that time in the fall for STAR every year STAR dot was again over-the-top great. And the weather was, well, San Diego weather Continued on page 4 The perfect match... ® and ...even better together! 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. STAR Dot STAR • 2 Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting Table of Contents Officers & Directors PRESIDENT Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR (TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA) Johnson Reporting Services President’s Message .............................................................................................. 1 2205 Flaming Tree Ct • Cedar Park, TX 78613 W: 512-331-1161 [email protected] Stenograph Partners With Min-U-Script ................................................................. 4 VICE PRESIDENT Shelly Hunter, RPR, CRR By James Kuta Hunter + Geist, Inc. 1900 Grant St, #1025 • Denver, CO 80203 W: 303-832-5966 • FAX: 303-832-9525 Streaming in the Jungle ......................................................................................... 5 [email protected] By Melanie Humphrey-Sonntag SECRETARY Linda S. Fifield, MBA Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc. 50 Franklin St, 3rd Floor, #300 • Boston, MA 02110 Big Game Hunting — How to Hunt & Bag Court Reporting Firms ........................ 5 W: 617-426-2432 • FAX: 617-482-7813 [email protected] By Susan Perry Miller TREASURER Todd A. Mobley Mike Mobley Reporting Present With Impact .............................................................................................. 6 334 S Main St • Dayton, OH 45402 By Melanie Humphrey-Sonntag W: 937-222-2259 • FAX: 937-222-9747 [email protected] DIRECTORS Servin' It Up Like a STAR: Irv Starkman's Holiday Wine Suggestions ..................... 6 Matt Alley Tiffany Alley Global Reporting 730 Peachtree St NE, Ste 470 Atlanta, GA 30308 Five Insights That Guide Professionals ................................................................... 7 W: 770-343-9696 [email protected] By Jim Connor James Connor, RPR, CRR, CSR, CLVS Connor Reporting, Inc. Take a Stand ......................................................................................................... 8 1650 One American Square Indianapolis, IN 46282 By Jan Ballman W: 317-236-6022 • FAX: 317-236-6015 [email protected] Melanie L. Humphrey-Sonntag, RDR, CRR, FAPR Share the Success of STAR ................................................................................... 9 Chicago-Area Realtime Reporters, Ltd. Timbers Professional Center St. Charles, IL 60174 W: 800-232-0265 • FAX: 877-492-6279 A Simple Pleasure or a Smart Investment—Maybe Both ..................................... 10 [email protected] By Al Betz Susan E. Ingraham, RPR Midwest Reporting Service 705 Harbor Point Knowledge is Power: Online Reviews Enable Informed Decision-Making ............. 12 Celina, OH 45822 W: 419-733-0987 • FAX: 419-586-6175 By Angie Ballman Punton [email protected] Susan Perry Miller, RPR, CRR, CSR(TX/CA), CCR(LA), CLR Miller Reporting Group, Inc. Self-Advocacy—Ask...Don't Wait...Ask! ............................................................... 13 133 N. Friendswood Dr, #327 Friendswood, TX 77546 By Rosalie Kramm W: 866-214-DEPO • FAX: 877-492-6279 [email protected] Member Profile: Meet STAR Director Jan Ballman ............................................... 14 Kimberley A. Neeson, RPR, CRR, CSR(ON), CCP, CBC, RSA Neeson & Associates Court Reporting and Captioning Inc. 141 Adelaide St W, #11th Floor Toronto, Canada, M5H 3L5 Welcome New STAR Members ............................................................................ 14 St. Charles, IL 60174 W: 416-413-7755 • FAX: 416-413-0230 [email protected] Things are Happening at Stenograph! ................................................................. 17 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Christine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA) By John McInerney Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters 900 Truxtun Ave, Ste 320 • Bakersfield, CA 93301 W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726 In Memoriam ...................................................................................................... 17 [email protected] EDITOR Christine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA) For Your Information ........................................................................................... 18 Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters 423 Truxtun Ave • Bakersfield, CA 93301 W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726 [email protected] STAR Membership Application ............................................................................ 19 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tina Kautter, CAE The Great STAR Suggestion Box ........................................................................ 20 STAR Headquarters 222 S. Westmonte Dr., #101 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 W: 407-774-7880 • FAX: 407-774-6440 Advertisements ................................................................................................... 21 [email protected] STAR Dot STAR • 3 MESSAGE Stenograph Partners FROM THE With Min-U-Script PRESIDENT By James Kuta, Stenograph Product Manager Continued from page 1 Stenograph recently announced • automatic attachments of exhibits an exclusive partnership with Min-U- to text; and and won’t want to miss it. But don’t Script. Stenograph will market and • easy-to-use tools to add person- get me wrong; it’s not just about sell the company’s complete line of alized information and logos to fun and games. The opportunities products, including Min-U-Script Pro, cover pages and transcript deliv- to become a better reporter and to Min-U-Script Scan Pro, Min-U-Script ery e-mails. network with fellow reporters should TR (Transcript Repository), and Min- be a priority, and that’s where we’re U-Script’s Pay-4-Script. Pay-4-Script gives you headed in NOLA. Min-U-Script Pro, the company’s • the best in payment options for In case you haven’t heard it flagship product, enables both court your clients, including all major lately, let me repeat something that’s reporting firms and individual court credit cards, online check pay- been said a lot lately in STAR circles. reporters the ability to process, orga- ments, and even six months of STAR is the best kept secret in the nize, and deliver electronic transcripts free interest with PayPal’s Bill Me reporting industry. The ability of this to their clients. Min-U-Script