WINTER 2012

New Year’s Resol-YOU-tions Editor’s Desktop by Kelli Werner, RPR, CRR, CBC As adults, January 1st is our chance all, but on occasion, my husband Jim for reinvention. It’s a time of self- and I will crack open a bottle of wine reflection and goal-setting. Do I need when we make ourselves a nice dinner to lose a few pounds? Work on a after the kids are in bed. And the all- certification? Stop smoking? January too-infrequent girls’ night out usually 1st is the time to do it. I decided last year involves some colorful adult concoction. that it just felt redundant to resolve to So to me, “drink more,” meant live eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight. more. Too often the day revolves around Those are ongoing challenges and I everyone else and we simply forget to was tired of wasting my resolutions on take a moment for ourselves. It’s turn When I was a kid, September was the them. off alarm, get up, get the kids presentable time to reinvent myself. A new wardrobe, So last year my resolution was for school and out the door, get ourselves a shiny new Super Friends lunchbox, to drink more. My Facebook friends presentable, work, shuttle kids around freshly sharpened pencils and doodle-free enjoyed that one for its comic face value, some more, attempt to get dinner on the notebooks without those curly scraps of but I really meant it. What it meant to table, help with chores and homework, paper stuck in the metal binding. I could me though went deeper than just spiking maybe work some more on transcripts or be anything in the new school year – a my morning coffee with Bailey’s. To captioning, then collapse in bed. Turn off me, my “drink more” resolution meant brain, an athlete, a princess, a basket case, (Editor’s Desktop continued on page 3) or a criminal. I stole those stereotypes take time to relax, enjoy myself, be from “The Breakfast Club.” with friends, breathe. I rarely drink at President’s Message In This Issue By Paul Brandell, RPR, CSR Editor’s Desktop...... 1 Fast forward eight years and I am President’s Message...... 1 now in a classroom with 25 students. I Fill Up That Nook or Kindle...... 4 realize that attempting to hit the S key Spring Training Seminar...... 5 and then the H key and then the S key Student/Teacher...... 6 five times in succession can be quite World Travelers...... 6 maddening. The second day rolls around and the only other male in the That’s Life: Wealth...... 7 class is now gone. No one tells me, but That’s Life: Home...... 8 I am assuming my difficulties will pass That’s Life: Health...... 9 and I will start to master the theory and That’s Life: Tech...... 11 I remember one day when I was 10 techniques necessary to succeed in this News & Notes...... 12 years old my sister brought home this program. Golf Outing Sponsorship...... 13 funny looking typewriter. She called it a Throughout the course of my time Mr. Modem...... 14 in college, and with the help of my steno machine. It was cool. I could write NCRA Advisory Opinion...... 16 my first name and it would actually type it dedicated teachers and the support of my fellow students, I did succeed. Happy Chinese New Year...... 16 correctly on the paper. I thought, “Wow, Dear Nancy...... 17 how easy is this?” I assumed that this There was one more assumption must be a simple skill to learn. (President’s Message continued on page 3) Page Two 2011-2012 Committee Roster Audit/Finance Freelance/Officials Public Relations Elsa Jorgensen, Chair Darlene Fuller, Chair Mindy Dexter, Chair 248.561.1452 231.250.9508 517.483.6427 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Awards Mindy Dexter Anissa Nierenberger Susan Perrish, Chair 517.483.6427 517.410.2209 248.471.0933 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Laurel Jacoby Record Times Gerry Hanson 248.437.6317 Kelli Werner, Chair 313.567.8100 [email protected] 517.712.1640 [email protected] Golf Outing [email protected] Terri Zimmerman Paul Brandell, Chair Mindy Dexter 616.842.0995 517.230.7507 517.483.6427 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Bylaws/Procedures Gerry Hanson Student Seminar/Students’ Outreach/ Sharon Kandt, Chair 313.567.8100 Career Day 586.726.2174 [email protected] Anissa Nierenberger, Chair [email protected] Historian 517.410.2209 [email protected] Captioning/C.A.R.T. Kelli Werner Annette Blough, Chair 517.712.1640 Sharon Kandt 800.408.0070 [email protected] 586.726.2174 [email protected] [email protected] Legislative Donna Clark-Licari Darlene Fuller Annette Blough 586.242-5113 231.250.9508 800.408.0070 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Convention/Seminar Membership Testing/Education Anissa Nierenberger, Chair Gerry Hanson CSR/CSMR/CEO, RPR/RMR 517.410.2209 313.567.8100 Matthew Dreger - Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] 313.224.2455 [email protected] Laurel Jacoby Laurel Jacoby 248.437.6317 248.437.6317 Cecile Gordon - Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] 586.716.0227 [email protected] Donna Clark-Licari Nominating Sharon Kandt 586.242-5113 Kelli Werner [email protected] 586.726.2174 517.712.1640 [email protected] Fund-raising [email protected] Elsa Jorgensen, Chair Website Past President’s Advisory Council Cheryl Anne Farmer 248.561.1452 Kelli Werner [email protected] 734.498.2627 517.712.1640 [email protected] Kelli Werner [email protected] 517.712.1640 Mindy Dexter [email protected] Pro Bono 517.483.6427 Carrie Clark-Berry – West side csclark- [email protected] [email protected] Elsa Jorgensen – East side [email protected] Page Three (Editor’s Desktop continued from page 1) alarm, repeat. So resolving to take a few if it were something portable that I could 8 you can learn how to get organized. minutes each day for myself was a good play around the campfire someday. So Maybe you’d like to tackle some of the one. I’m not sure how well I did on my I’ve had two lessons so far and I’m really classics or simply read more. Check drinking resolution, but it certainly was a loving having something that forces me out the book list on page 4. Clean up lot more fun than previous resolutions. to step outside of my usual routine and your finances with the first in our new So this year, my resolution is to learn take some time just for me. financial series on page 7. And if your to play the Ukulele. Odd choice maybe, Maybe you didn’t make a resolution resolution is to learn more about your since I am neither a 500-pound Hawaiian at all. Or maybe you’ve forgotten it software, do NOT miss MAPCR’s spring th man nor a mocha-skinned beauty in a already. I say make a new one – and this conference in Howell on April 14 . Read coconut bra and a grass skirt. But I’ve time, make it something good. If you more about it on page 5. always wanted to be able to play an need a few ideas, look no further than instrument and I thought it would be nice this issue of Record Times! On page

(President’s Message continued from page 1) I made along the way though. Our working reporter’s education, legislative in a relaxed atmosphere where you can instructors made it perfectly clear that efforts, freelance and official outreach make important connections that may after graduation, the next two steps programs, and public relations are some very well help your business grow. would be to take your CSR exam and of the areas that we work on. As I have learned over the years, it join your state association. I don’t The dedicated Board of Directors is easy to assume that things will happen think I knew there was any option other devotes time and energy on these issues with time. One thing that you can than joining MAPCR until I’d been a for all of the reporters in the State of assume is that the Board of Directors of member for at least two to three years. Michigan. We have a great working MAPCR will continue to work hard for At that point, it made no sense for me to relationship with NCRA, where we all of the reporters in our great State of not belong to MAPCR. utilize their knowledge, ideas and Michigan. We want to see our school If you are a doctor, upon research to help us address the topics that enrollment grow and our profession graduation you join your applicable affect all of us. However, we want your prosper. In order to make our task medical associations and societies. If input, your ideas, and your suggestions. easier, we want to hear from you. Let us you are a lawyer, you join your local We have all heard the phrase, “We are know the issues you feel are important. and state bar associations. If you are a only as strong as our membership.” Volunteer your time, energy and talents stenographic reporter, you should join Sometimes old phrases never lose their and help us fight the battles and enjoy the only organization in your state that meaning, and this is one of those times. the victories. Progress will not happen is dedicated to the preservation of your We have a wonderful spring seminar overnight. Many of the issues we face profession. and fall convention planned this year. I take time, but if we all work together, There are so many different urge you to take advantage of those just imagine what we can accomplish. areas of our profession that MAPCR opportunities in order to keep yourself My door is always open. Please deals with on a daily basis. Student up-to-date on the latest technologies feel free to contact me at any time. enrollment and education, seminars and that will help you succeed in your job. conventions offered for continuing the Take the time to meet your colleagues

MAPCR CALENDAR OF EVENTS February 24-26, 2012 April 14, 2012 July 21, 2012 October 12-13, 2012 TechCon MAPCR Spring Seminar MAPCR Board Meeting MAPCR Fall Convention Reston, Virginia Johnson Center Gregory, Michigan Somerset Inn Howell, Michigan Troy, Michigan February 26-27, 2012 August 9 - 12, 2012 NCRA Boot Camp May 5, 2012 2012 NCRA Annual Con- November 3, 2012 Reston, Virginia RPR, RMR, CRR, CCP, CBC vention & Exposition RPR, RMR, CRR, CCP, CBC Skills Test Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Skills Test April 13, 2012 Location TBD Location TBD MAPCR Board Meeting October 12, 2012 Brighton, Michigan May 19, 2012 MAPCR Board Meeting Walk4Hearing 5k Troy, Michigan Kensington Metro Park Page Four Need to fill up that Nook or Kindle you got for Christmas? “Modern Library” readers ranked the best 100 novels. This list should keep your nose in a book for a while. 1. ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand 47. MEMORY AND DREAM by Charles de Lint 2. THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand 48. TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf 3. BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard 49. THE MOVIEGOER by Walker Percy 4. THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien 50. TRADER by Charles de Lint 5. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee 51. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY 6. 1984 by George Orwell by Douglas Adams 7. ANTHEM by Ayn Rand 52. THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson 8. WE THE LIVING by Ayn Rand McCullers 9. MISSION EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard 53. THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood 10. FEAR by L. Ron Hubbard 54. BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy 11. ULYSSES by James Joyce 55. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess 12. CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller 56. ON THE BEACH by Nevil Shute 13. THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald 57. A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN 14. DUNE by Frank Herbert by James Joyce 15. THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS by Robert 58. GREENMANTLE by Charles de Lint Heinlein 59. ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card 16. STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND by Robert 60. THE LITTLE COUNTRY by Charles de Lint Heinlein 61. THE RECOGNITIONS by William Gaddis 17. A TOWN LIKE ALICE by Nevil Shute 62. by Robert Heinlein 18. BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley 63. THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway 19. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger 64. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John 20. ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell Irving 21. GRAVITY’S RAINBOW by Thomas Pynchon 65. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray 22. THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck Bradbury 23. SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut 66. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley 24. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell Jackson 25. LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding 67. AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner 26. SHANE by Jack Schaefer 68. TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller 27. TRUSTEE FROM THE TOOLROOM by Nevil Shute 69. INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison 28. A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY by John Irving 70. THE WOOD WIFE by Terri Windling 29. THE STAND by Stephen King 71. THE MAGUS by John Fowles 30. THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN by John 72. THE DOOR INTO SUMMER by Robert Heinlein Fowles 73. ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE 31. BELOVED by Toni Morrison MAINTENANCE by Robert Pirsig 32. THE WORM OUROBOROS by E.R. Eddison 74. I, CLAUDIUS by Robert Graves 33. THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner 75. THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London 34. LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov 76. AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS by Flann O’Brien 35. MOONHEART by Charles de Lint 77. FARENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury 36. ABSALOM, ABSALOM! by William Faulkner 78. ARROWSMITH by Sinclair Lewis 37. OF HUMAN BONDAGE by W. Somerset Maugham 79. WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams 38. WISE BLOOD by Flannery O’Connor 80. NAKED LUNCH by William S. Burroughs 39. UNDER THE VOLCANO by Malcolm Lowry 81. THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy 40. FIFTH BUSINESS by Robertson Davies 82. GUILTY PLEASURES by Laurell K. Hamilton 41. SOMEPLACE TO BE FLYING by Charles de Lint 83. by Robert Heinlein 42. ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac 84. IT by Stephen King 43. HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad 85. V. by Thomas Pynchon 44. YARROW by Charles de Lint 86. DOUBLE STAR by Robert Heinlein 45. AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS by H.P. 87. by Robert Heinlein Lovecraft 88. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED by Evelyn Waugh 46. ONE LONELY NIGHT by Mickey Spillane (Nook & Kindle - continued on page 5) Page Five

(Nook & Kindle- continued on page 4)

89. LIGHT IN AUGUST by William Faulkner 95. MULENGRO by Charles de Lint 90. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST by Ken 96. SUTTREE by Cormac McCarthy Kesey 97. MYTHAGO WOOD by Robert Holdstock 91. A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway 98. ILLIUSIONS by Richard Bach 92. THE SHELTERING SKY by Paul Bowles 99. THE CUNNING MAN by Robertson Davies 93. SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION by Ken Kesey 100. THE SATANIC VERSES by Salman Rushdie 94. MY ANTONIA by Willa Cather http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/

Are you working at your Optimal Value? Spring Training Seminar April 14, 2012 Johnson Center Cleary University Howell, Michigan Your stock is sure to rise when you invest in yourself on April 14 in Howell. MAPCR will merge with blue chip-level trainers from AristoCAT, Case CATalyst, Eclipse, and ProCAT to bring you valuable tips and training sure to result in high dividends for your professional bottom line. You are guaran- teed to take .70 CEUs to the bank when you attend this training from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Students, you can trust in MAPCR to add value to your net worth when you join us for our Test Taker Session from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. where Cecile Gordon and Matthew Dreger will offer live dictation at speeds from 180 to 260. You’ll also get insider information about what actually happens on testing day. Bring along your recorder to take the dictation home. In the afternoon, complete the “Which Field is Right for You?” quiz to see which area – freelance, official, captioning, or CART – best suits your preferences and personality. Then add to your portfolio of career preparation by consulting with our panel of experts from each branch of stenography. Working reporters are welcome, too!

Perhaps the most exciting part of the day will be when we all join together for our P.R. Campaign shoot at lunch when we’ll be captured wearing “I Am Technology” T-Shirts and voicing it as one, “We Are Technology!”

So, get ready for April 14th, a day of learning, camaraderie, and promoting our profession. And to ensure we have your t-shirt ready for you, be sure to register no later than April 6. Visit MAPCR.org to register today. Page Six

It’s never too late to make New Year’s resolutions especially when it concerns your court reporting education and training. Whether you are a brand new student, in the process of speed building, working on your internship, or ready to graduate, you may want to consider the following: • Practice Daily. Consistent practice is important. Do not put off until tomorrow what should be done today. • Dictionary Work. Adding, changing, or deleting entries in your dictionary will assure a better translation rate. • Strive to be Real Time Ready. Improve your conflict-free writing system every time you practice. • Work with a Mentor. Establishing a “support system” increases confidence and self-esteem. • Know your Software. Learn the capabilities of your software so as to improve transcript production time. • Set Reasonable Goals. Set and work to achieve goals in passing tests at school. • Avail Yourself to All Resources: Take advantage of any and all training that is available. • Begin to Network. Become involved in your Associations such as MAPCR or NCRA and establish relationships with practicing reporters and future employers.

“If it’s important, you will find a way; if it’s not, you’ll just find excuses.” Success is within your reach. Reach for the sky!

World Travelers

On October 17, 2011, Anissa Nierenberger, MAPCR’s President-Elect, and her son, Preston, embarked on Anissa’s dream of a trip to Ger- many. On the 14-day tour, they visited Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium and Holland. Here are some highlights of their trip:

*Tour of Linderhof Castle in Germany, smallest of 3 castles built by King Ludwig II *Lunch at the historic Hofbrauhas in Munich, rebuilt in 1897 (originally 1592) *Gondola ride through the canals of Venice, Italy *Singing “On the Road Again” with 50 senior citizens *Rode the longest cogwheel train up to Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland (7,000 ft) *Cruised the Seine River in Paris, viewing the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre *Toured the Louvre and got Preston’s picture with the Mona Lisa *Saw the Eiffel tower blinking white lights which only happens for 5 minutes at 10 p.m. *Stood in Anne Frank’s room where she pasted pictures on her wall. (Anne Frank Musem in Amsterdam) *Met a man traveling the world via a $14,000 around-the-world plane ticket. *Had escargot and duck a l’orange in Paris along with French onion soup *Flew Singapore Airlines, the best airline we’ve ever flown *Never passed a bakery which is why Anissa gained five pounds on the trip! Page Seven

that’s life Wealth Taking the Steps to Financial Peace Step 1: Creating a Monthly Money Management Plan By Melinda Dexter, RPR, CSR, Official Court Reporter So around the beginning of so I like to call it your Monthly Money and will give up in frustration. It will the year, everybody makes those Management Plan. take about three months to have resolutions to lose weight, get The first step we’re going to talk everything balance and flow the way organized, save more money, etc. about is creating that Monthly Money you want it to. Also, keep in mind Of course, by February 1st, a lot Management Plan. To do this, you that not every single category on this of us have already broken those need to look back at your spending, sheet will have money allocated to resolutions. Well, one I would like to pulling out those check registers it. Some things may have to give. help you with is losing that credit card and/or bank statements. Set up Ask yourself, do you really need that weight, getting financially organized, categories and see how much you’ve smart phone, do you really have to go and saving more money. spent over the past three months out for lunch four times a week, do I would like to state that I am no to give you an idea where you’re you really need that designer pair of financial expert, but I did a financial at. Don’t forget to include items jeans, or are these just wants? program that worked for me, and that are yearly lump sum payments Once you have got the big maybe it will work for you. I was that will need to be divided into 12, picture, then it’s time to break those asked to do one article or a series so that each and every month, some monthly payments into a cash flow of articles on the subject of home money is set aside in anticipation for plan. Before each month begins, finances, so I decided to take them in that yearly expense. Remember, write down the money you will be steps. Christmas comes every December. bringing in, and then write down all In this issue, I’d like to talk about Looking forward, fill out your the money that will be going out. The the first step to take towards your Monthly Management Plan to tell bottom line should be a zero. Each financial peace of mind. This first your money where it’s going to go. dollar that you bring in will need to step to starting any financial program I’ve included a pretty basic form be told where to go. Remember, is the scariest part. You need to know with some percentage ranges of it’s your money and it must obey the where your money is going so that in how much should be allocated into master, and by that, I don’t mean the future you can tell it where go to each category. If you’d like to work Master Card. instead of wondering where it went. with a more detailed sheet, you can In the next step we will I do not like the word “budget” any find one at www.daveramsey.com. talk about getting out of debt more than I like the word “diet.” They Be truthful with yourself when filling and staying out. Won’t that be both have “restricting” connotations out your plan. If you don’t, you will fun?! Happy Money Managing. and don’t seem like very much fun, end up blowing your plan right away Monthly Totals: OTHER MISC ______10-15% GIVING 10-15% TRANSPORTATION 5-15% SAVING Car Payment ______TOTAL MONTHLY 25-35% HOUSING Car Payment ______NECESSITIES ______First Mortgage ______*Gas & Oil ______Second Mortgage ______*Repairs & Tires ______*=items to use cash for. If you Repairs/Mn. Fee ______Car Insurance ______use cash, studies have shown you are likely to spend less 5-10% UTILITIES 2-7% *CLOTHING ______money than with credit or even Electricity ______debit cards. Water ______5-10% PERSONAL Gas ______Disability Ins. ______Phone ______Health Insurance ______Trash ______Life Insurance ______Cable ______Child Care ______5-15% Food ______*Entertainment ______Restaurants ______Page Eight that’s life home Get a Grip on Your Inner Clutter! 6 Action Steps for Understanding Your Self-Organization By Wendy Shepherd, ALFAB Services, www.ALFABservices.com

The phone bill is somewhere on look for things that “were just over there need anymore? Next – 15 minutes a day the counter. The car keys WERE on the a minute ago.” Living without systems can give you enough time to clean out table next to the back door. You’re not wastes your money as you spend money your car one day, your briefcase another, sure which is the right cord to unplug to replacing things that are lost, or buying your desktop on the third. It will give reset the modem. The birthday card you things twice because you didn’t realize you time to figure out what cord belongs bought for your best friend’s birthday you already had them. Systems can work to what and to use your label-maker to next week was next to the keys, when you for you and give you freedom – they do put a tag around it. You see where this is last looked. The holiday decorations you NOT confine you! going? Yep, to a habit of spending time packed up so nicely last January better You may be emotionally attached getting out of the clutter! not be in the box you took to the curb on to too much of your stuff. Do you save trash day! You need to talk to the doctor every card (and email) that you receive? It’s often hard to get going on about your blood pressure medications… Do you have a hard time finding your changing our behavior when it comes the next time you get around to seeing receipts and tax records because you to self-organization. We may not see the her! have a paper overload in the “to be filed mistakes we are making, and this is where Does this sound like a typical moment later” box? It’s okay to be emotionally a clutter-buddy comes in handy! Do you at your home? We tend to lose control of attached to stuff – but too much is have a nonjudgmental friend who can our stuff at home, especially at this time seriously too much. Use your scanner be your support as you tackle this life- of year, and what was once organized has to make electronic copies of documents, changing behavior? Someone you can returned to chaos! It’s easy to blame it on cards, drawings, photos, bills, receipts… call or email with a report of how great it others, but deep down inside, you know you name it. By reducing the objects to feels to take 2 extra trash bags to the curb that your self-organization needs some digital records, it is easier to organize as proof of your hard work tossing? Find fine-tuning. I am a recovering clutter-o- them. You might even be able to sell someone! And if you can’t find someone, holic, and I love the feeling I get when I some old photos of family members well, send ME an email and I’ll be your go through “stuff” purging! long forgotten – people do buy these for clutter-buddy! Really – wshepherd@ Clutter is caused by any number of crafts and art projects! Often, our stuff ALFABservices.com things, and there are hundreds of books represents things we have lost, people you can buy or borrow to help you and times gone by and gone forever. It’s Good luck on this – get a grip and understand what to do with the clutter. very hard to let go of things we love, so get going! “How To Conquer Clutter” by Stephanie you need to find a place to donate clothes, Culp (ISBN 0898793629) is my favorite. furniture, half-done projects, and so on – But let’s talk about how we get so let the object go, but keep the memories cluttered to start with! (how about a digital photograph of it You may be genetically predisposed before it goes?) Join the MAPCR group to be cluttered! Some of us just less neat on facebook! than others. Some of us actually organize You don’t know where to start, better within a certain amount of chaos. so you don’t get started. Well, that’s That can work for you... to a point. We the hardest one. Start by realizing that all need systems for organizations. (This you didn’t get this cluttered overnight, is especially true if the folks we live so it won’t be decluttered overnight! Follow us on Twitter! with are, well, more orderly than we Let’s think about this. Can you spend are.) Think about your history, the places 5 minutes a day working on clutter for you’ve lived or worked. Did they tend one week? Begin with something easy to look like a hoarder lived or worked like your email – clear out the junk every there? If you are predisposed to be more day. Then work to 10 minutes a day. Can cluttered, you need to take this seriously. you go through your closet and drawers Living in clutter wastes your time as you and take out “stuff” that you really don’t Page Nine

that’s life HEALTH Flu or Cold Symptoms? a cold, not allergy. If your cold symptoms http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ do not seem to be getting better after a cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms week, check with your doctor to see When you wake up sneezing, if you have developed an allergy or coughing, and have that achy, feverish, sinusitis. can’t move a muscle feeling, how do you What are common flu symptoms? know whether you have cold symptoms Flu symptoms are usually more or the flu? severe than cold symptoms and come on It’s important to know the difference quickly. Symptoms of flu include sore between flu and cold symptoms. A cold throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. Ah, yes, that “will-I-keep-it New soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine While cold symptoms can make you feel Year’s resolution” to work out, shed flu in particular is also associated with bad for a few days, flu symptoms can the holiday pounds, and get in bet- vomiting and diarrhea. make you feel quite ill for a few days to ter shape that occurs every January. Most flu symptoms gradually weeks. The flu can also result in serious Well, here are some words regard- improve over two to five days, but it’s health problems such as pneumonia and ing workout routines and equipment not uncommon to feel run down for a hospitalizations. that might help in more ways than week or more. A common complication one. What are common cold symptoms? of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in Cold symptoms usually begin with the young, elderly, or people with lung or 10-Minute paddleboard a sore throat, which usually goes away heart problems. If you notice shortness of Trainer Pilates after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, breath, you should let your doctor know. Aikido Piloxing runny nose, and congestion follow, along Another common sign of pneumonia is Beachbody Powertec with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. fever that comes back after having been BioForce Precor Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight gone for a day or two. bodyboard Pure Barre fever is possible. Children are more Just like cold viruses, flu viruses Bodylastics Push Up Pro likely to have a fever with a cold. enter your body through the mucous boogie resistance bands With cold symptoms, your nose membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. board Rogue Rings teems with watery nasal secretions for Every time you touch your hand to one Bowflex Rollersizer the first few days. Later, these become of these areas, you could be infecting CoreBody Re- Shake Weight thicker and darker. Dark mucus is natural yourself with a virus, which makes it former skimboard and does not usually mean you have very important to keep your hands germ- curves skimboards developed a bacterial infection, such as free with frequent washing to prevent dodgeball Slim in 6 a sinus infection. both flu and cold symptoms. dumbbell Snowga Several hundred different viruses Is it flu or cold symptoms? elliptical SpinGym may cause your cold symptoms. ellipticals Star Trac How do you know if you have flu or How long do cold symptoms last? Gazelle Strollercize cold symptoms? Take your temperature, Hapkido surfboard Cold symptoms usually last for say many experts. Flu symptoms often hula Tae Bo about a week. During the first three days mimic cold symptoms with nasal hoop Taekwondo that you have cold symptoms, you are congestion, cough, aches, and malaise. insanity Tai Chi contagious. This means you can pass But a common cold rarely has symptoms Jazzercise T-Core the cold to others, so stay home and get of fever above 101 degrees F. With flu Judo ThighMaster some much-needed rest. symptoms, you will probably have a Kettlebell Titan If cold symptoms do not seem to be fever initially with the flu virus and you KettleWorx treadmill improving after a week, you may have will feel miserable. Body and muscle kickboxing Turbo Jam a bacterial infection, which means you aches are also more common with the flu. Kobudo TurboFire may need antibiotics. This table can help determine if you have Sometimes you may mistake cold Koga cold or flu symptoms. Submitted by symptoms for allergic rhinitis (hay meditation Dictionary Jump- fever) or a sinus infection. If your Nautilus start cold symptoms begin quickly and are (That’s Health - continued on page 10) NordicTrack improving after a week, then it is usually P90X Page Ten (That’s Health - continued from page 9) Symptoms Cold Flu Fever Sometimes, usually mild Usual; higher (100-102 F; occasionally higher, especially in young children); lasts 3 to 4 days Headache Occasionally Common General Aches, Pains Slight Usual; often severe Fatigue, Weakness Sometimes Usual; can last 2 to 3 weeks Extreme Exhaustion Never Usual; at the beginning of the illness Stuffy Nose Common Sometimes Sneezing Usual Sometimes Sore Throat Common Sometimes Chest Discomfort, Cough Mild to moderate; hacking cough Common; can become severe Complications Sinus congestion; middle ear infection Sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infection, pneumonia; can be life-threatening Prevention Wash your hands often; avoid close Wash your hands often; avoid close contact with anyone with a cold contact with anyone who has flu symptoms; get the annual flu vaccine Treatment Decongestants; pain reliever/fever Decongestants, pain relievers, or fever reducer medicines reducers are available over the counter; over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to young children; prescription antiviral drugs for flu may be given in some cases; call your doctor for more information about treatment. Usually, the time of year will give • Persistent congestion and normally you some sense of what you’re dealing headaches: When colds and • Extreme irritability or distress with. The standard flu season runs from allergies caused congestion and • Symptoms that were improving and fall to spring of the next year. blockage of sinus passages, they can then suddenly worsen lead to sinus infection. If you have • Fever with a rash When do I call the doctor with flu or pain around the eyes and face with Can I prevent flu or cold symptoms? cold symptoms? thick nasal discharge after a week, The most important prevention If you already have flu or cold you may have a bacterial infection measure for preventing colds and flu is symptoms, it’s important to call your and need an antibiotic. frequent hand washing. Hand washing doctor if you also have any of the In some cases, you may need to get by rubbing the hands with warm soapy following severe symptoms: emergency medical attention right away. water for at least 20 seconds helps to • Persistent fever: This can be a sign In adults, signs of a crisis include: slough germs off the skin. of another bacterial infection that • Severe chest pain In addition to hand washing to should be treated. • Severe headache prevent flu or cold symptoms, you can • Painful swallowing: Although a sore • Shortness of breath also get a flu vaccine to prevent seasonal throat from a cold or flu can cause • Dizziness influenza. Seasonal flu activity in the mild discomfort, severe pain could • Confusion United States generally peaks between mean strep throat, which requires • Persistent vomiting late December and early March. Within treatment by a doctor. two weeks of getting a flu vaccine, • Persistent coughing: When a cough In children, additional signs of an antibodies develop in your body and doesn’t go away after two or three emergency are: provide protection against flu. Children weeks, it could be bronchitis, which • Difficulty breathing or rapid receiving the vaccine for the first time may need an antibiotic. Postnasal breathing need two doses delivered one month drip or sinusitis can also result in • Bluish skin color apart. a persistent cough. In addition, • Not drinking enough fluids Antiviral medicine may also help asthma is another cause of persistent • Lethargy and failure to interact prevent flu if you have been exposed to coughing. someone with flu symptoms. Page Eleven Tech that’s life The 25 Worst Passwords of 2011 Pro tip: choosing “password” as your online password is SplashData CEO Morgan Slain urges businesses and not a good idea. In fact, unless you’re hoping to be an easy consumers using any password on the list to change them target for hackers, it’s the worst password you can possibly immediately. choose. “Hackers can easily break into many accounts just by “Password” ranks first on password management repeatedly trying common passwords,” Slain says. “Even application provider SplashData’s annual list of worst internet though people are encouraged to select secure, strong passwords, which are ordered by how common they are. passwords, many people continue to choose weak, easy-to- (“Passw0rd,” with a numeral zero, isn’t much smarter, ranking guess ones, placing themselves at risk from fraud and identity 18th on the list.) theft.” The list is somewhat predictable: Sequences of adjacent The company provided some tips for choosing secure numbers or letters on the keyboard, such as “qwerty” and passwords in a statement: “123456,” and popular names, such as “ashley” and “michael,” • Vary different types of characters in your passwords; all are common choices. Other common choices, such as include numbers, letters and special characters when “monkey” and “shadow,” are harder to explain. possible. As some websites have begun to require passwords to • Choose passwords of eight characters or more. include both numbers and letters, it makes sense varied choices, Separate short words with spaces or underscores. such as “abc123″ and “trustno1,” are popular choices. • Don’t use the same password and username SplashData created the rankings based on millions of stolen combination for multiple websites. Use an online passwords posted online by hackers. Here is the complete list: password manager to keep track of your different • password • dragon • shadow accounts. • 123456 • baseball • 123123 http://mashable.com/2011/11/17/worst-internet-passwords/ • 12345678 • 111111 • 654321 • qwerty • iloveyou • superman • abc123 • master • qazwsx • monkey • sunshine • michael • 1234567 • ashley • football • letmein • bailey • trustno1 • passw0rd

MAPCR’s Mission Statement Advancing professionalism and education for those who capture the spoken word.

Save the date! May 19th 2012 Kensington Metro Park Page Twelve

NEWS & Richard NOTES “Bear” Smith 2012 Mileage Rates Announced Jan 2, 1943 - The IRS announced the 2012 optional standard mileage rates January 28, used to calculate the deductible costs of using a vehicle for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes effective 2012 January 1: Richard “Bear” Smith, • $0.55.5/per mile for business use, 69, passed away • $0.23/per mile for medical or moving purposes peacefully on January 28, surrounded by love at Sparrow (reduced by $0.5/mile), and Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in St. Albans, $0.14/per mile in service of charities. WV, to Raymond and Altha (Racer) Smith. He moved to Lansing in 1977, where he worked at Fisher Body until The 2012 NCRA Annual Convention and Exposition dates his retirement in 1998. He also served in the U.S. Army’s have changed from August 2 – 5, 2012 to August 9 - 12, 2012. 101st Airborne Division. Be sure to note the change on your calendar. He married the love of his life, Tami (Cowles), on NCRA Announces Expedited September 10, 1984. Tami is an official court reporter in Calhoun County and president elect of the National Court Delivery of Skills Test Results Reporters Association (NCRA). He is also survived by Beginning with the May 5, 2012 exam, NCRA will move to a sister, Patricia, and two brothers, Larry (Arcelia) and expedited results for the RPR, RMR, CRR, CBC, and CCP Gene (Sue), along with numerous nieces and nephews. skills tests, which will allow most candidates to receive same- day preliminary results, learning almost immediately whether He leaves behind a multitude of friends around the world. they have passed. Previously, candidates had to wait on pins During his retirement Bear enjoyed spending time at and needles for up to six weeks for the same feedback. home with Tami and also enjoyed the many trips they took on behalf of NCRA. He was best known for his ever present smile and ready laugh, art of conversation, and, most importantly, his bear hugs. Apparent to all who knew him was his love for and support of Tami. DUES OPTIONS FOR MAPCR Leave a Condolence MAPCR is thrilled to offer to its valued members a brand new, more affordable way to pay association dues. By creating a convenient and secure Paypal ac- count at www.paypal.com, you can renew your mem- Arrest Warrant Issued for Florida bership online at www.MAPCR.org and choose the best of three payment options for your budget. Court Reporter A Miami-Dade court reporter was ordered arrested Option 1 Wednesday after she failed to appear in court to explain why Traditional. One annual payment of $120. her firm can’t transcribe a slew of depositions. Option 2 The court reporter: Roseann McMahon, whose company Quarterly. Four payments of $30.25. had been employed from 2008 to 2011 to digitally record depositions for a state-funded law firm representing poor Option 3 clients. Monthly. 12 payments of $10.42. That means you can continue to take advantage of all McMahon, of Fort Lauderdale, had been ordered to court MAPCR has to offer you for around 30 cents a day! three times over the past month, each time to no avail. We hope this exciting new change helps members keep their membership in these difficult economic times. Page Thirteen

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL COURT REPORTERS Golf Outing Sponsorships

Advertise at the event everyone wants to attend!

Don’t wait. Sign up now to secure your sponsorship for the 19th Annual MAPCR Golf Classic, held this year on June 22nd, 2012, at the beautiful Hawk Hallow Golf Course. We hold this annual FUNdraising event for the preservation, promotion, and betterment of broadcast captioners, CART, freelance, and official court reporters. We have a solid reputation for being one of the best run, most entertaining, and fun-filled social events of the summer. ______SPONSORSHIP ORDER

Yes, I will donate to your 2012 Golf Classic!

Name:______

Sign to Read:______

Phone:______

E-mail:______

______Tee AND Green - $300

______Tee OR Green - $200

______Beverage Cart Sponsorship – only 2 available - $500 each

______Dinner - $400

______Lunch - $300

______Longest Drive/Closest to the pin - $300

______Door Prize Sponsor – 3 available - $600 or $200 each. Prizes given to each player with your company logo!

______Hole-In-One Contest - $200

______Putting Contest - $200

______Prize Donation (overnight packages, golf merchandise, gift certificates, cash, etc.) Donation:______

Return this form and check(s) payable to MAPCR, c/o Paul Brandell, Mason Courthouse, 315 S. Jefferson, 3rd Floor Courthouse, Mason, MI 48854

If you would like to join us with your own foursome, call or e-mail: Paul Brandell - (517) 676.7323 [email protected] or visit our website at www.mapcr.org Page Fourteen February 2012

Manage Your Kindle eBooks to remove, press the REMOVE button, and it will be gone with the Q. I love my Kindle that I got this past Christmas. I’ve wind. read a lot about it, but I can’t figure out how to use something called collections. Can you explain that, Mr. M? Q. I’ve been using Internet Explorer 8 since it came out A. If you store a lot of content on your Kindle, you can create and while I generally like it, it’s getting awfully slow. I also collections to facilitate your ability to find books and articles faster. have Firefox and I’ve been trying Google Chrome, which you A collection is just a fancy-shmancy name for a category you create mentioned was much faster. I don’t mind abandoning IE, but on your Kindle Home screen. You can then move your eBooks, I’d like to find out what’s causing it to be so slow. Any ideas? audiobooks, and personal documents from the Home screen to the A. Add-ons are often the cause of IE sluggishness, particularly collections you create. if everything else is running normally. You can check it out by To create a collection, click Menu > Create New Collection or going to Tools > Manage Add-ons. Check “Load Time” in the select Create New Collection from the Home screen menu. Type right-hand column and you will immediately know which browser in a name for your collection, then select Save using the 5-way extension is the offending culprit. controller. To rename a collection, select the collection name as it appears Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month on your Home screen, then move the 5-way controller to the right Causes.com to display Collection Options. Select Rename and follow the on- This site was founded on the belief that anyone can screen instructions. participate in change by informing and inspiring others. No, If you decide at some point to delete a collection, the process seriously The site provides tools for people to mobilize their is virtually identical to renaming a collection, except instead of friends for collective action, to spread the word to friends of selecting Rename, select Delete, then again follow the on-screen friends and acquaintances, and eventually launch movements. instructions. Whether you are an activist who wants to protect baby asparagus When you delete a collection, the content on your Kindle or a nonprofit that premotes literasy, Causes.com can help you doesn’t change. In other words, items previously added to a achieve your objectives and spread your message. Launched in collection that are stored on your Kindle will appear on the Home 2007, today it has more than 170 million participants who have screen after the collection itself is deleted, so you are not wiping raised more than $40 million for more than 500,000 causes. out your purchased books in the process. www.causes.com For lots of additional Kindle tips, “Mr. Modem’s Top 50 Kindle Tips,” Volumes 1 and 2, featuring 50 easy-to-understand, useful Con-Artist Awareness tips in each volume, is available at amazon.com/dp/B006OO3T6S Courtesy of the State of Ohio Dept. of Commerce, you will find a or go to amazon.com and search for “Mr. Modem” to review my great deal of practical information here that can help you avoid scams, priceless eBook collection. cons, flim-flammers and bamboozlers. Included are the articles, What is Investment Fraud? How to Spot a Con Artist, How to Check Q. What is the proper way to uninstall a program which your Broker, and a File a Complaint link. Though geared to Ohio will not budge using Add/Remove Programs in the Control residents, the information is excellent no matter where you reside. Panel? Thank you, Mr. M. http://conartist.ohio.gov A. Sometimes programs take up residence and like a bad house guest, won’t take a hint when it’s time to leave. (Are you Modern Ruins paying attention, Uncle Rudy?) Whenever you want to uninstall a Elegant photography that contains starkly beautiful images program, the first thing to do is to look within the program itself to of modern ruins, including abandoned factories, hospitals, determine if it has its own uninstaller. So go to Start > Programs, orphanages, train yards, jails, mines and other architectural highlight the program and if there is an uninstaller, it will display as relics of recent history. If you’re feeling upbeat and happy, a sub-menu that you can then click to execute. If it doesn’t have its but concerned that your life is lacking a sense of hopelessness own uninstaller, then proceed to the Control Panel > Add/Remove and despair, this site will quickly remedy that situation. Programs. http://oboylephoto.com/ruins If that doesn’t work, then Revo Uninstaller (www. revouninstaller.com) is a powerful uninstaller that will be able to “Mr. Modem’s Top 50 Computing Tips,” and “Mr. evict your stubborn digital tenant. Revo is easy to use: Download Modem’s Top 50 iPad Tips” are available on amazon.com. then double-click to run it. A list of all installed programs will be Each life-altering volume features 50 of Mr. M.’s all-time displayed. You can then click to select whatever program you want favorite tips. Page Fifteen

Throw me a bone, a funny bone that is. BOARD ROSTER THE COURT: Any objection to the instruction given to the jury in answer to their 2011-2012 question? PRESIDENT MS. CASE: No, Your Honor. Paul Brandell, CSR, RPR MR. BAYOT: No, sir. Phone: 517.676.7323 [email protected] THE COURT: I read the note into the record, so we’ll dispose of it. PRESIDENT-ELECT MS. CASE: Can we give them some paper so they don’t have to write on napkins? Anissa Nierenberger, RPR, CRR, CBC THE COURT: They’ve got more napkins. Phone: 517.410.2209 [email protected] Q. No, I think it’s all -- was addressed. The only thing that probably I have to cor- VICE PRESIDENT rect myself, I called this area Upper Peninsula. Sorry, it’s my lack of knowledge of Melinda Dexter, CSR, RPR the Michigan geography. It’s the Lower Peninsula, correct? 517.483.6427 Q. Correct. [email protected] A. And I drove that far at night that I thought I’m in the Upper Peninsula. SENIOR ADVISOR Kelli Werner, RPR, CRR, CBC THE COURT: If you don’t see a bridge, you’re not there yet. Phone: 517.712.1640 THE WITNESS: Not yet? I didn’t know. Maybe I saw the bridge. It was too late [email protected] at night. SECRETARY/TREASURER Elsa Jorgensen, CSR Q. Did you -- did you think he was mortally wounded? Phone: 248.435.8653 A. I figured that he was, but I didn’t figure that it was gonna kill him. [email protected] HISTORIAN Kelli Werner, RPR, CRR, CBC Q. So you, Ma’am, in the last year the child has been born and alive and with you? Phone: 517.712.1640 A. Um-hum. [email protected]

DIRECTORS If you cannot hear a question by a lawyer or an answer by a witness or anything I Annette Blough, CSR, RPR say, please raise your hand. When I recognize you, you shouldn’t indicate what you Phone: 800.408.0070 did not hear. Do not -- you should indicate what you did not hear. [email protected] Donna Clark-Licari, CSR MR. PFEIFER: Judge, I would suspect that -- I mean, I can’t imagine any of the Phone: 586.421.2277 closings individually being more than 15 minutes each, maybe -- well, I know Lam- [email protected] ble likes to talk but -- excuse me -- Mr. Lamble likes to talk -- I would say a couple Gerry Hanson hours would be fine. Phone: 313.567.8100 THE COURT: Couple hours? [email protected] MR. PFEIFER: I would think so. Darlene Fuller, CSR, RPR, RMR Phone: 231.832.4664 MR. LAMBLE: For me? [email protected] MR. PFEIFER: Actually, if you give me permission from this seat to slap Mr. Lam- ble when he says something objectionable, it would probably only take an hour. Laurel Jacoby, CSR, RPR Phone: 248-437-6317 THE COURT: Yeah. [email protected] Sharon Kandt, CSR, CRI ATTORNEY: There was some rather extensive discus- Phone: 586.726.2174 sions between the parties concerning that, and both [email protected] were ultimately executed on the same day. Page Sixteen

NCRA Advisory Opinion 38 An Attorney Requests a Copy of a Reporter’s HAPPY Backup Audio Media (Originally written, 2000; Revised, 2006) Statement of Facts The NCRA Board of Directors has requested an opinion from the Committee on Professional Ethics regarding ethics issues involved in the following scenario: While making the official record, a reporter made an audio backup recording of a proceeding for use by the reporter only while making the transcript. During a break in the proceeding, an attorney requests a copy of the reporter’s backup audio media. Discussion It is becoming increasingly common for persons present In Chinese Astrology 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The during the making of an official record to request a copy of Year of the Dragon started January 23, 2012 and will end on the reporter’s backup audio media for their own use. The February 9, 2013. Committee on Professional Ethics believes that the decision The following are the twelve zodiac signs and their of whether or not to make an audio backup recording of a characteristics. Head to MAPCR.org to see which of the zodiac proceeding is the personal choice of the reporter. animals represents you! The Committee finds the rationale of the Illinois case, Rat–Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, Emmel v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Chicago Inc., 904 sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, F.Supp.723,753, to be dispositive. The U.S. District Court sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, determined that “backup tapes made by court reporters for self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, their own convenience and not otherwise required by 28 over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming. U.S.C. 753 are the personal property of the court reporters. Ox – Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born There is no public entitlement to these recordings.” leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, Following this rationale, the Committee concludes that, logical, resolute, and tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot- absent a court order to do so, there is no ethical obligation for tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, and demanding. a reporter to provide a copy of the backup audio media to any Tiger – Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, person requesting same or even to disclose to those present passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, that a backup audio recording is being made. A reporter must affectionate, humanitarian, and generous. Can be restless, comply with any applicable state or federal requirement that a reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, reporter preserve such backup audio media once the reporter aggressive, and moody. no longer needs it for use while making the transcript. Rabbit – Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft- Nonetheless, if a reporter elects to give a person a copy spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, of the backup audio media, the following ethical obligations tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, and apply: flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, First, before making the decision to provide all parties opportunistic, and stubborn. with a copy of the backup audio media, the reporter should Dragon – Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self- be cautioned that doing so may cause the reporter to be in assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, violation of Provision No. 4 of the Code which requires fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, that the reporter preserve the confidentiality and ensure the and loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, security of the information entrusted to the Member because demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, and brash. the backup audio media may contain inadvertent comments, Snake – Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft- off-the-record discussions, or attorney-client privileged spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, communications that should not be released or disclosed. If a responsible, calm, strong, constant, and purposeful. Can be a reporter decides to provide copies of the backup audio media, loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, the reporter is obligated to ensure that in doing so, he or she distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, and cold. is not disclosing off-the-record discussions or attorney-client Horse – Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, privileged communications. earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile, magnetic, intelligent, astute, Additionally, if a reporter decides to provide a copy of flexible, and open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, the backup audio media, the reporter should provide the anxious, rude, gullible, and stubborn.

(Advisory Opinion - continued on page 18) (Chinese New Year - continued on page 17) Page Seventeen

(Chinese New Year - continued on page 17) practical, scientific, and responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, Goat (aka Ram or Sheep) –Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, and gives into empty bravado. mild-mannered, observant, artistic, intellectual, ingenious, Dog – Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of innovative, creative, mothering, peaceful, and generous. Can justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, be indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, sensitive, shy, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, and weak-willed. sensitive, and easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, Monkey – Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, and quarrelsome. inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, Pig – Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, and factual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, and intelligent. Can be naïve, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, and materialistic. suspicious, and stubborn. Rooster – Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous,

Nancy Varallo, FAPR, RDR, CRR, owner of The Varallo Group, offers customized business development and administrative services to court reporters and reporting agencies. Nancy has been a court reporter since 1979, has trained hundreds of court reporters, and has fielded thousands of questions from reporters. Please ask your question at www.dearnancy.com. Dear Nancy: I have been a court reporter for nine years and gets her RPR, then her RMR, and looks forward to her CRR. I am going to become an agency owner. In order to become a She builds her career and her network of reporter acquaintances successful business owner, what is necessary to believe? What throughout her thirties, in addition to taking care of her two habits must I attain to make it in this industry? Signed, Kaizen kids. Her agency values her can-do attitude and makes sure she gets the best jobs. She pays attention to CE and is a regular at Dear Kaizen: You’ve got the answer in your name. For our state association meetings and a regular volunteer. Her career readers, it is Japanese for “improvement” or “change for the is at a high point – she’s talented, credentialed, hardworking, better”. Read about it. It’s good stuff! and she has earned the respect of her peers, her agency, and When you feel like you want to become an agency owner, the attorneys she works for. She decides to open her own my advice is: Lie down and wait for the feeling to pass. Just business. Now in her fifties, her business is growing; she trains kidding! I would never say no to that ambition. Unlike an new reporters, manages staff, attends owner conferences, stays earlier Nancy whose advice was “Just say no,” my advice to abreast of technology, and keeps learning. She gives back to you is evaluate who you are. Who is this person who wishes to her profession: serving on committees, chairing committees, become a successful agency owner? promoting our profession to the bench and bar; introducing Meet Nancy No and Nancy Yes. Nancy No is in her technology to the lawyers she works with; promoting the twenties, having fun, working hard, paying the bills. She passes highest standards of reporting to her reporters and instilling a her RPR. In her thirties, she’s Super Mom – two kids to raise, sense of professional pride and mission in them. Now in her lots of pages to edit, transcripts to proof, deadlines to meet. sixties, the Empty Nester years, she looks back with pride on There’s no time work on her realtime skills, or pas the RMR, no her career, the business she’s built, and the reporters, young and time to volunteer for her state association or mentor a student. old, she has influenced. A role model. She has no regrets. In her forties she’s a hard worker and does what her agency asks Court reporting is more than a job; it’s a profession. If you her to do – as long as it’s not a LiveNote job or a quick draft make sure to acquire the necessary skills, you can face each transcript, and nothing too-too technical, or anything that’s challenge and succeed. Such success brings a justifiable pride of going to run after 5:00 p.m. In her fifties she’s struggling to accomplishment – not a smug contentment, but the satisfaction keep up with the latest technology. She’d love to do CART, or of knowing you set goals, you worked hard to achieve them, run her own business, but she doesn’t feel prepared for those and you succeeded. Best of all, you won’t come to the last challenges. She’s tired from decades of long hours. What decade of your career wondering whether you’d rather be doing about a career change? Hmm. Too old for retraining. The something else. money’s too good to walk away from. Well, I’m getting close Nancy No and Nancy Yes are two ways of coping. Nancy to retirement; I’ll just stick it out. No survived; Nancy Yes succeeded. Nancy Yes is in her twenties, attends seminars, practices, Page Eighteen

(Advisory Opinion - continued from page 16) No. 9, which requires Members to maintain the integrity of the reporting profession. requesting party with a copy of the media and the reporter should keep the original. This satisfies the reporter’s Conclusion obligation under Provision No. 4 of the Code to preserve The Committee has determined that absent a court order the confidentiality of the information entrusted to a Member to do so, the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics does not because if there is a dispute over the backup or an accusation require that a reporter provide a copy of any backup audio that it has been altered, the reporter may produce the original media that the reporter uses to make the official transcript of to settle the dispute. The only exception to this is if a court a proceeding. However, Provision No. 1 of the Code requires orders the reporter to provide the original media. In that case, that if the reporter chooses to give a copy to a requesting the reporter must keep a copy. party, the reporter must offer to do so for all parties to the Second, Provision No. 1 of the Code of Professional proceeding. Provision No. 4 also requires that the reporter Ethics, which states that a Member shall “be fair and impartial maintain the original backup audio media and provide only a toward each participant in all aspects of reported proceedings, copy to any or all requesting parties. Finally, the Committee and always offer to provide comparable services to all parties cautions that releasing copies of the media may result in a in a proceeding,” requires that the reporter offer to provide a violation of Provision No. 4 of the Code if the media contains copy of the media to all other parties. Failure to do so would inadvertent, off-the-record or privileged information that be a violation of Code Provision No. 1 and also of Provision should not have been released or disclosed.

P.O. Box 366, Pinckney, MI 48169 Phone: 734.498.2627 Fax: 734.498.8415

Record Times is the official quarterly newsletter publication of the Michigan Association of Professional Court Reporters. Record Times Deadlines Submissions for consideration for future publication may be directed to Issue Copy Deadline Kelli Werner, Editor-In-Chief, at [email protected]. State- Spring 2012...... May 25, 2012 ments of fact, opinion, and all advertisements are the sole responsibility Summer 2012...... July 25, 2012 of the author or advertiser and do not express the opinion or endorse- ment of MAPCR. This publication is distributed to current dues-paying Fall 2012...... October 25, 2012 members of the association. Nonmember subscriptions are $60 per year. Winter 2013...... January 25, 2013 Please request permission to copy any parts of Record Times.