VOLUME 17, NO. 2 SPRING 2012 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT By Nicholas G. Rennillo, CLVS, STAR President I am sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that STAR Mid-Year 2012 was a huge success! Of course some might claim that I am totally biased, and I am. But allow me to expand on why it was an Awesome Conference! About two years ago a number of members expressed concerns about the location of the 2012 Mid-Year Conference. The Board took those concerns and comments very seriously, and with the assistance of Kautter Management Group we were able to move the conference to Caesars Palace! NICHOLAS G. RENNILLO, CLVS Well, Caesars Palace was a perfect STAR President location to host the STAR Conference. he mentioned that he does not set a The Board rooms, conference rooms “goal” when getting sponsorships, but and hotel rooms were ideal in every this time he did and he fell a little short respect. I was truly amazed how much of that goal. of an impact the meeting space had on As Irv exited the dais, a STAR the overall energy of the conference. member suggested that we raise the STAR has been a successful as- remaining dollars from the floor of the sociation for many years and for a Business Meeting. With that, hands number of reasons. But this example were rising and people began shouting of being at Caesars was a direct result contributions. In a matter of minutes of our membership being involved. STAR helped Irv “reach his goal” and I had the privilege of attending the created a STAR memory that I will Liaison Committee (LC) meeting on never forget. Wednesday. What a unique experi- I also want to thank all of the ence to participate in a meeting where members who, time and time again, reporter and software developers ex- serve as presenters and moderators at changed thoughts and ideas on what the STAR Conferences. Please know might improve software and what might that the Board of STAR recognizes the improve reporter efficiency. I really time it takes to plan and prepare a pre- want to thank the LC and Stenograph sentation and the commitment you’re for their commitment to STAR and to demonstrating at the Conference. the court reporting industry. Finally, I want to thank the Las STAR also had the opportunity to Vegas Conference Committee Chairs, honor Irv Starkman for his dedication Nancy Bistany and Barbara Justl. All to our association and his never-ending your efforts made for a fabulous STAR commitment to court reporting; how- Conference. The official publication of the Society for Technological Advancement Reporting ever, I would like to share something See you in New Orleans! very special that happened during the STAR dot presentation. During Irv’s remarks 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 Nicholas G. Rennillo, CLVS Rennillo Deposition & Discovery, a Veritext Company President’s Message .............................................................................................. 1 1301 E. Ninth St, #100 • Cleveland, OH 44114 W: 216-523-1313 • FAX: 216-263-7070 [email protected] Announcing...STAR Advertorial Guidelines ........................................................... 4 VICE PRESIDENT Rosalie A. Kramm, RPR, CRR, CSR (CA) Sensational Things are Happening at Stenograph! ................................................. 5 Kramm & Associates, Inc. 2224 Third Avenue • San Diego, CA 92101 By Vickie M. Main W: 619-239-0080 • FAX: 619-239-0206 [email protected] Bienenstocks Honored .......................................................................................... 5 SECRETARY Matthew A. Spievak, RPR, CSR (CA) By Christine Randall Sarnoff Court Reporters 450 Sansome Street, #1550 • San Francisco, CA 94111 W: 415-274-9977 • FAX: 415-274-9998 Mission, Marketing, Messaging - Part II .................................................................. 6 [email protected] By Al Betz TREASURER Todd A. Mobley Mike Mobley Reporting Seminar by Fred Middlebrooks on the Diamante, CaseViewNet 334 S Main St • Dayton, OH 45402 and the Virtual Router ........................................................................................... 8 W: 937-222-2259 • FAX: 937-222-9747 [email protected] By Jane M. Jones DIRECTORS Linda S. Fifield Courtroom Connect and Cameo ........................................................................... 9 Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc. 50 Franklin St, 3rd Floor, #300 • Boston, MA 02110 By Mark Renzi W: 617-426-2432 • FAX: 617-482-7813 [email protected] Social Media Tools for Conquering Future Business ............................................. 10 William M. Fredericks, RPR, CSR Fredericks Reporting By Barbara Justl 3305 Northland Dr, Ste 4B • Austin, TX 78731 W: 512-241-3600 • FAX: 512-345-1417 [email protected] Alternate Dispute Resolution — STAR Innovators ............................................... 10 By Rosalie Kramm Shelly Hunter, RPR, CRR Hunter + Geist, Inc. 1900 Grant St, #800 • Denver, CO 80203 W: 303-832-5966 • FAX: 303-832-9525 STAR 2012 Mid-Year Conference Drawing Winners ............................................ 11 [email protected] Micheal A. Johnson, RPR, CSR (TX), CRR, CLR, CCR (LA) Did You Know? ................................................................................................... 11 Johnson Reporting Services 2205 Flaming Tree Ct • Cedar Park, TX 78613 W: 512-331-1161 Ready to Be Irv'd? ............................................................................................. 11 [email protected] By Christine Randall Jane M. Jones, RMR, CRR Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. 735 N. Water St, Ste. M185 • Milwaukee, WI 53202 STAR 2012 Mid-Year Conference Photo Highlights ......................................12 - 13 W: 414-224-9533 • FAX: 414-224-9635 [email protected] e-Key Myths & Misconceptions ........................................................................... 15 Christine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA) Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters By Rose Durec 423 Truxtun Ave • Bakersfield, CA 93301 W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726 [email protected] WiFi, MiFi and Connectify — Why Am I Mysti-Fi-ed? .......................................... 17 By Linda Fifield IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Mark H. Renzi, RPR, CCR (NJ) Guy J. Renzi & Associates Golden Crest Corporate Center • Trenton, NJ 08690 STAR Membership Application ............................................................................ 24 W: 609-989-9199 • FAX: 609-586-2881 [email protected] The Great STAR Suggestion Box ........................................................................ 25 EDITOR Christine Randall, RPR, CSR (CA) Wood & Randall Certified Shorthand Reporters Advertisements ................................................................................................... 26 423 Truxtun Ave • Bakersfield, CA 93301 W: 661-395-1050 • FAX: 661-395-0726 [email protected] In Memoriam ...................................................................................................... 27 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tina Kautter, CAE Welcome Mat ...................................................................................................... 30 STAR Headquarters 222 S. Westmonte Dr., #101 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 W: 407-774-7880 • FAX: 407-774-6440 [email protected] STAR Dot STAR • 3 SOCIETY FOR THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF REPORTING Advertorial Guidelines The Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting (STAR) is pleased to offer our advertisers an opportunity to CALL deliver their messages and tell about their products or services DON'T SIGN BIG OR A through a new medium called “advertorials.” An advertorial is MISS UP NEWS a hybrid of editorial and advertising content which resembles EMAIL CAN'T FROM an editorial page in appearance but allows you to promote your NOW OUT TODAY! MISS product or service in greater detail than would be possible in STAR CHANCE a display advertisement. It is common knowledge that readers give more credibility to editorial content than to paid advertise- ments, so advertorials are gaining popularity, particularly in elec- tronic publications. STAR-dot-STAR Newsletter advertorials get results because they look and read like editorials while at the same time providing you a platform for highlighting the benefits and advantages of your products and services. GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Star-dot-STAR has established guidelines to maintain consistency, accuracy, and good taste of advertorials. These guidelines can help ensure the success of your advertorial and can help you create the “magazine look” for your advertising. COPY - Write from a third-person point of view. - Quote outside sources for authoritative copy and to support your viewpoint. - Identify the writer and include a brief biography, if applicable. DESIGN - Typefaces, fonts and layout should bear no resemblance to standard editorial templates in STAR-dot-STAR. Our production staff can assist you in selecting font size, leading, layout style and color to ensure that your design features are not similar to edito- rial content in the newsletter. - Charts and graphs may be used. - STAR production staff will add the text “Paid Advertisement” at the top of each page of the advertorial. - Use of a logo