03/13/2020

POSTPONED: 2020 OCRA Annual Conference - Information regarding COVID-19

The 2020 Annual Conference scheduled March 27-29 has been postponed until September 11-13, 2020

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of the Ohio Court Reporters Association 2020 Annual Conference scheduled to be held at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris March 27-29, 2020.

Based upon the Ohio Department of Health’s March 12 Director’s Order limiting and/or prohibiting mass gatherings in the state of Ohio of 100 or more persons, and as a result of the overwhelming concerns regarding coronavirus (COVID-19), the OCRA Board of Directors has determined that the 2020 Annual Conference – OCRA’s Centennial Celebration – must be postponed.

As this is a recent occurrence, details must still be worked through with the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris to determine when a rescheduled conference can take place. Unfortunately, the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the hospitality industry, and many entities are treading through uncharted waters.

We ask for your patience as we work through the next steps of official postponement of the 2020 Annual Conference. In the coming week, we will:

Contact registered attendees, vendors, speakers, and guests of the 2020 Annual Conference to ensure that this notice of postponement has been received by all affected (You may receive multiple notifications. We apologize for any inconvenience that may cause.)

Work with the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris with the goal of rescheduling the Annual Conference as quickly as permitted by law, if possible

Process refunds of all registrations, sponsorships, raffle ticket purchases, etc. (Please note that we will not begin processing refunds until Monday, March 23, 2020.)

The OCRA Board of Directors is considering holding the 2020 Annual Business Meeting as currently scheduled on Saturday, March 28, 2020 in order to ensure that the business of the association continues and OCRA’s 2020-2021 Board of Directors is installed as originally anticipated. Because the Annual Business Meeting will be a standalone, member-only event, we are certain that the number of attendees will be well below 100 and in compliance with the ODH’s Order. Once we know whether this will take place as planned, we will notify our OCRA members immediately of its occurrence, with additional details at that time.

Also, please remember to cancel your overnight accommodations at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris at least 72 hours prior to your check-in date by calling 833.427.0292.

Finally, thank you for your continued support of your OCRA and our profession at this time. We are Ohio Family. We are Ohio Strong. We are Ohio Proud!

Kelly Sign

Kelly Linkowski, 2019-2020 OCRA President

Sarah first name

Sarah Nageotte, OCRA Executive Director

2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE - MARCH 27-29

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF OCRA IN 2020!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND VENDORS

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND VENDORS! ALTHOUGH OUR 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HAS BEEN POSTPONED, WE COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITHOUT YOU.

Please note that refunds of all registrations, sponsorships, raffle ticket purchases, etc. will begin being processed the week of March 23, 2020

**Vendors/Exhibitors**
ProCAT Stenograph Stewart Richardson Worth Business Equipment

**Event and Session Sponsors**
Friday Early Afternoon Refreshment/Vendor Break ($200)	Cuyahoga County Official Court Reporters
Friday Late Afternoon Refreshment/Vendor Break ($200)	Kelly Linkowski, RPR, CRR, CRC, CPE and Tammy McGhee, RMR, CRR, CRC
Friday Night Social/Vendor Reception ($400)	Veritext Legal Solutions
Saturday Continental Breakfast ($300)	Midwest Reporting Service (Susan Ingraham, RPR)
Saturday Morning Refreshment/Vendor Break ($200)	Gee Reporting (Susan Gee, RMR, CRR)
Saturday Luncheon and Business Meeting ($500)	Armstrong & Okey and PRI Court Reporting
Saturday Afternoon Refreshment/Vendor Break ($200)	Donna Karoscik, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC and Yolanda Walton, FAPR, RPR
Centennial Celebration! President's Saturday Reception ($700)	OCRA Past Presidents Doug Ackerman Gayle Anderson Douglas Bettis Jana Colter Michele Eddy Lynn Els Marie Fresch Susan Gee Susan Horak Allison Kimmel Bruce Matthews James Mizanin Terri Sims Sue Terry Yolanda Walton Lisa Conley Yungblut William Zaremba
Sunday Continental Breakfast ($300)	Integrity Reporting Group
Sunday Refreshment Break ($200)	The Sues (Sue Coots, Sue Gee, Sue Horak, and Sue Terry)
Speakers ($100 each or $300 Friday/$400 Saturday/$200 Sunday)	Friday and Saturday Speakers Sponsor ($700) Federal Reporters of the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio Sunday's Speakers Sponsors ($100 each) Susan Coots, RPR Ann Ford, RPR

**General Conference Sponsors**
Sponsor of the Century Level ($1,000 +)	Higgins & Associates Pamela Spangler Reis (Richard D. Reis Family Foundation) Cheri Steele (in memory of Vernon C. Steele) Veritext Legal Solutions
The Prosperity Decade Level ($500 - $999)	Clark Realtime Reporting (Sara Clark, RMR, CRR, CRC)
The Pivotal Decade Level ($250 - $499)	Donna Karoscik, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC
The Cultural Decade Level ($100 - $249)	Suzanne Vadnal, RMR (In memory of Margaret M. Arvay, RPR)
Define your Decade Level ($1 - $99)	Allison Kimmel, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC

**Student Sponsors**
Eileen Beltz, CRI, CPE Janie Blair, RPR, CRR Lance Boardman, RDR, CRR Susan Coots, RPR Kim Falgiani RDR, CRC, CRR, HI-CSR Marie Fresch, RMR, CRR Susan Gee, RMR, CRR Susan Horak, FAPR, RDR, CRR (Ret.) Susan Ingraham, RPR Maria DiPaolo Jones, RDR, CRR Allison Kimmel, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC James Mizanin, FAPR, RDR, CMRS, CRI, CPE (Ret.) Sarah Nageotte, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC Linda Riffle, RDR, CRR, CRC, IL-CSR Suzanne Vadnal, RMR Yolanda Walton, FAPR, RPR