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12/04/2024

2025 OCRA Membership Renewal Notice and Membership Drive

What's in it for you? Education! Information! Power! Connections! And so much more!

Join OCRA or Renew Your Membership Today!

The 2025 OCRA Membership Cycle runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.  Many current memberships expire on December 31, 2024, so we hope you will consider remaining a part of OCRA and renew your membership today!  Not an OCRA member?  We need you!

Why should you renew your OCRA membership or join OCRA today?

In 2024, OCRA has:

  • Hosted a three-day conference in Cleveland with inspiring speakers, CEU opportunities, networking, vendors, silent auction, camaraderie, contests, seeing old friends and making new ones.

  • Held several meet-and-greets for networking and having fun with colleagues.

  • Staffed a table at the Ohio Association for Court Administration Spring and Fall Conferences where we highlighted the importance of a stenographic court record and the pitfalls of AI/ASR.

  • Staffed a table at the All Ohio Counselors Conference in October in Columbus where we informed school counselors about great careers in stenography that they can pass on to their students. We made great contacts and hope to attend career exploration events at their schools in the coming year.  We’d love to have volunteers for these events!

  • Attended career exploration days at several high schools throughout the state, giving students a chance to get their hands on the steno keyboard, learn about a great career opportunity, and generate interest in the A to Z program

  • Staffed a table, presented a session, and attended sessions at the Ohio Judicial Conference Court Tech Conference in April, where we focused on how stenographers provide the latest and greatest tech for counsel and the bench.

  • Appointed two Board Members as representatives to the National Congress of State Associations, which acts as a liaison between our state association and the NCRA Board. Representatives receive training as well as attend quarterly meetings.

  • Two OCRA Board Members attended the National Court Reporters Association Leadership and Legislative Boot Camp, where they learned advocacy skills needed to shape the future of court reporting and captioning.

  • Published biannual editions of The Buckeye Record.

  • Organized an A to Z program for potential students.

It is imperative that we plan for our future and be prepared to advocate for our profession.  In January of 2023, in neighboring Indiana, a short time after their state association was disbanded, the following language was included in a proposed amendment to the Indiana Rule of Trial Procedure 74(B): “Recording through shorthand or stenography is prohibited.” 

In November of 2023, the Tennessee Court Reporters Association had 72 hours’ notice to prepare to testify before the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in their review of a proposal to sunset the Tennessee Board of Court Reporting. 

Similar situations are occurring in Texas, California, Illinois, and other states.  We need a strong association and there is strength in numbers.  Your membership is an investment in your family.  "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."  (Helen Keller)  

For your convenience, there are a few options to renew your membership or join OCRA below.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for the 2025 Annual Conference scheduled for April 4-6, 2025, at Marriott Cleveland East.  Registration will open in January 2025!  

What's in it for you?  Education!  Information!  Power!  Connections!  And so much more!

Ready to renew or join right now?  You may either use our secure server online or download a membership application and mail it to the address indicated. 

PROFESSIONAL, ASSOCIATE, and RETIRED MEMBERS

Are you a first-year reporter or captioner?  Use the online student membership renewal and choose the first-year reporter option for a discounted membership rate just for you!  Email ocraonline@gmail.com for more information or assistance.

STUDENT MEMBERS 

Thank you for your continued support of your association right here at home!

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