11/09/2026

Nominating Committee Call for Nominations

Let's work together to make this next chapter a strong one.

Fellow OCRA Members,

It's that time of year again when the Nominating Committee begins looking for members willing to serve as directors and officers of our association. But this year, I think we need to look at it a little differently.

OCRA is at an important point in its history, and we have some real opportunities ahead of us.

We've taken an important step by welcoming voice writers into our membership. Now we have an opportunity to build an association that represents and supports an even broader community of professionals. At the same time, we're facing the challenge of how to handle the many responsibilities traditionally performed by our executive director, given that our current budget doesn't allow us to hire a replacement.

And, like many professional associations, we need to find ways to engage more members in the work of keeping our organization strong, effective, and relevant for the future.

None of these challenges are insurmountable, but they do require people willing to step forward, share ideas, and help us find solutions.

That's where you come in.

We’re looking for members interested in serving as OCRA directors and officers. You don't have to have prior board experience, and you certainly don't have to have all the answers. We need people with different perspectives, different strengths, and a willingness to work together. Whether you're a longtime member or relatively new to the association, a stenographic or voice court reporter or captioner, your perspective matters.

I'm also interested in finding members who might be willing to take on specific responsibilities or help with individual projects, even if serving on the board isn't the right fit for them. There is a great deal of work involved in keeping an association running, and finding ways to distribute that work among more people will be an important part of our future.

As we look at how to manage our responsibilities going forward, we’d also like to explore opportunities for leadership development and practical training in areas such as board governance, budgeting, conference planning, and contract negotiation. We have a lot to accomplish, and finding ways to share knowledge and develop new leaders will be an important part of building a stronger, more sustainable OCRA.

If you've ever thought about getting more involved but weren't sure where to start, this is a good time to have that conversation. You don't need to be an expert, have years of board experience, or commit to taking on everything at once. Sometimes the most valuable contribution is simply a willingness to step forward and help figure out what comes next.

Please reach out to me at labrdrcrr@gmail.com or ocraonline@gmail.com if you're interested in serving as an officer or director, would like to help with a particular responsibility or project, or have ideas about how we can move OCRA forward. You don't need to make a commitment just to start a conversation.  You can also click here to complete the online form for nominations.

OCRA belongs to all of us. Its future shouldn't rest on the shoulders of the same handful of people year after year. This is an opportunity to rethink how we work together, bring new voices into leadership, and build an association that will serve our members for years to come.

Deadline for nominations

To adhere to the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws and allow time for review, please submit all nominations on or before Friday, February 5, 2027.

Let's work together to make this next chapter a strong one.

Thank you for everything you do for our profession and our association.

Lance A. Boardman, RDR, CRR
Nominating Committee Chair
Immediate Past President