Mary Mays, CCR, President, Alabama Court Reporters Association
Good day, everyone!
As you can see, new things are on the horizon for the Alabama Court Reporters Association, as evidenced by this newsletter. What do you think? Karen Strickland-Planz and Saralyn Hicks-Britt have been hard at work with Patrick Holloway, our content specialist for alcra.org, to expand our social media presence and develop this publication. The goal is to empower our members while keeping you informed and engaged with your association. How fortunate we are to have his expertise and guidance! Karen and Saralyn have been instrumental in launching this new project, and ACRA is grateful for all their time and effort in bringing it to life.
Please consider contributing your photos and submissions—whether from vacation, family time, or work. We look forward to including them in future newsletters. Do you have any pro tips or briefs? We know our members are sharp; we see you on social media all the time! You can send submissions to [email protected].
Speaking of staying engaged, the ACRA Annual Conference is approaching—January 24-25, 2025. What a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow court reporters! Cyndi Tumlin is working tirelessly to plan the event, and having done this myself, I know it’s no small task. Thank you, Cyndi, for generously giving your time to make it all come together. We know you’ll do a fantastic job.
October 6, 2024, marked my 28th anniversary as an official court reporter in Tuscaloosa, and I can hardly believe it! Sitting down at that odd-looking manual writer with blank keys all those years ago, I had no idea how transformative this journey would be. I’m sure many of you look back on your own experiences and think, ‘How did we get here?’ We’re truly lucky to have found our niche in such a rewarding career. Over the years, I’ve become friends with so many of you and feel blessed by the knowledge we share in every conversation, whether in person or over the phone. Here’s to many more years of learning and connecting together!
With all the changes in our world today, it’s comforting to remember the support of family and friends. Our profession is not immune to the shifts happening around us. Corrie Ten Boom once said, ‘Hold everything in your hands lightly; otherwise, it hurts when God pries your fingers open.’ Change can be hard, and we often resist it. But how can we learn to embrace it? I believe it’s a process, not an overnight shift unless forced. Together, we can adapt and move forward, one step at a time.
I look forward to seeing you soon!
