The Fearless Stenographers Conference 2023 – Recap
We did it again! This past spring, the Fearless Stenographers community convened in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Fearless Stenographers Conference 2023. Several months prior, I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to pull it off, but God gets all the glory for making it possible. Tragedy Strikes. On November 28, 2022, while mulling over committees and coordinating teams of volunteers to ensure that Atlanta would be an amazing steno experience, I picked up a call identified as “Scam Likely.” (Yes, I answer all calls.) However, the person on the other end of the line was calling from the hospital, looking for the next of kin to my little brother Stevie Day. My brother was in a serious accident. In that split second, my world stopped. I dropped everything, including steno, to rush to the side of my little brother. There are two things that I love with my whole heart: Stevie and steno. My little brother, a pedestrian, had been hit by a reckless driver, a tragic incident that would upend my world. After remaining in the ICU for approximately four weeks, the Good Lord called Stevie home to be with our mother on December 23rd, 2022. To this day the loss of my little brother leaves me feeling bewildered, sad, hurt, and confused. Up until that point, I had never felt so alone. Though some might say “That’s life,” little do they know that Stevie was my everything. Here I was engrossed in planning a conference and now an unexpected funeral, struggling to find the strength to do it all. I asked myself, how can I get off this emotional roller coaster and back to business? Though I had no answers, God did. On January 13, 2023, we held a funeral service for Stevie, who, in a million years, I never would have thought I would be burying. After all, he was my little brother. It was supposed to be the other way around; at least that is how I had imagined it. Nonetheless, we laid Stevie to rest, knowing that, on this day, he would be safely enveloped in the eternal embrace of our mother’s arms, a place that we both had desired to be since she departed prematurely from this world. Picking Up the Pieces. On the following day, January 14, it was time to set my sadness and grief aside and catch up on planning the conference. I vividly recall laying it all out before God, asking why and how. Everything suddenly seemed messy, disordered, and incomplete. The 320 wpm test, which had to be coordinated, left me wondering how on Earth I’d make it happen. I wouldn’t be able to reach out to any competitors this time around, including Allie Hall, who would be competing. “Lord, how can I make this work?” And then there were the sponsors. Here it was 90 days before the conference, and my mind was flooded with questions. Lord, how will we attract them? Should I cancel? Since the contract for the hotel has already been signed, should I refund everyone’s money and take a huge loss? Even though our first block of hotel rooms is filled, can the show truly go on? Behind the scenes, I was a disaster, and everything around me seemed to be falling apart. I couldn’t stop thinking about my beloved brother and mother and the emptiness I was feeling inside. How do I pull it all together? After many long, sleepless nights spent pacing the floor at 3:00 a.m., praying and fasting, fasting and praying, I knew I had to woman up and just believe that it would all work out somehow. When I started to embrace the fact that no weapon formed against me will prosper, it was then that God impressed upon me to just trust the process, assuring me that it would all work out to His glory. And with His blessed assurance, I rolled up my sleeves and got busy. I share this deeply personal story with you because this is the gritty part of life that we often don’t get to see. Social media gives us the false impression that all is perfect, easy, seamless, requiring little effort or elbow grease. But then there’s reality. Planning a conference singlehandedly without a team, I soon discovered, is an unhealthy, arduous undertaking that I will never attempt again. However, since it didn’t seem right or fair to hand off incomplete, messy assignments to others at that time, I rolled up my sleeves and resolved to just get it done. After all, this is hard work that will only create stress and anxiety for those whose passion does not run deep for steno. Answered Prayer. As I continued to have faith, renew my mind, believe, and trust the process, the next thing I knew, a few individuals reached out to ask if they could serve as sponsors. And then a few more sponsors rolled in. Though Steno in the City (SITC) is small and typically falls short on the back end, it does big things in terms of promoting our profession and bringing the steno community together. We trust that our sponsor list will continue to grow as we set out to do outstanding things for the court reporting and captioning community. Needless to say, God intervened to ensure the resounding success of our Fearless Stenographers Conference on April 13 through April 15, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia, a recap of which follows. Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the loss of my brother, I am happy to report that we, as a team, came together and pulled off another epic conference. Three weeks before the event, I delegated tasks to my steno tribe, who I appreciate to the moon and back. In Atlanta it was all hands on deck. The SITC community convened to make the conference a magical, inspirational, and fun weekend for all. The Fearless Stenographers Conferences are intended to give attendees the impression
The Fearless Stenographers Conference ‘22 Recap
Last spring, March 23rd to 25th, 2022, the first annual Fearless Stenographers Conference took place at the Omni Hotel in Houston, Texas. Founder Shaunise Day, steno advocate, visionary, and lover of all things steno, went bold and bodacious with her vision for the inaugural event for the court reporting and captioning professional and did the unthinkable, taking the phrase “Do it scared” to heights previously unknown. In terms of its construct, the conference would provide an intimate, inspiring space where court reporters, captioners, and the steno community could unite, network, and brainstorm ways to move the profession forward as well as celebrate who we are and what we do, creating a memorable time for stenographers and the legal community. DAY 1 On Day 1 of the conference, we held our “Speed in the City” contest, which was open to all to participate. Composed of a 280 wpm Q&A, 260 wpm Jury Charge, and a 220 wpm Literary, the competition presented a rare opportunity for those who have always wanted to compete on a state or national level to get their feet wet and test the waters. The contest also provided extra motivation for reporters preparing to take the RMR at 260 wpm, allowing them to zone in on their writing in a speed contest environment. Legal Profession Networking Mixer. On Thursday evening, the “Legal Profession Networking Mixer” took place at The Ballroom at Bayou Place, located in downtown Houston. In terms of selecting an offsite location for the exciting event, Shaunise Day endeavored to ensure that our steno professionals would experience an unforgettably unique moment as they celebrated who they are and what they do as reporters. As the guests entered the venue, entrance stairs customized with “Steno in the City” décor transported them to the meeting space. The exquisite aesthetics of The Ballroom at Bayou Place complemented Shaunise’s vision for the exciting first-time event. Our stenos enjoyed capturing selfies in a 360-degree photo booth. The room, adorned with a stunning backdrop featuring “STENO” in marquee letters, lit up the space. A “Fearless Stenographers” ice sculpture with purple lighting was also on display as were custom backdrops for more picture-taking, including an archway with balloon décor. Shaunise sought to ensure that the entire city would know about the “Steno in the City” weekend event. Every detail mattered and no stone was left unturned, resulting in a magical night for the legal profession. Throughout the evening during the networking mixer, Steno Correspondent and Host, Kendra Mills, conducted short interviews with special invited guests and reporters. You can check out the videos in the gallery at www.stenointhecity.com. Guest Speakers. To open up the event, attendees were graced by the presence of a special guest and speaker, Judge Carlos Moore, Esq, immediate past president of the National Bar Association and partner at the Cochran Law Firm. An attorneys’ conference convened during this same weekend, and Judge Moore was kind enough to adjust his busy schedule in order to make an appearance and speak at our networking event, which we deeply appreciated. Judge Moore spoke eloquently about our judicial system and the importance of having a stenographic court reporter take down the verbatim record. Proclamation Ceremony. Next up, Mayor Sylvester Turner declared “Steno in the City Week, March 24th to March 26th, 2022.” The declaration was presented by Edward Pollard, Esq, Houston City Council Member, District J. Mr. Pollard graciously presented and dedicated this important proclamation to stenographers across the globe. We offered a special thank you to Alvin Byrd, a dear friend of Shaunise Day, for assisting with this process. Guest Speakers (cont’d). Our next special guest at our networking mixer was the Honorable Judge Linda Marie Dunson, 309th District Family Court, Harris County Civil Courthouse. Showcasing the Houston 19, also in attendance was Judge Lashawn A. Williams, Civil Court at Law No. 3 and Judge Lori Chambers Greg, Texas 262nd District Court. Judge Dunson, who has attended prior “Steno in the City” events, also participated in the first-ever “Steno Judicial Career Fair “ conceived and organized by Shaunise Day via Zoom during the height of the pandemic. In fact, “Steno in the City” partnered with KIPP Academy to host several career fairs during the pandemic where Judge Dunson engaged with students regarding exciting career options within the judicial system. Consistent with Shaunise Day’s mission to “network, network, network,” our next special guest speaker was Derrick A. Reed, Esq, partner at the Stephens Reed & Armstrong, PLLC, law firm. Understanding that networking is absolutely vital to our profession, Shaunise mined her vast personal contacts in order to attract members of the legal community to this groundbreaking event. The next special guest who spoke at our networking event was our beloved stenographer Stacey E. Raikes, RMR, CRR, who did a fabulous job representing and advocating for court reporting and captioning professionals. We also received a few remarks from the National Court Reporters Association immediate past president Debbie Dibble, and past president Carl Sauceda. Live Band Performance. What came next eyes have not seen nor ears have heard. This may have been the first-ever steno-related networking event to have a live band perform. Jazz Songstress Kiora Michelle of Houston, Texas, entertained us with several tunes. The steno community networked, enjoyed delicious appetizers and drinks, and danced the night away. On the first night of the conference, it was abundantly clear that our mission to create a magical, memorable evening for all was accomplished. DAY 2 Since this was the first day of the actual conference, we wanted to kick it off in an exciting and novel way. Toward this end, we held a “Steno All-Star Keynote” featuring an array of steno-related keynote speakers. Festooned with an all-star theme, this portion of the event provided an outlet for powerful voices within our profession. Handpicked and armed with a special purpose, each speaker in the empowering lineup encouraged, uplifted, and inspired our steno community. Keynote Speaker Presentations. We are
Tennessee State Association Annual Convention presents “Steno in the City” – May 2021
Tennessee State Association Annual Convention presents “Steno in the City” Networking Mixer As the world is starting to open up with in-person gatherings, I was honored back in May to be the guest speaker at the annual convention of the Tennessee Court Reporters Association in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. “Steno in the City” also hosted the annual networking mixer for the event. The gathering, composed of an intimate group of professional stenographic reporters, was a huge success that presented me with the opportunity to delve into key topics impacting our industry as well as to empower, uplift, encourage, and unite convention attendees. Among the topics covered was unity in terms of setting aside our differences in order to work together for the greater good of the stenographic reporting community. This included encouraging state and national membership, attracting young people to the profession, forging profitable partnerships, joining forces with other steno advocates and allies, and a host of other subjects. As part of my presentation, I probed into the current work practices of convention attendees and asked, “Are you providing real time all the time and looking for ways to enhance your steno skills?” If not, I shared that there are services and colleagues who are ready, willing, and able to help. After asking, “Are you ready to promote our profession but feel that you don’t have the time?” I suggested that the ability to report remotely gave us a rare opportunity to up our game and promote our profession on a wider scale. In fact, the tools are right at our fingertips. No longer must we wait for Court Reporting and Captioning Week or for our state association to host a career fair. Despite the pandemic, we can roll up our sleeves and get involved, using the power of technology to greatest advantage in order to promote our profession. Feel free to tab on over to “The Steno Xperience” for more tips and ideas. Thank you, members of the TCRA, for the opportunity to participate at your annual convention. I hope mine was an inspiring message that you will carry from this point into the future as you explore ways to have an even greater impact on our noble profession. Networking Mixer aka “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere” TCRA graciously allowed “Steno in the City” to host their annual mixer. When we had asked April Benson, vice president of TRCA, if she would be open to the idea of “Steno in the City” infusing some new and novel elements into the mix in order to give the networking event a bit of a makeover, she enthusiastically agreed. Though April had no idea of what was to come, she wholeheartedly trusted our vision and gave us free rein to allow the creativity to flow. I am happy to report that the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. April, the board, and the event participants who were the beneficiaries of our hard work and planning were thrilled with the results, and the mixer was a complete success. The “Steno in the City” Vision In keeping with the “Steno Stars” theme, the event featured a stunning backdrop and red carpet that allowed our stellar stenographers to feel like the stars that they truly are. After having their pictures snapped on the red carpet, each star shared why they loved the court reporting and captioning profession. An eye-popping “Steno in the City” monogram enhanced the wow factor of the setup. The statuesque “STENO” messaging ablaze in LED lights was a bold, dramatic focal point that served as an apt reminder to all that we are steno strong, we are still standing, and we are here to stay. Following the red carpet presentations and during the networking mixer, conference attendees participated in a fun game designed to break the ice and allow our reporters to engage with one another. While attendees dined on appetizers and delectable drinks provided by TRCA, the “Steno in the City” deejay took over and the group soon lit up the dance floor, which was festooned in an array of dazzling purple and blue lights and enhanced the festive mood of the celebrants. Photo Booth Fun “Steno in the City” provided a high-tech photo booth for the event, which was a resounding success. The convention attendees had a blast taking turns standing on the platform and getting down with groovy hand gestures and dance moves. While our steno stars interacted in the booth, the software translated their moves into entertaining boomerang photos and slow motion videos that were a hit with the attendees. Thus you can expect to see this fun, interactive photo booth at future “Steno in the City” events. Our goal was to ensure that the TCRA event was infused with an air of energy and excitement and that participants had a wonderful time. And to memorialize the festivities for our steno community to revisit and enjoy, “Steno in the City” hired a professional photographer to capture the many memorable moments that were created over the course of the event. The Importance of Membership Value Operating in this fast-paced and mercurial environment has driven home the importance of modifying our approach to advancing our profession in order to keep up with the times. Toward this end, we firmly believe that our state associations across the nation play a pivotal role and should consider membership value as Priority Number 1. When members feel that the leadership of their state association has their best interest at heart and is invested in their professional advancement and success, in return those members will gladly offer their support, financially and otherwise. They will also look forward to attending webinars and conventions to be enriched and edified, not merely to satisfy the CEU requirement. Thus perceived membership value is both real and instrumental to the future of our industry. Honoring our Steno Legends When the “Steno in the City” Facebook group went live last February, we asked members to post their years
Steno in the City – Washington, D.C. – May 2019
Steno in the City, Washington, D.C., which allowed steno reporters a unique opportunity to gather with one another to celebrate us, was a resounding success. The Steno in the City blueprint just needed a team to assist with bringing the vision alive. Linda Giles was instrumental in this process. She offered guidance throughout the entire organizational and event-planning process, for example, how to put on an event, secure contracts with venues and vendors, and negotiate hotel rates. Margary Rogers, RPR, CRI, RSA, BCR, came through in a clutch as she assisted with organizing, decorating, and providing resources and countless D.C. area connections. With the expert guidance of these two amazing ladies, it surely would have been impossible to pull off this monumental nationwide event, and we are grateful for their guidance and support. The Steno in the City event offered two full days in our nation’s capital to connect with our steno stars. A networking event was held on Friday evening where stenographers from all over the nation convened. The event featured special guest speakers, including The Honorable Chief Judge Robert E. Morin, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Washington D.C., and Veda Rashaeed, Esq. The event, once just a seed that would eventually bloom into the full-blown vision, allowed us to forge many connections, friendships, and sisterhoods, many of which will play out over a lifetime. Among the attendees was Stenograph LLC. Their presence enabled reporters from across the country to check out their latest equipment and obtain answers to software questions. And though some were not able to attend this monumental event in person, Stenograph was gracious enough to create a few video clips for folks to view remotely. The purpose of Steno in the City’s networking events is to empower one another. As an antidote to the pervasive negativity that exists in today’s society and, unfortunately, in the profession, we are all about positivity and lifting each other up. Case in point is Joe Strickland, RPR, CRR, CRC, who hails from the District of Columbia. Joe was instrumental in vetting possible venues for our event in D.C. In case you haven’t already, listen to episode 3 of the podcast with Joe, one of the best this profession has to offer, and learn from the voice of experience that worked for two decades in our nation’s House of Representatives. Joe has had an amazing career, and we have much to learn from him. Next in our lineup was the steno queen, Sabrina Lewis, CCR, RDR, CRR, Federal Official Court Reporter, and Kensie Benoit, CSR, Official Court Reporter, 290th District Court. During the mixer part of the event, we shared the video clips that they’d created on why they loved court reporting and were attracted to the profession, which were most inspiring. Steno in the City held a few exciting raffles at the event. The sponsored raffles were courtesy of Eclipse and Case Catalyst software training, Stenograph, StenEd, Margary Rogers, Samuel Fannin, and Shaunise Day. Following the viewing of the video clips and raffles, event attendees continued to network over delicious appetizers, and our bartender kept the drinks flowing. The celebration continued with countless photos and videos followed by our steno lovers hitting the dance floor and celebrating in style. Vendors for our event included The Loft D.C.; LA Prima Catering; Red Velvet Cupcakes; Bar Ro’d Mobile Bartending Services; Photography by LeRoy Armstead; Videography by Admin McMilan; D.C. Superior Court; Tonya Coleman-Fannin, Silver Platters Delights Catering; and Eclipse Entertainment Group. The sponsors who donated the items that were included in our Steno in the City Swag Bagwere NCRA, Stenovator, Pengad, and Shaunise Day. Once the planning process was complete and the costs associated with holding the event were determined, sponsors were easy to attract. We stand on solid ground with steno and would never partner with corporations whose agenda included replacing us with digitals. To be fair to all parties, I had decided to fund the event on my own. In fact, I funded the lion’s share, 95%. However, I would also like to personally acknowledge the contributions of the amazing stenographers who came forward as sponsors either before or after they’d learned what I’d done. Although I am the type to keep these matters to myself, when asked, I will happily share credit where credit is due and remain grateful for their support. Besides myself, the sponsors of the Steno in the City event include Linda Giles, Kim Xavier, Jeannin Alexis, Diane Salters, Margaret Clark, Virginia Dodge, and Lisa Migliore Black. A special shout-out to Tanya Fannin. Tanya’s many contributions were invaluable. She was like a second mom throughout the entire planning process. For example, in terms of the catering aspect, Tanya was in charge, making sure that everything was in order from soup to nuts. In addition, she was responsible for the agendas, cards, and posters. Though we originally hadn’t planned on the posters, Tanya insisted otherwise, which we’re glad she did. And at the end of the event, she shared that she was already looking forward to helping with the next one. Not only was Tanya instrumental in ensuring the success of the Steno in the City D.C. event, she accomplished it all while on dialysis. Concerned for her health, we’d tell her no, and she’d say yes. You couldn’t stop this lady even if you wanted to. We are grateful for Tanya’s indomitable spirit and immense heart. Unfortunately, Tanya is no longer with us. However, we know that she is in heaven organizing and taking charge. May she rest in peace.