February 2024 –
I started out as the Ninth Circuit North Rep in 2017, and here I am now the
president of USCRA. Little did I know that I would end up here serving as
president. I am honored to hold this position and will do my best to keep the
organization running smoothly this year.
I look back on my career as a reporter and cannot believe the journey that I have
been on, from freelance reporter to state reporter to finally getting the opportunity
to become a federal reporter. I have enjoyed my career, obviously, as I am now in
my 42nd year of reporting. It has been interesting, educational, demanding,
challenging, and frustrating, but it has also been rewarding, and I would not change
a thing.
I did not know what I wanted to do when I grew up. My dad, concerned that I
wanted to be a lifeguard forever, started what I called “career of the day.” He
would come to me every day and say, “Would you like to go to college to be a this
or a that?” Nothing interested me. He finally had something when he asked if I
would like to try court reporting. I asked him, “What is that?” He explained what a
court reporter was. I told him I did not even really know how to type – you do not
need typing skills to be a lifeguard. He said, “That’s the beauty of it, they teach you
how to type and write on the machine in school.” I was in! My journey began in
1981 and I am still here in 2024.
Reporting has had its challenges to face over the years. I have heard throughout my
career that the world would not need reporters eventually and recording systems
would take our place. Yet we hear about recording systems failing, that there is no
record, or that the recording is unintelligible. AI is now being touted as the next
thing that will replace us and is better than a live body in a chair listening to every
word. We hear how it can hear speech and accurately translate it to text. Really?
Then why and how did AI hear the words “Your Honor” in a trial I was watching
on YouTube and translate it as “urinary”? Whoa. Wait. What? We will continue to
have challenges, as we have had challenges in the past, but our perseverance and
our dedication to making an accurate record will prove that we are the Gold
Standard.
Time + Effort = Goal. I saw this on a calendar years ago and kept it. I wanted to
pass the CRR and Merit exams, so I kept it on my desk to remind myself that is
what it was going to take to achieve my goals. The first time I heard Q&A at 260,
it was so fast, I could not even understand what they were saying. It took a lot of
time and effort, but I finally passed both tests. I encourage anyone who wants to
pass one of these tests to put the time and effort into it. It quite possibly can open
opportunities for you like it did for me.
As a member of USCRA, I have made wonderful connections with many reporters
throughout the United States and look forward to seeing them at conventions, both
virtual and in person. The virtual Midyear Convention was a solution to going
without a convention during the pandemic and ended up providing members a way
to earn CEU points with no travel.
Your Board of Directors is hard at work for you and spends time and effort to make
USCRA a great organization. If you have not thought about volunteering on a
committee before, look at the committees on the website and see if something
interests you. This is the year for everyone to think about volunteering on a
committee if you have not already done so. The more help each committee
chairperson gets, the easier it is for everyone. Think about volunteering for just one
year to see if you like a particular committee. Maybe pick a different committee if
the first one you choose does not suit your interests. As you get to know people in
the organization, you might just find out that you enjoy the type of work
committees do for USCRA.
Annual Convention in Louisville was so much fun, and now the virtual Midyear
Convention is coming up soon. I look forward to both this year and will hopefully
see you all there.
I will tell you that it takes a village to make this organization run smoothly, and I
thank everyone involved for all their help and support.
Becky Sabo
USCRA President 2023-2024