August 2023 –
It may sound cliché, but time flies! In the ten years that I have served on USCRA’s Board of Directors there have been many changes, and yet some things still remain the same. We continue to have great people volunteering their time to make this association what it is. They make sure that The Circuit Rider gets published twice a year, put on fabulous seminars and conventions, offer onsite testing, send out blasts through Constant Contact, keep detailed records of our membership database, answer the questions of our constituents, and track changes proposed by the AO by giving of their time.
As federal reporters, we know the value and importance of producing a verbatim record and ensuring that process is preserved. It has been said for decades that electronic recording and artificial intelligence will replace us. The AO is working towards implementing proposed voice-to-text software and electronic recording as a viable means of preserving the record. The creative “solutions” that the AO suggests to find ways to preemptively deal with the projected shortfall of reporters nationwide include everything but giving federal reporters raises.
As president, I have had the privilege of spending time in the trenches with those doing the work of the association. Everyone who gives their time genuinely cares about our profession, this association and preserving our place in the judiciary. The work at times can be exhausting, but the reward is well worth the effort of actively getting involved and taking ownership in your own future.
I have said it before that the friendships you make and the relationships that grow as a result of USCRA membership are the intangible and priceless gifts this association offers! In a world where far too many people strive to find places to belong, every federal reporter needs to understand that USCRA has a place for them to serve and become more involved. As more federal reporters retire and reap the benefit of their labor, now is the time to change the attitude that “someone else” will always be there to do the work of the association and that you can remain passively on the sidelines. I want to push back against that and tell you that now more than ever it is important that each of us stand up and take responsibility for our profession so that it will continue to serve as a cog in the wheels of justice going forward.
Please consider volunteering your time and talents to preserve our profession and make this association stronger by giving your time as a circuit representative, serving on any of our committees, or taking care of things behind the scenes. Our strength is in our numbers and in our diversity and uniqueness. Martin Luther King said it best when he said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Our profession, this association, and the constituents we serve must begin to speak loud and clear and continue the discussion to set ourselves apart as the only true guardians of the record.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President. We have many talented and bright people in USCRA, and we will be stronger only when we all fight to preserve our profession together!
Jana McKinney
USCRA President 2022-2023