As you travel on the roads in my area, you will notice the corn and beans in the fields are starting to turn to brown. The year of hard work will pay off when the farmers reap their bountiful harvests.
Illinois court reporters reaped the benefit of their hard work during the National Convention in Chicago in August. Melanie Humphrey-Sonntag was installed as the 2010-2011 President of the National Court Reporters Association. Also at the National Convention, June M. Otte of Quincy received the 2010 Aurelio Award for Altruism. Illinois reporters took part in the National speed and realtime contests. Julie Shane of Morton placed fourth overall in the National contest and Donna Urlaub of Chicago placed fifth overall in the National contest. Congratulations to Donna Urlaub for placing first in the ILCRA Realtime contest with an incredible 99% and Bernice Radavich from Lemont with 98.2%. Congratulations to Julie Shane for placing first in the ILCRA speed contest (97.671%) and Donna Urlaub for placing second (97.568%). Illinois had a great showing of reporters who participated and qualified in the contests.
At the ILCRA Annual Business meeting on Saturday, August 7th, Amy Quint presented Marilyn Haywood, court reporting instructor at John A. Logan College, the Award of Excellence for an Outstanding Educator. Last year’s DSA Award winner Kent Evans proudly presented Patti White the 2010 Distinguished Service Award.
Through the generous donations of our members, 20 court reporting students were sponsored for National Convention. The following students received scholarships based upon their submitted essays: 1st place Christina Pryor, South Suburban College; 2nd place Leslie McQuellon, Midstate College; and 3rd place Colleen Sabia, South Suburban College. Thank you for your donations to the Student Scholarship Fund.
Thank you to all who supported ILCRA and purchased tickets for our cash raffle. Congratulations to first place winner Ted Bednarek of Joliet, second place winner Al Sonntag, and third place winner Jill David and friends of Peoria.
What a bountiful harvest the Illinois court reporters have realized this year.
Place on your calendar the Grand Connection convention with Illinois and Wisconsin on September 9-11, 2011 in Lake Geneva, WI.
