Letter from the President  

Colleagues

I begin by thanking you for electing me as President of BIVR.  This is the pinnacle of my long-standing membership of the Institute, which in the 1980s saw me as an examiner and latterly as a Council member.  I look forward to working with you and taking the Institute forward over the coming year.

I start by saying a great big thank you to Mary and Ann for organising such an inspiring AGM, to Andrew and Sue for giving us some much-needed training and, for those speech-to-texters amongst us, a vote of thanks to Lynn for showing us the next steps.  For those who could not come you missed a treat.  Not only was the location first class, but the food was good too. 
A good day was had by all, and I, for one, was left feeling enthused.

Ann’s message to us was to be more professional in all we strive to do; my message is that we should come out of the shadows, be proud and let people know who we are and what we do.  There was much discussion at the meeting about how we could achieve that, be it badges, name plates, ties or whatever and I am sure that discussion will go on in council meetings.  The first thing I did at home was make myself a name plate.  I downloaded the blue BIVR logo with the legend “The professional home of verbatim reporters” underneath it.  Alongside I printed my name with “Shorthand Writer” underneath.  I took it along to a job and sat it over the usual “Transcriber” nameplate that is used in certain places.  Suddenly I had a face and everyone seemed eager to speak to me.  I like to think that that flash of blue had something to do with it.  Anyway, thanks to Carole Tasker for the suggestion: it worked. 
I have continued to use the name plate at all my jobs to similar effect.

With our fantastic new website up and running I wish you all a prosperous year.

Helen Edwards
President


We welcome Leah Willersdorf on to the Council.

Our thanks to Andrew Howell, Susan Humphries, Sheryll Holley and Linda Bruce (AoHL formerly RNID) for the workshops.
 

Offer of work
 

Respond by 27 June 2011 !

 

Please find attached an Expression of Interest for the solicitation that
UN-ICTY intends to issue for the Court Reporting Services in the English
Language. The request was posted on the UN's web site - Number
EOIUNICTY-6711. We would appreciate if you can forward it to any companies
that might be interested to submit a proposal.

(See attached file: eoi6711[1]English.pdf)

Thank you for your assistance
Kind regards

Taryn Bowden
Supervisor, Purchasing Unit
United Nations-ICTY, Procurement Section
Eisenhowerlaan 126-128, 2517 KN
The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: 0031 (0) 70 512 8813
Fax: 0031 (0) 70 512 5344
E-mail: bowden@un.org
 

Secretary's note:  This has been posted on the BIVR website for the past week.

Do keep checking the website for up-dates.  Also our private Facebook page.  You should only access this through the member's area of the BIVR website.

If you have an item for sale, or an article to write for the Newsletter - please send it along for me to put on your website.  Sec.
 

QRR Examination

The date

Saturday 22 October 2011
 

The place

The Edinburgh Room, The Premier Inn, 26-30 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9AA.
 

The time 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
 

QRR Application form

I wish to enter the Realtime Examination to be held on Saturday 22 October 2011.

Name of Applicant (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms):

Private Address:

Telephone Nos:

e-mail:

I am a member of the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters

[  ]  Fellow
[  ]  Member
[  ]  I am not a member of the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters
 
I am currently engaged as a Verbatim Court Reporter by (please name firm)



Please indicate which system you use:

[  ]  Palantype
[  ]  Stenograph

Examination fee:

[  ]  BIVR Member/Fellow £50.00
[  ]  Non-BIVR member £80.00

Please send this form together with the relevant examination fee payable to “BIVR” to:  The Secretary, BIVR, 73 Alicia Gardens, Kenton, Harrow, Middx HA3 8JD

Please return to the Secretary no later than 30 June 2011
 

IPS Speeds Application Form

I wish to enter an Incorporated Phonographic Society (IPS) examination on Saturday 22 October 2011 at 160 wpm / 180 / 190 / 200 / 210 / 220 / 230 / 240 / 250 wpm  (Please indicate which speed)

(Please be sure that you have done a lot of practise at those very high speeds before attempting one!  Don't just book several speeds "to see how I get on" as you are effectively wasting an exam paper. as well as your money!)

(Please indicate which speed/s – you will be asked to pay a separate fee for each additional one transcribed and submitted.)

Name of Applicant (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms):

Private Address:

Telephone Nos:

e-mail:

Please indicate which examination you are applying for:

[  ]  160 wpm
[  ]  180 wpm

High speed: [      ]   (please specify speed)

Examination fee:

[  ]  £30.00 per speed examination

(If you take more than one speed we must ask for a second fee)
 
All exams must be booked, and paid for, in advance.

Please send this application form together with the relevant examination fee payable to “BIVR” to:  The Secretary, BIVR, 73 Alicia Gardens, Kenton, Harrow, Middx HA3 8JD.

Please return to the Secretary no later than 30 June 2011.

PS If you know of a non-member who would like to attend either of these examinations, please let me know and I will send an application form.

PPS If you know a non-member, please encourage them to join BIVR.

AGM 2011

The AGM, as well as the various workshop, were well attended.  Everyone came away having learned something new.  A big plus was the networking that members (especially the two students who came) were able to engage in. 
 

From the feedback forms:

What did you like:

Case Catalyst


It was too short!  I could have done with another couple of hours.
Clear and consise presentation.
The opportunity to work.
Very interactive and friendly.  Asked us what we wanted to know.

STTR

Clear and consise information.
Learning about what is required.

Eclipse

The workshops were useful and easy to understand.
I would like another workshop in summer holidays or over Christmas.
Well paced.  Good handouts.  Lots to do.  Hands-on learning.
Presentation.
Hyperkeys.
Would like to know about indexing and macros.
Workshop should be half a day or a day.
Would like a workshop on speaker tables.

Any other comments:

I hope info sheets can be on website to download.
More workshops please!
Facebook has a page "Briefs for court reporters."  V good!
Would like another workshop ASAP!
Great learning curve - perhas twice a year?
Well run - thanks for such good work and thoughtfulness.
 

Would like a workshop on: 

Word
Deposition prep and procedures


What did you not like:

Case Catalyst:

It was too short
What's not to like?
 

Any other comments:

There were more people at lunch than the AGM!!
I think referring to members as being "negative" stifles debate.  You may not like what is said, but others have the right to say it!  Thank you.


From e-mails received:

I have been meaning to email you about how much I enjoyed the BIVR day last month. 
I learnt some interesting stuff, both from the attendees and from talking to the people who were there - and fired up my enthusiasm again in the process.

I agree with all the nice things that have been said about Saturday's meeting.  We really must congratulate Ann and Mary on putting together such a good day.  The whole event was really professional and a vast improvement on those days when we only discussed real AGM matters.  The problem now will be to "follow that"!

All positive comments bar one! I really can't see what there is to be negative about, we all learnt something, had a nice lunch and a few laughs along the way and Mary, well done for great organisation!

I thought the AGM was fabulous - great organising as usual.

The AGM Minutes will be posted shortly.

For those members who are attempting the STTR AoHL (RNID/Signature) qualification who wish to have a DVD of the workshop, please contact me sec@bivr.org.uk.  

It is hoped that we will post the other DVD recordings of the workshops on the website, but I am still tweaking them.  Sec.


 

News from Stenograph.com
 

Keyless access with Case CATalyst e-Key™
 
Court reporters, captioners, and students alike have asked us for keyless access to Case CATalyst. We're so excited to answer the request with our new e-Key. The e-Key is a non-physical authorization that will empower you to activate Case CATalyst on as many as three computers.

What's new!
A non-physical e-Key™ provides access to Case CATalyst 12. Turn in your security device for an e-Key at no cost other than the cost of shipping your security device back to Stenograph!

Now...
Free yourself of carrying a security dongle. Stop worrying about losing or forgetting your security device. Free up a USB post on your computer.

NOTE: The e-Key is available to licensed Case CATalyst 12 users on a scheduled first-come, first-served basis after the official release of Case CATalyst 12. Once you receive the update and load it on your computer(s), we'll work with you to return your security device in exchange for an e-Key.

You do not need to be on a software support plan to reactivate!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/GCYYaFWIpnU


Note:  if the youtube programme does not load you will need to go to the BIVR website, log in and check it out there.

If you have difficulty in logging in, please just click on "forgot password" and follow the instructions you receive.

Eclipse 

Total Eclipse 5 Intermediate Training, Session II - The Automatic Transcript

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time-USA)

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSCRIPT

Training provided by Anastasia Swinkles.

(Eclipse users using EclipseVox 5 should not enroll in this class.)

Topics to be covered:

Form Fields

Using List Files

Creating Block Files

DATE & TIME: June 21st, 2011       6:30 - 8:30 p.m. PDT  and 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time

COST:  US$49

Training certificates accepted.  Call for details--(772) 288-3266 or (800) 800-1759

Please be aware that training certificates must be received in our office before the start of the session.

.2 CE credits will be available for this session.  If you also attended Session I: Totally Terrific Translations, you will receive one certificate for .4 CE credits.

Attendees will be provided with the materials necessary to apply for points from the NCRA.   Attendees must pay any CEU fees required by their association.

If you have questions, please call:  (772) 288-3266 or(800) 800-1759  Or e-mail questions to asitraining@eclipsecat.com

You can sign-up using the link below.

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/563353977

 

Action on Hearing Loss
 

RNID becomes Action on Hearing Loss
 

RNID celebrated its centenary Thursday 9 June 2011 with a bold new identity – Action on Hearing Loss – which better represents the full scope of the charity’s work for a world where hearing loss doesn't limit or label people, where tinnitus is silenced – and where people value and look after their hearing.
 

www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk



From an e-mail from the NCRA - CSI Court Reporter special on youtube


"Plot Thickens in NCRA's CSI Parody

Many court reporters know Elinda Nade, a court reporting wannabe from her appearances on Saturday Night Live, and it probably came as no surprise when she surfaced as a suspect in CSI National, NCRA's parody of the CSI drama series. Take part in the action, which will take members right up to a stunning finale. The reviews of the program have been outstanding. Remarked one NCRA member: "Fantastic!!! Gripping!!!" Check it out for yourself."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwJorFlZhU


Note:  if the youtube programme does not load you will need to go to the BIVR website, log in and check it out there.

If you have difficulty in logging in, please just click on "forgot password" and follow the instructions you receive.


Finally, it is good to close a News Letter on a high!

Congratulations to Peter Pullen of STAGETEXT, the charity he helped set up providing and promoting the use of captioning and speech-to-text transcription for theatre performances.

Peter, Chairman of STAGETEXT, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday 2011 Honours List for services to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.