Letter from the President
As some of you may know, a few months ago I became a grandma again and, instead of working more or less full-time, I decided to work part-time with my daughter making up some of my money. This, I reasoned, would give me more time to pursue my hobbies – steno and horses.
With my new-found freedom – after all, babies only feed, sleep and play – I decided to hone my skills for the forthcoming QRR. My last speed certificate was for a basic 180 and I have long wanted to take my 200, but never got around to it, and while I was at it - perhaps, for when I go back to full-time work - I could push that and get my 220 certificate. However, babies don’t only feed, sleep and play; they have to be constantly supervised, even when sleeping in case they have stopped breathing. So the speed building never started.
On the plus side this still leaves me with free weekends. Yes, free weekends. I saw an advert for something called the Sunshine Tour, a show jumping competition, the finals of which are being held in October. I decided to have a go and so now I was height building instead of speed building. Of course most of my first lessons consisted of staying on the pony – as in writing shorthand, posture is all important. We either took off too early, too late or he jumped so hugely that I ended up on his neck or sitting on his rump.
The targets were that once a month we would go up three inches, competitions starting at two feet three. We started jumping at twelve inches, which, up to two feet six, was, so to speak, a piece of cake. To my daughter’s delight, and husband’s amusement, we qualified easily at each height. Rory, my pony, appeared to enjoy it too. But then the heights became serious and we were at two feet six to three feet… Why did that height suddenly look like six feet? After all, here I was at least five and a half feet up in the air on a pony who, although the jumping was not always pretty, had never refused anything. But, just like speed building, I had reached a plateau. It took me six weeks to get my head around that height. However, being a shorthand writer, I did what we always do: I persevered. Then one particularly sunny day after taking Rescue Remedy, I just shut my eyes and we sailed over. I did it again and again, and in the same lesson we jumped two feet nine, three feet and – hallelujah - three feet three inches.
The competition was the next day and we qualified for the two feet nine inches and then straight after for the three feet. This means that we have now qualified for the Sunshine Tour at two foot three, two feet six, two feet nine and three feet. On the big day we will jump only the three feet course, which, applying shorthand principles of being able to write quicker than the exam requires, should be easy.
By the time that is over the baby will be nine months old and starting to have a few sessions at the nursery, winter will be here and, as not much goes on in the horse world until the spring, perhaps I will be finally be able to get my 200 certificate and get ready for the QRR exam in March 2012. For now, best wishes to you all and good luck to those of you taking the QRR this October!
Helen Edwards
QRR Examination
There are still spaces available on this October's QRR examination. Book your place now as late-comers may not be accommodated. (Those who are already booked and paid have no need to re-confirm. I have your places booked.)
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. (arrive by 9:45 I need to start promptly at 10 a.m.)
If we have candidates for both QRR and the IPS speed exams, we will do the QRR first.
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 September 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 September 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.
* Please note that I must receive payment for the exam beforehand.
** There are some stamina passages under MEMBER DOWNLOADS on the website.
Good Luck
to those undertaking their STT assessments with AoHL in the next few months.
We had an extremely good workshop at this year's AGM with Linda Bruce of AoHL (Action on Hearing Loss - formerly RNID) explaining how the assessment works. Check it out on the BIVR website under "MEMBER DOWNLOADS". Both the audio and the edited version of Linda's talk are there, as well as the forms she was referring to.
Jean Gough MBIVR, QRR (CACDP Registered), is on the Signature shortlist for Communication Specialist of the Year. The other three shortlisted are all BSL/English Interpreters. The results will be known in November. Good Luck, Jean. Everything crossed for you.
Practise makes perfect!
In today's climate we need to make the most of our skills. Whether you are a pen and inker, a steno or palan write, we all need to be the best that we can be. Log in to the BIVR website and check out the current audios on there.
Not realtime proficient? Try the three Ps - practise, practise, practise. Refresh your theory (groan!), find free audio dictation on-line:
http://stenostream.blogspot.com/
http://www.long-live-pitmans-shorthand.org.uk/links.htm
http://courtreportingredlion.podomatic.com/
to name just a few. Google "shorthand", "dictation" and you can find a lot of sites offering free dictation which you may download for trying out later.
The IPS
Shorthand practise at Bishopsgate Institute on Thursday evenings 6:30 - 8 p.m. For a modest donation of £3 per session (concession for unemployed/students £1.50 per session) you have timed dictation. All speeds are catered for. If more than one speed is required, they are done in rotation, so that everyone gets something out of the evening.
The Bishopsgate Institute, opposite Liverpool Street Station has undergone some refurbishment during the course of the year which disrupted the IPS Thursday evenings. However, all is back to normal now and we are booked in the Rosebery Room (which holds 4 people comfortably, 5 at a pinch), so please come along.
Check us out: www.the-ips.org.uk
Lesson Player
in Eclipse allows you to make your own lessons for drilling those new outlines.
For steno writers on Eclipse this is a terrific tool. If you send me your Eclipse file - with no more than 25 outlines for drilling in each file - I will make it into a Lesson for you to practise at home. I do need it in Eclipse!!! I am looking into making lessons for Palantype as well - watch this space! Sec.
Stenograph
Case CATalyst training in the UK
Andrew provides training throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.
Eclipse training - from a USA trainer:
Eclipse training from Laura Axelsen, RMR, CCRR, CLR
Saturday 10 September 2011
9:30-3:00
The Brighton Room
Premier Inn
26-30 York Way, Kings Cross,
London N1 9AA
Topics:
Editing Overview
Hyperkeys
Macros
Numbers
Automatic indexing basics
Autobrief
Realtime output
Cost: £30 per person – payable in cash on the day.
Your steno machine would be useful for the autobrief section but not necessary.
The first 20 to book on will be assured a place.
Laura has been a certified shorthand reporter in the State of California, USA for 28 years and a software trainer since the 1990s - first with TurboCAT now with Eclipse and has been using Eclipse since 2001.
Laura’s grandfather was a superior court judge, and her father is a retired court reporter/magician who now works as her scopist.
Laura may be able to offer 1:1 training from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., but you will need to book ahead for this.
FOR SALE
Black Lightspeed for sale (Steno) - £995
I have a black Lightspeed for sale, lightly used by a student. It's the original classic version with the silver inset, and has thin leather keypads installed (from Depobook.com) which are easy to remove if you don't like them.
Also included is the Lightspeed specific tripod. (Although most people just use it on their lap.)
The latest version is sold new for $2995, plus $99.99 for the Tripod (plus postage, and import duties). The only difference between this and the latest Lightspeed Classic is that the new one has a black rather than silver inset. I am asking for £995 (GBP).
It's a great machine, small and light, can be used on your lap, and takes its power from your laptop. It also has a backup SD card, so, although it doesn't have a screen, your notes are safe if something goes wrong.
I know there are quite a few reporters over here who use one. Sheryll Holley uses one successfully for STTR work, and there are others. However, there is definitely a steep learning curve and tweaking involved to get the right key sensitivities for your writing style. It would probably not suit a technophobe!
There's much more information at: http://www.stenovations.com/lightspeed/lightspeedhome.html and a dedicated forum here: http://www.depoman.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=17
Along with the machine and tripod, I include the original box, manual, a cable to attach to your computer & installation CD. However, the latest version of the software and manual can be found here: http://www.stenovations.com/lightspeed/Support.html. The Lightspeed has the latest firmware installed, so is compatible with the latest version.
Feel free to contact me at ianjohndawson@hotmail.com for any details, or if you want some pictures :)
Ian (student member)
Did he mean that?
Hot off the press - from Steve
JUDGE: You say between the two vehicles; do you mean the black vehicle that you were partly in and the stationary vehicles that were coming in the other direction?
MR BARRISTER: Yes, and we can only be approximate as to the precise number.
(Note from Editor: Shades of Mrs Slocombe: "And I am unanimous in that!")
Next year's AGM
We are provisionally thinking of Reading, Berkshire, for our 2012 AGM, starting at 11 (to allow people to get there), having a full day to include AGM, staying overnight with a get-together dinner at own expense. What do members think?
Y2K briefs – repeated and added to:
TWOUPB - 2000
TWUPB - 2001
TWAO - 2002
TWAOE - 2003
TWOUR - 2004
TWAOEUF - 2005
TWEUBGS - 2006
TWEFRPB - 2007
TWAEUT - 2008
TWAO*EUPB - 2009
TWEPB - 2010
TWEL – 2011
TWET – 2012
year 2000 - Y-RT
21st century - TWURT
Does anyone have any for 2013 and on?
Light-hearted corner
· Roland Tennyson's HEALTH MESSAGE (from his Facebook page):
1. If walking/cycling is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.
2. A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water and is fat.
3. A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years.
From an American Forum:
I love how we learn new things every day in this job. :)
I learned yesterday that you don't have to be competent in EITHER language to be a depo interpreter.
ATTORNEY: What is your name?
INTERPRETER: (in English) What ... is ... your ... na-ame?
ATTORNEY: You're talking to him in English.
INTERPRETER: I'm sorry.
Then the attorneys start squabbling with the translation ... apparently they speak better Spanish than the interpreter.
Extremely light-hearted corner
Are you insured for sex?
Make sure you get the correct insurance for the sex you are having.
Please find a list of companies below catering for most tastes.
Sex with your husband/wife - Legal and General
Sex on the telephone - Direct Line
Sex with your partner - Standard Life
Sex with someone different - Go compare
Sex with a fat bird - More Than
Sex on the back seat of a car - Sheila's Wheels
Sex with a posh bird - Privileged
Sex with a transvestite - Confused.com
New members:
We welcome our new and returning members to the BIVR.
If you work with a colleague who is not a member, please encourage them to join.
If you work with a colleague who is a lapsed member, please encourage them to re-join.
In these days of work seemingly disappearing being on the "Reporter Search" section of your website is even more important.
Facebook
BIVR has its own, private, Facebook page. Log-in as usual to the BIVR website, then, in the appropriate boxes, put in your e-mail address, then your password, and you reach BIVR's private Facebook page. You can go from there to your own Facebook page, but please post your queries, comments etc., in our private area.
Obituary
Linda Burton (nee Couldry) worked for many years at the Central Criminal Court [Old Bailey] for Fred Lovett, senior partner of George Walpole [& Sons]. Linda felt privileged to have worked alongside such shorthand writing “greats” as ‘Skeets’, Margaret Ball and June Swann. She was a very proficient Pitman Shorthand Writer and covered many high profile cases. She often commented that her time spent at the ‘Bailey’ was one of the happiest periods of her life.
It was while working there that she met and married her husband, Noel, who at that time was a Clerk of Arraigns. Linda and Noel had a very long and happy marriage. They were devoted to each other and enjoyed many lovely holidays in Greece, America, Iceland and, more recently in Dubrovnik.
Apart from being a first class Shorthand Writer Linda was a fantastic cook. Many old colleagues and friends will remember the wonderful dinners that she and Noel hosted at No. 25 South Park Road, their happy home for many years.
Linda held a deep empathy with nature and was very interested in astronomy and the native Americans. She was unassuming, selfless and exceedingly generous, with a great and disarming sense of humour. Her abiding ambition was to retire to a well-equipped though remote cave.
Linda will be very deeply missed by her beloved husband Noel, her family, her close friends and colleagues alike.
Linda is indeed remembered by me with much affection. The photo was taken at the Old Bailey and, ever the prankster, Linda put on the photographer's hat! Needless to say, Fred was not impressed and when it appeared in the Observer colour supplement, the hat was dutifully airbrushed out. Ed.
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