South Carolina State Court Reporters Association's Annual Convention

August 15 - 17, 2018

Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort

14276 Ocean Highway

Pawleys Island, SC 29585

843-237-3000

(Call for Reservations and Mention "Court Reporters" for the Group Discount)

Click here for the Tentative Schedule

2016 South Carolina State Court Reporters Association's Annual Convention

August 17 - 19, 2016

Inn on the Square
104 East Court Avenue
Greenwood, S.C. 29646

864-330-1010

(Call for Reservations and Mention SCSCRA 2016 for the Group Discount)

2017 South Carolina State Court Reporters Association's Annual Convention

August 16 - 18, 2017

Carriage House Inn

139 Laurens St NW

Aiken, SC 29801

(803) 644-5888

Newberry Hall

117 Newberry St. SW

Aiken, SC 29801

June 19, 2016 - Hello from the 2016 Convention Committee!

Send your registration form to Brenda Sigwald by August 10th. Her address is shown at the bottom of the form. Bring your auction item along with the auction form filled out to convention.

This year we have 14 NVRA credits and 1.4 for NCRA.

We are working hard and getting ready for all of you to attend this year's convention in Greenwood at the Inn on the Square. All meetings, meals and activities will be held at the Inn.

Don't forget your door prizes! And please remember our donation this year to Connie Maxwell's Children's Home.

Tara has already sent out information about your reservations so make those ASAP!

More information to come!!!!! If you have any questions please contact our Convention Committee Members directly or sent an email through the Contact Us page, and it will be forwarded to the committee.

Thank you,
Joy Holston, Tara Scott, Angie Berry, Lisa Amick

January 19, 2018 - The Planning Committee (Natalie Dahl, Terri Bautz, and Bobbi Fisher) met today and are super excited to be hosting the convention this year!

A couple of highlights for this year's convention will be the NCRA Government Rep, who will be speaking to us about the state of court reporting/ER across the country. You will not want to miss this!!

We will have the oh-so-lovely Becky Bazzle returning as well as our amazing IT guru Jason Collins, to keep us up to date on what's happening in the tech world. This year, I (Bobbi Fisher) will be teaching a steno brief swap class as well as a session: Grammar Battle: Morson's vs. Wakeman-Wells.

We also have other speakers planned but will fill you in on those as we confirm them.

Each morning will start out with a breakfast buffet at Webster's, the on-site restaurant. Lunch will be provided Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday will be a taco bar and Thursday will be a deli buffet.

The ever-popular auction night on Wednesday will surely be a hit! The auction baskets and goodies that were brought in last year in Aiken were amazing! We need to continue this kind of spirit this year as well! So work those arm muscles this summer so you'll be ready to raise that paddle in August! There will be plenty of time for dinner (on your own) before we begin our auction. During the auction, we will have our cash bar along with cheese tray, prime rib crostini (don't know what that is, but it sounds fabulous!), and crudite platter.

Our dinner party promises a night of dining, dancing, and memories! We will have a three-entree buffet, which includes caesar salad, potato salad, chicken picatta, classic pot roast, shrimp penne alla vodka, veggie medley, au gratin potatoes, collard greens, assorted desserts, and cash bar. We hope to see you on the dance floor!!

Please share this info with any of your reporter friends -- freelance, officials, retired, students -- ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US! And please don't forget to book your room, especially if you are interested in one of the villas, as those may book quickly.

Click here for a link to the hotel information!

2015 South Carolina State Court Reporters Association Annual Convention

Bay Watch Resort and Conference Center
2701 S. Ocean Blvd.
N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582

AUGUST 19-21, 2015

It’s that time of year again! Attend the convention with oceanview meeting rooms! And while attending the convention, you can also take in the view from your private balcony or take a dip in one of the 18 indoor and outdoor water amenities. Enjoy a meal at The Blue Room Café, catch the game in the Sandtrap Sports Bar & Grill, or grab a cocktail at Fishtails Beach Bar, among many other things to do in N. Myrtle Beach. Barefoot Landing is right close by, as well as Tanger Outlets. While in N. Myrtle Beach, don't miss a chance to visit Fat Harold's on Main Street for some fancy shagging footwork.

There will also be some vendors on site. And you won’t want to miss Thursday night’s casino dinner cruise! Please find attached the registration form for the 2015 SCSCRA Convention at Bay Watch Resort and Convention Center in N. Myrtle Beach.

Below is information for booking rooms. We have received continuing education credit approval from NCRA and from NVRA. There are a total of 14 CE credits available for NVRA and 2 for NCRA.

We have chosen the Reach Out & Read program at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital as our charity this year. Reach Out & Read is an early literacy program providing books for children ages 5 and younger during well-child visits at Palmetto Children’s Hospital. They need new book donations for ages 6 months to 5 years old or monetary contributions. There will be a box set up at the convention for donations. Contact Robbie DeFreese if you have any questions about the book fundraiser.

August 21-23, 2013

Over 42 court reporters from SC, NC and Virginia attended the 2013 S.C. State Court Reporters Association’s annual convention August 21-23, 2013, at the beautiful Bleckley Inn in historic Downtown Anderson, SC, the "Electric City." Among the presenters were Anita Paul Johnston, a world-class speaker who has presented at numerous NCRA and state conventions as well as for local, state, national and international governmental agencies, and Don Scott, past NVRA president.  Click here for a recap and photos.

2013 South Carolina State Court Reporters Association Annual Convention

Recharge in the Electric City

The Bleckley Inn
151 Church Street
Anderson, SC 29624
864-225-7203

August 21-23, 2013

Registration is now open! Click here to register online. At this time, we cannot accept online payments. After registration make your check payable to SCSCRA and mail to: Jo Rice, PO Box 561, Abbeville, SC 29620 within five (5) days to reserve your preferred selections. Please include a copy of your registration confirmation with your check.

Welcome to Anderson, SC - Downtown Anderson is the brightest part of the Electric City! A surge of development has brought Downtown Anderson charming new places to shop, dine, live, and work with others in progress. Downtown Anderson seamlessly blends our heritage with the present and also with visions of the future. You will find a wide variety in Downtown, from traditional Southern cuisine to modern cafes, from antique shops to contemporary art galleries.

Tentative Agenda - Our agenda is packed. Earn up to 14 CEUs approved by NVRA and 1.4 by NCRA.

Seminar Descriptions - Read the details of each workshop. Space is limited in the Group Initiatives/Team Ventures high ropes course. Please read the course description carefully before choosing high or low ropes during registration.

Convention Fees & Options - Click to view convention fees and meal options. Registration fee includes admittance to all seminars, vendor exhibitions, transportation to Clemson, meals for attendee, snacks and admission to our fund-raising auction where dinner and cocktails will be provided. Guest meals, convention souvenirs, etc., may also be purchased at registration.

Steno Reporters Only - Planning to attend Anita Paul Johnston's Realtime Mastery Workshop in Columbia August 23-25 after our convention? Click here for a special offer for SCSCRA convention attendees from Anita.

Host Hotel - The Bleckley Inn, located in the heart of Downtown Anderson, is the location for our event. The Inn offers guests a glance into Southern history and a journey into the elegance of a boutique hotel experience. Standing on one of the city's most historic sites, wooden floors, a livery stable, and exposed brick combine with modern conveniences to create an atmosphere of distinction. The Inn is a mix of simplicity and splendor, boasting spacious rooms, which have been reserved exclusively for our purposes. In the event we have greater attendance than usual, the Hilton Garden Inn, just minutes from downtown, off I-85 at exit 19A, has been designated as an overflow hotel. This hotel is adjacent to Lake Hartwell, approximately 6.5 miles from downtown. It offers a fireplace in the lobby, fitness facility, indoor pool, and two on-site restaurants, with a number of popular eateries within walking distance. Mention SCSCRA when you call either location to receive our special rates (discounts not available when booking online). 

January 24, 2015 - Please make sure you have our Winter Meeting on your calendar. The date is Saturday, February 28, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites located at 110 McSwain Drive, West Columbia. This is at the intersection of Hwy 378 and I-26 and has easy access from 378. Jason Collins will be our speaker. He will be talking to us about computer security and answer any questions that we may have.

If you have an appointment for the Health Screening, remember you must fast for 12 hours before the test. We will have fresh fruit and beverages at the meeting. Kassy Snelling will be sending out more info for the health screening. I think she said it's free to employees now.

We have reservation at Grecian Gardens (2312 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia) for all of us after the meeting which is right down from the Holiday Inn. Plan to stay after the meeting and spend some time socializing with us at lunch.

If you are not a member of the SCSCRA, this is a great time to join. Remember this is OUR association and the more you are involved, the better we will be!!!!!!

Stacy Sheppard, RPRSCSCRA President

June 11, 2014 - The 2014 Convention Committee is putting the finishing touches on the convention agenda and awaiting CEU approval. Registration should be open by July 1, 2014.

March 28, 2014 - Hello All.  Just a reminder we have a convention coming up in August.  Just in case you forgot I have only reserved 30 rooms, so if you haven't already made your reservation you might want to do that before they get booked. If we book up early they will consider another block of rooms for that price but will not make any promises. So hurry....today is a GREAT day to make a reservation for the convention.

For your convenience, I have included a link below to make your reservation. If you are just staying Wednesday and Thursday and you don't care what kind of room you get (two beds or one king) you can use this link. Otherwise, please call the reservation desk at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, (888) 856-0028, for more options. They are awaiting your call!

More to come...

Thank you,

Sharon L. Vizer

Charleston Convention Chair

March 3, 2014 - The 2014 SCSCRA Convention will be held August 20-22, 2014, at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina in Historic Charleston, SC.  

June 3, 2013 - Reservations at the Bleckley Inn for the 2013 SCSCRA Convention are officially open. As expressed at the mid-winter meeting in February, rooms are limited there, so we will need to double up as much as possible. Reservations must at Bleckley Inn must be made by phone. When you call, please be prepared to share the names of everyone who will be rooming with you. Most of the rooms are kings, but there are a few that sleep four. Our overflow hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn. It is approximately 6.5 miles between the facilities. Below is the contact information for both:

The Bleckley Inn
151 Church Street
Anderson, SC 29624
864-225-7203

Hilton Garden Inn
115 Destination Blvd.
Anderson, SC 29625
864-964-0100

We are excited to have booked Anita Paul, a world-class speaker, trainer and life coach, who will address the entire group on August 21 regarding such subjects as the history and future of court reporting, realtime for steno and voice writers, stress and motivation, handling difficult situations in the courtroom, and latest technology and products. Anita will conduct another workshop on Thursday, August 22, for steno writers. We have also booked Don Scott, past president of NVRA, who will conduct a workshop on Thursday for voice writers. 

April 5, 2013 -  Registration for this year’s convention charity fund-raiser for The Sparkle Caps Project, A Million Steps in 100 Days Challenge, is open. Click here for full details on how the Challenge works. Although we hope everyone will attend this year’s convention, attendance at the convention is not required to participate in the fund-raiser. You can register online or print out a mail-in registration form. Every person who registers will have the opportunity to compete for awards by forming a team and inviting friends and family to join you in the Challenge. Our goal is to have 100% participation by every official court reporter and member of SCSCRA and for each of us to recruit at least two friends or family members to join us. Court reporters should not join another court reporter's team. Should you choose to not form a team, you will compete as an individual.

The mission of The Sparkle Caps Project is to empower women in treatment for cancer with support, love and personal experiences of cancer survivors; to let women know that in spite of their hair loss, they are HOT CHICKS, that their femininity is not tied to their hair; to help women maintain positive attitudes because that is part of the battle. More information on Sparkle Caps can be found on their new web site, www.sparklecapsproject.com.

So come up with a catchy name for your team and get registered. Let's make this our biggest fund-raiser yet!

2013 TENTATIVE CONVENTION PLANS

"Recharge in the Electric City"

Bleckley Inn

Anderson, SC

August 21 - 23, 2013

Host Hotel: Bleckley Inn (downtown Anderson) Reservations are not yet open, but plan to book as soon as possible after registration opens due to limited the number of rooms. We encourage doubling up as much as possible (a head on every pillow), but we will have an overflow hotel.

Charity: The Sparkle Caps Project gives care packages to women in cancer treatment and/or their care-givers. They are a 501(c)3 charity. More info can be found on their web site (www.sparklecapsproject.com) and Facebook page about the wonderful work they do for cancer patients. The way we will raise money this year for our charity is through an event called "A Million Steps in 100 Days" which will kick off in May and end just before or during convention. That’s 10,000 steps per day average which is recommended for good health. Details on how the challenge works will be forthcoming.

Team Ventures: On Thursday we will board the Electric City Trolley to the Clemson Outdoor Lab where we will participate in group initiatives. Through a series of initiatives, participants are challenged with activities which require them to work as a team, communicate ideas and feelings, and problem-solve. By working as a team, they learn how to work better with others.

Anita Paul Workshop: Anita Paul will speak at our convention. She will address the entire group (both steno and voice) on Wednesday afternoon and then just steno reporters on Thursday morning. She may also conduct a 3-day workshop after the convention, and we would help her to advertise this.

Machine Writer's Workshop: Anita Paul will conduct a 3-hour workshop on Thursday morning.

Voice Writers Workshop: We are attempting to locate an RVR to do a workshop for voice writers on Thursday afternoon.

Hearing Screens: A local audiologist will perform hearing screens for $10. Schedule TBA after convention registration.

Thursday Night Banquet & Downtown Block Party:- We will have dinner at the Inn and then enjoy live music and dancing at the new downtown Anderson amphitheater.

January 17, 2013 - We are locked in for the health screening to be at our meeting on February 23rd. I need to know as soon as possible who is interested in participating. If you could send me an email asap so that I can let them know, that would be appreciated.

Also -- Questions to Desiree will be sent to her in a list form. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can send me an email at bsigwald@sccourts.org.

Thanks!

Brenda J. Sigwald, President SCSCRA

January 16, 2013 - Our winter meeting is approaching fast!!! It is set for February 23, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn, 110 McSwain Drive, West Columbia. This is right off of Hwy 378 at I-26 close to the Lexington Medical Center.

Thus far on the agenda we will have a Q&A session with Desiree Allen from Court Administration. If you have a question for Court Administration that you would like for her to try to answer, please submit it to me NO LATER than Friday, February 8. This will allow Desiree to do whatever research needs to be done to answer our questions accurately.

If you have something you would like to add to the agenda, please contact me no later than February 15, and I will do my best to make sure it is on there.

Not a member of the SCSCRA???? Come join us!!!! The more united we stand, the better our association will be!!!!

As more information comes available, I will be sure to share it with you!

Thanks!

Brenda J. Sigwald, President SCSCRA

December 12, 2012 - URGENT!! Please see the message below from Adam Finkel, government relations specialist with NCRA. This issue affects all court reporters, steno and voice. Please forward this to all your association members and friends. Must take action before noon on Friday!!

Thanks,

Becky

Rebecca A. Bazzle, CVR-M
NVRA President

Subject: [State Issues] Urgent Action Needed

I want to draw your attention to an idea that has been nominated for a SAVE award, an award issued by the President for the best idea on how to make government more efficient and effective. One of the proposals that has been nominated would replace court reporters with digital recording technology, which as we know, would neither make government more efficient or more effective. You can find more information on the proposal and which proposal to vote for at the link below:

http://www.ncra.org/News/newsdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=13670

Please share this with friends, family, colleagues, and the reach of your state associations. Timing here is critical since voting closes at noon on Friday, December 21. Thank you all for your help and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at afinkel@ncra.org.

Thanks,

Adam Finkel
Senior Government Relations Specialist
National Court Reporters Association
8224 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna, Virginia 22182-3808

UPDATE: We were successful in voting for another proposal that won this award. Your vote counted!

August 24, 2012 - The 2013 SCSCRA Annual Convention will be held August 21-23, 2013, in Anderson, SC. Your convention planning committee members are Renee Tollison, Donna Brady, Jo Rice, Lesa Williams, Danette Hanks and Vivian Cross. More details coming soon.

2010 SCSCRA Convention - Your convention committee has been hard at work and is so excited to invite everyone to the Annual SCSCRA Convention! We have planned a convention that we think will help us all "Tighten the Reins" and do the very best job we can do as court reporters. Our hope is that you’ll leave a little more knowledgeable and energized than when you came. Come join us in the BEAUTIFUL HORSE COUNTRY of AIKEN, SC ~~~ and come prepared to learn! You’ll definitely be taking notes with our selection of speakers!

2010 NVRA News! - We have received the following invitation for SCSCRA to join NASA (National Alliance of State Associations) and to attend NASA's meeting of the NVRA convention on July 28th (Charleston, SC)....are any of you registered for the convention? They give the registration deadline as July 1st but as you will see in the e-mail we received it on the 2nd and they will work with us. Click here for registration forms.

NASA is here !! In an effort to respond to the professional needs of voice writers, NVRA introduces the National Alliance of State Associations (NASA). Our mission is to provide your state leaders a forum to communicate with other state association leaders, as well as NVRA, in order to exchange ideas, concerns, and questions involving the court reporting profession. To accomplish this, NVRA will:

1. Establish a list serv for NASA members to enable immediate communication with all leaders,

2. List all affiliate associations on the NVRA website along with a link to the association website,

3. Maintain an online calendar for state association events,

4. Schedule a NASA meeting and leadership training at the NVRA convention,

5. Upon request, send NVRA representative to attend and participate in your state convention.

An association or group consisting of verbatim reporters, CART providers, or captioners is eligible for affiliation and to become a member of NASA if it evidences through its bylaws or statement of purposes that it espouses the purposes and precepts of NVRA. After reviewing the attached NASA Guidelines, please complete the registration form for affiliation and return to NVRA, 629 N. Main Street, Hattisburg, Ms 39401 or fax to NVRA at 601-582-3354.

The first NASA meeting will be held at the NVRA convention on Wednesday, July 28th, at 1:00 p.m. and is open only to registered representatives from affiliate associations. We have also attached a registration form for your two representatives for this meeting. This must be returned by July 1st. There is no fee to attend the NASA meeting, and all expenses for attendance are your responsibility. The leadership session will be held on Wednesday, July 28th at 3:00 p.m. and will be open to NASA members and all registered convention attendees.

We look forward to working with you to support and promote the professionalism of voice writers in the world of court reporting.

Sincerely,

Michelle Thompson, CVR

President

February 10, 2010 - Winter Meeting - The South Carolina State Court Reporters Association’s (SCSCRA) Winter Meeting was held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Midlands Technical College in Columbia. At the meeting, Mrs. Desiree Allen brought us news and information from Court Administration. In addition, a member of Finance and Personnel gave us an overview of the new statewide system that is being implemented. Also, our second annual health screening by Healthy Steps was coordinated by Kathy Ransom.

2009 SCSCRA Convention

Ediso Island, SC

August 19-21, 2009

I don't know how many of you realize that there is a little piece of paradise sitting in the southern part of Colleton County and it is Edisto Beach. I'm so excited that all of you will have the opportunity to come experience Edisto this summer at our convention.

After you turn off of Highway 17 you'll know you're headed to the beach by the beautiful moss-laden trees along the road. Edisto is not a typical “beach town”. You won't find a McDonald's or a Wal-Mart gracing our streets. What you will find is seashells on our beach, beautiful sunsets over the Sound, friendly people and great seafood.

Something else you won't find is a high-rise hotel, or in fact, any hotel. Therefore, we have enclosed in your packets rental information that includes information on the various condos available, which are priced around $100/night for a 1 BR or $150 for a 2BR. There are also beach houses available for rent by the week if you choose to stay the whole week. Connie Hiott at Edisto Realty will be happy to assist you with making reservations to suit your individual needs. Connie's contact information is on the real estate booklet. Natalie Kantz at Wyndham Ocean Ridge is also available and ready to help make your reservations. The website for Wyndham is www.wyndhamoceanridge.com. You can check it out to see the condos she has available and the exact rates.

Remember to get your leave requests in early if you want to take annual leave on Monday and Tuesday. I know that Ms. Allen won't approve leave for all of us.

If you decide to turn this into a much-needed, much-deserved vacation and wish to bring your families, we can arrange tee times for the husbands while we are in class. There's a small park and an arcade and Wyndham has pools, miniature golf and a rec center with ping pong and basketball hoops. Edisto also has a really great bike path so bring your bikes. Please inquire as to the amenities pass when making your reservations.

The Pavillion Restaurant is oceanfront and has fresh seafood and steaks and a bar. The Waterfront Restaurant has a mouth-watering prime rib and fresh seafood. Whaley's is where you really get some of the local Edisto flavor. It's a bar, but they have really great food and I've heard the fried cheesecake is to-die-for. I haven't tried it because I can't afford to get hooked. Dockside is a great hangout for anyone wanting to unwind after the daily meeting and festivities. And they have a delicious hamburger. I don't eat seafood, but I understand that it's really good also. And I almost forgot breakfast at the Seacow Restaurant is a MUST.

The restaurants are great, but the best thing about Edisto is the beach. We have 3 miles of beach with public beach accesses every few blocks. You'll love that the beach is not crowded. No one will be setting their beach chair up within touching distance of you! We want you to leave the convention feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the next work week. So even if you have to skip lunch, make time to enjoy the BEACH.

I hope you all will make plans to attend the 2009 SCSCRA Convention. It's going to be a lot of fun and I don't want you to miss out.