A NOTE FROM OCRA'S PRESIDENT

As the situation for COVID-19 has impacted all areas of our lives, it is now impacting our 2020 conference.  As you are aware, we had moved our Spring Conference from March to August hoping that we could still proceed as scheduled as we had an amazing conference in place. 

OCRA has made a decision to cancel our in-person convention this year due to the pandemic.  Our top priority is keeping our membership and those around us healthy, and having an in-person convention places too high a risk on our members.

Southern Hills Marriott has graciously allowed us to postpone our 2020 convention to 2022 without financial impact on your association.  As soon as we have the 2022 date confirmed, we will let you know.   I do hope that we will have a big celebration at our 2021 conference June 25-27, 2021 at the Waterford in Oklahoma City.

I realize that many of you have paid for this conference.  You should expect a full registration refund in 10 days if you paid by credit card.  For those members who wrote a check, it will take Leslie a little bit longer, possibly up to two weeks, to send a reimbursement check.

On a very bright note, OCRA has recommended that the CSR Board, our licensing vehicle, and the Administrative Office of the Courts suspend CE credits for the Oklahoma Shorthand Reporter license for 2020.  This proposed CE suspension will be for all Oklahoma Shorthand Reporters who are in good standing. 

For those members who need continuing education points for NCRA, there are various vendors who are currently providing online CE hours.

While many of you participated in-person or called when OCRA sent out a request for help on HB3803, I have somewhat disheartening news.  COVID-19 has not only disrupted the country, it disrupted the forward movement we had with the legislature.  The legislative session was severely abbreviated this year.  Toward the end of the abbreviated session, it became apparent that the Administrative Office of the Courts needed access to certain revolving funds in order to fully fund the current fiscal year.  Unfortunately, our bill was the perfect vehicle to accomplish this task.  It is my understanding that in the rush to finalize the budget, legislators simply removed the existing language regarding the proposed stipend and dropped in the new language related to accessing revolving funds.

OCRA through OPEA has been in communication with Representative Toni Hassebeck and Senator Paul Scott about raising the compensation and stipends again next year.  Both Representative Hassenbeck and Senator Scott want to see compensation and stipends advanced next legislative session.  OPEA has included both the stipend and our compensation to the legislative platforms that will be addressed in the 2021 and 2022 sessions.

On a personal note, this will be the last time I speak to you as President of OCRA.  I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to lead you this year.  I was hopeful my term would have ended with a bang; however, I am eternally hopeful that OCRA will continue on with their mission to serve our membership in the best way possible.  I would love it if you would join in on our Annual Business Meeting where we will swear in your new board.  You will receive a follow-up email outlining the details.  See you soon!

Best Regards,

Shelley Ottwell, CSR, RPR

OCRA President

MEMBERS OF OCRA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTED FOR NCRA COMMITTEES

Three members of OCRA's Board of Directors have been chosen by NCRA for committee service.  President Shelley Ottwell was selected to serve on the Education Committee.  President-Elect Allison Hall was selected to serve on the New Professionals/Liaison Committee.  Secretary Cyndi Larimer was selected to serve on the A-Z Committee. 

Next time you see them, extend your congratulations!  Oklahoma is representing well!