islanda

I was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa. I graduated from the American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines in 1981 and was a roving judicial reporter for many judges in the First Judicial District of Iowa. I finally was lucky enough to get a permanent assignment with Judge William Evans. We worked well together, shared many fun times (in between countless guilty pleas) and became good friends. He was like a grandfather to me. I was deeply saddened when he died suddenly, which also meant I lost my job. I quickly moved to Cedar Rapids to begin a three-year freelancing adventure with Kool & Nygren Inc., which provided many memorable learning experiences. This change marked my transition from transcribing shorthand notes using a typewriter and carbon paper to buying a Datawriter and learning to use computer software, which in 1986 was Stenograph Cimarron I with 8-inch floppy disks. I also kept practicing to improve my writing speed. After ten tries (yes, 10), I completed the Certificate of Merit examination. Doing the math, that's six failures and four successes, the four successes being when I passed one section of this four-part exam. I believe I benefited greatly from the process, so I kept focusing forward regardless of the outcome.

Then I found what I believe is my favorite judicial work, Juvenile Court, where I stayed in the Sixth Judicial District for ten years until the day prior to my daughter's birth in 1999. Juvenile Court suited me well. There was never a dull moment there, and I learned so much about child development. I stayed home caring for my daughter until she reached kindergarten joking that I was on "extended maternity leave." Believing I had quit court reporting entirely, I sold my writer, computer and printer.

Fortunately I kept my certifications current, because in the summer of 2004, The University of Iowa offered me the opportunity to provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services to a student with hearing loss. I quickly purchased the latest software and equipment and began warming up for Introduction to the Arts of Japan. Realtime theory was not taught at AIB in the '70s, and since I had never written realtime previously, I had to improve my writing skills and regain my speed, which had dwindled after five years.

I recently became inspired to study for the CCP (Certified CART Provider) and the CRR (Certified Realtime Reporter) examinations. I failed the 96% minimum accuracy requirement of the skills portion in May but passed the written knowledge portion in June 2008. Again I find this process very beneficial for my writing skills. I'll never give up until I pass! I'd like to return to the courtroom someday to write for litigants with hearing loss.
 
What I appreciate most about my CART work is the relaxed and very friendly atmosphere of the UI campus. I also love the freedom of having complete control of my schedule between classes. I take time to exercise every day and meet with friends since I have a long lunch break. Every semester at UI provides a scary, unique challenge to me, either due to the difficult course content, the professor's foreign accent, or because the class is a three-hour evening course — I'm a morning person.

When I'm not practicing for the CCP/ CRR, I volunteer for several organizations. I'm the cookie program coordinator for the Girl Scout troops in my county (you can obtain cookies from me 12 months of the year); I coordinate self-discovery courses for the Iowa City Learning Foundation (these courses have taught me how to manage my commitments and be a better friend, among other things); I'm a citizen member of the Iowa County Empowerment Board (I'm still figuring that one out, but I think we provide scholarship funds so all children can attend preschool programs and be transported back home or to daycare afterwards); and I'm a mentor to AIB students of reporting (I vividly remember my struggle to progress through that rigorous program).
 
I also volunteer as a board member for the Iowa Court Reporters Association, so contact me with any questions or your concerns.

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SECRETARY:
    Shall attend and actively participate in no less than two of the ICRA quarterly board meetings and any special meetings called by the President.
    Shall take minutes of all Board meetings and submit the written minutes to the Executive Director within 30 days subsequent to the meeting.
    Shall take minutes of the annual business meeting and submit the written minutes to the Executive Director within 60 days subsequent to the meeting.
    Shall update the ICRA Policies and Procedures and any other documents at the request of the President after each board meeting.
    Shall oversee activities as Board Liaison member of ICRA committees as assigned by the President and make progress reports to the Board when requested at its regular meetings.