Iowa Court Reporters Association - President's Message

January 2007
President's Message

A Year of Opportunities

    As I sit writing this on a beautifully cold and sunny January morning, I am feeling reflective, both about the new year and about the fact that my term as ICRA president is half over. 2006 was a somewhat difficult year in my personal life, having faced a health scare with my husband, as well as dealing with my own personal health issues that come with having a chronic illness, beginning a new job and the stress that entails, and doing the juggling act that all working women face, how to balance personal time, family time, and work time. My ICRA life has also been filled with challenges in 2006: Continuing to lobby for a long-overdue page rate increase, reviewing contracts for our lobbyist and executive director, working on improving the ICRA website, and continuing to build value in the ICRA membership to those we serve.

    So with the challenges that I have faced in 2006, both as ICRA president and as an individual, what can I take with me for 2007? The fact that challenges cause us to grow as people and as organizations. Organizational life, just like personal and professional life, isn’t always easy. Truth be told, it isn’t supposed to be. Why do you think they call them life experiences anyway?

I heard recently that a life without something to look forward to isn’t worth living. Now, that may be a little extreme, but stop and think for a moment. Without challenges, there would be no rewards. Without taking chances and continuing to question the status quo, you are destined for a life of sameness. A life of sameness means comfort, but it affords you nothing better than the life you currently have and certainly nothing to look forward to.

    So as you are making your new year’s resolutions for 2007, stop and think about what it is you really want to look forward to this year. As wonderfully comfortable as your life is, do you really want nothing more than what last year offered you? If not, make a goal and a plan to accomplish that something to look forward to. Let 2007 be the year that you open your own freelance business, the year you decide to take the plunge into captioning, the year you pass the CRR, RMR, or RPR exam, the year you graduate from court reporting school, the year you attend your first NCRA convention, the year you get involved in ICRA and give back to a profession that has given so much to you. The only thing holding you back from reaching that reward is YOU. Set a goal, make a plan, and let 2007 be your best year yet!