We'd like to welcome you to MECRA's (Michigan Electronic Court Reporters Association) new website.  If this is your first visit, please take a moment to browse through our site.  It's still a work in progress, so keep checking back!  We will be having a members only section for networking and for access to our newsletters, too. Be sure to scroll down on this page for the most up to date MECRA information available!

CEO WORKSHOP:  By Web-cast only.  Please contact Connie Daiss, SCAO,
517-373-9526 to arrange to watch the webcast.  This is MANDATORY before being allowed to test for certification.

CER WORKSHOP:  Is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Lansing Community College, M-TEC Center.  PAYMENT IS NOT BEING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.  You may mark your calendars, but payment/registration will not be accepted until after July 13th.  Please watch the website for mailing information.  Thank you.

Gearing up for 2008!

Greetings fellow MECRA members, As most of you know by now, this year’s MECRA conference will be held on August 13-15 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center .   The Marriott is on the riverfront with a beautiful view of our Canadian neighbors.    This year’s conference starts earlier on Wednesday so you may want to consider coming down on Tuesday night and visiting the great city and all it has to offer.      I moved the conference to August to coincide with the Judges Conference after reading your preferences in the past conference evaluations.   Moving to the later part of the week also will enable you to stay the weekend if you like.   We purchased a block of 75 Detroit Tiger Tickets for Friday night and still have a few left if any of you are interested.   I have secured discount room rates for before and after the conference.   We are putting together a great program with many choices with emphasis on work related speakers, enhanced with some "fun" or "entertaining" speakers or events as well.  Our number one priority this year will be the page rate increase that our members have patiently waited 22 years for.   I have invited State Senator Nancy Cassis to come and give us a status update and advise us as to what steps need to be taken regarding passing the bill that was already introduced regarding this matter.   Her office is researching why this bill has not moved forward and I will post on this site as soon as I get more information. Our speaker topics include, time management, conflict resolution, getting organized, courtroom security, work-life balance, page rate increase, stress management and dealing with difficult people (I don’t know anyone like that; do you???) and much more.   I am currently speaking with Governor Granholm’s scheduler about the possibility of her appearance at our conference and it’s very possible, she will be able to make it.   Thanks to additional sponsors, your registration dollars have been stretched to include more meals and a river boat dinner cruise.   Guests are welcome at an additional fee.   For your entertainment we are offering a Pajama-rama Karaoke Contest.   Prizes will be given for “best” pajamas and best singers, of course.    Actually, if you even “try” to sing, we will have a prize for you.   So….if you start practicing in the shower now, by August we should have many MECRA IDOL stars.     For those of you who don’t like to sing, you can start studying for the spelling bee tournament.   This is another new event that we are starting this year in which a traveling trophy will be awarded at the end of each year’s competition.          If you have not yet made your reservations for the conference, please do so soon.     Warm regards, Edna Zaid questions:    You can email Edna at   mecra2008@yahoo.com   Reservations: http://marriott.com/dtwdt?groupCode=mecmeca&app=resvlink

 
2008 Conference Brochure and Registration Form (click below).

MECRA 2008 Conference Brochure

For reservations, please click on this link:
http://marriott.com/dtwdt?groupCode=mecmeca&app=resvlink

2008 Hotel Registration

Pictured above:  The Detroit Princess Riverboat!

AREA ATTRACTIONS AND LINKS:

Princess Cruise Link:  http://www.detroitprincess.com/index.php

Detroit Tiger's Link:  http:// www.detroittigers.com/

Greektown Link: http://www.visitgreektown.com/

City of Detroit Link: http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/

2008 Conference Afterglow

Deadline for nominations for the 2008 Officer and Court Reporter of the Year is July 1, 2008. 

2008 Election Nominations and Information
Information for the 2008 Nominations which include nomination forms and nomination election policy & procedure. Nominations due to Kristen Shankleton by July 1, 2008.

July 13, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - West Bloomfield

Address for Special Board Meeting on July 13, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. as
follows:

5551 Hampshire Drive
West Bloomfield, MI 48322

248 360 2497 Edna Zaid Land Line
248 730 6748 Edna Zaid Cell

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the
board. All phone numbers and emails are located at www.mecra.info.

Thank you.

Check out MECRA's new online communications

                                                          Check it out!
Here is a good way to communicate with MECRA regarding questions about the website or ongoing news linked with the MECRA website and The Transcript.

Login in today to the following group with yahoo! 

                                      www.groups.yahoo.com/group/MIRecorders

All questions will forwarded or answered by the proper MECRA Board member or even someone else in the membership!