By President Doug Shima
Happy Spring Everyone! I’m in total decompression mode right now after hosting the Executive Committee in wonderful Kansas City from April 13th– 15th. I’m also in depression mode because the events of the mid-year are over and I won’t see my Executive Committee colleagues until August. The Executive Committee is such a hard-working committee with incredible passion for the success of the NCACC. The Executive Committee heard updates on the Albuquerque conference and also reviewed reports of all the committee work going on in the NCACC. The Executive Committee approved the language of a survey to gauge the interest of all members in possibly changing the dates of the summer conference starting in 2028. Watch for an email from Greg Hilton on this topic and please take the time to give your input.
From 1:30-1:50 p.m. on Monday, April 14th, the Executive Committee stepped out of its meeting to join the entire conference in a Meet and Greet virtual event. Tom Hall provided a great history of the NCACC, we introduced all the new members joining since the August 2024 conference in Burlington, and we had a 5-minute breakout room session where members introduced themselves in a smaller setting. Overall, we had approximately 43 members participate in the meet and greet!
Immediately after the meet and greet, the entire conference participated in an educational program on listening. In total, we had 59 members attend the educational session.
Alecia and Kristen provided their expertise as executive coaches on techniques we can all use in our work and personal environments to master the art of active listening during a conversation.
For me, it was interesting to contemplate where I saw myself on the Listening Staircase. I am probably on steps lower than I would like to be, but I saw myself somewhere between Selective and Attentive Listening on a step I’d probably term “Result Listening.” I really try to listen but am instantly thinking of a solution to the conversation so I can tackle the next fire going on in the clerk’s office.
Bottomline, I need to make sure to practice the active listening skills provided by Alecia and Kristen: Remove Distractions, Avoid Interruptions, Make Eye Contact, Pay Attention to Body Language, Ask Open-Ended Questions, Repeat What You’ve Heard, and Avoid Judgments. It was a great presentation.
Finally, a couple of housekeeping items. I am excited to introduce Cassie Bradshaw as our new association manager with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Cassie joined the NCSC in October 2023 as a Program Specialist supporting the National Association for Court Management and the Conference of Court Public Information Officers. In March 2025, she was promoted to Association Manager and now works with NCACC and also the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal. And for those wondering, we did not lose Sirena Kestner. Rather, Sirena was promoted to Director of Association Management for NCSC
Now that the mid-year meeting has passed, the anticipation builds for Albuquerque in August. My first question for you is whether you have already completed the funding request from your court or court administrator for Albuquerque? If not, get on it! Don’t wait!
My hope is that Albuquerque will be the best conference ever for the NCACC. If you don’t have any reimbursement available from your court, then please take advantage of the Scholarship awards that are available from the NCACC. Don’t let finances be the reason you don’t attend the summer conference.
Scholarship criteria may be found here by logging into your NCACC website account: https://appellatecourtclerks.org/member-area/committee-pages/scholarship-committee/. If you are interested in applying, please submit your application electronically to the National Center for State Courts by June 1, 2025, via the following link: https://ncsc2.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7O2TtjbAC8uoB14. If you have questions you can also contact Lonn Weisblum, WeissblumL@flcourts.org.
QUICK CHECK UP? How have you done on the list of mandatory NCACC New Year’s resolutions I forced upon you?
- Reach out to your NCACC colleagues for help or just to say hello. I guarantee you someone in this illustrious group has experienced your dilemma or something very close to it.
- As I’ve told you previously, BE PRESENT and practice gratitude in a 360 degree manner — Gratitude With Attitude – meaning expressing thanks for everything around you.
- Stay involved with your NCACC committees. It keeps you in contact with your NCACC friends and supports the efforts of this great organization.
Take Care. I’m always available for any questions you have regarding the NCACC – doug.shima@kscourts.gov
Doug