by Debbie Kriegshauser, CLVS
How can words describe a person who has devoted so many hours of her time and talent to the Certified Legal Video Specialist Program? With deep regret, I'm sure, NCRA has accepted the resignation of Denise Doucette from the CLVS Committee. I would venture to guess that the majority of CLVS license holders have come to meet Denise somewhere down that yellow brick road of obtaining their CLVS certifications. Denise has played a major role in the teaching seminars for the CLVS Program, be it civil due process, court reporting procedures or "the paper trail". She has also been very helpful in the hands-on testing program for potential CLVSs.
I have had the honor and privilege to work with Denise on the CLVS Committee, and I can't say enough on how vital she has been to this committee. If ever you need a helping hand, she is right there to assist. In June we have our annual meeting where we evaluate the CLVS program and we write CLVS exam questions for the upcoming Written Knowledge Tests. Denise is like our walking thesaurus/dictionary, historian, consultant on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, expert on proper grammar usage and a master at English punctuation rules. Denise has served as Editor of the CLVS Newsletter since its inception up to this edition. She has been Editor of the Students' Section and various feature articles published in the Journal of Court Reporting magazine, along with serving as Editor of various court reporting magazines in her state associations. Need we doubt her capabilities on the proper rules of English? Denise has served on the CLVS Committee since 1992. She is currently the owner of Doucette Legal Services in Vallejo, California. She has been a Registered Professional Reporter since November of 1981 and a CLVS since November of 1990. Denise was also given the honorable distinction as a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters in March of 1996.
So our committee is sad to lose such a dedicated person but we have truly met a great friend and we definitely wish her the best. Those of you who have had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Denise can surely relate to Denise's kind heartedness when maybe you had a question in regards to legal videotaping procedures or maybe in conjunction with the Part II Exam when the test didn't turn out to your liking. Her words of wisdom always seem so useful and consoling, if need be.
Denise, you may be leaving us, but your contributions to the CLVS Program will endure. Remember, you can't get away from us. I'm sure the CLVS Committee will be in touch. We wish you the very best! And, Denise, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for everything you've done!