Lobbying against offshoring isn't totally about online records or who was for it or against it.  It's about preserving our industry here at home and passing our knowledge to another generation that can carry it forward.  I like online researching.  I like to sit in my PJ's some days and work on my computer.  We do have some Parishes here that are completely online so it's pointless to go to the courthouse.  But I also like the jobs that take me to the court houses.  It's a change of scenery and refreshes my mind on "running the books".  We know our Parishes and Counties like no one else.  We know the little quirks that clerks have with indexing.  We know where to find stuff, even online.  Because we know those quirks.  We have relationships with clerks in the offices.  Even though we don't see them all the time anymore, when we call, they know us.  And most times they're willing to help with sending a copy or looking up a name.  NALTEA is about organizing our industry to help keep our industry alive.  Yes, technology is playing a big role. We can't avoid it and and we're all benefiting from it.  But sending our work overseas to a company that doen't know the systems and that is charging cents on the dollar is going to destroy our industry.  That saying, "you get what you pay for".  We have to convince our clients and those that are not our clients that having a person who is intimately familiar with a particular court and recording system is more valuable than saving $50 bucks (or more).  That $50 bucks is paying for top notch experience and service.  What we charge our clients is our fee.  And our fee includes all of that experience, care and service that we pride ourselves on.  But NALTEA isn't just about the "offshore" problem.  We want to create a HUB where new searchers (here in the states) can go to learn more about what they do.  And grow to appreciate what they're doing.  I love my job.  I love my business.  I love the history I'm learning with each abstract I do.  It's fascinating to me.  Those are my reasons I stick with this and have stuck with it for over 30 years. I'm passing it down to my daughter now. I was told a long time ago by another abstractor who helped mentor me when I first started that "you'll never be rich abstracting, but you have to love what you do to appreciate it."  I keep those words in my head every day.  What are your why's??  Why are you in the abstracting business?  What keeps you motivated to stay in this industry?  Those should be the reasons to join NALTEA.  To network with people and professionals that have the same mindset and same "why's'.  From there we can build (or rebuild) our industry.  But you have to get involved.  And it will take time.  Can't build a city without a community.

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