As far as I know, NALTEA is the only nationwide organization that specifically advocates for the interests of local abstractors.  While there are larger asociations that include abstractors as members, often our interests conflict with those of the larger, better-funded industry participants.  NALTEA provides a vehicle to promote the local abstractor's position when it it overlooked by others making decisions that affect the industry.

NALTEA promotes quality and the value provided by experts working at the local level.  The new certification program, still in its beginning stages, will serve to identify members who have reached a level of competency that, according to association standards, the industry can rely on.

The NALTEA website includes a directory, searchable by state, for the benefit of hiring parties who prefer to work with companies that adhere to NALTEA's solid ethical standards - or, who may just put more stock in NALTEA members to get the job done right.  Source of Title, in its directory, identifies NALTEA members with a big 'N' next to the company name.  It certainly doesn't hurt to have the big 'N' to draw attention to your listing.  Among other benefits, I think these have best served the company I work for.

There have not been many seminars outside of the annual conference, although NALTEA has sponsored local events arranged by local members.  All it takes is interest and initiative at the local level, some planning, and a proposal to the board of directors for assistance.  Sponsorship of events is not guaranteed, but, to my knowledge, the board has never rejected a reasonably well-planned event. 

The Planning and Events committee always manages to put together the annual conference with excellent speakers and discussion of issues facing abstractors - at a fraction of the cost of most association conferences.  The opportunity to spend a long weekend with abstractors from across the U.S.A. is priceless.  It's great for exchanging ideas and solutions, and there's no shortage of fun.

If you visit the NALTEA website, you can find a link to newsletters going back to February of 2006.  I believe the link is on the upper-left hand side of the page.  There, you can learn more about what the association is up to.  In my opinion, it's the best $100.00 of my boss's money I ever spent.