Jan offered $1000 to the Wendi for President of the US in 2008 campaign.  I'll just say now--I'm clearly unelectable.  Politicians can't express their opinions for fear of offending someone.  The only way I'll be President is like in the Tom Clancy novel where Jack Ryan became President because he was the only surviving gov member when the Capitol was destroyed during the state of the union address and it was his turn to sit out.  THAT's the only way to get ME into the White House.  Me in some lowly elected office when the bomb hits and I'm the only one left.  George Bush speaks his mind, but even HE doesn't really speak his mind.   Could you IMAGINE someone like me who won't take sh** off anyone with her finger on the "button"? 

On a serious note, I have submitted my name for consideration for one of the open seats on the NALTEA board.  Not for the "position" but because I really feel I could do good work.  I see this whole---being a professional and acting like it, through advances in education and certification--as being central to the future of our industry.  If we aren't valuable then someday the little dude in India will be doing my job (oh, wait--he's already trying).  If we don't start advancing the profession, as a profession, we will have more and more abstractors in the courthouses because they read some book or magazine article that abstracting was a great home business and got Vistaprint business cards.  More education, certification requirements, etc. will help with the pricing issue.  With less sharks in the courthouses, there will be more work for the quality abstractors.  With education, those under-qualified abstractors who don't know they're under-qualified but want to be professionals will join our ranks.  We also need to be keeping tabs on legislative issues so they don't sneak up on us and we are surprised by the memo hanging the record room on Monday. 

Anyway, thanks for the vote of confidence!