Tammy,

There was a long hard discussion when NALTEA was being set up on who was going to be allowed to join, mainly based on years of experience.  In the end it was decided and accepted at the first conference that an abstractor, reguardless of experience could join, provided they fulfill the other membership requirements.  That is also why there are four different types of membership.  Please read the Code of Regulations http://www.naltea.org/code_of_regulations.pdf and you will see that to be a full member 70% of your income must come from abstract/title searching, etc...

NALTEA was not set up to oversee or run anyones business and not every member will agree on what NALTEA supports or does.  It would be pie-in-the-sky thinking if thought ever crossed anyone's mind.  Please read the mission statement of NALTEA in that same link.

NALTEA is an association that shows the industry that we, as abstractors, a) exist
 
b) care about what direction the industry is taking.

c) care about the training, or lack of training, that exist.

d) cares about how abstract work affects the consumer.

There is a Code of Ethics that you can view at http://www.naltea.org/ethics.pdf.  Those are the ethics that NALTEA goes by.  If someone believes those ethics have been violated then report it.  It is not an ethics violation just because one does not agree with a business approach.  NALTEA encourges people to step it up to the next notch.  NALTEA is not here to punish people.

Next there is another step in NALTEA to set one's self apart from other abstractors and that is the NALTEA Certification Program.  A lot of people have worked very hard on this and we are nearing the final review for this process.

Back to your questions:
The one thing that keeps our small biz from joining, is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any screening process for who you accept It's not so much what can NALTEA do for our company, but is my company going to rise a notch respectfully by being a member; because other companies know that not just anyone can get in.

Yes there is a screening process as outlined on the application and the Codie of Regulations.  Your statement reflects, yes you want something out it.  How can any company look down on you for joining an association that wants to improve abstractors and their part of the industry as a whole.

Are you going to not accept renewals from members that do exactly what NALTEA discourages and so on. If I join something, I want it to be deserved.

As long a member follows the Code of Regulations and Code of Ethics.  Again this goes back to abstractors are not going to agree on everything.

Has NALTEA ever turned anyone away or not let them renew their membership??  

As of this date NALTEA has not had to turn down any application that has been sent in.  Most abstractors that look to join NALTEA have good intentions.

If you are looking for an excuse not to join, there are a million of them.  There were a million of excuses not to put NALTEA together in the first place. 

But, there was a need to put NALTEA together and there is a need for abstractors to join NALTEA is they want to see any kind of positive change in the industry for abstractors and the consumer.

I hope I answered your questions.

Jay Duncan