I could not agree with you more Robert.  I wish that we could get everyone to join NALTEA.  We COULD be a force to be reckoned with.  I am sure that not all agree with everything that NALTEA has done / or not done.  I'm on the Board & I haven't agreed with everything.  But I still believe that we can accomplish a lot if we band together.

Now here is my complaint.  I and others have written several articles for the NALTEA news letter,  & we have had 3 conferences.  Each time we ask for input from our members or from interested parties.  (You don't have to be a member for us to hear you)  We have received very few responses.  For those few, we thank you.  If NALTEA isn't what you want it to be, we won't know unless you tell us.  If we are doing something you disagree with, you need to let us know.  This organization is only going to be as good as its membership.

Robert is correct in saying, if we don't do something, others in the industry will be making the decisions for us.  I have met with several different people in different levels of "power" in this industry, the past couple of years.   Not all are out to "GET" to abstractors.  Some are actually interested in getting a good product & paying for it.  But if we keep "rolling over & accepting" the norm, that is all we are going to get. 

I know we have abstractors the are out there cutting their fees to get the work.  There are also poorly trained abstractors, making mistakes, driving up our E&O.  Vendor management companies that want to keep making more profit, regardless of what it takes.  Title Companies that will issue a letter of indemnity rather the cure the title.  Companies that will sue the abstractor that made $40.00 on a multi thousand dollar deal, for a mistake made.  We are the bottom rung on the ladder, but it all starts with us.  Right now we have an opportunity to wield the power, but it takes work & it takes commitment.  If we don't stand up & let our voice be heard in the industry & not just on this forum, then we are just complaining to each other & won't accomplish a thing! 

Thanks for listening,
Wanda Steudel/AccuSearch Co