Robert... I agree wholeheartedly about needing input from everyone.  I am as guilty as the next guy/girl.  I devour the posts everyday; and never provide much input.  I, unfortunately, could not attend the conference this past week.  But I do want to make an observation that maybe will make all of us sit up and start participating.  There were, the last time I noticed, 106 attendees at the conference.  There were, last fall, 60 at that conference.  When you look at the number of members of SOT - 3000+ - it appears to be a large discrepancy.  How can NALTEA represent the independent abstractor if we don't participate with input?  Sometimes I feel that NALTEA's objectives are not in my best interest as an Independent  - I don't cover 50+ counties; I don't have more than one office; my biggest concerns and worries all involve money.  The E&O expense - health insurance and its exorbitant costs, rising costs of production, and fees that have stagnated for the last 20 plus years. I don't have connections for educational purposes for myself or my employees.  In the past, all the title companies I worked for did not find it necessary to join ALTA, MLTA, AARP, AAA - or any other organization whose designation they attached to their business.  They did title work. Period. Their business was built on their credibility and their reputation - not the designations they paid for. Sometimes I feel intimidated by posts - I do use title plants - my own and the various counties that I can access.  In Missouri, back in 1985 - it was required BY LAW - that you belong to a title plant if one was available and charged reasonable fees.  Most companies got around that by hiring an attorney (retained) - because if an attorney "did the examination" then no plant was necessary. I have seen so many companies say you must do thus and such in this way, and have this, and this and this - in order to do business and yet I see larger companies who skirt around all the loopholes and legalities - and I sit here, work and just mind my own business.  I am afraid to stand up. I am afraid to be honest. I am a little guy; and I don't need any hassles or problems.  I have no desire to get rich. I like what I do and want to continue to do it until I have to retire.  I just want to make a living that is comfortable.  Perhaps I am not ambitious enough.  But I am not afraid of change or growth.  I will do what is necessary to keep up with the industry.  And maybe I am blowing smoke in the wind...maybe I am the only "independent abstractor" out here with my unique problems...?

....looking forward to input from others...

Ellen