Posted by Kelly R/So California on 6/20/05 8:59am
Msg #46117

CA Mandatory Education HOME STUDY COURSE *Approved*

I realize that many SA's here check out all the chat boards, but I'm hoping it's okay to post this good news here for those who may not know:

www.NotaryClasses.com is not only an approved vendor for the required CA education teaching live seminars, but their HOME STUDY COURSE has now been approved by the Secretary of State! Perfect for those who don't want to attend a class all day and feel they can pass the test on their own -- the Home Study Guide comes with all the paperwork needed to comply with the mandatory education "proof" and all you have to do is schedule your exam date which, of course, can be done right on-line thru CPS.

Cost is $65 (compare that to the NNA's $159) AND, if you change your mind and want to attend a seminar after all, Notary Classes dot com will CREDIT you the cost of the Home Study Guide 100%.

Am I a proud instructor or what? Thanks all! kelly robertson

Reply by MaggieMae_CA on 6/20/05 10:05am
Msg #46121

Thanks Kelly!

For letting us know about this option. I found the previous one day class very valuable. I'm not disciplined enough to do a home study course with 3 wild boys around always asking for something, but I'm sure others would benefit from this.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Reply by Allison B on 6/21/05 9:16am
Msg #46447

Re: Thanks Kelly!

I have been a notary for almost 4 years and feel I can pass the test without a class. I looked into the home study option and feel it's right for me. The office said it comes with an affidavit and the website to schedule the test and they were very nice and professional. Personally, I think the NNA is behind this - -they were approved first so they were probably the driving force behind the home study course. I have heard a lot of good things about Notary Classes from friends who have taken their class and have also read on the Signing Registry about them. I'm going to do this for my renewal in August.

Reply by Nancy-CA on 6/20/05 10:19am
Msg #46126

Re: CA Mandatory Education HOME STUDY COURSE - a way to chea

This is a downloadable PDF - the customer service person told me to wait 6 hours after downloading it before sending in the affidavit and registering for the exam. I see it as a way for many people to defeat the purpose of the mandatory education requirement.

Reply by Kelly R/So California on 6/20/05 10:26am
Msg #46128

Re: CA Mandatory Education HOME STUDY COURSE - a way to chea

Nancy! Good Observation, but hey! The California Secretary of State approved this course of study, not notaryclasses and not me. The NNA DID IT FIRST and the owner was just smart enough to say, "Hey, if the NNA got approved, why not!?" Geez Nanc!

Reply by And Besides on 6/20/05 10:32am
Msg #46129

Re: CA Mandatory Education HOME STUDY COURSE - a way to chea

Integrity is doing what's right when nobody's looking.

Reply by MaggieMae_CA on 6/20/05 10:41am
Msg #46132

To: And Besides...

Integrity is doing what's right when nobody's looking. You're sooooooooooo right!!!!

Reply by Nancy-CA on 6/20/05 11:23am
Msg #46143

Re: Then no more complaining from anyone. . .

. . .about uneducate notary signing agents. . .

Reply by Nancy-CA on 6/21/05 8:31am
Msg #46434

Re: Geez Kell. . .

You're suggesting that if the NNA got away with getting around the regs, then why not notaryclasses. Doesn't say much for notaryclasses, does it?

Reply by CaliNotary on 6/20/05 1:51pm
Msg #46180

"Please use this forum to discuss notarial procedures, share experiences, ask questions of your peers, etc. Please avoid the advertising of your services - that's what your profile is for."

This is not "good news" that you're posting because you're a "proud instructor", this is blatant advertising of your website and against board rules.

Reply by Dear CaliNotary on 6/20/05 7:04pm
Msg #46300

The SPIRIT and INTENT of the post was not to advertise! It was to pass along important information to our peers that an alternative (to a live seminar) was available for compliance with the recent legislation of mandatory education... Perfect for a notary like me, for example - very little time to attend a class all day and feeling pretty confident that I would be able to pass a class with just a little review of our handbook and materials. Gee, I'm sorry!

I have been a signing agent for a very long time, have been posting on all the boards for a very long time as well -- I am a fair reader and follower of the rules. I'm sorry that you misunderstood my post, which is common when there is no body language, no voice inflection and no personal knowledge of the individual .. in this case ME.

Connie and I would like to personally invite you to our upcoming networking luncheon -- perhaps you'll make some new friends, find out a little more about me and what we do, and learn a thing or two?! Maybe you could teach me a thing or two? Not sure -- I've been a CA notary public for 17 years and have been signing loans full-time for 7+ now and am, a proud notary law instructor (not an advertisement - just proud!) I just love this job, don't you?

And thanks so much for trying to protect the integrity of this board and encourage us all to follow the rules. those that you seem to know so well! Have a wonderful week and again, we all look forward to meeting you at our quarterly networking luncheon - it would be great to put a face to the name, "CaliNotary"

Reply by CaliNotary on 6/20/05 7:28pm
Msg #46304

Dear Kelly R

It doesn't matter what the SPIRIT and INTENT of your post was, it was a blatant shill for notaryclasses.com. Anybody who advertises their services on this board can claim that it is just for the purposes of passing important information to our peers. It has nothing to do with body language or me misunderstanding your post.

I was a marketing major in college, I'm quite familiar with advertising when I see it, even if it's poorly disguised as a noble effort to share information. Please don't insult me by trying to convince me otherwise. I don't believe that the emails I get that are trying to sell me Viagra are sent to me purely out of concern for my sex life, and I don't believe that your post was simply out of concern for our best interests either.

I think it's safe to say that we are all aware of the mandatory eduction law that is about to go into effect and there are many resources available to us to find classes that suit our needs. We dont' need this board to start filling up with threads from all of the newly approved companies. I'm sure they could all claim the same intentions as you do.

Finally, let me assure you that you would NOT want to meet me face to face. I vividly remember the notaryclasses.com ad campaign on LA radio that claimed that there was a shortage of notaries in California and mentioned that people could earn up to $150 per signing. It is disgusting companies like yours who have turned this profession into somewhat of a joke, marketing it as a get rich quick type scheme and flooding the market with a bunch of ignorant notaries with dollar signs in their eyes and a sense of entitlement. And I would not take kindly to you responding in the smarmy, fake sincerity tone that you used in response to this post.

Reply by Kelly R on 6/21/05 8:47am
Msg #46441

Re: Dear CaliNotary

I am shaking my head feeling bad that you are so angry! But it sounds like your business is not doing well and you are compelled to blame others and call it, "saturation". I guess I just don't give any meaning to the words, "flooded", "saturation", etc, and as a result, I have been able to keep busy with signings here in the Temecula Valley, an area with many, many professional signing agents. I don't worry about my competition -- I am aware of it, and I just do a better job. As a result, I am still so busy that at times, I have to pass along work to someone else in my area (which makes me feel good!) . I feel sorry that once again I have been misunderstood by you, and have nothing but compassion for you. Wayne Dyer says that, "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change". Maybe this will work for you!? Wishing you the Best the luck!

Reply by Allison B - Cali2 on 6/21/05 9:12am
Msg #46446

I Agree With Kelly R!

It's sad that CalNotary has taken their thoughts down this path - sounds like sour grapes and a bad attitude! No wonder you are an angry person and I bet you are not getting any work because of that "tude".

I don't know KellyR but have read her posts before and am axious to meet her group this weekend at the network lunch. She is an inspiration to us all with her positive thinking and that's the kind of person I want to be around. She is right too -- words only have meaning if you give them meaning ( I like that thought). I also don't think she is the owner of the company she works for and I don't think instructors are employees (independent contractors just like us? If that's true, she is not responsible for what management does so what you said is not fair.

Reply by CaliNotary on 6/21/05 4:18pm
Msg #46559

Re: Dear CaliNotary

LOL, you really are a piece of work. I can tell that you're the type of person who will smile sweetly in someone's face while you stab them in the back. Your dripping insincerity and passive aggresive insults are amusing to me, they don't anger me.

And please come up with something more original than "you must be angry because your business isn't doing well". Trust me, I'm a long way from having to eat cat food for dinner. I also noticed that you conveniently ignored the main point of my post, which are the disgusting ethics of notaryclasses.com. I'm not worried about me getting work in my saturated market. And if you've been in the field for 17 years, yeah, you're probably not gonna have to worry about it too. But what about the brand new notaries you guys are pumping out like cattle? THEY are the ones who are affected by the saturated market. But hey, notaryclasses.com got their money by feeding them a bunch of BS, that's all that matters. Until 4 years are up and you want them back for another class that is.

I can respect a company seeing a market for something and taking advantage of it. What I can't respect is a company telling blatant lies. The "shortage of notaries" commercials were lies, and your cloaking your true intentions in here are lies too. And of course I don't expect you to admit it, so please spare me the fake Hallmark sentiments once again. All they do are reinforce the fact that I'm right about you and that you're nothing but a weaselly BS artist. You sound exactly like a used car salesman in your posts.

I've already heard from one other notary about the TRUE Kelly R, and the story was far from the spun sugar persona you're showing in here. In fact, she sounded a lot more like ME. My compassion is that you're obviously incapable of expressing a sincere thought. It must suck to go through life being unable to express your true opinions.

Kiss kiss, God bless and Happy Tuesday. Tee hee!

Reply by Glena/NV on 6/21/05 9:55am
Msg #46471

Kelly, congratulations!

you worked so hard for it, you deserve it! My hats to you!