Posted by Trans State Closers - Jim on 10/7/04 9:00am
Msg #9491

One of our Own

To all signing agents.

I learned today that 1 of our closers is still suffering from all the storms of late. Her name is Mariette, whom I have come to know quite well over the past 1 1/2 years. She is probably the sweetest woman I have met in our network. Mariette is a young age 72, does signings and closings just like we all do. But, for Mariette, this is her live-li-hood. She has always been a happy-go-lucky gal, always with a kind word, and really loves to be made to laugh.

The problem is she told me today that she has not been in her home since Sept. 10, due to the entire neighborhood remains under water. This poor woman is not allowed to return to her home, cannot get an insurance adjuster to help with needs so that she can support herself. She is staying with her daughter, sleeping on the sofa.

She is unable to perform closings w/email docs, and as you are all aware, the overnight package business, as confined to one's own county would be a pittance to what we need to survive.

I feel very bad for Mariette, and I am very grateful that we were spared from such trauma. So, I was thinking would our network be interested in doing something, helping Mariette.

I for one am very interested in helping Mariette.....if we could get enough interested people, we could get her a new computer/monitor/printer so that she can get back on her feet. I have connections where we can get her a system fast, and at a very fair price. Lord only knows what she will discover when finally returning home, everything destroyed.

So, I am tossing this out to the best group of people I have ever dealt with.

Would you be interested in helping Mariette? If so, I would simply like a response that you would, or would not. If I can get enough people to respond, promptly an favorably, I can figure how much we would each need to contribute.

Hopefully, there is a very good response. I thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.

Please do not respond to me via this forum, as I will not have time to respond here. Therefore you may respond via [e-mail address] Please make the subject One of our Own.

Should you wish to help, please forward your gift to:

Mariette Sautter
C/O Trans State Closers
519 Paula Drive South
Dunedin, FL 34698

Lastly, if you happen to know Mariette.....please don't let her know our intentions. Thank you.


Jim Coffey - Trans State Closers

Reply by Becca_FL on 10/7/04 10:05am
Msg #9496

Mariette is not alone...

many people are "still suffering from all the storms of late." I am also a full time signing agent and this business is my "live-li-hood" too. I have had a tough time, as have many others, going a total of 18 days without power durring the month of September and two days in October. I too had to turn down edoc jobs. The point of my post is not to discount Jim's plea or Mariette's situation, but to enlighten those of you who read Jim's post and want to help.

Mariette has many options to help rebuild her life as well as her business. I would be more than happy to meet with her and help her through the process. It sounds to me that Mariette is in a good position compared to many that I personally know that have no place to stay. So many people have lost everything. The good news is that Mariette has insurance and eventually she will be made whole. In the mean time, Mariette is more than welcome to use my office, my home or any thing else she needs to continue doing business.

Again, I do not wish to discount the original post. Please don't dog pile me with mean spirited remarks. The devistation of the hurricanes is so large and touches so many lives that IMHO a small donation to the Salvation Army would be of more help.

Reply by Margaret S. Craig on 10/8/04 5:30pm
Msg #9584

Re: Mariette is not alone...

I too was a victim of two hurricanes and was without power, cable TV or interest for most of September. To make things worse, I had not been paid for most of the signings I did in August and it is October 8. I had been working part-time at a job and doing signings part-time I have gone full-time and most likely will not be able to do anymore signings. I got two calls today. One for Saturday and one for Monday. I am working both days and I can make more money working Saturday/Holidays those two days than I could all month doing signings.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 10/8/04 5:48pm
Msg #9585

Re: Mariette is not alone...

The insurance adjuster showed up today - looks like we have about 25 to 30 thousand dollars of damage! And of course all the roofers are busy, we have been put on a waiting list for an estimate - and have been told it could be around 4 weeks before they can come out and do the estimate!
When we got back to the house after evacuating, looked like we had just lost some more shingles and vinyl siding (we lost some during Frances), but when I went upstairs to the bedroom, the ceiling was on the floor and the whole room was damp and mildewed.

And because of the hurricanes business is slow, and my husband has not been able to work either - they had no power at his place of work, they just got it back and he was back at work 2 days when we had to evacuate for Jeanne. And his workplace suffered more damage, so he wasn't able to work after Jeanne.

Hopefully Jeanne was the last hurricane of this hurricane season (although the hurricane gurus are saying there will be 4 more storms this month, and two will be hurricanes!)

Reply by HisHughness on 10/8/04 5:52pm
Msg #9586

Recently under this thread, Jim Coffey of Trans State Closers posted a notice about a signing agent who had been financially devastated by the Florida hurricanes. A couple of posters noted that this was not an isolated instance; that many signing agents in Florida suffered the same fate.

Without addressing that aspect of the issue, I'd like to note the extrordinary concern show by a signing service for one of its contractors. We usually see another side of signing services, and I don't think Coffey's gesture should pass unremarked. It shows a generosity of spirit that is rare in this industry. A tip of the hat to Jim Coffey for his compassion.

Reply by Becca_FL on 10/9/04 9:30am
Msg #9605

Hugh - you are so right. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Coffey Thursday morning.
Mr. Coffey is indeed a compassionate man who is running a class act signing service.

Thank you Mr. Coffey for having a real concern for your Signing Agents.