Posted by Joy223 on 8/23/06 7:17am
Msg #140177

Michigan Notary Education & Training Fund

Can anyone tell me what this is? I found it on Michigan's SOS web site.

Reply by Julie/MI on 8/23/06 7:42am
Msg #140181

Quite simply it is a tax.

When our notary laws were slightly revamped in 2003 (nothing had been changed since 1841) they created this "fee" that we notaries pay when we apply. I have no clue what they are going to to with the $$$$. Just another way for Lansing to collect a tax. Keep in mind that NNA has an office in Lansing to court our legislators into their stupid mindset.

Also, since you are new, there was a brief law in MI, I think in 2002 that it was illegal to make a photo copy of a Michigan driver's license. The legislators fixed this and also fixed the "acting in part when you are in your home county. It' rather hard to draft laws when you don't walk the walk.

Bye the way, where do you live. I'm in Macomb.

Reply by Julie/MI on 8/23/06 7:44am
Msg #140182

Sorry didn't mean bye should have been by!

Reply by Joy223 on 8/23/06 2:06pm
Msg #140286

Julie I am looking for a mentor. Can I call you sometime?

Joy

Reply by Joy223 on 8/23/06 1:57pm
Msg #140283

I live outside of Gaylord. Thanks for the info too!

Reply by Mia on 8/23/06 8:59am
Msg #140197

The "Education & Training Fund" is only for the County / Court Clerk Notaries.
So we the "notary on the street", pay for their education.

However, I believe there should be some kind of training (testing) for Notaries -- I've
seen far to many mistakes over the last 26 years. I doubt that we will see it in the
near future.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 8/23/06 9:15am
Msg #140199

I sure don't want to see a California style approach adapted here. With all their "training" I still see the same questions asked on this board and others the same as from states that do not have ANY training. Like anything else in life, there are people who learn what they're doing and people who only memorize and cram to take the test and the next day it's all gone out of their head. With all the problems we have here in Michigan in everything the LAST THING we need is more government bureaucrats! In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Let's put the problem right where it belongs, back in the lap of the NNA. Before they started touting how much and how easy it was to make money in this business, people entered the notary public field to be of service and not to make a quick buck. Even when we started doing loan closings, almost everyone I knew was doing this FULL TIME, it was their profession! Then the NNA came into town with their ads and recruited every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Jane) and people got into this strictly for the money. They viewed it as a "get rich, quick" scheme. And because it is a "part time", extra money, etc. they really don't have the drive to study, learn and become good at this business. In their mind it's "only a part time job' and if I don't like it or it doesn't work out I've still got my "regular" bread and butter job. Their regular job is the one they concentrate on (and they should, we all should), but if they screw up on a loan, "oh, well, guess that's just one company that won't be calling me again" seems to be the attitude.

Reply by Mia on 8/23/06 9:35am
Msg #140203

All the needed information for Michigan Notaries is on the State of MI website.
However, I believe that new Notaries get confused with some of the "new"
terminology that they come a cross -- and they don't bother to call Lansing with
questions or ask a seasoned Notary (they may be in fear of looking incompetent, or
don't know where to get the clarification).

There will always be those people that want to learn and do a good job, and those
that are slackers and only want to get by.

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/23/06 11:05am
Msg #140220

I've been in favor of some sort of testing or continuing ed, but as Dorothy points out, and as Julie has pointed out in the past, we wouldn't want Michigan to end up like California. At this point, I'd prefer that they just stay out of it for fear of making it worse. For all the training and certifying they do in Calif., guess where 90% of the most unprepared signing agents seem to be from? It just doesn't appear to help. And unfortunately, no signing agent training can adequately prepare people on how to market or run a successful business.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 11:09am
Msg #140221

Doesn't the Nation Mfg. Plant work your area frequently, also? That would make me fearful of the mess like CA has.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 11:10am
Msg #140222

Re: Michigan Notary Education & Training Fund -- oops.

I meant the National N. Mfg. Plant....not Nation Mfg. Plant

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/23/06 11:23am
Msg #140226

Re: Michigan Notary Education & Training Fund -- oops.

"National N. Mfg. Plant"

Is that what we're calling the NNA, now? I would appreciate it if you would run any new terminology past the clique before using it. Yes, they seem to think that Michigan, with it's pitiful economy, stagnant housing market, and high unemployment is ripe for their marketing pitch. "Just lost that $100,000 a year assembly line job? Become a notary!"

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 11:27am
Msg #140227

Re: Michigan Notary Education & Training Fund -- Oh stop it!

Al, are you serious?

I cannot believe that they are praying upon those who are in such a terrible economy. That's the epitomy of "wrong."

I hope that MI notaries who are struggling to get started will not take this crap lying down.

In the future, jargon of mine will be respectfully submitted to all cliques within a timely manner.

Thank you.

Reply by Gary_CA on 8/23/06 1:24pm
Msg #140274

You got it backwards...

**I cannot believe that they are praying upon those who are in such a terrible economy. That's the epitomy of "wrong."**

What the NNA is doing is "preying"
"Praying" is what the out of work notaries do.

Just in case this board was short a grammar Nazi...

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 2:14pm
Msg #140290

Re: You got it backwards...

You are right, Mr. Nazi. I take my medicine.

This is your logo.

http://www.monkeyblah.com/art/vector/spelling-nazi-plastic-swastika-80x80.png

Reply by Lee/AR on 8/23/06 11:41am
Msg #140232

Have no dog in this fight, but, AMEN, Al... u r right! n/m

Reply by SharonMN on 8/23/06 1:13pm
Msg #140269

Re: Training for notaries

I'm in MN. Most notaries here seem to have gotten into it because they work in a bank, law firm, etc. (i.e., their boss told them to become a notary). I think it's appalling that there is no attempt to educate or test notaries. (When I applied in 1997, I got a letter that said, "If you want a copy of the notary laws, send $5 to the St. Paul bookstore..." At least now the laws are online!) Many smart, conscientious people who would like training have no idea what they are doing and I think the state would greatly benefit from either having a mandatory (or voluntary but free and well-advertised) notary class or at least a handbook that is sent to each new notary with their commission.

Reply by Gary_CA on 8/23/06 1:28pm
Msg #140275

As a true Californian I'm in favor of more training

and stricter license requirements. More fees. More frequent renewals.

Not because I think it does any good, but because the hassle and expense of it might just eliminate one yahoo that lives in my neck of the woods.

Reply by Mia on 8/23/06 2:45pm
Msg #140297

Is someone reading....

Is someone reading something into my post that I haven't said?
I have never insinuated that any out of state organization or association
should force their ideas/notary laws on Michigan, nor will I.

All I said was, I feel Michigan should have Notary Training. Period.

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/23/06 4:07pm
Msg #140321

Nah, you'd better get used to it

We have a gift for taking a post on a subject, and sending it careening in completely new directions. We don't think in a straight line.