Posted by Linda_in_MI on 10/9/06 3:27pm
Msg #151161

Professional organizations other than NNA?

Well, it happened. I got my notice to renew my membership in the NNA last week. Now I'm the type of person who tends to put some stock in membership in professional organizations, thinking that if nothing else the networking and news about the industry/profession will be worth the $$. Which was one of the reasons I joined NNA in the first place. However, along with the "basic" membership, they are asking me to also renew my SA Section membership, which doesn't expire until next June. And then there is the issue on the background check. Needless to say, lately it seems like all I am hearing from the NNA is something akin to the theme song from "The Apprentice".

I've done a search with the orange button on memberships and options to the NNA, but with all the hoopla recently I thought others may have the same question and want the same information:

If you are a member in a nationwide notarial association-comparable to the NNA-would you share your personal perspective on the pros and cons about your membership?

Reply by Julie/MI on 10/9/06 3:36pm
Msg #151164

I don't belong to any organization anymore and I still make money.

NNA if anything is getting a bad reputation for churning out notaries that don't know how to close loans and taking your money and charging you more for so they can pay the rent in their Lansing office.

They way to make money is to be listed on notary finder websites and market until you turn blue.

None of the companies I work for contracted me based on my membership affiliations, they use me because I turn out a perfect product.

My best client was originally from a signing service. The title company told them I was theirs and I charge only $150 per loan and the signing service charge the title company $165. I did great work and they pay me for it.

Reply by jlissem on 10/9/06 4:08pm
Msg #151174

The American society of notaries has been around over 40 years. They also have a code of ethics for members

Reply by Charles_Ca on 10/9/06 3:39pm
Msg #151167

Interesting Question Linda in MI...

I know of no professional organization of notaries. Sever of the big ones are established as non-profits but that is just legal jargon for the company makes no money, the principals do. There are a number of networks being established by notaries and for notaries and I am sure that eventually they will coalesce into a professional organization. Unfortunately all the organizations are currently designed to fleece the notary. I believe that Harry of our very own Notary Rotary is probably the most benign dictator of all and is considering a Chartered Signing Agent designation which will I believe has the greatest chance of actually meaning something. Have you considered joining a local network or starting one if there is none to join. Brenda Tx has posted some guidelines for her network which has been very successful for its members, Charm and Becca also have started networks which appear to be successful, you may wish to check with them directly.

Reply by dickb/wi on 10/9/06 8:22pm
Msg #151269

americaan society of notaries---united states notary asscn---notary law institute......all come to mind.........google the word notary...................

Reply by Charles_Ca on 10/9/06 8:41pm
Msg #151284

But what makes them different than the NNA?

They are all set up to be autonomous and sell stuff to the notary. There is no voting membership and the notaries have no say in how they are governed. I want a professional organization to represent me not tell me what I need to do and how to do it and how much to charge for it. It may be a matter of definition but in my view there is no professional notary organization, yet!

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/9/06 8:42pm
Msg #151286

Re: But what makes them different than the NNA?

>>vote<< is the key word here.

Reply by Linda_in_MI on 10/10/06 8:09am
Msg #151330

OK, when you do a search on Google and come up with, say for example, 5 different organizations that claim to be THE BEST THING for notaries since self-inking stamps, how do you compare them? By the cost of their membership? By how glitzy their website looks? I would still have the same question as Charles: what makes them different from the NNA?

That's why the question was posed. I thought I could get some input, good or bad, directly from the people who know--the members of the organizations--and those who regularly post on a board other than one sponsored by the organization.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 10/9/06 10:31pm
Msg #151304

In addition to NNA , I'm a member of

The Notary Law Institute. The name looks good on paper and sounds important when you say it but that's all its worth (in my opinion). Their focus is NOT loan document signing. Instead it's on being a regular notary. I have emailed them on their website many times with questions about Notary Law and have never recieved a response. Never. My job pays for the membership otherwise I'd be asking for a refund. I attended one of their training sessions and the presenter spent most of the time telling "war stories". The training wasn't a total waste of time because I did learn some things that I use to this day. I do like some of their resource material. However, I still would NOT recommend The Notary Law Institute as a replacement to NNA. Good luck with your search.