Posted by Molly Richardson on 9/15/10 11:09am
Msg #352762

Overall Profession

I love being a notary public. I love working with all the different individuals to get a job completed correctly. I do have some concerns and would like to see some things change. I am on the Board of Directors for a group, within our local community, called AV Notary Network. The objective of the network is to get new and old notaries together in efforts of sharing best practices, learn, etc.

The Network has recently discussed establishing a "signing service" for the local companies located within the valley. I sent an email, in attempt to benchmark best practices, to various signing companies with whom I do business and many were thoughtful and shared while others were upset and thought we would be taking business away from them. I was surprised at the negative responses for I personally feel that our goal as notaries should be to work together and do our best to impact our profession in a positive manner.

Another part of the Network is to ensure all notaries are fully trained in various subjects i.e. ombudsmen, reverse mortgages, elderly abuse, fraud, etc. Each month, if you are an "elite notary", you must attend the training to keep up-to-date and educated on all aspects of the notary world. Once you become an "elite notary", it is required that you assist/train/mentor the new notaries to ensure they are ready to perform their tasks with knowledge and training. It isn't like the NNA where you take a class and are now ready to be a notary....with no on hands experience.

I know this may seem winded but I want everyone to know that for our businesses to grow and be considered reputable, we must continue to educate, bind together rather than against each other, and much more. The standard for our notary future rests upon our ability to provide excellent service while maintaining our ability to work together.

My desire would be to see all notaries getting a fee that is respectable. My desire would be to see all notaries working together rather than competing. I can't tell you how often I refer other notaries when I am overbooked and can't take on more. I mentor other notaries and teach them how to do things correctly and move forward. I have an open policy where we are all together in this attitude.

You would be amazed at the level of respect that is attained when we work for each other.

I appreciate this forum and hope that you do all you can do to help other notarys rather than compete and work with the "closed" mentality. Can't move forward when you are standing still.

My company is AV Mobile Notary which is different from AV Notary Network....fyi.

Thanks for listening/reading.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/15/10 11:46am
Msg #352769

I'm in the same area...

I am not a member of the AV Notary network, though I am fully aware of its existence and I refer to its members all the time in much the same way you describe, Molly. I'm on Jan's mailing list and get the announcements about the mixers... they just always seem to happen when I'm not available.

I haven't really had a need to join yet because I stay busy enough... but when I move in the next few months, I'm going to be looking at it again because I'm going to be in an area where I think it will be more valuable to me.

I'm all very big on education.. and my initial notary training was not seminar based. I sat down with a mentor who taught me one-on-one and it took a lot more than 6 hours... and I'm glad I did it that way.

The only thing that really bothers me is that the "elite" membership is $25 a month and still requires the extra time that you described. I'm not sure it would help me at all at this point... but as I said, when I move soon, I'm going to an area that isn't covered very well as far as I can tell. But $300 a year, monthly trainings and the requirement to mentor? That's asking a lot... though I do understand and applaud the idea behind it.

Personally... and I know this wouldn't help Jan much... I would do away with the ability to take the exam the same day as the 6-hour training. I think it's a huge disservice notaries in our state. And, given that it's taking 2-4 months for a commission to arrive, there is no retention of the material at all. I honestly beleive that there should be at least 2 weeks between the completion of a course and the test day. That, alone, would ensure that notary candidates actually study and try to learn instead of just retaining key points learned in a seminar.

Reply by Molly Richardson on 9/15/10 1:06pm
Msg #352775

Re: I'm in the same area...

Interesting points and I will share your thoughts/opinions with Jan. Thank you for taking the time to respond....it is very much appreciated. Also, I look forward to meeting and working with you after your move. Please be sure to share your contact information with me so I can pass along notary work and visa versa.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/15/10 1:30pm
Msg #352780

Re: I'm in the same area...

I'm in Lancaster now...more on the East Side. There don't seem to be many notaries out this way. Plus, the UPS store on 20th E and K closed in January... it was at that point that I started getting a lot more calls for general service!

While I know you all cover the area, too... I also know that a lot of you live in Palmdale or the west side of town. I regularly refer people to the network members when I can't do something. Referring out to other local notaries doesn't bother me a bit.

Right now, most of the calls I get are to Mira Loma or the hospitals, a handful of attorneys, people who find me via Google, etc. I don't get much in the way of loan work because most of you ladies are already well established in that area, plus... there is one individual out here who
I've been told by several sources readily accepts the "lowball" jobs of $50-$60 for loans. (As far as I can tell, she's not a network member, either.)

That kind of thing is totally off my radar and not something I'm interested in competing with.

Reply by Molly Richardson on 9/15/10 6:18pm
Msg #352823

Re: I'm in the same area...

The lowest I have gone, for FASS Signing Service, is $75 with Edocs. I very much dislike doing them because I know I am worth far more with my skills, knowledge, and abilities. However, when unemployment from hubby's job and notary income are the only things paying for our house of 5.....at times you take what you can get. My average fee is $100 straight or $125/$150 with Edocs. I don't feel that is too much to ask for when I am the professional ensuring the "deal" closes....if you know what I mean. I haven't done any notaries for $50 or $60 in forever....that doesn't cover the cost of babysitting and fuel....?????

Reply by Susan Fischer on 9/15/10 11:13pm
Msg #352845

Networks rock. The Central Oregon Coast needs one too.

I'm the Old Dog here, smack in the center of Lincoln County's coastline - and over the years, my time and attention are more often locally focused, as Dad approaches 87.

Here, I have ~no one~ I can, by George, recommend to a caller requesting service. It's both sad and a dis-service to my borrowers, my neighbors.

I'm open to training, and have professional experience in teaching, but that's another story.

Networking works, albeit differently, in our different circumstances - true.

So, I'd love to be able to recommend a alternative possibilities, in whose work I personally have a reasonable expectation of excellence, when I can't schedule a signing.

As I look toward retirement, the prospect of leaving my neighborhood without quality remote closers deserving of respect? Not an option.

Thanks, Molly. Great post.