Posted by Karla/OR on 9/17/11 6:21pm
Msg #397765

Is It Appropriate (or not) To . . .

send a message to all the other notaries listed in my area asking them to refer jobs my way if they are booked already or just don't want the job? I need experience.

One local notary and I recently met via not/rot. We then met for coffee and got to know each other. Since then she has graciously offered to refer business my way (without me asking for it!).

Thanks! Karla

Reply by kcslaw/MA on 9/17/11 6:48pm
Msg #397767

I've spoken with another attorney privately who I "met" via this site and we recently made the same agreement. I don't see anything wrong with the arrangement. Not sure if it's appropriate to message them via this site though...my two cents, for whatever it's worth.

Reply by jba/fl on 9/17/11 7:11pm
Msg #397771

If you throw this out as a marketing tip to others and .......make people aware of each other in their own areas.

Networking...

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 9/17/11 7:20pm
Msg #397772

Nothing at all wrong with networking as long as both parties can be trusted. I would get to know the other person (as I'm sure they would want to do the same) before sending them any overflow business. You, nor they, would want to send business to someone that might be unprofessional.

I do that with a few in my area.

Good luck

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 9/17/11 9:04pm
Msg #397778

Warning to veteran notaries ....

... extending a hand to newbies: Because you're dealing with a newbie, they will be calling you every 5 minutes with umpteen questions - and if anything goes wrong, you could be in the hot seat - if they misheard, misinterpreted, or whatever something you said, you're in a mess. Or they get in over their head and in desperation, have the signer call you and then you're in the middle of something you shouldn't be in the middle of. Or you're left holding the bag because they don't know what to do. Been there, done that. The notary biz does not readily lend itself to mentoring ... say, like the appraisal business does. You never want word to get around that a newbie notary said: "Well, I did it this way because my notary mentor told me to or I saw my notary mentor do this at a signing," when, in fact, they are complete off base. Networking with seasoned professionals is another bottle of water, however. Like Moneyman said, "as long as both parties can be trusted."

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/18/11 5:14am
Msg #397788

Re: Warning to veteran notaries ....

"The notary biz does not lend itself to mentoring" (your words)

Most major professions encourage those practicing to give back to the profession by nurturing newbies. The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility says the notary is obligated to share his or her expertise with less experienced notaries.

I'm sorry you had the bad experience with mentoring but I hope you do not give up on it as you are needed. I have studied fast and hard and ask a million questions of myself before turning to the forum or to a mentor.

I believe there may be notaries out there that ARE annoying and need to be babysat. There are hopefully more though that are educated enough and savvy enough to understand your own responsibilities as a notary. I like giving people the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

The notary mentors I have worked with here in Oregon are nothing short of fabulous. I appreciate them to the point that I don't call them "every 5 minutes with umpteen questions." They have always told me to contact them anytime I have a question. I have gleaned much info from them as well as gained a great deal of inspiration and motivation.

I big THANK YOU to my Oregon mentors as well as those on this forum who have provided endless mentoring help. You all are priceless!

Karla

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/18/11 5:54am
Msg #397789

Re: Warning to veteran notaries ....

"The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility says the notary is obligated to share his or her expertise with less experienced notaries"

Pardon my ignorance, but I've never heard this...is this XYZ?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/18/11 6:01am
Msg #397791

To add (God I hate it when I have to do that)

I'll be happy to explain notary procedure to any new notary; explain some possible confusing aspects of notary law to those who don't understand it; point them in the right direction for further guidance.

What I WON'T do, what I don't HAVE to do, and what many many newbies expect from members of this site and elsewhere, and expect to get freely and in volumes - I WON'T tell you how to start up your business, run a business, make a profit, how much to charge for non-notary "stuff", how to be the go-to person in their area...and I especially won't tell newbies in MY area how to slit my own professional throat!! That's what's normally asked for and expected - and they don't expect people to get upset.

There are those that do their homework first then come here for clarification - those people will get more help here than they can handle; then there are others who just come here (or are sent here) and expect to be fed with a silver spoon - then get angry, cocky and downright argumentative when it's not forthcoming - those people will never get my help, and I don't care what any purported "Code of Professional Conduct" says.

MHO

Reply by jba/fl on 9/18/11 8:25am
Msg #397796

Ditto n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/21/11 9:54am
Msg #398109

Re: Warning to veteran notaries ....

Yes, the good old XYZ
Don't forget they used to (don't know if they still do it any more) give classes to wannabee signing agents and then tell them to come to NotRot or other forums for help.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 9/18/11 3:38pm
Msg #397822

You know what, Karla ...

Regarding your assertion that: "The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility says the notary is obligated to share his or her expertise with less experienced notaries," I am now going to share some of my expertise with you:

Before you come on this forum with your huffy, puffy, uppity attitude, you need to know what you're talking about. My post was directed at veteran notaries (hence the subject line "Warning to veteran notaries.") And you clearly are not a veteran anything, except maybe a whiner. It also was clear I was referring to "mentoring" not "networking." So if you meant mentoring in your original post, you should have said so. But you said you wanted other notaries to give you jobs. Period. You did't ask for a ride-along. You didn't ask for another notary to look over your work. You asked for jobs (aka networking). Mentoring and networking are two different things. (Read Moneyman/TX reply to you for an excellent description of networking.)

Nobody needs your hypcritical "I'm sorry you had the bad experience." You don't know about any "experience" I've ever had or anything else for that matter. Then, you kept right on going, implying I called notaries who had umpteen questions "annnoying" or needing to be "babysat." (Your words.) Maybe I hit a little too close to home? Why don't you come to my area's next semi-annual loan-signing update seminar where Realtors, LOs and notaries (veterans and newbies alike and, in fact, newbies are given special attention and encouragement) meet to exchange the latest in HUD rules, lender updates, how to deal with balky borrowers, etc. Then you can call them "annoying" face-to-face, and bring a pacifier, too, if you want to babysit.

So if you want to continue making a fool of yourself on NR, just pop off at the keyboard again without any idea of what you mean, what you're asking, or what other people are posting.

I hope you have "gleaned much info and a greal deal of inspiration and motivation" in this exchange. And, please, add this to your "endless mentoring help" and consider my "obligaton" to help the less-experienced (you) fulfilled.

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/18/11 6:03pm
Msg #397831

Re: You know what, Karla ...

Priceless!

Reply by BrendaTx on 9/18/11 8:00pm
Msg #397835

Context of the NP Code/Sharing Expertise

I referred to the document you cited. It was published by the NNA and I agree with it, but in its context. It refers to notary procedures. Here is the statement in context:


"The Notary shall freely provide notarial expertise to a
less experienced Notaries and step forward to offer needed
corrective advice on the proper performance of notarial acts.

Illustration: The Notary observes that another Notary in
the same office consistently fails to ask document signers
to present identification.

The Ethical Imperative: The Notary approaches the
coworker and tactfully explains the disservice to the
public and the potential personal liability of failing to
identify strangers."

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/18/11 8:11pm
Msg #397839

What a difference a word makes. n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/21/11 9:59am
Msg #398111

Re: Warning to veteran notaries ....

Goldgirl
I have mentored many "newbies" over the years. Do not have any regrets.
I actually mentored PAW when he first started as a signing agent. He joined the SR and asked for a mentor and I was assigned to mentor him. That was the start of a wonderful friendship that lasted many years.
Never once has a "newbie" I mentored had a signer call me. I have on rare occasions had the signing agent I was mentoring call me from a signing with a question.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 9/17/11 11:40pm
Msg #397782

Building a network is a good idea, Karla. I'd say not

to blanket your Notaryworld with an announcement, but find ways to reach out with your new sister-Notary to connect in positive ways around issues common to all NSAs.

There are many successful models for networking in both congested and sparce areas, and I'd hope to see some wise input from the networking pros here. Keep in mind, there will always be those who don't "get" networking, and guard territories like mama grizzlies; trust works both ways.

jmho.

Reply by MonicaFL on 9/18/11 8:50am
Msg #397800

Re: Building a network is a good idea, Karla. I'd say not

Well, so far I have had good luck with mentoring. I mentored three other notaries who, until they got ten closings under their belt, I insisted that they let me look over their documents before turning them in.(This way I could point out any possible errors that they might have made and get it taken care of before they turned them in) I didn't mind doing that either. This mentoring has been a very good deal for me because if they get a call for an assignment that they can't do, they give the calling party my name and number then call me and tell me they passed this info along and see if the company called me. We now have a nice little network going. I don't mind doing this as this is not my "job" - i am retired and do this for golf money - but I refuse to take low ball offers - and if I get a low ball offer I tell them no that it will interfere with my tee time! But, if they want to offer what I charge, then I will certainly change or cancel my tee time (because I can always make another one). God has been good to me so I don't mind giving back when I can.

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/18/11 1:37pm
Msg #397816

Re: Building a network is a good idea, Karla. I'd say not

Your positive attitude takes people to another level - thanks. I think some people are forgetting where they first came from. Possibly they got drilled by the experienced ones and this is now payback time. Just sayin' . . .

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/19/11 3:17am
Msg #397848

I'd bet what you're "just sayin'..." is inaccurate!

Not true for me, at least, or for many others that I know of...