Posted by Vicky58 on 1/3/13 4:29pm
Msg #448709

NNA Convention in Austin

I am just wondering how many of you are planning on going to Austin this year, and if you are what would you like to see or hear about? I went last year and although it appeared a good time was had by all, I can't say that I really acquired any new contacts or information I didn't already know. I would like to see a round table of sorts, where Notary Signing Agrents could submit questions to a panel of lenders, title companies, and signing companies and have all three answer the same questions. I think that alone would make I worth the expense of going.

Reply by ikando on 1/3/13 4:57pm
Msg #448713

Vicky, I like your idea: I would like to see a round table of sorts, where Notary Signing Agrents could submit questions to a panel of lenders, title companies, and signing companies and have all three answer the same questions.

I'd suggest Wells Fargo and/or Chase, Provident and Title Source, and any of a number of signing services that low ball. It would be interesting to see the responses and reactions if the signing services had to answer questions first.

Reply by desktopfull on 1/3/13 4:58pm
Msg #448714

There's nothing that the NNA has to offer that I would be willing to spend dime on, much less attend one of their convention.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 1/3/13 5:17pm
Msg #448716

I heartily agree with you Desktopfull.

I attended one in 2006 in LA. Basically, it was a great way to meet with my CA friends and get a tax writeoff! I cannot tell you about anything that I might have learned from XYZ at that event.

Reply by leeinla on 1/3/13 5:24pm
Msg #448719

Re: I heartily agree with you Desktopfull.

I also agree with Desktopfull. I went to a few NAA conferences and they were fun, but did not learn anything new. I've been a notary for ten years, and I am not going to renew my NNA membership. It is going to expire in a few months. I am getting all my info from Notary Rotary. I also became a member of the American Association of Notaries. I wish Notary Rotary would organize its own conference. It would be cool to meet Harry and other fellow signing agents.

Reply by HisHughness on 1/3/13 6:10pm
Msg #448730

Re: I heartily agree with you Desktopfull.

***It would be cool to meet Harry and other fellow signing agents.***

I dunno about that that. Harry is this larger-than-life, almost mythical figure who sometimes deigns to leave NotRot's own Mt. Olympus to mingle with us mortals on the forums, strewing wisdom and bonhomie in his wake. The prospct of actually meeting him in the living breathing flesh is intimidating, almost frightening. Could we actually look directly on his eminence? Would the thunder of his pronouncements rupture our eardrums? Would our women swoon and offer themselves as his bond slaves?

We need to ponder a bit on this.

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 6:15pm
Msg #448733

You think that we haven't already?

"Would our women swoon and offer themselves as his bond slaves?"

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 8:59pm
Msg #448757

Price of Conference is high, but

it costs a lot to rent the venue and food is very, very high. Like I mentioned, I am also in the midst of conference planning so I am well aware of the costs. They are making a little bit on this conference, but not a lot. It's just an expensive undertaking. I note that at present they only have one sponsor...lean times.

I don't know how many that they usually have in attendance, but in Texas, I think it might be less. (I could be wrong!) The bulk of Texas notaries are not signing agents. It takes over 80 notary acts at $6 each to pay for the conference registration alone. In the past, I suspect that some offices sent their notaries to a conference likes this, but conference registration to a notary conference will be the first thing sliced off of the budget.

Airfare to ATX will run anyone who flies American or United around $500 - $1500 RT; Southwest $350 - $950 RT. Hotels at $125-$150 a night...it's a $1500 trip and that's tough to come up with.

BUT, if you get a chance to go to Austin, it's great place. Prepare to relax and put on your sandals.

Reply by A S Johnson on 1/3/13 5:34pm
Msg #448721

Re: I heartily agree with you Desktopfull.

Shoshana so you want to attack me, just go head.
Yes when I became a Notary Signing Agent, I did some education that was presented by NNA. I paid for it and passed the test. You can't take that away.
I even went to Austin to testify for them with their rep before the Texas Leg combine committee on juristrupance.
But as you gain experience you see thing that change your way of looking at being Notary Signing Agent.
I did a number of signing as "Trusted Agent" and was paid more than $35 per signing and travel fees.
I was background check thru them.
But,
like my B S in Political Science and I work for a democrat governor, but now i am a libertarian. I still have my degree which I work for and proud of it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 5:51pm
Msg #448724

Sid, that was Stephanie, no Shoshana. n/m

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 1/3/13 5:52pm
Msg #448726

I am not attacking - just making a reference. n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 6:13pm
Msg #448732

Understood.

Did not take it that way, but I tend to agree with what Sid said. Some hiring entities are looking for that name. He has it.

Reply by CorpJen on 1/4/13 8:38am
Msg #448804

Re: I heartily agree with you Desktopfull.

if you attend 1 convention, there is no need to attend another. Notaries who are looking to grow their business can contact us for consult after January. We will provide the best format to assist notaries to enlarge their "circle of business", improve your bread and butter.
Contact Jim Coffey at [e-mail address]

Reply by jba/fl on 1/4/13 9:41am
Msg #448814

Would this be advertising? n/m

Reply by A S Johnson on 1/3/13 5:08pm
Msg #448715

No I not go. I am not a member nor do I see any need in being a member.
If XYZ has such as you suggest, I can assure you that nna would stack it so that only the $50 to $75 Escrow/Signing Services would be the only one represented.
In my years as being a member of XYZ, I got worng info for Texas signing and XYZ tried to lower our fees. Take "Trusted Agent" program they work at XYZ. That pay was $25 per assignment.
Thanks for making me aware of this as I"m sure they will try to meet with and influnce our legislature. I must contact my state rep to put him on guard about them. I know the feeling in Austin is that Texas does not need a California for profit company tring to influnce our law.
P S If you are aTexas Notary and have a distrust of XYZ, you need to cantact you Txas State Rep and Senator to put them on thier guard about what XYZ will try to do.

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 1/3/13 5:17pm
Msg #448717

...for not liking XYZ and saying the things you say about

XYZ, it is interesting how you refer to XYZ, almost with pride in your profile.
I just find it very interesting.

Reply by Vicky58 on 1/3/13 6:21pm
Msg #448734

So if you had the opportunity to ask a question to the lender, title company, and signing agency and all three had to answer, what would the question be?

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 6:24pm
Msg #448735

What would your questions be, Vicky? n/m

Reply by Vicky58 on 1/3/13 7:06pm
Msg #448739

Re: What would your questions be, Vicky?

My first question would be why is it that I receive a phone call from xyz signing agency to do a signing on Saturday after Thanksgiving for X amount, I accept the assignment, I show up on time prepared to do the signing and the borrower points out that the name of his trust is wrong as listed on the docs, then tells me he had just refied 8 months earlier with the same company and had the same problem, but the notary was pushy and talked him into signing the docs, telling him the company would take care of the problem at no cost to him, then I wait while he finds the attorney bill where he paid $400. to have it corrected. I call the signing agency an they tell me to proceed with the signing and just not do anything that has to do with the trust, ( is that a completed signing), I call his Loan Officer X2, Title X2, and te signing agency back. I drove 35 miles to his house, printed 2 sets of docs, spent 1 hour of my time at his house trying to reach someone, drove home, sent signing agency my invoice and they sent an e-mail back to me saying they only pay $35. for no signs because they don't get payed when someone doesn't sign. So I called the supervisor at the signing company and she told me the best she could do for me was the following, ( Since I had never had an incomplete sign with the company before he would give me $45. and ask the girls to call me more often). They haven't called me since then, I haven't been paid because she told me I would have to send a new invoice agreeing to the reduced amount before she could issue payment. So my question is: Is it the lenders fault? Title? Signing Agency? But why do they always seem to make me feel at fault and penalize my pocketbook?

Reply by jba/fl on 1/3/13 7:35pm
Msg #448747

I would attempt to answer this, but my head and ears are

ringing with the run-on sentences, plus I am breathless. I think the answer to your question is in Signing Central under comments about this business. I think that your quest was undertaken without checking out their reputation and reading comments from other notaries who have done business with them previously. I think that you did not use the Orange Search button either.

Do you care to name this SS?

Reply by 101livescan on 1/3/13 7:56pm
Msg #448749

Re: What would your questions be, Vicky?

Uh, sounds like you're putting the NNA program together, Vicky. Might you be an NNA employee charged with putting together an exciting cintillating program that will enthuse and conjure plane loads of folks to attend the Austin gathering...

For one thing, there is more information on this board than the NNA could ever impart to our members, NR supplies are less expensive and the comraderie of this group is mighty.

Also, while your management makes great salaries and can afford to host this kingly event, we're all fighting for our fees and take every assignment we can get while the gettin's good. Checked out air fare lately? fares are over the top. Taxes are going up this year...I think the NNA annual conference will not likely be well attended except by Texans!

I would rather meet with fellow NSAs from NR cuz while we fight like siblings, we love each other to pieces. There are some real smart cookies on this forum.

I seriously doubt you'll be getting any conference material from this group. Good luck, though, on filling all those seats at your hotel venue.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/3/13 9:29pm
Msg #448761

Re: What would your questions be, Vicky?

I think your example is a perfect explanation as to why this type of an event would be meaningless. The reality is that every ss will handle a situation like this differently. I had a somewhat similar situation like the one you described with an error throughout the document package (except for the way it was handled). Thankfully, I was fortunate to be dealing with a great combination of lender, tc, and ss. The problem was fixed fairly quickly (if not the first time). But there was no finger pointing, just an honest effort by all parties to get the situation fixed, and I'll be paid for two signings. Most importantly, I believe the borrower was generally left with a positive impression.

You could get as many different answers to your situation as there are companies and combinations thereof. For anyone who follows this board, I don't believe "XYZ" has anything to offer that can't be had here for a lot less - except maybe a tax deduction for a potentially fun "business" trip.

Reply by leeinla on 1/4/13 12:03am
Msg #448782

Re: What would your questions be, Vicky?

I would ask a simple question to TC's. Do you vet your signing services? How do you (ss) treat your notaries? How do these low ball signing services get these contracts with TC's, and than want to pay us peanuts? I asked the NNA at a previous conference about these problems, and their answer was, "we can't help you". Gee, what is the point of an association if they can not do any PR for its members! Sad, sad, sad.

Reply by HisHughness on 1/3/13 7:09pm
Msg #448740

If the rare NotRot habitue who also is an NNA member and who plans to attend the convention wants to PM me, we can arrange a NotRot meet&greet. Also, we can take in some of the "Keeping Austin Weird" sites like Maria's Taco Express, the Ladybird Lake trail, world-class comedy club Esther's Follies, Expose Men's Club, etc.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/3/13 7:12pm
Msg #448742

What?? Hugh - A "Meet&Greet"??? Didn't you get the memo

we're all staying with YOU, for heaven's sake!!..

Reply by leeinla on 1/3/13 7:35pm
Msg #448748

Re: NNA Convention in Austin-Expose Men's Club?

Reservation on the way? More info please and no offense ladies.

Reply by MikeC/TX on 1/3/13 7:26pm
Msg #448745

If you're going to Austin, there are really only two things worth seeing:

1) The bats coming out from under the Congress Ave bridge, and
2) His Hughness

Not necessarily in that order....

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/3/13 8:21pm
Msg #448752

I will be putting on a national conference at work

so I cannot even come to Austin to meet anyone for dinner. I do regret that.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 1/3/13 10:54pm
Msg #448775

No...but I'd love to go to a NotRot conference...

What do you think Harry? A mix-and-mingle somewhere? I'd love to get to visit with these NotRot folks in person somewhere, but no, I don't need the NNA's services.

If I were to attend an educational conference, I'd really prefer one that was local, so I could benefit from state-specific information.

My frustration with NNA is every time I read their materials, I realize how general it is, or I notice that they make broad statements as if they apply to all states, when in fact, their "facts" are in direct conflict with my state's information.

Reply by anotaryinva on 1/4/13 6:48am
Msg #448796

DC is beautiful in the spring

Great place for a notaryrotary conference. There is so much to see and do here(mostly free). The official Cherry Blossom festival is scheduled for April 14-20th, unfortunately most years the blooms are off the trees early, plus room rates skyrocket during that time, better time would be 1st/2nd week of April.

Reply by 101livescan on 1/4/13 8:48am
Msg #448808

Re: DC is beautiful in the spring

NNA's principals live in Santa Barbara? Why not just convene here in sunny CA!? There are more notaries in CA than in any other state, however, not many are members of the NNA.