PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
June 16, 2008
It’s hard to believe that I’m already more than halfway through my tenure as President of the Maryland Land Title Association. Quite frankly, I’m proud of all the accomplishments that our Committees have made, to date.
I am pleased to provide you with the following Report.
ALTA PRINCIPLES OF FAIR CONDUCT
At our December Board Meeting, the MLTA adopted the ALTA Principles of Fair Conduct.
The ALTA Principles of Fair Conduct represent our commitment to promote behavior within the title industry that serves the needs and interests of consumers. The Principles describe ALTA’s, and our, expectation of our members to adhere to the highest standards of ethical behavior and the laws and regulations governing the business of title insurance. Please visit the link on our website to review the “Appropriate Steps to Implement the ALTA Principles”, which sets out specific actions that members can take, and suggests what government can do to assist the title industry in this regard. We encourage all of our members to pledge to support The Principles, and to incorporate them into their daily business practices. In turn, the MLTA pledges to assist our members in implementing The Principles through ongoing training on ethical standards and legal compliance.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
We are fortunate that Jim Cosgrove (Chair of the Legislative Committee) and Bill Pitcher (our lobbyist) were actively monitoring proposed legislation and sending out notices to our membership. Their hard work, and dedication, kept us all up-to-date with the most recent actions on the Hill.
To fully understand and appreciate all the work that Jim (and the Legislative Committee) does on our behalf would require an inordinate amount of hours watching him reading and dissecting pages upon pages of legislation. How Jim is able to juggle his time chairing the Legislative Committee and managing an office of a title agency is beyond me.
This year, in particular, brought upon much legislation that directly impacts our industry, including the Task Force to Study the Title Industry. We all knew that when the Task Force was presented, it was going to be created. The original, proposed Task Force was made up of many sectors of the real estate industry, including a lopsided number bankers to title professionals (6 bankers/3 title professionals). With Jim’s and Bill’s efforts, we convinced the Legislature to change the committee make-up to include only 3 bankers.
The Legislative Committee is also focused on SB 216, 217 and 218 and how our industry can be an active participant in the new regulations being promulgated by DLLR, including how the new regulations relate to placement of mortgage lender/broker license numbers on security instruments, how recordation of security instruments may be affected by failure to place licensee information (or an affidavit in lieu thereof) on security instruments, and the new foreclosure rules.
Look to your e-mails for our forthcoming Legislative Report.
On the national level, our ALTA Liaison, Sally McCash, has kept us informed of Federal Legislation, including the new proposed RESPA reform legislation. Most recently, Sally has sent the membership an e-mail that “we have won the battle to get more time to make comments on the proposed RESPA reform legislation”. I urge each of you to carefully review Sally’s most recent message to membership, and act accordingly.
CERTIFIED LAND TITLE PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION
Michael Schleupner and Stuart Resnick have revamped the Certified Land Title Professional (CLTP) program to make the designation more respected within our industry. The CLTP designation has been updated to reflect not only accomplishments within the industry, but also industry knowledge and experience. In addition to some changes in the “point system”, the roadmap for the CLTP designation now includes an Exam and Interview. The revised program, which can be found on our website, will help solidify our mission to promote professionalism throughout the industry.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE
Howdy Partner… Jeanne Shawahin and Ruth Kohl, Co-Chairs of the Convention Committee, are well on their way preparing an outstanding Convention in Ocean City Maryland, which is scheduled to take place from September 11–14, 2008, at the Clarion Resort, Fontainebleau.
I am very excited about the program, the new “creative” educational offerings, and the other activities that the Convention and Education Committees are working on to make this Convention one not to be missed!
Mark your calendars and book your rooms, NOW, before they are sold-out.
Further information will follow on the website and future mailings.
Another goal for the Board and Convention Committee was to plan-ahead. Accordingly, Convention locations for the next few years have been adopted by the Board, as follows:
- 2009 Convention Ocean City, Maryland
- 2010 Convention Ocean City, Maryland
- 2011 Convention Williamsburg, VA
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
A big WOW to Nancy Gusman and the Education Committee. Since October, we have had numerous regular Continuing Education events, each in a different County.
Additionally, we have held several successful “Nuts & Bolts” programs, at Turf Valley Country Club.
Our annual Title Cruise, a mix of an educational/social event, is scheduled for July 15, 2008.
We are also planning 8 hours of continuing education at the Convention in September.
Who could ask for more? We’ve had more educational offerings then we have ever had in the past!
With our “look-ahead” objective, the Committee is already working on next year’s schedule, with a different topic being taught in different counties throughout Maryland. Title Cruise is planned to again be held in 2009, and there is a new plan to rotate the location for “Nuts & Bolts” between the Turf Valley Country Club (in Ellicott City) and the Comfort Inn (in Bowie).
We also are working on adding Saturday classes, once every quarter.
You can view the upcoming schedule (which is constantly being updated) at our Website.
PRE-LICENSING
MLTA workaholic, John Gilbert (and the Pre-Licensing Committee) continues to revamp, modify and update our title insurance pre-licensing course to assist the title insurance producer/title insurance producer independent contractor candidate in passing the Maryland Insurance Administration’s new 100 question title licensing examination. This course is offered several times throughout the year.
The schedule can be found at our Website.
MIA LIAISON COMMITTEE
Tom Gibbons has been very active in keeping open the lines of communication between the MLTA and the Maryland Insurance Administration (the “MIA”). In addition to the Liaison Committee’s recent meeting with the MIA, Tom is now in the process of scheduling a “meet and greet” with not only the members of the MIA, but also the Insurance Commissioner and several key personnel with the DLLR (Division of Licensing and Regulation). This is extremely important, as we want to make sure that the MIA and DLLR can trust and rely upon us for valuable input before they introduce legislation that impacts our industry and the consumer.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Tobie Jacobs has been working to provide more benefits for our members. Her accomplishments include:
- Providing support for the new MLTA Chapters
- Guiding the new TIPIC sub-committee
- Balancing the needs of the TIPICs, our agents, underwriters and affiliated business members
- A NEW EVENT for the MLTA… our first Crab Feast, which is scheduled for July 23, 2008 at “Centennial Park Pavilion D” in Ellicott City. Tickets can be purchased, NOW, on-line or from any of our Board Members.
- ANOTHER NEW EVENT for the MLTA… Our first Bull & Oyster Roast, which is scheduled for November 8, 2008 at “Putting on the Ritz” in Columbia. You won’t want to miss this event. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!
- A Health Insurance Offering (information to follow)
TIPIC SUBCOMMITTEE
The Board recognized that further inclusion and understanding of the needs of the Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractors (TIPIC) was essential to the health and growth of the MLTA. To help us achieve this goal, we established a TIPIC subcommittee to specifically address the needs and concerns of our newest influx of members. This sub-committee, led by Ganiyu Raji, under the guidance of Tobie Jacobs, held its first meeting on November 7, 2007, and has met monthly since then. By opening up a better line of communication with our TIPIC members, we have met many of our goals, including:
- Improved communication with membership
- Professional development through education, and
- Helping our TIPIC members with their business development by incorporating them as committee members and encouraging them to enhance their skills by attending frequent educational offering and other MLTA networking events
Through a survey that was sent to our TIPIC members, the TIPIC subcommittee was also instrumental in providing additional ideas, including:
- Clarifying job postings and want ads on our Website
- Exploring options for Saturday continuing education classes
- Exploring rotation for continuing education classes
- Enhancing the membership roster on our website
SOUTHERN MARYLAND CHAPTER (& FUTURE CHAPTERS)
Special thanks go to Janice Lynch for spearheading the development of our first Chapter of the MLTA… the Southern Maryland Chapter.
This Chapter, which is now chaired by Connie Fuksa, successfully coordinated an educational offering in Charles County, in conjunction with a cocktail party that was attended by over 100 of our members. The Southern Maryland Chapter is now in the process of coordinating individuals to join/assist our standing committees in bringing pertinent information between the Southern Maryland region and the MLTA. They are also meeting with the local Clerks of Court to establish liaisons with the county government(s).
Connie has also agreed to assist Eric Schneider in formulating our next Chapter… the Suburban Maryland Chapter. I’m confident Eric will be just as successful as Connie in our newest endeavor.
NEWSLETTER
Kristopher Sleeth “stepped up to the plate” and gave us a new, improved and exciting look for the MLTA Newsletter.
He has done an excellent job at taking our Newsletter to the next level.
WEBSITE
Our website has undergone a complete overhaul, including an online Calendar of Events, active links to the ALTA website, a member-interactive sign-in that will allow you to make changes to your membership information “on the fly”, and a fresh “new” look.
Additionally, access to Board Meeting minutes, and other documentation, can now be accessed through our members-only password-protected section.
Special thanks to Jeffrey Thompson and John Shepherd (our Webmaster) for revamping our website.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
- Enhance and preserve the integrity of land titles,
- Promote the recognition of current and historic contributions of land title professionals in our community,
- Recognize and promote excellence and quality in the industry and it’s supporting institutions, and
- Support preservation of historic buildings.
The Foundation’s website also notes that it: “works to provide an effective means for the conveyancing industry to come together to engage in related charity and philanthropy, strengthening the industry by providing its members with the opportunity to give back in a way that is uniquely important and rewarding to them. It seeks to build and manage a permanent endowment to meet local industry member needs, make contributions to other non-profit organizations, provide community leadership including leveraging resources and conveying organizations to solve problems, and provide a central philanthropic vehicle for donors to meet their needs.”
I urge you to consider making a contribution to the Foundation.
We have also made several other charitable contributions, throughout the years.
A brief summary of our donations over the past few years, is available to members, upon request.
As I’ve noted several times in the past, the MLTA would not be what it is, today, without the dedication of its Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs, Committee Members, and our Executive Director, Margaret Webb. We could not have accomplished so much, in so short a period of time, without the vast amount of time and effort which they have devoted to our organization.
If you wish to contact any of our officers, directors and/or committee chairs, their contact information can be found at our website: www.mdlta.org .
Thank you.
Jeffrey E. Margolies, Esq., CLTP
President, Maryland Land Title Association