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March 11, 2004
Dear TLTA Member:
I'm sure some of you remember the Eagle's hit, "Life in the
Fast Lane." (That is, if you're of the Baby Boomer generation.) That
song would make a great theme for many of us in the title industry
right now. The sheer volume of work that we must accomplish each day
gives new meaning to the term "prioritizing." Your TLTA leadership
and staff have also been keeping a pretty fast pace over the past
month. Here is an overview of the items we've been working on
recently.
I traveled with representatives from other industry trade
groups to Washington D. C. March 1-3 to express our common concerns
with the RESPA Rule that was sent to the OMB last December. I would
like to express my personal appreciation to the following
individuals who joined me on the trip: Bruce Boyer (TLTA), Jim
Ezell, (Texas Association of Mortgage Brokers), Robbie Wilburn, (RESPRO
Texas), Kirk Smith, (RESPRO Texas), Karen Neeley, (IBAT) and Joe
Barnhardt, (IBAT).
(Click here for a photo of the group.)
We had the opportunity to meet with several staff from the
office of OMB, as well as representatives from both HUD and the
Small Business Administration. The real estate industry group along
with TLTA’s D.C. lobbyist, Jim Hyland, and ALTA’s lobbyist, Ann vom
Eigen, also met with key Congressmen and their staffs to discuss the
RESPA issue. I would like to commend the entire team of dedicated
professionals who took time out of their schedules to represent the
real estate industry on the national level.
The TLTA Board of Directors will meet on
April 14, 2004 at
9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Austin. For those
of you who have never attended a board meeting, it's an excellent
opportunity to observe first-hand how TLTA conducts its business. If
you are interested in attending, please contact Leslie Midgley at
the TLTA office.
We continue to have excellent participation in our
education programs. As I write this message members of the TLTA Land
Title School Committee are hard at work at our week-long program
providing an overview of the industry. Held in
Austin each year,
the Land Title School has sold out for the second year in a row,
which is a clear indication of how important this course has become
to you and your employees. I want to extend my appreciation to our
committee members and staff who work so hard to present the Land
Title School each year.
For information on upcoming educational programs, click here.
Upcoming on the
Schedule
Rules Teleconference – March 23,
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
CST
Management Seminar – April 16,
Irving
Statistical Report Teleconference - April 28,
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CDT
South Texas
Regional Seminar – April 24, South Padre Island
Our annual conference in
Corpus Christi
will be here before you know it. This is your opportunity to network
with business associates as you relax and enjoy the
Texas
Gulf
Coast.
Over the years, as I have attended the annual conference, I have met
some wonderful people, had some great times and I've always learned
something. I look forward to seeing old friends, making new ones
and keeping up-to-date on industry trends and developments. Make
plans now to join me for Smooth Sailing, June 4-6. Watch your mail
this month for a conference brochure and in-depth program
descriptions.
Click here for more conference details and registration form.
I am pleased to announce that we have surpassed the 500
mark of new Individual Members. As of this writing we have 522
people who have joined TLTA at the Individual level. This program
has been a great success, and has allowed more of you to participate
in your industry's association than ever before. We welcome all our
Individual Members and urge you to tell others about the benefits of
being a member of TLTA.
With this hectic schedule, full meeting agenda and
traveling both in and out of state, I sometimes forget to thank all
of you for your support and assistance. Whether it's preparing for
hearings, traveling on TLTA's behalf, or sending in your request to
serve as a volunteer, you have given generously of your time and
expertise in support of TLTA. As always, if you need assistance or
have a question, please contact me or a TLTA staff member.
Kindest
regards,
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