I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of the New England Land Title Association (NELTA) and our tireless executive director Cathy Jones for all the hard work and effort extended throughout the past year. It has been a valuable and rewarding experience for me to serve as president of the association at such a pivotal point in the real estate market.. The association has filled a valuable role as a conduit for information needed by our members to adjust to the changing landscape created by the current economic challenges. A new Consumer Financial Bureau, changes to RESPA and the structures of the government sponsored entities (FNMA and FHLMC), The SAFE Act, Dodd-Frank Legislation and foreclosure cases and challenges are just a few of the issues facing the real estate industry. NELTA through its continued relationship with the American Land Title Association (ALTA) continues to have a voice and input on federal legislation and regulations that impacts all our members.
ALTA has been doing an outstanding job of sorting through all the proposals and potential changes to the landscape and informing its members and impacting the decision making. Continued support of ALTA is the best method for each one of our members and associate members to remain informed as well as protected at the federal level.
NELTA continues to provide timely seminars throughout the New England area. It is also a testament to the hard work of our executive director that the convention this year is a sold out event in spite of the current economic climate. One lucky member who attended one of our educational seminars this year has received a stipend to attend the conference this year. It is the hope of the board that encouragement of new attendance and further education of the members will help maintain the vibrancy of the association in the years ahead.
It is fitting to take a moment to reflect on the efforts and contribution of those board members who have left us this year. We lost both our first vice president, Albert Antonio, and one of our founders, Frank Sheehy. Both men shared a love of life and enthusiasm for the industry in which they made their careers. They will be sorely missed for their contributions, good humor, past contributions as well as their interest in the future success of both the industry and NELTA. Albert Antonio would have been sworn in as president at the convention this year. There will be a tribute to Albert at the banquet on Saturday evening of the convention. We will be most pleased to have Karen Antonio, Albert's wife and other family members in attendance. NELTA was pleased to announce that the association and any members who wish to contribute will be making a donation to the Albert Knight Antonio Memorial Fund to honor his memory.
Thanks to all of our members and the speakers who are giving so generously of their time and let's have a great convention.
Roberta Baker is the 2011 president of NELTA and vice president, N.H. and Vt. counsel at Fidelity National Title Insurance Company and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Peru, Vt.