Spring 2003 TitleGram Page Three

6:30 p.m., Friday, April 25 at 2003 Annual Convention

The Okie TiPAC Silent Auction will be held on Friday, April 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the 2003 OLTA Annual Convention held at the Doubletree Warren Place Hotel, Tulsa. Come enjoy refreshments, a wonderful dinner and play "Survivor: OLTA Style!" You are encouraged to wear red, white and blue attire to this "Salute to the Red, White & Blue."

Please contact any board member or officer prior to the convention or anytime on Thursday or Friday during the convention to drop off auction items. In addition, auction items may be brought to the convention registration area or to the Friday night event itself.

As usual, bids will be tendered before, during and after dinner. Successful bidders will be announced at the end of the evening, so don't leave early! Please remember to bring a personal checkbook to pay for purchases at the auction. Checks should be made payable to Okie TiPAC.

The Okie TiPAC Silent Auction is a tradition that has been a major source of past fund-raising efforts and is a fun opportunity to raise money for the OLTA political action committee, Okie TiPAC. Okie TiPAC exists to support legislation that protects and promotes the abstract and title industry. The cost of being involved in the legislative process is increasing each year and your help is needed to make this event a great success! Questions? Call the OLTA office at 405.840.1944. See you Friday, April 25th!

Uncle Sam's Top 10 List of Suggested Auction Items

The Silent Auction is coming up at the annual convention (see above article) and the stakes are high again this year! Thanks to this year's auction committee of Barry Schmulbach, Pat Beall and Kristi Morrow, organizers are shooting to raise a goal of $10,000 for Okie TiPAC and need your help. Check out some of Uncle Sam's suggested favorite auction items from the list below and consider bringing one as your contribution:

10. Travel vouchers/airline tickets
9. Weekend getaways
8. Sporting event tickets
7. Concert/musical/opera tickets
6. Golf packages/golf equipment. Fore!
5. Local art. Support your local artist!
4. Local products. How about Porter peaches?
3. Computer/office equipment/gadgets
2. Spa days. Everyone needs a little beauty in their life.
1. Anything to do with kids!

These are just a few suggestions to help make this year's event even more creative and successful. Call auction committee member Kristi Morrow at 918/682-7727 before the convention to let her and committee members know ahead of time what you will be donating. All items are appreciated! And, thanks in advance for your donations. See you on Friday night, April 25th at the auction.

From the OLTA Education Committee...

    The OLTA Abstractor's Handbook has been newly revised. It is anticipated that it will be available at the annual convention, April 24-26, in either a paper copy (with or without binder; limited number of binders currently available) and possibly in a CD format. Participants in the recent Oklahoma Title University in February (Advanced Abstractor's School) received a copy of the handbook at that time. We anticipate limited revisions.
    The handbook contains 14 text chapters, with four new chapters never included before, and a 15th chapter - appendix with various statute, attorney general opinions, Administrative Code Rules and a Glossary. It is hoped to be a comprehensive book, with the format to allow updates by chapter when needed.
    OLTA is pleased to announce that it has been asked by the State Auditor and Inspector's Office, Abstracting Section, to allow the use of the handbook to be used in revising the Abstractor's Licensing Test. OLTA has consented with this request and is asking that the test be geared toward functional knowledge used by the abstractor during the abstracting process.
The current test is outdated and in need of revising. Certainly, you will want to have a copy of the Handbook in your office to prepare staff for the new exam once it is prepared. Dates and other issues related to the test change will be announced further at the convention.

If you would like to pick up your copy of the Handbook at the convention, please contact Education Committee member Joy Scheller at 405.422.6016 for further details.