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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Updated: Thursday, July 30, 2020
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NYSLTA BACK TO WORK COMMITTEE
Questions to consider when creating a BTW Plan UPDATED JULY 28, 2020
The Executive Committee of the NYS Land Title Association formed a special task force in May 2020 to prepare guidance for member companies in anticipation of the eventual lifting of restrictions and the return to the traditional workplace.
The Back-To-Work Group has compiled a multi-page PDF document covering a dozen topics such as liability, good practices, reporting requirements, human resources concerns, office cleaning and disinfecting, PPE, health & wellness, social distancing, business
travel and risk assessment.
Logged in members can access the BTW Guide here.
The file is also available by navigating to: SECTIONS> ABSTRACTERS & AGENTS SECTION and selecting the file named "Back-To-Work FAQ 7-28-2020" PDF (232.43 KB) from the file library on that page.
Tags:
Back-To-Work
BTW
change management
Coronavirus
COVID-19
WFH
Work from Home
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Friday, July 15, 2016
Updated: Friday, July 15, 2016
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A recent story in ALTA's Title News highlighted some habitual terms we use when talking about our industry.
The article went further, using consumer research, to show how these habits get in the way of clear communication and it offered some helpful alternatives.
I am posting the link here because I think we can do better when speaking to legislators and their staff, as well as the DFS and the Governor's staff.
http://www.alta.org/news/news.cfm?newsID=31802&eID=0
Save the jargon for when we are speaking to each other. Otherwise, use plain English.
Tags:
ALTA
change management
communication
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2015
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This article from National Mortgage News is yet another instance of a phenomenon called disintermediation.
In plain English, it means "getting rid of the middle man", like finding your home on Zillow instead of driving around with a Realtor, or booking your hotel, rental car and flight on a web site rather than calling a travel agent. No doubt some folks reading this have never used a travel agent or know what one is - that's disintermendiation at work.
This article describes the rise of direct to consumer mortgage lending. It is a real thing.
http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/origination/no-longer-a-niche-consumer-direct-lenders-lead-mortgage-innovation-1064448-1.html?zkPrintable=1&nopagination=1
These changes are already hitting the title industry along the edges with eRecording and dozens of NY counties already allow searching/examining land records via the web.
In 1999, I worked on the consumer launch of The First Internet Bank, referenced in the article. At the time, we had no idea what would come of it.
We may like it or not, but change is inexorable.
I guess its true - there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come.
Tags:
change management
lending
mortgage
National Mortgage News
technology
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Updated: Wednesday, October 28, 2015
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A delegation of the NYSLTA Title Insurance Section met with Nassau County Clerk O'Connell and her senior deputies on Monday October 26 at the County Office Building in Mineola, NY. A group of Xerox team members joined via phone conference.
The conversation was informative and businesslike.
As of this date, the Xerox team is projecting completion of implementation and internet access to the system by mid-November. Anyone who is familiar with complex systems such as this must acknowledge the potential for unforeseen delays. It is only reasonable to allow some flexibility to this target date.
The ACS system is currently in use in other NY counties and these can be found via uslandrecords.com and nylandrecords.com.
When the new system is fully launched, the Clerk intends to offer informational presentations and training sessions for her staff as well as public users of the system. The title industry must anticipate slightly longer task completion times while people become accustomed to the new system and different ways of searching and examining land records.
The cost for accessing the system and using different features have not yet been announced.
Clerk O'Connell has committed to ongoing meetings with the NYSLTA Land Records Committee on a quarterly basis.
Tags:
change management
County Clerk
Land Records
Nassau County
technology
Title Insurance Section
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Posted By Frontier Abstract & Research Services,
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Updated: Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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Nassau County Clerk’s Office: System Update – Three (3) Weeks Since “System Upgrade”
1. On any given day there are up to 100 searchers (examiners) using the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. Most are in the basement where the majority of the searching takes place.
2. There are 17 computer terminals available in the basement for one (1) hour use only. These 17 terminals are on the ”New System” (by Xerox) which contains data from January 1, 1992 to June 30, 2015.
3. Searchers must sign in to get a place in line for the next available terminal. Clerks monitor the terminal time use and move people out when their 1 hour expires.
4. Printing requests go to a queue where the clerk must print and paperclip everything. The clerk has run out of paper and then has to place a service call for a paper delivery delaying everyone.
5. Documents are missing from the new system (for example 2007, 2013) and more are being discovered. When recorded documents are identified as missing, the clerks are notified and they in turn will have the I.T. staff search the old system for them and transfer copies to the new system.
6. There are two (2) terminals (called A & B) available for use in the basement that access the “Old System”. They can only be used by an examiner for one half (½) hour. The effective date for that data system is currently 10/1/2015.
7. There are another two (2) terminals working on the “Old System” upstairs on the first floor. They have a 15 minute time limit.
8. As of 10/20/2015 there is no word on when the “New Online System” will be ready for use. No one has seen it yet, nor do they know the costs surrounding its use.
9. The clerk is placing blame for the problem on the county manager for not allowing greater spending on a new system (rumored to be $30K). The county manager is blaming the clerk and Xerox for all the delays.
10. The old “Examiner Room” is now full of disconnected terminals that are no longer being used.
11. “It is What It Is” so searchers/Examiners are all on a level playing field, albeit challenging and wrought with pitfalls. Each must manages the back and forth between new and old systems, scheduling terminal time, all while negotiating the print queue and waiting, waiting, waiting.
12. E-recordings are up and working and I believe people can also walk on papers if necessary (although it is frowned upon).
Tags:
change management
County Clerk
Land Records
Nassau County
technology
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015
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The problems continue with the County Clerk's computer system in Nassau County.
The uncertainty and disruption during this change-over has not always brought out the best in any of us.
I have no doubt that this situation was not what County Clerk O'Connell or her staff ever wanted.
There will be days when progress is two steps forward and one step back - get used to it. That is the 21st Century world of software enabled commerce.
We will continue to monitor and report on this situation as it resolves and we look forward to improved channels of communication with Clerk O'Connell on a regular basis.
Members are encouraged to comment and non-members may email comment to me for review and posting.
Tags:
change management
County Clerk
Land Records
Nassau County
technology
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2015
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I am very pleased to report that County Clerk Maureen O'Connell called me a few minutes ago.
No doubt she is a very busy woman these days and her taking time to call is greatly appreciated.
She assured me the new system is being used by many counties and it is a proven system, and it is going to be great.
She said the County is running "dual system" computers so people can access both systems.
I asked her to make announcements about the status of the switch-over, her plans for completing and progress on the plans.
If I understood her correctly, she said that is not necessary because she and her staff are working "side by side" with the people there and they are communicating with the people on site. I respectfully disagreed and suggested that a formal announcement would prevent her information being distorted as it moved from mouth-to-ear to mouth-to ear.
She said she wasn't going to "run things by me". I clarified I was offering to help distribute her message. Again - shje said its not necessary.
She again insisted things are OK, the change over is happening and there will be training classes soon, maybe even next week.
Clerk O'Connell says people just have to stay calm and be positive.
Tags:
change management
County Clerk
Executive Committee
Land Records
Nassau County
public relations
technology
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2015
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Here is what you will not find in Nassau County this morning:
- Lis pendens are not indexed in the new system
- All three major eRecording companies are no longer accepting documents for Nassau County
- You won't find a County Clerk (or her staff)
I called the Clerk a few minutes ago. Understandably she and her entire staff are in a meeting. One hopes they are working to address these issues.
Members have called to say additional computers have been connect to the old system and there are computers running both systems to enable checking the completeness of the recorded data.
The eRecordng companies say they will resume eRecording in Nassau AFTER they have completed their independent testing of the system integrity.
It would be wrong to say Clerk O'Connell and her staff are doing nothing. I cannot believe they are happy about this and I am certain they want things fixed and running smoothly.
In my message, I requested additional staff be put on to accept walk-in recordings and I urged them to communicate the status on a regular basis. That would help diminish the fear and concern borne of uncertainty.
To Members - please note the Title Section is meeting to consider remedies. I will report on the progress of that initiative as best as I am able.
Members can add comments. Non-members can email comments for posting to rgt@nyslta.org AND rcapone@nyslta.org.
Tags:
change management
County Clerk
Land Records
Nassau County
technology
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Posted By Robert Treuber,
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
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[Its August. I thought this might amuse and be thought provoking.]
Important Lessons From Monkeys
You start with a cage containing four monkeys, and inside the cage you hang a banana on a string, and then you place a set of stairs under the banana.
Before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana.
You then spray ALL the monkeys with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray ALL the monkeys with cold water.
Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new monkey.
The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, ALL of the other monkeys beat the crap out of him.
After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original four monkeys, replacing it with a new monkey.
The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.
The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment – with enthusiasm -- because he is now part of the "team.”
Then, replace a third original monkey with a new monkey, followed by the fourth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.
Now, the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
Having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water.
Nevertheless, not one of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana.
Why, you ask? Because in their minds, that is the way it has always been!
DISCLAIMER: This is meant as no disrespect to monkeys.
Tags:
change management
Humor
monkeys
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