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Some Committees require specialized skills or expertise. The Public Relations Committee, for example, is comprised of individuals who perform the public relations function at their company or have significant interest in public relations. Another example: Members are chosen to serve on the Government Affairs Committee based on such factors as their demonstrated interest in the legislative and regulatory process.
Other Committees are "looking for a few good men" (and women) who are willing to work on behalf of the Association. Examples of these types of Committee include: Membership & Organization Committee (willing to make membership renewal phone calls and to plan strategic campaigns) or Education Committee (putting together an education seminar or developing questions for the Title Triumph™ board game).
Underwriter Staff and Employee Personnel
Committee service and convention attendance must be approved by the company CEO. The names of underwriter employees on staff who have volunteered for committee service are sent to the underwriter's headquarters office for approval before a final confirmation is sent to the volunteer.
Attendance
Since many Committees meet during ALTA’s Annual Convention, attendance at the Annual Convention is strongly encouraged for all volunteers.
Reimbursement
Participation on ALTA Committees is at the member’s expense. The Association does not reimburse committee-related travel expenses. ALTA does pay for the logistical cost of the meeting, including room rental fees and meals (breakfasts and lunches) which take place during the meeting, unless the committee is classified as an information exchange committee (see committee descriptions). The actual costs of those meetings are billed back to the participants. ALTA does not reimburse airfare or hotel charges.
Bylaws Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to consider all proposals to amend the Bylaws.
Claims Administration Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in the internal management of title insurance claims through the sharing of ideas and information about individual company problems and solutions.
2. Disseminate information regarding automation of claims records, claims categorization, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, procedures for the establishment of claims reserves, management of outside counsel resources, litigation risk analysis and assessment and other claims administration issues.
3. Recommend to the Board of Governors participation of the Association as amicus curiae in litigation involving claims administration issues which might have significant broad effect on the interests of the title insurance industry.
Closing Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Provide inter-disciplinary consultation on matters involving residential and commercial real estate closing in order to assist ALTA staff in liaison efforts with federal and state legislatures and regulators or related industry groups.
2. Recommend industry guidelines or positions on closing issues, including, but not limited to, uniform closing instructions; tax reporting concerns; regulatory sanctions involving closing agents; and any future additional federal regulatory burdens to be placed upon closing agents.
3. Participate in the development or review of educational materials designed to benefit closing agents.
4. Provide guidance with regard to automation in the closing process.
Committee on Internal Auditing
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Develop a manual of office procedures that will assist all ALTA members in assuring orderly financial activities, if said manual is authorized by the Board of Governors.
2. Monitor the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and to report on any recommended changes in internal auditing practices and procedures.
3. Monitor the title industry with respect to changes in business practices, and to develop internal auditing procedures for any new practices.
4. Work toward the efficient transfer of real property through improved member internal financial accounting.
5. Develop procedures and manuals that will enable orderly external audits, as directed by the Board of Governors.
6. Review the agency supervision and control guidelines annually.
Education Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Evaluate the education needs of the Association, affiliated regional and state title associations, and individual ALTA members and plan activities that will best meet these needs.
2. Develop LTI/ALTA educational seminars, where appropriate, and present them on a continuing basis.
3. Assist regional and state title associations in strengthening their educational programs as requested.
4. Plan and develop educational materials for members and customer groups.
Government Affairs Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Recommend to the Board of Governors positions and involvement in federal and state governmental activities affecting the land title industry.
2. Develop and implement strategy and tactics in accordance with the bylaws to facilitate legislative/regulatory objectives.
3. Maintain a positive profile with allied organizations, working toward developing effective, cooperative relationships on legislative and regulatory initiatives of mutual interest to ALTA and the allied organizations.
4. Analyze and monitor federal and state governmental activities that would have a substantial impact on the land title industry.
5. Establish and maintain legislative and regulatory contacts at federal and state levels and coordinate such efforts with Association members.
6. Assist in the organization and program content for federal, state and regional land title seminars.
7. Provide speech content and articles to assist Association chairs, Officers, affiliated state/regional association executives and others in describing legislative/regulatory proposals affecting the land title industry.
International Development Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Enhance the understanding and share information to assist countries in developing reliable and secure real estate markets.
2 Create global partnership for the implementation of complete, accurate and current land records.
3. Provide automated land titling technology to facilitate efficiencies for international real estate markets.
4. Initiate and build relationships to create effective and profitable land titling systems worldwide.
Liaison Committee with the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to develop joint educational and informational materials to explain the importance to the consumer and real estate professional of owners title insurance coverage and an accurate land title survey.
Liaison Committee with the Commission on Uniform Laws
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Observe, with the approval of the National Conference of the Commissioners on Uniform Laws, drafting sessions on proposed model acts of concern to the title industry that are being developed by the National Conference.
2. Submit written comments to the National Conference.
3. Report to the ALTA Officers and staff on matters in this area affecting the title industry.
Liaison Committee with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Maintain a positive profile with the NAIC.
2. Monitor and report on all title industry matters that arise through the NAIC.
3. Work with the NAIC in order to promote sound legislation and regulation and to prevent unsound legislation.
4. Assist the Government Affairs, Research and Accounting Committees in their dealings with the NAIC.
5. Maintain liaison with other insurance lines that are represented at the NAIC.
Membership and Organization Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Promote membership in or affiliation with ALTA.
2. Encourage the organization of state or regional title associations and assist with such organizations as requested.
3. Develop programs designed to recruit new and retain existing ALTA members.
Native American Land Claims Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Keep ALTA and its members apprised of new developments in the Indian Land Claims area.
2. Monitor ongoing Indian Claims litigation to determine its general impact on title insurance and conveyancing.
3. Recommend to the Board of Governors participation of ALTA as amicus curiae in Indian Claims litigation involving issues which might have significant broad effect on the interests of the title insurance and conveyancing industries.
4. Consider legislative and administrative developments in the Indian Land Claims area and assist the officers and staff of ALTA in developing official positions regarding such developments.
5. Provide an opportunity for exchange of information regarding the legal questions presented by this unique category of title problems.
Public Relations Committee
The purpose and scope of this Committee is to:
1. To develop and execute a program of communication in order to improve favorable national public understanding and acceptance of the land title industry and its services.
2. To strengthen customer knowledge and awareness of the value and benefit of title industry’s products and services.
3. To improve ALTA’s role as the primary source of timely, valuable and accurate information concerning the title industry.
Real Property Records Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Monitor and report to the title industry on the activities of organizations such as the National Association of County Recorders and Clerks (NACRC); the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT); the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA); and the Association for Title Information Management (ATIM).
2. Encourage the development of more efficient public recordation systems and recording practices.
3. Monitor legal and technological developments which affect the land title industry's timely and cost effective access to public land records.
4. Report to ALTA Officers and staff on matters in this area affecting the title industry.
Reinsurance Committee (Information Exchange Committee)
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Promote the exchange of information within the ALTA membership about current developments in the law affecting the reinsurance and co-insurance of title insurance risks.
2. Update the ALTA Reinsurance Manual and exchange information relevant to processing facultative reinsurance agreements throughout the industry-from both a legal and administrative perspective.
3. Establish an institutional mechanism for sharing views on common reinsurance and co-insurance problems.
Research Committee - Abstracter-Agent Subcommittee
The purpose and scope of work of this Subcommittee is to:
1. Collect data pertaining to, and report on, the organizational and financial characteristics of ALTA member title industry abstracters and agents.
2. Promote the general welfare and professional growth of title industry abstracters and agents.
3. Survey the ALTA membership on topics suggested by the ALTA Officers and staff.
4. Undertake any special studies of the Abstracter-Agent Section of the ALTA that are required by other ALTA Committees, and/or the ALTA Officers and staff.
Research Committee - Underwriter Subcommittee
The purpose and scope of work of this Subcommittee is to:
1. Assist the ALTA Officers and staff in performing economic analyses on matters that might affect the title insurance industry.
2. Monitor and report on the work being performed by economic consultants hired by the Association.
3. Collect, compile and report title industry financial information to the ALTA membership, members of Congress, state insurance departments, and the general public on a quarterly and annual basis.
4. Maintain liaison with Federal, private and other trade association research departments and Committees.
5. Assist the Public Relations Committee whenever possible in educating the general public concerning the economic aspects of the title insurance industry.
State Legislative and Regulatory Action Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1.Obtain information on a timely basis on state legislative and regulatory proposals affecting the land title industry.
2. File annual reports on state legislative activity.
3. Assist in commenting on state legislation and proposals for uniform state laws.
Technology Committee
The purpose and scope of this Committee is to:
1. Study automation for local title office operations and title plants, and provide the ALTA membership with timely information and advice in this field.
2. Develop programs on local title office automation and title plants for ALTA meetings as appropriate.
3. Develop automation expositions for ALTA meetings.
4. Monitor and report on developments in electronic information transfer and other technologies that have implications for the title industry.
5. Develop, modify and communicate standards and procedures for the exchange of information in order to further the integration of technology with the title business.
6. Develop and maintain liaison with others in the real estate industry and elsewhere as is necessary to conduct this activity.
Title Counsel Committee (Information Exchange Committee)
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Promote the exchange of information within the ALTA membership about current developments in the law affecting title insurance and conveyancing generally.
2. Conduct semi-annual meetings to facilitate the exchange of information.
3. Establish an institutional mechanism for sharing views on common legal problems.
4. Assist the ALTA staff in advising ALTA Officers and staff on specific legal developments.
5. Assist the ALTA staff in providing legal review of publications and other legal documents.
6. Act as task force on any legal problem facing the title industry which is identified by the Title Insurance Underwriters Section executive Committee as warranting the Committee’s consideration.
7. Assist the staff in the development of bulletins to the membership on legal and general underwriting issues of broad concern.
Title Industry Political Action Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Promote and strive for the improvement of government by encouraging and stimulating persons engaged in the title insurance industry and others to participate in governmental and political affairs.
2. Encourage persons engaged in the title insurance industry and others to know and understand the nature and actions of their government (legislative, executive and judicial) concerning land transactions and the title to land, including informing the public and office-holders on important issues relating thereto and the records of office-holders and candidates with respect to such issues.
3. Assist persons engaged in the title insurance industry and others in organizing themselves for more effective political action.
4. Support, without regard to party affiliation, those candidates and office-holders whose expressed philosophy or records in office are consonant with the concepts of government through the private-enterprise system.
5. Do any and all things which are permitted by law and which are necessary or desirable for the achievement of the purposes stated herein.
Title Insurance Accounting Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Assist the Association Officers and staff in analyzing any accounting matters that might affect the title insurance industry.
2. Work with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners toward developing uniform accounting practices and procedures.
3. Work towards improving the NAIC title insurance blank so that it becomes a more efficient vehicle for portraying title industry statutory financial activity.
4. Review all accounting practices and procedures used by Association members.
5. Maintain liaison with other trade association accounting groups.
Title Insurance Forms Committee
The purpose and scope of work of this Committee is to:
1. Review, from time to time, the ALTA approved title insurance forms.
2. Recommend new forms or revisions of existing forms to keep title insurance coverage responsive to the needs of insureds and the industry and consistent with requirements of supervisory authorities.
3. Confer with representatives of insureds and supervisory authorities for the purpose of accomplishing the above objectives.
Further Information
Please contact the American Land Title Association at service@alta.org or 1-800-787-ALTA®. We would be happy to assist you.
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