Although the term fanatic may be offensive to some...the single mindedness and failure to explore other alternatives to advance the interests of the abstractors...does seem to conjure up the idea of fanaticism.

In terms of exploring Ellen's idea...the entire idea was tabled within a matter of hours if I recall. From what I have seen so far....NALTEA means well but really has accomplished little if anything.

With reference to abstractors spending the money to join a co-op as opposed to NALTEA....I think that you need to offer them something in return for their investment. It has become apparent that the abstractors are unwilling to spend a dime unless they get a quarter back. That is why I think that NALTEA is having difficulty in attracting members in large quantity. The co-op could be structured as an investment for the abstractors. They buy into it. If they are not happy with it they sell their interest...similar to the purchase and sale of stock in a corporation.

The problem with NALTEA has been that it has failed to produce value for the abstractors into which to buy. The annual membership fee is money gone at the end of the year with nothing to show for it. You might have better results if the abstractors knew they could exit at any time of their choosing and cash in their interest at a rate to be determined at the time of the cash out. The intetrest may be worth more or possibly less at the time of the cash out, but that is the nature of an investment. In the mean time they have received the benefit of increased volume of work.