Notaries and Global Officials Come Together at National Notary Association’s Annual Conference in the Nation’s Capital

June 19, 2006

More than 1,000 Notaries, industry leaders, and national and international dignitaries convened in Washington, D.C., May 27-31 at the National Notary Association’s 28th annual Conference for strategic discussion and education on the vital role of America’s 4.5 million Notaries Public in e-commerce and protecting citizens against identity fraud, forgery and terrorism.

“The knowledge presented at this once-a-year event allows the Notary professional to effectively respond to an increasingly changing and competitive global market,” said Frank Marcial of Stevenson Ranch, California, who was selected as the NNA’s 2006 Notary of the Year. 

Attendees representing 37 states and 23 nations participated in a diverse offering of workshops, symposiums and panel discussions on topics such as identity theft prevention, professional development, immigration issues and Notary ethics.

Features included:

  • The Second International Forum on eNotarization and eApostilles, which  brought together technology, legal and Notary law experts from 23 nations to examine technology and public policy issues relevant to providing security and convenience to electronic transactions, and facilitating global e-commerce. "The Second International Forum brought together international representatives for a comprehensive discussion of how security and trust can be assured in the cross-border exchange of electronic documents," said Christophe Bernasconi, First Secretary of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. "The Forum signified an important continuation of the international dialogue between the Hague Conference, the NNA and national experts on matters of eNotarization and e-Apostilles."
  • Federal officials addressing consumer protection issues and outlining the latest techniques to combat identity theft and document fraud. Speakers included Betsy Broder, Assistant Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection; Jonathan Rusch, Special Counsel for Fraud Prevention in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Department of Justice; David Wintrode and William Stern of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Financial Crimes Unit; and Michael Everitt, Unit Chief of the Document Forensic Laboratory at the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
  • A state-of-the-art eNotarization Lab offering hands-on training and experience with e-document technologies, including Electronic Notary Seals, electronic signatures and electronic journals, through live demonstrations of the secure document technology by industry leaders. The e-revolution promises to bring both “monumental changes and monumental opportunities” to America’s Notaries, stated NNA President Milt Valera during the annual “State of the Notary Office” address.


At the Farewell Banquet, Valera announced that Los Angeles will host the Association’s 2007 Conference May 30-June 2. Next year’s Conference theme, “50 Years of Leadership, Professionalism and Trust,” celebrates the NNA’s 50th Anniversary of service and education to America’s Notaries.

The NNA: Setting the Standard for America’s Professional Notary

Founded in 1957, the National Notary Association (NNA) is committed to the professional development of Notaries throughout the United States by providing education, support and advocacy. The NNA educates law makers, businesses and state officials on the best notarial practices, and leads efforts to make necessary changes in state and federal statutory framework.

Source: National Notary Association (NNA)


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