[Educationcommittee] [External] WLTA Education Committee

Mon Jul 28 17:05:32 PDT 2025

Thanks George, does the committee have any time slots available we could look at before our board meeting to discuss the below items?

Thank you,

Gerry Guerin
Senior Title Operations Manager

Stewart Title Company/SEFS Commercial (CA, AZ and NV)

M (253) 453-0967
Gerry.Guerin at stewart.com<mailto:Gerry.Guerin at stewart.com>
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NYSE: STC

From: Educationcommittee <educationcommittee-bounces at washingtonlandtitle.com> On Behalf Of George Peters
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2025 4:40 PM
To: 1 WLTA Education Committee <educationcommittee at washingtonlandtitle.com>
Subject: [External] [Educationcommittee] WLTA Education Committee
Importance: High

This email is being sent to the members of the Education Committee (listserv email address: educationcommittee at washingtonlandtitle.com<mailto:educationcommittee at washingtonlandtitle.com>).

The Committee members are:

Gerry Guerin, Co-Chair

Rick Randall, Co-Chair

Ashley Callahan (de facto, as WLTA President)

Marcella Carey

Ben Case

Paul Hofmann

Maureen Pfaff

Michelle Taylor

George Peters (de facto)

Sean Holland (de facto)]

You should have received an email confirmation this morning that you are a member of this committee.

The committee should meet shortly, preferably before the upcoming Board meeting on August 21.

Food for thought before the Committee meets: some suggested topics can include:

  *   When to hold the 2026 seminars. We’ve recently had them in the spring, but that has created conflicts with ALTA events, holidays, spring break, etc. We’ve historically held them in the fall, and it might be time to return to that schedule. Holding them in the fall also might attract a few more attendees needing MCLE hours before the end of the year.

  *   In the past I have tried to schedule the Eastern Washington seminar in September (weather should be nice but not too hot), and Western Washington in October (weather hopefully not yet iffy).

  *   Dates should always be a Saturday in the middle of the month, avoiding end of month busy times.

  *   Should we continue to have two seminars, or just have one? Attendance was down this year. However, it should be noted that this year’s seminars conflicted with two holidays…In any event, we shoot for at least 50 attendees in Eastern Washington; 70 is a good attendance and until this year, about average. Eastern Washington venues are cheaper, and we don’t usually lose money on them, even factoring in a dinner for speakers the Friday night before the seminar.

We cycle through 4 cities (each with a number of WLTA members in that city, increasing the odds of at least some companies sending more people in that particular year). We try to make everyone in Eastern Washington feel as if at least once in a while a site is relatively closer than Seattle. The cycle is: Wenatchee, Yakima, Kennewick and Spokane. We are scheduled for Spokane in 2026. Note that our highest Eastern Washington turnout was the last time we were in Spokane; we had about 100 that year.

  *   The Lynnwood event center works as a good location for Western Washington: easy access from the freeway, nearby hotels, adequate free parking, 3 breakout rooms in close proximity, etc. However, the Event Center location will begin major construction in the next few years. I think it will still work for a couple more years at least, but that should be investigated for the longer term, along with how construction will impact parking, etc.

  *   Pricing. We’ve tried to hold the cost to under $200, but it might be time to re-think that. Aside from the venue room charges & AV costs, other costs (food in particular) are significantly higher in recent years. Also, venues add a “service charge” of between about 18% and 25% to the cost – this being much higher than it used to be, and sales tax is added to the entire total. We try not to skimp on food. For example, we could just have a “continental” breakfast instead of a buffet, but attendees are giving up a Saturday – and eating breakfast at 7 a.m. so pastries & juice seems cheap. We are not making a profit – the goal is to charge only what covers the cost. All in all, keep in mind that we provide 6 MCLE hours for the registration fee, and NOTHING else is that cheap for MCLE credits.

  *   Scheduling – suggested dates should be confirmed with the venue(s) soon. Usually you can have the venue hold the day (or even two choices) you want; they’ll call if someone wants that same date and give you the “first option” to take it. Once taken, you will likely need to pay a deposit; this is credited to the eventual bill.

  *   Sean and I can contact venues to line up dates once the committee decides on locations. Typically we use the “convention” center in each city; this works well. Other venues can be used but not really practical for Western Washington. But some cities in Eastern Washington have hotels that can accommodate the main meeting room for maybe 80 or 100 (in case we anticipate that amount) with a breakout room nearby for about 35-50.

A Zoom meeting should be scheduled soon.

George

George Peters, WTP
Co-Executive Director
Washington Land Title Association
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This is a confidential communication intended solely for the named recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please destroy it and call George Peters at 206-437-5869 immediately. Thank you.

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