HAPPY SUMMER, Everyone! I am so excited that summer is here! The 4th of July is next week and I can’t think of a better time to relax with family and friends! I hope you’ll be doing the same.

THANK YOU FOR THE EDUCATION!
Did you register and log in for our June meeting? Speakers Terry Betancourt of Coast Cities & Hallmark Escrow, and Ray Moody and Margie Coenraad-Martinez of City National Bank provided many insights into “OFAC” and the mysteries of the Fed wire system. It was quite eye-opening. A big thank you to each of them for sharing their expertise and experiences with us!

OUR NEXT MEETING
OCEA will be dark for July and August, but we already have a great program lined up for our September 15th meeting! Steve Garcia of Garcia Legal APC will discuss: “Noted, With Interest: Securing Your Knowledge of Notes, Trust Deeds, and Related Issues.” As it appears that seller carry-back loans are making a comeback, this is an important, timely topic! Be sure to mark your calendar now to save the date, and stay tuned for our meeting notice to come out in August with more details. Invite your escrow colleagues and everyone on your team to attend.

CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
Last year, CEA’s first-ever virtual Conference was a big success. The 2021 Conference will be held October 7- 9, currently scheduled to be live at the Hilton in Costa Mesa. Depending on COVID requirements, it may turn out to be virtual, live or a hybrid - but in any event, the show will go on, and you won’t want to miss it! OCEA will be awarding scholarships! Look for a flyer coming out with the super-easy details on how to submit your application.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGATION
YES - YOU CAN DO IT!! Stop thinking about taking the Professional Designation exam and “Let Go and Grow!” Sign up now to take the test on October 10, 2021 -- the application deadline is September 10. When you register, you are assigned a PD-holding mentor who will help guide you through some test taking tips, so the earlier you sign up the sooner you will be able to connect with your mentor. Just go to the CEA website for the PD application. https://www.ceaescrow.org/#pagePD

LAST CALL!
This is the last call for submitting your recipes for our OCEA Virtual Cookbook: “What’s Cooking, OCEA?” If you have a favorite classic recipe or if you made-up something new during the pandemic, please share it with us! Email your submissions to Margie Coenraad-Martinez: margie.martinez@cnb.com and be a part of our OCEA Cookbook.

In closing, if you’re a member of OCEA, we sincerely thank you! If you’re a future member, or know someone else who would benefit from the educational opportunities we provide in this ever-changing industry, I encourage you to become a member today. Attached is a link to our membership application.

Whether it’s a vacation or a staycation, I hope you are able to carve out some time for yourself over the summer. Taking a break is so important for self-care; plus: it’s fun!

Stay safe and be well, Everyone,

Sincerely,

Robin Alvarez, CEO, CSEO
2021 OCEA President

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Here’s a bit of inspiration:

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” - Charles Kuralt