PSSSSTTTT. Are you one of them? There are 10,000 in this state, you know. They're everywhere but aren't always easy to find. They are by nature inconspicuous and low-key. Noteworthy notes
about notaries publicBennie C. Farmer, legal secretary to Paul A. Schraff of the Dwyer Imanaka law firm, wants to change all that. She wants to find others like her, compile their names into a comprehensive directory and/or data base, and sign up more, more, more!
This woman is obsessed with the role of the notary public in Hawaii.
Thank goodness somebody is. Without notaries, the day-to-day workings of legal and business professionals would eventually brake to a halt.
Who would witness the signing of official documents such as affidavits, deeds and contracts? In an era of duplicitous crooks and sham-meisters, who would guarantee the authenticity of purported signers? Nobody. It'd be anarchy, pal.
Not as long as Bennie C. Farmer is around. As the conscientious notary ambassador in Hawaii for the 40-year-old, 130,000-member National Notary Association, she has three main goals, and the first one is already accomplished:
1) Increase public awareness and appreciation of the notary's role in modern commerce and law (perhaps by persuading a good-natured local writer to devote her entire column to the topic) and dispense fascinating tidbits about notaries through history.
For example, did you know that in the Middle Ages they were sometimes asked to witness the consummation of royal marriages? Did you realize that when baseball player Pete Rose signed a contract to appear on the Wheaties box, he had to swear in the presence of a notary that he'd eaten the cereal ever since he was a kid?
2) Compile a directory of bilingual notaries in Hawaii, in cooperation with the state Attorney General's Office, so local signers can find notary professionals who speak particular foreign languages. Those who wish to be listed in the directory, or who want to earn their angel wings by volunteering in the compilation effort, should call Bennie at 534-4423.
3) Convince more people to become notaries but first tell them: Don't quit your day jobs. Since a notary only gets paid $5 to $10 per notarization, it's not a full-time career but an added service to one's company and community.
To become a notary, one must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or resident, pass an examination and supply an employer's letter of recommendation. Especially desirable are individuals working in industries like law, banking, real estate, hospital services, travel and tourism.
PSSSSTTTT. Want to know a secret? I'm seriously thinking about becoming a notary myself. I like the idea of helping people in my workplace and in my wonderful home state at critical times in their lives.
I'm fascinated by the role notaries have played in world history, one filled with intrigue and significance. Just think what interesting challenges lie ahead for the profession, like how to assure that digital signature transmissions to remote locations are not forged or unauthorized.
OK, here's the truth. The main reason I want to become a notary is to get one of those really cool notary seals with my name officially embossed on it.
And the best part is I don't have to give up my day job.