Natalie Tennant, West Virginia’s Secretary of State, was presented with the NNA’s Calvin Coolidge Notary Award last Tuesday to recognize her efforts in revising her state’s Notary laws and raising the professionalism of West Virginia Notaries.
Tennant's Achievements
Tennant was instrumental in enacting the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) in West Virginia this year, including extensive rules for electronic notarization. Last year, she also led efforts to enact a bond or other equivalent professional insurance requirement for Notaries in her state.
“Secretary Tennant recognized that West Virginia’s Notaries could help drive business by making traditional paper and emerging electronic notarial acts more accessible, efficient and secure,” said NNA Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Anderson.
“I’m truly honored to receive this award from the NNA and I’m so proud of the work we’re doing here in West Virginia,” said Secretary Tennant, who was presented with the award during a ceremony at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. “West Virginians rely on Notaries for many important business and personal transactions and the changes we’ve made provide more protection and modernize the Notary process for consumers and businesses alike. We’ve implemented policies that strengthen the trusted role notaries play in major transactions like buying a home and creating healthcare directives.”
Strengthening The Role Of West Virginia Notaries
Secretary Tennant’s leadership has provided West Virginia businesses, families and individuals with stronger protections for document transactions. Her policies also help facilitate the state’s growing e-commerce economy, an important issue for the state’s 44,000 active Notaries.
The Calvin Coolidge Notary Award was established in 2004 to honor public officials who advance the professionalism of Notaries. The award is named in honor of Calvin Coolidge, the only U.S. President to be sworn into office by a Notary Public, in 1923. Secretary Tennant became the first West Virginia Secretary of State to be sworn in by a Notary Public in 2013.
David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.