Member Paula Bernard caught in an unguarded moment

Bill Osborne, clear from North Jackson, MS

Frank Darling, Orinda Rotary (he's prez)

Don Jenkins, ibid.

Bob Shusta, Lafayette Rotary

Dino Riggio, ibid.

Gary Irwin, Moraga Rotary

Guests

Louise Bourassa partner of today's speaker, executive director of Contra Costa Interfaith Housing

Linda Worsham, madam speaker (see "Program")

Katie Rose Ware

Steve Isaacs and John Swain

Bob Shusta of Lafayette Rotary Club: Russian Rotary Chaperone

We welcomed back the visiting delegation of realtors from Russia:

Anna Isakova from Moscow. Graduate of Moscow University of Land Development, now studying at the Academy of Law (lawyers are taking over Russia, too!). Isakova Real Estate Co., doing property management, marketing, legal consulting.

Aleksey Sviridov from Miass. Chelyabinsk State Technical University, and Russian Trade and Economics University. Sviridov Real Estate Co., doing marketing, evaluations, commercial property management.

Sergei Lozhkin from Izhevsk. Udmurt State University of Economics. Ofisnyi Tzentr Real Estate Co., as well as several other businesses, including catering.

Elena Ray from Chelyabinsk. Moscow Academy of Law and Management. "Business - Most" Real Estate Co., investing in properties and handling all real estate operations.

Anna Khanas from Chelyabinsk. South Urals State University Law Department. "Business - Most" Real Estate Co., same.

Elena Sidorenko from Vladivostok. Vladivostok State University of Economics, studying at Law Academy. Nedvizhimost Vladivostoka Real Estate Co., doing all manner of property management.

Visiting Russian Realtors

Vladislav Novomeyskiy from Ekaterinburg. The Urals State University, Marketing and Advertising Department. Fars Real Estate Co. (Deputy Director), doing sales and leases, commercial and non-commercial, plus other businesses in night club and IT advertising.

Alexander Babin from Vladivostok. Dalnevostok State University, political science major. Stroy Gorod Real Estate and Construction Company, building, selling residences.

Olga Babina from Vladivostok (married to Alexander). Dalnevostok State University Law Department. N.A.T.A. Real Estate Co., doing real estate operations, legal consulting.

Victor Shein from Ekaterinburg. The Sverdlovsk Law Academy. Agropromservice, doing real estate, legal consulting, agricultural business.

Maksim Mikhaylyuta from Chelyabinsk. Russian Academy of Education, Credit and Finance. The Sluzhba Nedvizhimosti Real Estate Co., real estate, legal consulting. Received award as best real estate agent and the honorary title "Mr. Realtor" in Chelyabinsk Oblast.

Bob Shusta recapped the Russians' whirlwind trip, from the beaches of Monterey to watching the mighty grace of the Blue Angels at Fleet Week.

The Russians' observations of the week were interesting, They were amazed at the speed of demolition (Waal) over here, but they close escrow there in one week versus seeming eternity here. Maybe a good Russian Scribe aside: Fannie Maeski and Freddie Macski could slow that down.

Tippy the Canoe Report

Tippy from a previous visit, but heck its a pic isn't it?

Said canoe worker bee and test co-pilot John Fazel,

"We are moving forward for conclusion at Lafayette Reservoir Run on October 30. A few more farmers market gigs, (last week netted $1500 in Orinda) Our goal of $20K gross is reachable. Thirty percent of revenue is earmarked for the new concert stage at Lafayette Reservoir."

Program

Linda Worsham of Contra Costa Interfaith Housing

Contra Costa Interfaith Housing reaches out to adults, many with children out of drug addicted situations, and places them into the "safe haven" of Garden Park apartments. Many formerly homeless children are put into good educational programs. Linda is director of education.

Linda began with a startling graphic: a chart of escalating reading scores of Garden Park children (which resembled the 2008 Dow Jones in reverse)

Contra Costa Interfaith Housing: (See  http://ccinterfaithhousing.org/about-us.cfm)

The mission is to provide permanent affordable housing and vital support to homeless for at-risk families

CCIH bbegan as interfaith effort, and opened first supportive housing for families with special needs in 2004, the first in the country. It provides a protected environment, away from the peers who have led them down a destructive path.

There are three sites -- Pleasant Hill, Bay Point, and Pittsburg. There are 27 units in Pleasant Hill, whom LRSR works with in hands-on fashion. 

Their first project, Garden Park Apartments, provides permanent supportive housing for former homeless families, each with an adult member with a physical or mental health disability. Garden Park Apartments are co-owned by CCIH and Mercy Housing California. 

Major points: It is cheaper to society to keep someone in housing than to let them lose it and try to get it back.

Linda shared a video (see link below) of the tenants, including children. There are  many inspirational stories of how they have been helped and rescued from despair. As their only known safe haven, Garden Park Apartments provided the ONLY opportunity for many. 

The leaders of CCIH truly believe they can "break the cycle," and have dedicated their careers to it.

Academic Outcomes: Seventy-five percent now read at or above grade level, a larger percent now on high school honor rolls, and attendance is up 91 percent over the year prior.

Many have never been inside a house. Linda mentioned the

Brad Davis, Lamorinda Sunrise Interfaith Housing co-ordinator

astonishment of one young lady upon seeing dry cleaning. "That's stupid" was her exclamation. 

Linda employs creativity into "tricking" kids into doing homework, and 15 minutes of math and reading each, plus extra time working toward state-mandated benchmarks. 

Overall, the program provides desperately needed family stability. Most children have been shuffled from school to school and community to community. LMSR has provided cherished traditions for the kids, especially in the form of memories, such as the annual pumpkin-carving festivities, spearheaded by our own Brad Davis.