November 22, 2013

             Reporter: Claire Roberts     Editor: Ron Brown         Photographer: Leander Hauri                   

President:  Hays Englehart 2013 - 2014          

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Never at a loss for words, eh John?

     John Fazel pointed out that this is an important day in the history of the United States as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of President Kennedy. After teasing us with other quotes including "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why...I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" from RFK; MLK's words about "Going to the top of the mountain..." and "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." from JFK, John shared our true thought:

Faith sees the invisible and achieves the impossible

Visiting Rotarians and Guests...

      Ken W. McCormick - our speaker

Jack Peers - former LMSR member & president joined us for the second week in a row!!

Larry Sly from the Concord club and the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

      Katie Rose Ware - honorary Rotarian and daughter of Steve

      Mike Ball from the Walnut Creek Sunrise Club. Mike and our own Brad Davis were Presidents of their respective Sunrise Clubs the same year!

And the prize for 'Most Exciting Guest' goes to Don Olson! Don found us through our first notice in the Lamorinda Weekly!! Welcome Don!!

Recognitions:

      John Fazel shared that for Mary Lou's birthday (today) their daughter is coming to town. A birthday dinner is planned!

Great job, Leander

HOME Team: Leander updated us on HOME Team for tomorrow. We have 12 visits; four are in Clayton/Pittsburg and the Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise club will take care of those - kudos to them for stepping up! We have eight visits in Lamorinda and we have nine people who are signed up - but we can always use more as teams of two to three are best. Remember to take pictures for publicity!!! On page eight of the CCIH brochure there is a promotion of HOME Team and a picture!!

Hays and Pat Schroeder gave a presentation to the Martinez Kiwanis club yesterday about joining the HOME Team team!

Christmas Party: Dinner at Ristorante Giardino in Lafayette. It will be an adult party (coat and tie for the men). Time is 6:00pm. Cost about $30 per person. Watch for more details via email as the next meeting will be the day before the party. Thanks to Steve Ware for making the arrangements

Sponsors, way to go!

Motorama: Rich Shearer reported about the initial meeting for the Motorama team. Planning is starting already!! We are good at putting on an event and having a good time but we would like to make some money on it this time. Each Rotarian is asked identify potential sponsors. What people/businesses would be interested in having their name flashed in front of 5,000 or so Lamorinda residents who have disposable income and may be future customers? More importantly, who do we know to ask for sponsorships? Car related is good but not a requirement. Chris has been organizing the sub-committees. This event happens on Fathers' Day June 15th 2014. Mark your calendars (or put it in your phone)!!

Brad will do that to you, Ron

Thanksgiving Dinners for Garden Park Apartments: Ron and Brad (at least we think it was Brad under the fuzzy turkey hat?) reviewed the details for getting the dinners packaged and delivered. At 1pm on Monday, two teams will be picking up food. Ron & team will be at the Food Bank while Brad & team pick up the turkeys at Safeway. Packers should meet at 3pm at Ron's office. Ron & Brad didn't like the skimpy volunteer list from last week, so they needed to get more volunteers...and a good group of Rotarians volunteered as always!! To wrap-up, Ron presented a check to Larry Sly for the Food Bank and all of the good work that they do!

Vocational Minute: 

Google has nothing on you, Jim!

Jim Marggraff is wearing Google Glass today. He shared that he is working to create technology that will allow us to recognize what we are looking at and take action without needing another device like a cell phone. We are all concerned, yet proud, that Jim may be way too smart for this Club!

PROGRAM

Marty Cryan introduced our speaker for today: Ken W. McCormick.

Welcome, Ken

Ken is a Deputy District Attorney for Contra Costa County and currently runs the Real Estate Fraud Unit. Ken grew up in Orinda and went to Cal (many cheers). There were references to Big Game related bets but this reporter is college-football challenged so they went over her head. Ken joined the DA's office 22 years ago and has been running the Real Estate division for 12 years. He lives in Lafayette.

Ken's topic is Preventing Real Estate fraud. Ken showed his sense of humor early by revealing knowledge of Jim Marggraff's real reason for wearing Google Glass.

On to more serious topics...the foreclosure problem is pretty bad in Contra Costa County. Crooks are trying to prey on people in foreclosure so Ken introduced a program to start reaching out to people who get a notice of default. The notices are sent right away (in English and Spanish) and advise homeowners of possible cons and how to avoid them. Contra Costa did this first and other counties have followed. HUD certified counselors have given good feedback that the program is helping and that homeowners are getting the message.

In response to a question about prosecuting banks, Ken clarified that banks are prosecuted by the US Attorneys, while Contra Costa prosecutes individuals.

Ken and team also introduced the Fraud Notification Program. Whenever there is a transfer of ownership, quitclaim or grant deed filing against a deed, a letter goes out to the homeowner (or the last person who paid the property taxes, who may be an attorney or accountant helping a senior) advising them. Ken's team has dedicated police and paralegals pursuing people trying to steal the property. Within the first few weeks of the program they were able to prosecute and convict a son of trying to steal his parents' rental property (which was their only source of income). So it has been successful...

Ken shared some additional cases and the points that can be compromised. The County Recorder's office is a weak point in the chain. The law does not require them to validate the transaction and that the document is true. In response to a question about why the information is allowed to be sold, Ken clarified that in order to insure that there is fair bidding, if the property is sold at foreclosure, the information needs to be public. This is State law.

The trend in CC is toward squatters, because of foreclosures, especially in East County but it is county- wide. Offenders may be doing illegal activities (like cooking meth) or may just be living there. Squatters have started creating false leases so it can be difficult for law enforcement to determine who the victim is. Craigslist rental ads can be a part of the problem. Fraudsters 'rent' houses that they don't own to innocent victims - all for cash.

Bad guys will be caught!

Ken also shared that some bad guys use 'Adverse Possession' to try to take over properties. Move in as a squatter, pay property taxes for 5 years...and it's yours!

Ken concluded by sharing a recent case he prosecuted. Carl Miller, a local Orindan and owner of Geneva Fund of Orinda, embezzled $740K from 60 investors, mostly their retirement funds. He embezzled from his son's Boy Scout troop and other individuals as well, spending most of the money to build a $3.4 mil mansion for himself, then lived in the house free for four years. He was convicted of eight felonies. At his sentencing last week 40-50 investors appeared for the sentencing. He has gone to state prison for 12 years (will probably serve about 6 years). There is no equity in the house to reimburse those who lost money.

Hays thanked Ken and reminded everyone that we are dark next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!