communiversity magazine

New! Communiversity

 can develop and promote your On-line class

At Communiversity we believe that we must increase our awareness of everyone’s unique knowledge, perspective, viewpoints and needs.

PLEASE HELP SAVE KOKOPELLI WORKSHOP PROJECT            Donate through pay pal

Just Seven months ago, a group of volunteers formed the Kokopelli Board of Directors and gave birth to a wonderful non-profit community benefit project.

The Kokopelli Community Workshop Project was created to open an educational workshop center in Carlsbad California.

A large adobe complex, located on a acre of land on Adams Street in old Carlsbad was donated the project, by 84-year old longtime Carlsbad homeowner, Betty Bryan, (Betty is guaranteed lifetime occupancy by the project, in private rooms located adjacent to the main building)

The original eight Kokopelli board members included; two college teachers, (one teaches copy writing and one teaches finance) an attorney, and her legal assistant, an editor, a journalist, a computer design expert, and a well known holistic health professional, who works successfully with cancer patients.

You may have heard of the Kokopelli project; as we have held public fundraisers.

Kokopelli Community Workshop Corporation is lucky to have more than 20, dedicated hard-working volunteers.

Our volunteers have committed hundreds of hours of time, money and resources to the Kokopelli Workshop Project.

Kokopelli funding director, Andrea Millon, (has a degree in grant writing and teaches finance), has submitted over thirty grant proposals on their behalf for assorted government programs and also to private foundations.

For the past eight months the board of directors has worked with dedicated Kokopelli volunteers; planning fundraisers, collecting books for our meditation center, and contributed many nights and week-ends, to remodeling the large adobe structure located on the proposed site of the center, an acre of land located adjacent to St.Patrick's Church in Carlsbad.

Volunteers have also been slowly renovating the inside of the adobe buildings as we are able to raise funds.

Over the last months we are proud to have accomplished the following;

We have landscaped the grounds and rented a back-hoe and replaced the leach-lines, which run directly under our planned community aquaponic organic farm project located directly behind the adobe structure.

THE CURRENT CRISES ;
Last July an investor from Oceanside; a man named Mr. Rick Ardissoni, was introduced to Kokopelli board of directors as someone who was interested in helping the Kokopelli Community Workshop Project. Rick Ardissoni was introduced to our project as an investor who could potentially advance the needed funds for our project to keep rolling, as long as he could be repaid at the end of January 2008 when our project funding would begin to become available.

Mr. Ardissoni joined Kokopelli board of directors, attended the meetings and seemed to show benevolent interest in our project.
A special meeting the Kokopelli Finance Committee was convened and we voted to execute a $600,000 "line of credit" trust deed to be recorded against Betty Bryan's property, naming Mr. Rock Ardissoni as beneficiary.

On October 10, 2007 the trust deed was recorded at the San Diego County Recorder’s office securing Mr. Ardissoni’s interests and to enable our "line of credit.”

We were led to believe that this security would enable Mr. Ardissoni to provide sufficient funds to keep our project rolling. In this way we hoped to keep Kokopelli Center’s mortgage paid and be able to continue our remodeling work until our grant money could begin to benefit the Kokopelli project at the end of January 2008.

At the end of November 2007, after Mr. Ardissoni had advanced the project a grand total $34,000, when he suddenly refused to attend board meetings and apparently lost all interest in the Kokopelli project.

Mr. Ardissoni immediately refused to advance the project any further funds.

Alarmed we scrambled to find another investor, because our financial director warned us that the property must be maintained in good standing, in order qualify any potential grants.

Om December of 2007, we were thrilled to locate a benefactor for the project who was willing to step into Mr. Ardissoni’s position.

Early in December, the alternative investor, a genuine benefactor, offered us $100,000 in private money so that we might repay Mr. Ardissoni $ 44,000 from a new loan. (This amount included $10,000 interest on the original investment of $34,000)

Kokopelli project planned to use the balance of the new loan funds to reinstate our mortgage, and then make timely mortgage payments until our grant funding and other fundraising projects could make additional funds available.

Our new investor, let us know that Mr. Ardissoni's existing $600,000 trust deed would need to be re-conveyed as a funding condition. Then a new trust deed for a lower amount ($120,000) could be issued to the new investor, which would allow Mr. Ardissoni to be reimbursed $44,000 from the closing of the new loan escrow.

When Mr. Ardissoni was informed that he could be immediately repaid, much to our dismay, he let Kokopelli Finance Committee know that he was not interested in being repaid only $44,000, and furthermore that all future communication must be to his attorney

(Mr.James Maynard, of Carlsbad.)

Attorney James Maynard contacted us only once to communicate that his client was "not inclined' to re-convey the $600,000 trust deed. Now attorney James Maynard does not seem to answer his office phone or bother to return our calls.
James Maynard office number was given as (760) 740 0515, but he does not seem to be there to answer the phone, or even be listed in the telephone book. His fax number was given as (760) 433 1351, but he never responds to faxes either.

Mr. Ardissoni’s refusal to re-convey our equity has now additionally prevented Betty Bryan from qualifying for a federally guaranteed FHA refinance loan that would have resulted in a much lower more affordable mortgage payment.

Betty Bryan qualified for this special FHA government program as one of approximately 2.2 million homeowners who borrowed against their homes between 1998 and 2006 and most have a subprime mortgage. Many of these borrowers now face the loss of their homes to foreclosure. Earlier this year, 80% of subprime home loans which had fixed rates initially, became adjustable. That is, the interest rates jumped higher on either the 25 month or the 37th month. This jump in the monthly payment caused "payment shock" for the affected homeowners. Many of the loan payments increased by about 40%. Unable to make these new higher payments, these homeowners face foreclosure.

As of January 2008 Betty Bryan's home and property is recorded as being in foreclosure. Due to her to stolen equity this 84-year old, 50 year resident of Carlsbad no longer qualifies for a loan, and may soon be made homeless.

Kokopelli has futilely tried to explain to Mr. Ardissoni that if he allows the property to go into a mortgage default Kokopelli project would not qualify for any of the grants everyone worked so hard to submit.

In response, Mr. Ardissoni said he would just have to protect his interests and referred us to an attorney James Maynard who does not return any of our calls.

Kokopelli Community Workshop project has now retained the service of an attorney, who is a specialist in fighting predatory lending.

Attorney Nathan Fransen, www.fransenandmolinaro.com/

We are very fortunate that Mr. Fransen has taken our case on contingency basis,
BUT...... unless we can pay the court costs and get the property out of default, senior Betty Bryan stands to become homeless in a couple of months, and a valuable community project; Kokopelli Community Workshop will to be lost to these loan predator's tricks.

SO PLEASE HELP US SAVE BETTY BRYAN'S HOME AND OUR COMMUNITY WORKSHOP PROJECT!

We want you to know that any help you can give, will make a huge difference.

Please feel free to call and FAX Mr. Maynard and tell him what you think!

Please make Betty a donation, even if all you can only spare a dollar or two. If everyone who reads this email sends Betty just $5.00 we will be able to save her home.

In any case thanks for reading all about this crises!

We must create community awareness of these predatory tactics to often used to steal peoples homes and real estate.

Click here ---->       Donate through pay pal   <---- Click here

or you can just mail your donation check to

BETTY BRYAN
& Write at the top;
Donation to, Kokopelli Defense Fund

please send to all donations by mail to;
Betty Bryan
PO box 1410
Carlsbad Ca 92018

Kokopelli Community Workshop Mission Statement

   The mission and purpose of Kokopelli Community Workshop is to provide the local community with a unique indoor/outdoor community meeting place, meditation, healing and educational center.

      Kokopelli Community Workshop will provide the community with a unique environment where individuals and groups can offer workshops, educational classes, guided self-help groups, communal and cultural enrichment experiences and community action and discussion groups.

     We have lots and lots of room at our Kokopelli Workshop Headquarters for group meetings, and can provide an environment for any group of up to 40 people to meet and work together.

      Kokopelli Community Workshop Projects will sponsor and guide several public service educational workshops to benefit the community.

      Kokopelli Community Workshop projects will include but not be limited to the development of the publication of

Communiversity Magazine, an alternative education project/magazine offering a free venue for the community to advertise information regarding private classes and workshops to be offered or guided by knowledgeable individuals.

     Kokopelli Community Workshop will also implement a special foreclosure workshop to help individuals and families whose homes are in foreclosure or who have mortgage loans about to enter an adjustable rate understand their options; including but not limited to all government programs, bankruptcy options, short sale opportunities, legal stays against foreclosure, and to help those in need to thoroughly review understand and review the financial and legal consequences of all potential loans or other creative financing schemes that may have under consideration, in a protected and legally sanctioned environment.

     Kokopelli Community Workshop will also implement a fully integrated aquaponic organic farm system using the aqua farm model; Aquaponics is the combination of recirculation aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). This model farm will provide an educational organic farm workshop that will provide an educational model for water conservation and healthy organic food production. Foods from the Kokopelli farm project will be exclusively used to serve the needs of underprivileged individuals and families in the local community.

   There is a vampire loose in the suburbs of America, sneaking up on hardworking families while their children and pets play in their yards. This vampire often attacks the family where they feel the safest; relaxing at home, at a PTA meeting or even during children's sporting events.

At first, the family is enjoying the good life, normal and content. A new car parked in the driveway, a new deck graces the house or maybe a pool has just been installed in the backyard. Dad and Mom know they work hard and deserve these extras. The vampire told them so. The friendly vampire painted an alluring picture of everything they wanted but felt unable to afford. The vampire explained their home is laden with untapped gold, in the form of equity that is theirs to be used.

This vampire is no stranger knocking at the door. He or she is usually an innocuous friendly neighbor, a Little League coach, or some golf buddy. The vampire hangs out, plays with the kids and might even go shopping with Mom. First this bloodsucker gains their trust, spending a great deal of time chatting about their perceived financial problems. This creature actually slyly sizes them up, encourages spending more time enjoying the good life. The family may be told they deserve to have more fun while they are still young enough to enjoy it. This clever vampire even implies life is passing them by while they work themselves to death.

In the family's defense, there is nothing is quite as persuasive as a trusted friend who says what you would love to believe. This particular breed of vampire is quite often skilled at helping his victim family solve all their problems with loving concern.

Have you been the victim of a vampire? Do you know of others? 

Here is a tell-tale sign ~ the vampire will call himself or herself an investor, works in real estate, or might be a loan "counselor."

This cunning predator plays on their weaknesses, while the family is certain the vampire is their good friend who cares so much about their happiness and well being. Does their home need repairs or remodeling? Has the family been dreaming of starting their own business? Has Mom been secretly yearning for a tummy tuck? Will that snazzy new car get Dad more clients? Do they like to gamble? Sometimes the vampire may actually go out with them to increase their spending. The vampire will first suggest, then convince the family that a loan is the perfect way to tap into the gold mine of their equity.

No one wants to insult a good friend by having a 3rd party check the loan documents the vampire presents to the family as their means to the good things they deserve. After all, this friend only has their best interest at heart, right? The vampire's loan will probably be unexpectedly delayed a few times, after the family has already started spending the anticipated and "guaranteed" money.

Several weeks into the transaction the unfortunate family is all too often told "Sorry, we had to resubmit your loan to a new lender. Your earlier loan somehow fell through or collapsed due to some kind of error." The next step will come when the family is informed the loan rate has gone up and terms are not as favorable. "Never mind! Don't be too concerned," the vampire will reassure the family to take an adjustable loan for the time being. He promises them, "We'll be able to refi within a year with no problem!"

He also claims he will help them get their FICO scores back up. By now the unfortunate victims probably spend more time talking to the vampire and worrying about their loan than working at their jobs. The vampire cheers them up. He keeps reassuring that the loan will be refinanced long before it climbs. Often final loan documents are signed near the end of the day, without being closely looked over, because "After all, they need to be recorded now before the weekend" so that urgently needed check arrives on Monday. 

The artificially induced financial pressure and desperation were cleverly created as part of the loan vampire's gameplan.

The sad facts are that here in one of the world's wealthiest countries profoundly disturbing tales of woe and greed are now revealed to occur at an alarming rate. 

No matter how horrendously the agent and his broker have violated their fiduciary duty to consumers, banks and lenders involved cannot simply forgive these ill-advised adjustable loans without risking the very stability of their institutions.

Some homeowners will have to pay off this debt for decades, others will be forced into bankruptcy. Many millions of families (yes, millions) will actually face imminent loss of their homes. No matter from what prospective we look at this situation, the outcome is grim. In this writer's opinion, the devastating fate of these families is only a symptom of a profound social problem. The root disease lies in a society that endorses self-serving greed and reckless disregard for the well being of others as enlightened self-interest. 

Research shows that the vast majority of sub prime loans are for refinances, rather than purchases and a significant number of predatory practices are linked to refinances. Sub prime loans are usually not the traditional refinance in which homeowners seek to lower their interest rate or lock-in at a fixed rate. Sub prime refinances are most often promoted in order to provide money for home improvements or other household or personal needs.

There are circumstances where refinancing to use some of the equity in one's home makes sense for the borrower, but cash-out refinances are rife with potential for abuse by predatory lenders, and too often homeowners with significant amounts of equity are convinced to refinance under conditions that are not in their best interest. In some cases, homeowners are sold refinance loans which produce just a few thousand dollars in cash-out, but which refinance their existing mortgages at higher rates and with high fees. In other cases, homeowners roll debt that is not secured by their house, such as credit cards or car loans, into a mortgage which is secured by their house. This may provide the homeowner with a short-term reduction in total monthly obligations, although often it does not even accomplish this because of the high interest rates and fees. In addition, cash-out refinances increase the amount of debt tied to the borrower's house, as well as frequently extending the length of the loan and the total amount of payments. And now if a family is unable to make the payment they will lose their house.

Predatory lenders use refinancing as an opportunity to strip homeowners of their equity by financing thousands of dollars in unnecessary fees and costly credit insurance in the loan. They then add insult to injury by including harmful prepayment penalties in these high-interest refinance loans. More than two-thirds of sub prime loans have prepayment penalties, compared to less than 2% of conventional prime loans. It is not uncommon for sub prime lenders to make loans at 12%-14% interest rates with prepayment penalties lasting from three to five years that require the borrower to pay six months interest on the loan as a penalty for refinancing with another lender to get a lower interest rate. On a $100,000 loan at 11% interest, such a penalty would cost a borrower over $5,000.

Approximately 2.2 million homeowners borrowed against their homes between 1998 and 2006 and most have a sub prime mortgage.

Many of these borrowers now face the loss of their homes to foreclosure. Earlier this year, 80% of sub prime home loans, which had fixed rates initially, became adjustable. That is the interest rates jumped higher on either the 25th month or the 37th month. This jump in the monthly payment caused "payment shock" for the affected homeowners. Many times the loan payments increased by as much as 40%. Unable to make these new higher payments, these unfortunate homeowners soon faced foreclosure.

By Catherine Bryan Ibarra

communiversity magazine