Place: L’Olivier Restaurant, 465 Davis Court, San Francisco in the Club Room. (415-981-7824) The restaurant is easily accessible via BART (Embarcadero Station). Street parking is available.

NOTE: The dinner is being partly subsidized by the chapter, so the cost is a low $40, tax tip & wine included. Guests are $50. RSVP immediately to Secretary Jack Young at ASA.NorCal@gmail.com and let him know you are coming. Do not reply to the email address—Jack is the one who needs to know!

The meeting on June 16, 2011 will feature a presentation by past International President Les Miles, ASA, on digital dictation for on-site appraisal inspections. Mr. Miles will explain both the time and energy savings of using a digital dictation method instead of pen and paper—from the obvious advantage of avoiding hand cramps from long hours of writing and the possibility of having the input completed, even before returning to the office. New technology makes it easy to insert as well as erase information within the file or transfer information from one file to another. It will be our great pleasure to hear Les explain the “hows, whys and wherefores” of this digitally integrated system from inspection to report.

Bring an appraiser friend to the Chapter meeting! Guests are more than welcome.

President’s Message

By Robert Lentz

Continuing Education – Why Bother…?

This past month, your NorCal Chapter held both the 1-day and 2-day USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) classes in San Francisco, both of which were well attended, due primarily to the preeminence of our internationally respected instructor, Roger Durkin. Happily, I was one of the attendees. Other interesting and valuable classes have been and will be held locally in the Machinery & Technical Specialties, Personal Property and Real Property disciplines, all of which are offered to you as described in these Chapter Newsletters.

The opportunity to attend continuing professional education (“CPE”) classes right here in our own backyard made me think --- How very lucky we are to have an active Chapter with dedicated members who volunteer so much talent and time to bring these offerings to us.

A month ago, I returned to Virginia to attend yet another nephew’s college graduation. These graduation ceremonies are aptly described as commencements, not because they symbolize the end of a college career, but the beginning of a new life as a contributor to one’s personal growth, family and community.

We who practice as appraisal professionals are part of a generation of working people who compete for clients with other professionals for every job we get. In my mind, those clients seek at least these three qualities, among others:

First, skill. Skills are gained by formal education, both at the collegiate and perhaps the post-graduate level as well as in “The School of Hard Knocks,” those things that are not and cannot be taught in school. Continuing Profession Education is very important element in a technical field like appraisal work, because the rules keep evolving, and you must evolve too … if you are to survive.

Secondly, creativity. From the formal and the practical education, you evolve as a person with what hopefully includes creativity. I for one would much rather hire a creative person with less formal education than hire a PhD from MIT that has no “street sense.” Ours is a profession of judgment that must be practiced according to continually changing rules and parameters.

Third, ability to work well with others. Our problems as appraisers are far too large and complex to face alone. Collaboration is the key. One of the very troubling evolutions of the emphasis on 21^st century technology is a growing sense of selfishness and indeed rudeness --- the “I know it all syndrome.” The Wall Street Journal had an interesting Op-Ed article (on May 21, 2011) titled “A Renaissance of Rudeness,” which is worthwhile reading. I personally hope that the “virtual classroom” does not replace the real classroom, where lasting friendships are made, and lessons are taught and learned, face-to-face. Collaboration is the key to personal success. It is a lot tougher to build lasting respect among your peers and your clients over a Blackberry than it is “the old fashioned way.”

Only those of you who already “know it all” can skip CPE, and continue to march though the darkness with your clients! To you I wish good luck. You’ll probably need it.

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On this last point, collaboration, your Chapter Board of Directors seeks your continuing input. Fiscal 2010-2011 was, we think, a very successful year, made possible by a long list of selfless and creative individuals. You know who you are, and I personally thank each and every one of you for your many efforts this past year.

Fiscal 2011-2012 is yet another year, and your Board seeks your input and enthusiasm. We will be having our Annual Planning Retreat at the Orinda Country Club on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. This is an all-day event, open at no cost to you who wish to make a contribution to your profession and the ASA. You will find participation very gratifying.

I respectfully encourage those new faces who wish to volunteer to please contact me at the address and numbers below.

And I also cordially invite you to our monthly Board Meeting on Thursday, June 16, beginning at 5:15 p.m., following the ME207 class. (Please note that this meeting is the third Thursday of this month, rather than our “usual” second Thursday.) The wine reception will begin at 6:15 p.m., and dinner at 7:00. You’ll have a good time, learn something, get CPE credit …and be on your way home by 9:00.

‘See you then! Thank you.

Bob

Robert P. Lentz III, ASA NorCal Chapter President 2010-2012

Accredited Senior Appraiser

Business Valuation

Lentz & Company, Inc.

8 Waldeck Ct.

Oakland, CA 94611-1744

Direct: 510-530-0296

Fax: 510-530-0237

robertlent@aol.com

Upcoming Events

June 14: The Intricacies of Appraising Fine Art Photography

Denise Bethel, Director Photography at Sotheby’s New York

Unlike paintings, prints, and sculpture, appraising photographs presents very particular problems. The lack of catalogues raisonné for photographs, combined with subtle variations in different prints made from the same negative, make appraising photographs a genuine challenge. Known for her extensive knowledge and research, Ms. Bethel will describe what makes a photograph valuable, how conservation can affect value and resources to consult when photograph appraisals arise.

Denise Bethel, Sotheby’s New York

Register now to save your spot for this event at http://www.regonline.com/theintricaciesofappraisingfineartphotography

$35.00 for the evening. Limited space available

Questions? ASA.NorCal@hotmail.com or 408-867-3440 to speak with Louise Allrich, Event Coordinator (Pacific Time)

Re-accreditation Credit: A uniform re-accreditation credit certificate will be awarded, verifying hours of attendance.

Our host for the evening (June 14) will be Ed Carey at Gallery 291, San Francisco whose gallery explores the many alternative processes that are such an important part of the rich history of photography. He will be featuring an exhibition of Elisabeth Sunday: New Works from Africa.

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ASA-NorCal Chapter Offering ME207 in San Francisco Starting Thursday

Date: June 16-18, 2011

Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Where: L'Olivier Restaurant

465 Davis Court

San Francisco, CA

(Breakfasts and lunches will be provided each day at the seminar location.)

ME207 Advanced Cost Approach covers applications within various concepts of value; deriving numbers for and understanding terms such as excess capital or excess operating costs, exponents, physical deterioration, functional and economic obsolescence; use and development of effective age and age-life calculations. This 2-1/2-day (20-hr) seminar offers an optional 3-hour exam on Saturday afternoon for 23-hr academic course credit.

You will learn:

How to apply various concepts of value

How to derive numbers for excess capital or operating costs

How to distinguish between types of depreciation & calculate values

How to use & develop effective age & age-life calculations

About the Instructor:

Les Miles, Senior Member and Officer of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), is accredited in Machinery and Equipment, Real Property, Appraisal Review and Management (ARM) and Aircraft as an additional Technical Valuation discipline. He is a popular instructor with a deep background in appraising. He is a past ASA President, past chairman of MTS education, and was elected to the College of Fellows of the ASA (FASA) in 2008. Mr. Miles currently serves on the faculty of the ASA, and is secretary of the international "Plant and Machinery Conference" which gives programs every two years throughout the world. More about Les Miles See Brochure Register Now

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Understanding Antique Furniture at UCI June 24-25

Learn about 18th and 19th century American and European furniture, all while developing skills to date and identify furniture and possible fakes/forgeries.

Click to REGISTER NOW

Details:

Date: June 24-25

Where: University of California, Irvine

Member: $540

Non-member: $600

Contact ASA

Address:

11107 Sunset Hills Rd, Ste 310

Reston, VA 20190

Phone: (800) ASA-VALU

Email: asainfo@appraisers.org

Web: www.appraisers.org

M embership Matters

Matt Dianich

Matt Dianich, ASA

Matthew Dianich, ASA, is a Manager in the Valuation Services group at WTAS in San Francisco, a national accounting firm with a dedicated valuation group offering Business Valuation, Personal Property, and Real Estate Appraisals. Matthew holds his AM designation within the Machinery & Technical Specialties (MTS) discipline, and he is currently the MTS discipline chair for the Northern California chapter of ASA.

Matthew received an English degree from the University of Georgia, after which he taught English abroad for several years. While this was an exciting experience, in 2005 Matthew decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and pursue a valuation career. Since then, he has been performing Fixed Asset and Inventory Appraisals, and Cost Segregation Studies with industry experience ranging from high-tech and bioscience to heavy stamping and yellow steel.

When not appraising, Matthew is an avid traveler, cycler, homebrewer, golfer, and hiker.

Would you like to be profiles in our Newsletter? Send your highlights for consideration and attach a jpg image to Nancy@appraiser.net

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Web Update

Update Your ASA Profile

Be sure to check your profile on the ASA website from time to time. If you serve on an ASA committee, you can also access committee information through your link to the Resource Center. Here’s a handy guide to links for navigating to your profile:

www.appraisers.org

Log in

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My Member Profiles My Find an Appraiser Profile My Referrals My Member Profile	Select a Committee
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Events Calendar

May 2011

· 12th USPAP- 7-hr multi- discipline -ns

· 12th (Thur) Program Meeting – Roger Durkin, ASA, JD: “Conflicts Between USPAP, IVS and IFRS”

· 13-14 USPAP- 2-day multi-discipline –ns

· 18th IRS Symposium in LA

June 2011

· 16^th -18^th ME207 Class (SF)

· 14^th (Wed 6:30-8:30) Appraising Fine Art Photography – Denise Bethel -la

· 16th (Thur) Program Meeting MTS Les Miles, ASA “Using Digital Technology for Appraising - Dictation, Photography & Software Applications”

MEETING DATE MOVED THIS MONTH

· 23^rd Diminution & Severance Damages (Petaluma)

July 2011

· No meeting this month

· 21^st Solving Land/Site Valuation Problems -dl

August 2011

· 12^th-14^th Committee Meetings (DC)

· 15^th -17th Conference (DC)

· 26^th Chapter Retreat

September 2011

· 8th (Thur) Program Meeting Candidates’ Night; New Officers

· 14^th (Wed 6:30-8:30) Antique Frames – ÆDICULE Mark Guthrie and Peter Werkhoven -la

October 2011

· 13^th (Thur) Program Meeting

November 2011

· AICPA/ASA National BV Conference

· 8^th-11^th ME215 in SF (Doug Krieser)

· 10^th(Thur) Program Meeting Doug Krieser, “Engagement letters”

· 11^th (Fri) ASA BV annual Fair Value Summit in SF

December 2011

· 8^th (Thur) Program Meeting

January 2012

· 5^th (Thur) Program Meeting

February 2012

· 9^th (Thur) Program Meeting

March 2012

· 8^th (Thur) Program Meeting

April 2012

· 12^th (Thur) Program Meeting

May 2012

· 10^th (Thur) Program Meeting

June 2012

· 14^th (Thur) Program Meeting

July 2012

· 12th (Thur) Program Meeting

August 2012

· 9th(Thur) Program Meeting

September 2012

· 13^th (Thur) Program Meeting

NorCal Officers & Directors

Your Board of Directors serves you, the membership first, and needs your help and cooperation to determine what your most important interests and concerns are regarding programs, seminars, courses, and accreditation, etc. Please contact Bob Lentz with suggestions