Let the FUN begin!

Fine Wines for Old Vines is up and running!

The wait is over! EFPN’s pre-holiday wine auction has begun. Visit www.bewiseonline.cmarket.com to bid on your favorite items. We have splendid lots from Elizabeth Spencer Wines, Calera Wine Company, Toad Hollow Vineyard, Todd Taylor Wines, and more! Plus, sailing trips, hotel stays, spa treatments and other treasures are just a click away.

All proceeds go to EFPN’s community education and training programs. The funds raised through Fine Wines for Old Vines will help us in our fight against elder financial abuse and exploitation.

For more info, email finewines4oldvines@bewiseonline.org or call 415.956.5556.

Fine Wines for Old Vines : October 31 – November 9, 2008

A special pre-holiday wine auction designed to celebrate the richness of old age by preventing elder abuse will take place in cyberspace October 31 through November 9. Sponsored by Elder Financial Protection Network (EFPN) this Fine Wines for Old Vines is an online event that benefits EFPN’s ongoing prevention and education programs.

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, located in the Napa Valley, is the featured donor for the event, offering five spectacular auction lots valued at over $5000 for the sophisticated collector and philanthropist. Selections from Calera Wine Company, Toad Hollow Vineyards, Todd Taylor Wines and many others have also been donated.

Other auction highlights include private wine tours and tastings, lodging at a New Zealand hideaway, a San Francisco dream package, and more.

“It is our hope that the Fine Wines For Old Vines silent auction will increase awareness of the positive aspects of aging and raise much needed funds to support our programs to stop the financial abuse and exploitation of our cherished elder citizens,” said Jenefer Duane, Founder and CEO of Elder Financial Protection Network.

For more information about Fine Wines For Old Vines call 415-956-5556, email finewines4oldvines@bewiseonline.org or visit www.bewiseonline.cmarket.com.

Things Are Happening At EFPN!

This week marks my two month anniversary at EFPN. I started working as the Event Planning Coordinator in late August. As I write this entry, I am amazed at how much has happened over the last eight weeks, and I am thrilled about all that we have coming up.

EFPN has organized community education seminars and been represented at several conferences and symposiums since I started, but my favorite event to organize so far has been our October 1^st seminar at the West Bay Conference Center. Over 165 San Francisco seniors attended the event, which featured a keynote speech from District Attorney Kamala Harris. Presentations were given by representatives from the DA’s Office, the Bureau of Automotive Repairs, the Contractors State License Board and Citi, who sponsored the event. A video was shown, a free lunch was served, and all of the attendees had a great time. The evaluations we collected were overwhelmingly positive, with a huge percentage of people writing that the seminar would help them avoid financial exploitation. It was a very exciting day!

We have a lot coming up over the next few months. First, our online wine auction is quickly approaching. Fine Wines for Old Vines will not only raise money for EFPN, but it will help spread the word about elder financial abuse. Please visit the auction website at www.bewiseonline.cmarket.com for more details.

On November 14^th, over 2,000 people are expected to attend Senior Resource Forum 2008 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Star One Credit Union in Santa Clara has graciously put forward $50,000 for this event. EFPN has been providing oversight and event planning expertise. Michael Finney, celebrity ABC 7 consumer watchdog and KGO talk show host, has agreed to give the keynote address, which is sure to draw a crowd. Please visit the event website at www.seniorforumonline.com

These are just some of the highlights. Over the coming months, EFPN will be producing an event with Bank of the West in Casa Grande, Arizona. (Please see the posting below from Bank of the West to learn more about their community outreach.) Jenefer Duane will be traveling to conferences far and near, presenting our award winning community education and training programs, and working diligently to keep EFPN funded during these very difficult financial times. For more information on sponsoring our education and training programs, please call 415.956.5556. It has been a pleasure working with EFPN so far, and I couldn’t be more excited about our future.

- Sam Leichter, Event Planning Coordinator

Bank of the West: Financial Literacy Helps Customers Protect Assets

In 2007, Bank of the West created a consumer awareness program to help elderly customers become more aware about the crime of elder financial abuse. Working with Elder Financial Protection Network, Bank of the West designed a program that would fill attendees with as much information as possible in a two-hour seminar. We engaged local community resources to serve on panels and answer questions from the audience. We provided lunch and entertainment – and free document shredding. Elder Financial Protection Network and Bank of the West also made sure attendees left with information they could use and share with their friends.

We piloted the Be Aware seminar in three California communities – Fairfield, San Jose and Fresno – and were amazed by the public response. All three seminars exceeded our expectations for attendance – some standing room only. Attendees included bank customers, community seniors and county and city officials.

This year we encouraged our entire branch network – more than 685 banking locations in 19 states – to conduct Be Aware seminars in their communities. We made available on our Intranet a self-serve Be Aware Guide and Toolkit to help them along.

In 2008, Be Aware seminars were conducted in Salt Lake City, UT, Des Moines, IA, Danville, CA and Oklahoma City, OK. In November, Jenefer Duane will be the keynote speaker at a Be Aware seminar in Casa Grande, AZ.

The Be Aware program for the elderly got the attention of our internal business partners who repurposed it into a fraud prevention program aimed at our small business banking customer segment. The first small business fraud seminar was held in Albuquerque in May and this month another takes place in Las Vegas.

Be Aware seminars reflect Bank of the West’s belief that we have a responsibility to our customers to help them become better consumers. It is public relations currency that we willingly contribute, especially to the elderly whose faces often reflect those of our parents and grandparents.