Clubhouse 7
September 16, 2024
7 p.m.
Free for club members
Join the Camera Club’s September showcase featuring “Eyes on History,” a slide presentation by retired Newsday photo journalist John Cornell. He will present photos and stories of news events he covered during his career.
For more information, contact Myrna Keitges at 949-546-5679 or email keitgesmyrna@gmail.com.
Clubhouse 7
August 19, 2024
7 p.m.
Free for club members, $5 for non-members at the door
Join the Camera Club’s next showcase featuring “15 Days in Ethiopia,” a slide presentation by George Harper. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for socializing.
For more information, contact Myrna Keitges at 949-546-5679 or email keitgesmyrna@gmail.com.
On Wednesday, July 31, in the Community Center board room, Assemblymember Diane Dixon and Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Specialist Jackie Wylie hosted a town hall discussion and presented a Senior Scam Stoppers seminar, respectively.
If you missed this event, or attended and would like to rewatch it, please click here to watch it on the Village YouTube channel.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
We are thrilled to announce that the new Laguna Woods Village website is in its final phases and is set to launch tentatively early November. This comprehensive project is the result of a collaborative effort involving a GRF committee, resident feedback and testing, Village Management Services (VMS) staff, and our contractor, Urban Insight, who in its 24-year experience has planned, designed, developed and successfully launched more than 500 websites.
During the design phase, Urban Insight and VMS worked diligently to identify essential functionalities and design elements tailored to meet the needs of residents, board members, realtors and staff. During this phase, Urban Insight created initial design “wireframes,” or navigation and design roadmaps, to align with the Village brand and resident expectations.
In the current development phase, the focus is on improving document handling, enhancing the search function and integrating single sign-on capabilities. The collaborative user testing effort with residents aims not only to enhance resident engagement but also increase operational transparency.
To date, a significant amount of content has been successfully migrated to the new website, including:
One of the major improvements in the new website is the enhanced search function, which now includes:
Privacy and security have been a top priority in the development of the new website. Key improvements include:
The design concepts were officially debuted to the Media and Communications Committee on July 15, showcasing the thoughtful and resident-centric approach taken in this project.
Urban Insight has been instrumental in providing training for content editors and webmasters via comprehensive documentation, instructional videos and training sessions to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform.
As we approach the final stages of this project, the focus will be on:
We are eagerly anticipating the official site launch at the beginning of November. Post-launch, we will continue to provide support to ensure a seamless user experience.
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to unveiling the new and improved Laguna Woods Village website!
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions regarding common-use amenities or housing mutual operations, attending committee meetings is the best and most effective way to gain insight into Village governance and ensure your voice is heard.
Here’s how it works: All work concerning GRF, Third, and United begins at the committee level. Once the committees review and discuss policies, programs, and service levels, they make recommendations that are then presented for approval or denial at the board level. Village Management Services (VMS), your managing agent, is responsible for carrying out approved policies and service levels.
The boards of directors for the corporations (GRF, United Mutual, and Third Mutual) appoint members to various committees. These committees are tasked with reviewing policies, programs, and service levels, and then making recommendations to the boards.
Housing Mutual Committees focus on various aspects of housing mutual operations and include, but are not limited to landscaping, finance, maintenance and construction, and traffic. GRF Standing Committees focus on broader community aspects and include landscaping, finance, maintenance and construction, community activities, security and more.
By attending committee meetings, you can stay informed about the issues that matter most to you and actively participate in the decision-making process. It’s a great way to contribute to the community and ensure your concerns are addressed. So, mark your calendar for the next committee meeting and get involved in shaping the future of our Village!
If you’re interested in attending board and committee meetings to get more involved in our community, it’s easy to get started.
First, check out the schedule of meetings by visiting lagunawoodsvillage.com and navigating to the Calendars section (sometimes referred to as TeamUp).
When you find a meeting that interests you, simply click on it. A window will pop up with all the details you need: the meeting name, date, time, and location. You’ll also find important documents like the meeting agenda and agenda packet, plus links to Granicus and Zoom, which are excellent options for attending meetings virtually.
To watch board and committee meetings online, visit lagunawoodsvillage.com/meetings. Board meetings are also televised on TV6. Meetings are listed by date, with the most recent ones at the top.
Members are welcome to submit comments by emailing meeting@vmsinc.org any time before or during the meeting. Please include your name, unit number and the meeting you’re commenting on in the email subject field.
Keep in mind that meeting times are subject to change and ending times are approximate. You can view the full meetings schedule by visiting lagunawoodsvillage.com > Calendars > All Governance Boards Calendar.
Residents can join board and committee meetings live when they are held via Zoom. Other meetings, aside from board and committee sessions, may be conducted using GoToMeeting.
Why Zoom? Zoom allows you to:
Additionally, Zoom automatically records and publishes board and committee meetings to lagunawoodsvillage.com/meetings (Granicus), making them available on demand.
To attend virtual board or committee meetings:
No registration or password is required to attend.
If you wish to speak during the member comment agenda item, use the Raise Hand button on the Zoom screen. Participants are recognized in the order in which they raised their hand. The corporate secretary will then enable the member to speak.
So, mark your calendar for the next committee meeting and get involved in shaping the future of our Village!
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
DwellingLIVE has updated its text message alert system. Now, residents need to provide their mobile number to opt in and select their cellphone carrier to receive text message alerts. Signing up for text message alerts in dwellingLIVE offers several benefits for residents and their guests, including:
Download the dwellingLIVE app at the App Store or Google Play.
If you are a resident who has not received an email with login instructions or if you do not know what email address is on file with Resident Services, please contact the department at residentservices@vmsinc.org or 949-597-4600.
Click here to view a dwellingLIVE tutorial or click here to watch a Village YouTube channel tutorial. Click here to watch Deborah Dotson demonstrate dwellingLIVE on her Village Television show, “Let’s Talk Tech.”
The PC Club offers a Laguna Woods Village Technology Tools class that covers the use of dwellingLIVE and other frequently used Village apps. The next class will be held Wednesday, August 21, at 1 p.m. at the Sellards PC Club Learning Center adjacent to the PC Club workshop on the third floor of the Community Center, 24351 El Toro Road. Click here to register on the PC Club website and select Class Registration in the left menu or visit the PC Club weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open to Village residents and their guests, PC Club classes are free but donations are welcome at the door. Registration is required prior to each class.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Did you know that an archive of board meeting videos and agendas is at your fingertips? If you missed any of the July board meetings you can view them online. Go to lagunawoodsvillage.com, hover over the Residents tab and select Board Meeting Videos under Governance to view upcoming events, board meetings in progress or, under Archived Events, past board meetings for GRF, Third and United. All meetings are indexed with accompanying agenda documents and backup materials.
Meetings are arranged by date, with the most recent at the top of the list. Click Video to watch the meetings and view agenda documents, or Agenda to see the documents and backup materials.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Village Management Services is excited to announce that Third Mutual and the Landscaping Services Department has kicked off a new paint program relandscaping project in designated areas throughout the mutual. With this work, Third Mutual intends to reduce moisture intrusion incidents and dry rot by moving plant material away from buildings, eliminating high-water-use irrigation spray heads and rearranging shrub beds to ensure water flows away from buildings. Plus, new drip irrigation and plant material will reduce maintenance and water costs.
Third Mutual’s buildings are painted every 15 years, a practice that gives the mutual its fresh-looking and well-maintained appearance. This new program expedites the current painting process by removing plant material that hinders paint and repair work, saving time and money.
New landscaping will feature drought-tolerant plants that help reduce overall water consumption while maintaining a beautiful and vibrant community, and support the Village’s sustainability and water conservation commitment.
In addition, advanced irrigation systems will deliver water more efficiently, ensuring plants receive the right amount of moisture without waste.
Landscaping work will be completed in phases, each taking several weeks. Third Mutual and Landscaping Services are confident this new program will lead to an even more beautiful, sustainable and well-maintained community. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this work. Contact Resident Services at residentservices@vmsinc.org or 949-597-4600 with questions or for more information.
Thank you for your cooperation in the commitment to keeping the community beautiful and environmentally friendly.
For more Village news, click on the tag “Maintenance” below.
On Monday, July 29, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Clubhouse 2, join MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center clinical experts for an educational event to learn the basic signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and stroke as well as life-saving actions you can perform as a bystander. Attendees can speak with experts, watch a hands-only CPR demonstration and practice their CPR training on a mannequin. Additionally, those who register will have an opportunity to check their stroke risk by getting a complimentary carotid artery screening and consult with a vascular surgeon at the event. Light refreshments will be offered.
Visit memorialcare.org/lwheartstroke or call 714-824-7012 for more information or to RSVP for this event.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Restaurant 19, Room 1
Tuesday, September 17
5 p.m.
Free for members, $5 for non-members
The Israel ParaSport Center strengthens the mind, body and spirit of children and adults with physical disabilities providing them with the tools to succeed in life. Marsha Katz Rothpan, U.S. Western Region Director, will share how the para-athletes in Israel develop skills, confidence, and become empowered to live life without limits – all through the power of sport.
For more information visit the Springboks website or contact Rachel Barnes at 714-471-2225/springbokslwv@gmail.com. To RSVP or send a membership application email ettinfam@comcast.net.
The Israel ParaSport Center, formerly the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, is one of the world pioneers in the field of sport rehabilitation. Founded in 1960, The Center is a home away from home to over 2,500 Israelis of all ages, where the unique merits of sports are utilized to strengthen body, spirit, and mind. Sports activities contribute more to the confidence, morale, and self-image of those with disabilities than any other form of rehabilitation. Today, Center athletes participate in 18 different sports activities without discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, race, nationality, or ethnicity.
At the Israel ParaSport Center, we know that sports are more than just a game. They are a way to strengthen the body, mind, and spirit. We also know that for people with disabilities, the playing field is not level. People with physical challenges often have limited mobility; many come from at-risk households or are victims of traumatic experiences.
When the odds are stacked against them, people with physical challenges feel less valued than their able-bodied peers. They may feel left behind as the world passes them by, wondering if they’ll ever feel confident and find success in life.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
People with disabilities need community and opportunities, just like the rest of us!
With our support, The Center provides a home away from home where thousands of people with physical disabilities become confident and succeed in life through competitive parasports such as basketball, tennis, swimming, and archery.
The Center’s visionary founder, Moshe Rashkes z”l, dedicated his life to empowering people with disabilities. He established Israel as the world leader in transforming lives and unlocking potential through competitive parasports. Now we carry the torch by advocating for people with limited physical ability and unlimited potential worldwide.
