On February 11, at a special open meeting of the corporate members of the Golden Rain Foundation, members overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade the Village’s current operating software up to a $4 million capital expenditure over two and a half years (this planned project is funded from reserves; there is no future impact to resident assessments). At its regular meeting on February 1, the GRF board had already unanimously approved a resolution to upgrade.

The Village’s various current in-house software programs are obsolete and expensive or impossible to support, present security vulnerabilities and delay services. Upgrading to cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system software will bring the Village up to 21st century standards, consolidate obsolete systems, streamline paper-based processes; achieve greater security, efficiency and resident satisfaction; and lead to long-term savings. 

Over a months-long evaluation process, the GRF Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC), comprised of GRF, Third and United directors, housing mutual members and VMS staff, surveyed various ERP software, and selected Microsoft Dynamics 365 as the new cloud-based platform.

Significant time was devoted to the review of three products by ITAC and staff. The chosen product was surveyed to be the highest rated for our operations. ITAC chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 based on its reputation as an excellent ERP system from a stable, well-known company; unlimited customization possibilities; ability to integrate with third-party software; and end-user familiarity and an intuitive, user-friendly interface.

While switching to a cloud-based system will initially cost approximately $1.6 million more than renewing the current system, GRF Treasurer Jim Hopkins said the move is projected to save $271,000 annually in information technology and licensing fees after five years and approximately $700,000 over a five-year period and $2 million over a 10-year period in operating expenses.

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Pool 4 Reopens, Pool 2 Closes

On Monday, February 28, Pool 2 will close for annual maintenance and Pool 4 will reopen. Morning lap reservations at Pool 2 will restart when it reopens for resident use. No reservations are needed at Pools 1, 4 and 5.

Click here to view the current pool schedule.

New GRF-Approved Pool Operating Hours

The GRF Board of Directors has approved new pool operating hours.

• Pool 1: Winter hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; summer hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Pool 2: Winter hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; summer hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pool 4: Winter hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; summer hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Pool 5: Winter hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; summer hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Pool 6: Closed for winter; summer hours are noon to 6 p.m.

Garden Center Access

Effective March 8, the Garden Center 1 gate access code will change. All gardeners will receive a new code via email. Please do not share this code with anyone other than registered partners. 

Also effective March 8, gardeners and registered partners at Garden Center 2 may gain access using their resident ID card with an RFID sensor. If you need the RFID sensor added to your ID, please contact Resident Services at 949-597-4600, email residentservices@vmsinc.org or visit the Community center at 24351 El Toro Road.

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With every work order completed, the Department of Resident Services sends a work order survey to residents to gain their feedback. The department recently received its 275^th survey, and is pleased to share some very positive results: On average, Village residents rate Resident Services employee courtesy at 4.79 out of five stars! 

Resident Services uses this survey to identify what works well and what needs improvement. When you receive email asking you to complete a work order survey, please be sure to share your important feedback. Customer service is an ongoing, everyday commitment for VMS Resident Services employees!

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The Disaster Preparedness Task Force is offering “Preparedness for Older Adults” virtual training courtesy of the American Red Cross Wednesday, February 23, at 10 a.m. Email disasterprep@vmsinc.org to receive the virtual Zoom meeting link and reserve your spot. 

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

California’s most recent wildfire season is putting pressure on insurance companies to reduce coverage to homeowners, possibly impacting roughly 14 million Californians living in more than 49,000 community associations.

“As the market for fire insurance tightens and policies become more expensive or nonexistent, boards will struggle to meet their obligations under the governing documents to obtain insurance, at least not without significant assessment increases to cover rising premiums,” says Matt D. Ober, partner at Richardson Ober DeNichilo in Pasadena, Calif., and a fellow in the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL).

According to Joel W. Meskin, managing director of community association products at McGowan Program Administrators in Fairview Park, Ohio, and a CCAL fellow, the only solution for insurance companies right now is to significantly increase premiums, meaning that boards will have to either significantly raise assessments, levy a special assessment to fund the fire insurance premiums or go without coverage, which is impossible.

Click here to read CAI’s full story, “California Wildfires Impact HOA Insurance.”

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

The Dialogue Society at USC cordially invites you to its virtual storytelling session on Saturday, March 5, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. 

At the event, we will have the opportunity to share stories with each other about our lives, memories, and experiences. This event will also include a short writing activity in which participants will write answers to memoir prompt questions about their life experiences, so please bring a few pieces of paper and a pen/pencil to write with!

Registration is helpful but not required; please register for the event through Eventbrite with this link. 

Event Link

Zoom link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97466811751?pwd=aEdhbWRwakpTeHBhR2JrcjgzYkNDZz09
Meeting ID: 974 6681 1751
Passcode: 352022

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below. 

Come February 15, California will lift the statewide indoor mask mandate. Read on to learn what this will mean for life in the Village. 

• Unvaccinated individuals must still mask in all indoor public settings, and the state will recommend that fully vaccinated individuals continue indoor masking when risks are high. Click here to read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for masking. Click here to view California Department of Public Health updates and guidance.
• Board and committee meetings will return to a hybrid format, with attendance offered both in person and virtually. Find agendas and virtual links to board and committee meetings by visiting lagunawoodsvillage.com/calendars, clicking GRF, Third Mutual or United Mutual, and clicking the appropriate event.
• Universal masking will still be required—regardless of vaccination status—in specified settings, including public transit (such as on Village buses), healthcare facilities, nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• Clubs, groups, organizations and private events will be responsible for establishing and enforcing their own guidelines. 
• All VMS employees will continue to wear masks through at least March 1. 

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