Letters to the Editor 
Email us at lwvfriends@gmail.com or Write to FOV at 5372-3H Punta Alta, Laguna Woods
Letter to the Editor, Laguna Woods Globe (January 2011)
On January 1, 2011, we observed the 38th anniversary of our first agency agreement with Professional Community Management (PCM). These have been 38 years of harmonious and excellent service to our community and its four nonprofit corporations by PCM.
Over these years, PCM has initiated new procedures and programs that have resulted in significant savings to our community. In the 20 years since 1990, major PCM innovations have saved almost $37 million and will continue to save more than $4 million every year for many years to come.
Documentation of this remarkable achievement can be found here and on the Laguna Woods Village website at www.lagunawoodsvillage.org. Go to Resident Links, scroll down to Setting the Record Straight and to The Village has Saved Millions. These are conservative numbers that do not reflect inflation since 1990.
January 1, 2011, should have been a celebration of our long and happy relations with such outstanding PCM employees as GM Jerry Storage; Finance Director Janet Price; Maintenance Director Marcel Bradley; Landscape/Recreation Director Kurt Rahn; Security Director Gene Hart; Broadband/Community Relations Director Russ Ridgeway; Social Services Manager Marcia Wilson and a host of others like Patty Kurzet, Dave Smith, Ralph Shafer, Rafael Alcala, Jerry Rathje, Ismael Saenz, Brian Gentry, Jim Dyer, Katy Howe, Pat McLaughlin, Betty Parker, Richard Lee, Rob Merritt, Paul Ortiz, Mike Raub, Cris Robinson, Wendy Bucknum, Heather Rasmussen, Kim Taylor, Peter Quan, James David, Laura Cooley, Michael Carre, Bruce Gardner, Wendy Panizza, Pam Munson, Debby Sucamele, Rick Roybal, Pamela Bashline, Ted Ball, Tim Huval, Steve LaFortune, Doug Koller, Roger Teel, Scott Dunham, Michael Settipane, Mike Moore, Moore, Alia Palmer, Larry Woodhams, Ken Goldenberg, Cindy Grace, Mark Weiss, Jackie Giacomazzi, Ken Pucci, Bryan English, Bruce Page, Lucia Foster, Barbara Johnson, Jennifer Murphy, Alia Palmer, Mike Tucholski, Victor Polek, Judy Zoerhof and all the maintenance, landscape, security, recreation, broadband and other personnel who keep us safe, informed, beautiful and physically fit - the best retirement community anywhere.
Dave Blodgett, 29-year resident
3158 Alta Vista Unit A
859-9082
Letter to the Editor, Laguna Woods Globe (April 2010)
‘Resident’s Voice Misinformation’
In a recent issue of the Resident’s Voice newsletter, the following was reported:
- GRF voted to remove Saddleback College from CH1 Fitness Center.
FALSE – CAC voted to keep Saddleback. The classes were cancelled by Saddleback due to the State budget cuts.
- CH1 Fitness Center is now being used by very few people.
FALSE – the numbers are lower w/o non-resident usage (but minimally) and the usage by residents increased in both January and February.
- Implementing the parking fee for non-resident emeritus students will cost upwards of $120,000 to implement.
FALSE – Implementation will cost a few hundred dollars.
Given the blatant misinformation in the two articles, it seems to me, research of the facts must be done before believing anything reported in The Resident’s Voice.
Erna Ferris – Aquatics & Fitness Committee
2064 Via Mariposa East, Unit A.
Letter to the Editor, Laguna Woods Globe (February 2010)
The shocking 7 to 4 vote of the Golden Rain Foundation Board to replace Milt Johns as PCM General Manager has nothing to do with Milt Johns and his outstanding performance record. It has everything to do with an attempt to remove PCM as the managing agent for Laguna Woods Village.
At the core of the controversy is the Third Mutual which has allowed its contract with PCM to expire and has proposed a new one-year contract with a 90-day cancellation clause, knowing it would be impossible to replace PCM and its more than 800 employees in 90 days.
The 6,102 members of Third Mutual are unaware of this irresponsible proposal and the fact that its board has allowed the PCM contract to expire–information to which we are legally entitled. Negotiations may be confidential, but the results must be publicly noticed.
The only way Milt Johns could be forcibly removed is to cancel existing contracts with Third, United, Golden Rain and the Towers, somehow find a new management company and subject our 18,000 residents to much higher monthly fees, probable legal actions and many other unknown outcomes .
When our 18,000 residents become aware of the costly and negative consequences of this effort to dump PCM, I am confident they will overwhelmingly demand GRF and Third Mutual directors cease this ill-advised attempt to disrupt our long and positive relationship with PCM and the excellent service they continue to provide.
Dave Blodgett, 28-year resident
3158 Alta Vista Unit A
859-9082
Re: the Residents Voice December newsletter, written and edited by commessi (intarsia) art master Conrad Grundke, is a rehash of debunked myths:
- Grundke asserts our boards never approved PCM’s one-time bonuses for employees who implemented operational cost cutting procedures that benefited the 18,000 residents of our community. Professional Community Management, Inc. is a for profit corporation whose payroll records are confidential, just like any other corporation. Our governing boards have no legal right to access or approve PCM’s payroll. Quit beating a dead horse.
- The newsletter repeats the false charge that the sale of the old Administration Building was illegal. Nonsense. Fact checking is not a RVoice forte. The sale was clearly legal.
- Grundke, aided and abetted by obsessive Corkey Eley and Barbara Copley, asks, “Where have our CC&Rs gone?” As condos, Third Mutual and Mutual 50 have CC&Rs. United Mutual and the Golden Rain Foundation have never had CC&Rs. United has an Occupancy Agreement governing the use of manors. GRF is not a homeowners association, has no housing and no need for covenants, conditions and restrictions.
- Desperate to find another unfounded complaint, Grundke adds: “Promised Forensic Audit! None!” The forensic audit demanded by Residents Voice would cost all 12,736 of our owners as much as $10 million, and no one ever promised to waste $10 million on a wild goose chase.
My wish for RVoice in 2010: Stop spreading unfounded allegations that are all sound and fury signifying only your Sisyphean frustration.
Dave Blodgett
3158 Alta Vista Unit A
Pat and FOV team,
It’s wonderful to sit in Tucson where I am vacationing and get Laguna Woods Village news online via the latest Friends of the Village (FOV) newsletter. Each article was well written, clear and gave me answers to questions I had about the proposed club rule changes and possible effect(s), the Emeritus program, the follow-up on assessments by the treasurers, and on and on. Thanks to all who contributed. I'm looking forward to FOV's continued success in 2010.
Kathleen Rubin
From well-satisfied residents, Dick and Marilyn Wagner, 954D
Do you realize what a marvelous place we are living in? Laguna Woods Village is located near the most beautiful beaches, not to mention all the amenities that are offered for our pleasure. We have a real bargain living in south Orange County close to the best shopping in Southern California, with many choices for entertainment, every kind of restaurant imaginable available and beauty everywhere. The most important thing I left for last; that is the friendly, happy (for the most part) people who live and work here. We are truly blessed! Cheer up!