It’s been asked, how does the Social Committee do all we do? And, without a budget? 

 

According to the Social Committee Co-Chairs, the short answer is YOU!

 

Jan Krizik-Schmidt explains why…

 

At many events, we take donations which we collect over time to cover various costs associated with events (mostly supplies). Our neighbors in Arbor Grove have been generous in their donations and step up when asked. Some folks have even randomly given a nice donation just to help provide seed money for future events. Others donated a part of their game winnings back to the committee. Our only intentional fundraiser, if you will, is Split the Pot at our Kentucky Derby Event. These profits are specifically earmarked for the Social Committee to help defray expenses for future events.

 

If you’re wondering what kind of expenses the Social Committee have, well we’re happy to share. Poolside Brunch is a good example.  While this is a potluck, committee members shop for plates, napkins, silverware, and glassware. Often, we can borrow items from neighbors such as (spoiler alert) the margarita machine for Cheeseburgers in Paradise night! Décor to enhance the clubhouse is also often bought from funds in our “kitty” or through the generosity of our committee members. Committee members come together before events to decorate and have everything in place to enhance your good vibes. Good examples are the Kentucky Derby, Cheeseburgers in Paradise, Oktoberfest, or our upcoming Olympic Opening Games Preview Party.  

 

As a committee, we have worked at selecting eclectic activities in the hope of offering something for everyone. For the most part, we try to plan something every month. Some events challenge your memory such as Trivia with Jean, while some are purely entertainment like Bernie’s Bingo, while others are focused on safety when we offer dryer vent cleaning or smoke detector battery replacement. We also try to come up with new events. Recently, a group of “Grovers” attended the play Mamma Mia in Chicago. We are now planning another outing to Chicago in November to see Beautiful Noise, a musical featuring the music of Neal Diamond. If the theater is not your cup of tea, you might join us for our monthly happy hour or a pop-up dinner or bags tournament! 

 

How apropos the Social Committee is featured in Monthly Matters during summer, the busiest time of the year.  Our calendar is quite full! Let’s look at what brings us together in the upcoming months.

 

August:

·       8/3 “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” Poolside Potluck with live music from 3-5 p.m.

·       8/14 Trivia with Jean

·       8/16 Happy Hour with a Guess the baby photo 

·       8/23 Dryer Vent Cleaning ($50 per home)

·       8/24 Bourbonnais Fire Department Smoke Alarm check and battery replacement. 

 

September:

·       TBD Golf Outing at Aspen Ridge

·       9/20 Dessert Bar at Happy Hour

·       9/28 Oktoberfest! 

 

Where will we see you? What will you choose to attend? Do you have an idea we might pursue? Contact any member of the Social Committee and we’ll be happy to help you plan! 

 

These are the folks working together, not only to make events fun and meaningful, but to keep the fact: Arbor Grove is THE BEST place to live in Bourbonnais! Committee members are:

 

    Cathy Allers        Eileen Boudreau     Karen Denoyer

  Mary Donovan         Jean Fons            Georgie Hess
    Linda Klette        Elaine Luedtke       Mary Magruder
 Dominic Randazzo    Donna Scott     Nina Wakeley 
                             Judy Wesolowski
 
 

This fine team is led by Co-Chairs:  Judy Balthazor, Vicki Stevenson, and Janice Krizik- Schmidt.

Thanks to all for your efforts!

 

I recently read an informative article in the AARP Bulletin Jan/Feb 2024 about Cyber thieves which prompted me to take steps to protect myself from these dastardly villains. 

 

One key way is to  “Freeze your Credit,” an action you can take with relative ease. This ‘Credit Freeze’ is controlled by yourself, requires No Fee, is temporary, and keeps those scoundrels from getting credit in your good name, which has become a common occurrence.

 

The process may seem a bit overwhelming, however, I just completed the task and would like to share my experience. It will take a little time and patience to set up accounts and create passwords, but you will be adding a deep layer of security, and today is the day to do it.

 

First, you do Not need to go through a third party; in fact, beware of those offers.  Instead, locate each of the three main credit scoring companies online:  Experian.com,  Equifax.com, and Transunion.com.  Create your account for each one separately. 

You do NOT have to pay a fee, nor sign up for a monthly charge for any of these.  The first Equifax page I saw wanted me to sign up for $29 monthly subscription, but I searched further and discovered the correct page by searching:  Equifax/freeze. 

 

Always look for two signs telling you you are on a Secure Site!     The top search bar should have accurate spelling and begin with https://  showing the lock icon.

     

Once you are on the secure page, they will ask you for your social security number, phone number, address, ALL those things that we NEVER EVER give out.  It's Okay.  They must be certain we are who we say WE are. There may also be security questions, such as “Have you ever lived at one of these addresses”  or “Have you ever owned a  Ford Mustang”… things like that.   Credit companies require your personal, sensitive information to give you a credit card and keep check on your credit score;  they see everything we do, whether we like it or not. Admittedly, typing in all that information made me pause; it went against all I’d ever been warned about, But… I checked with many trusted sources, and they reassured me that it was necessary as long as I took care to sign myself in on a secure site. If you are unsure, never be afraid to ask a trusted relative or friend for help.

 

Yep, more usernames, and more passwords to remember.  Create a unique Password for each of the three companies. Write them down. When you get signed up and logged in, it should be easy to see the option to Freeze Your Credit.  Click on that option, then - confirm YES.

 

You have just made it extremely hard for those cyber thieves to steal your identity!  This Freeze keeps an unknown person from using YOUR good credit, but it is flexible, so when the day comes that you want to buy that new chariot or open a new credit card, you will need to go online, log in with your ‘remembered’ password, and click on Unfreeze.  If, by chance, you should forget, “they” will tell you that you have a freeze in place; you simply go to your account to unfreeze until your business is complete.  

 

 

       “Someone cracked my password. Now I need to rename my puppy.” -unknown

 

Update: An interesting article published in the New York Times recently not only recommends freezing your credit but adds a few tips on securing your social security numbers and personal information. Click here to see the tips from the Social Security Administration

Wow, Arbor Grove Monthly Matters is officially one year old this month. What’s Mine & What’s Association’s?  Windows, doors, Use of Amenities

There are Covenants, By-Laws, Association Rules, and Guidelines.  These topics are broad and all-encompassing, yet key to living a good life in Arbor Grove.  The fact that we have a waiting list for folks who want to make Arbor Grove their home is a testament to our neighbors, committees, and board leadership.

Previous Monthly Matters honed in on several topics written by our neighbor authors who prepared articles on Insurance, Rules, and Duties of Homeowners, an entire year’s worth of great topics. We especially love seeing our committees and their good works get highlighted with a tremendous sense of gratitude.

This month, we’ll look at What’s Mine? What’s the Associations? And Use of Amenities.

Generally speaking, everyone is knowledgeable and comfortable with the fact that Arbor Grove owns the exterior of our homes and the surrounding grounds, including the clubhouse.

That being said, many do not realize our windows, front doors, garage doors, furnaces, and AC compressors are the unit’s owner responsibility for maintaining and, if necessary, replacing. 

Because we all own the exteriors and grounds, utilizing these amenities in our common areas comes with a set of responsibilities for proper use.  The Use of Amenities policy approved several years ago (updated since), lays out how we can all share our grounds in a fair, safe, and friendly way.

The Use of Amenities is divided into three main categories:  Clubhouse, Pool, and Pond.

First, the Clubhouse (just recently repainted, yeah).  Our clubhouse is a fantastic amenity.  Not only are there Arbor-sponsored events open to all neighbors, but it is also available to rent for your exclusive use at a cost of $75. For non-exclusive use, maybe hanging out with a friend, and you don’t care who pops in and out, the clubhouse is open 24 hours a day (unless rented).  If rented, the exercise room will always be available by entering through the side door so as not to disrupt someone’s celebration. The Clubhouse is never available to rent on the 3rd Friday of each month.  This is our monthly Happy Hour.

Second is our beautiful Pond!  Whether or not you enjoy fishing, a stroll around the pond on a lovely day cannot be beaten!  The pond sidewalk is the only private sidewalk in our subdivision.  Because of this, an Arbor resident must accompany anyone who is walking around or fishing. As most avid fishermen know – our pond is a catch-and-release pond – except that is for the egrets who enjoy their time there. 

Third and last, but not least, is our pool.  Folks wait with bated breath every spring for the pool’s opening date.  We are at the mercy of the schedule of the professionals who open the pool every spring.  Once open, a team of volunteers, led by Gary Goselin and Barry Gadbois, come to the pool twice daily to check chemical levels and ensure a clean and safe environment for our residents.  Residents assume the responsibility of overseeing their guests (maximum of 4) and cleaning their table and surrounding area before they exit the pool area.  

Because the Illinois State Department of Health governs our pool and is a swim-at-your-own-risk pool, there is a large section of the Use of Amenities dedicated to pool rules and resident responsibilities.  Everyone is encouraged to read the Use of Amenities every year before swim season! (Click here to read). 

There are many committees and volunteers who work together in teams to ensure a happy and healthy lifestyle here in Arbor Grove.  Taking care to know our responsibilities and the homeowner association’s responsibilities makes for a great day, which begins on Arbor Way.

A survey on Monthly Matters will be coming to your inbox soon. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey so we know your thoughts and opinions.