On Tuesday, September 12th, Nikki Tobenski and Ashley Ward of Iroquois Federal gave an informational presentation on scams, what they are, why they work, the different types of scams, warning signs to watch for, and how to build your defenses.

 

First, they defined a scam as a “trick” a con artist plays on an unsuspecting victim. Why? Well, of course to extort money! Con artists are very good at what they do, often offering a plausible, quite convincing story coupled with a tempting offer to persuade people to make choices leading to the con artist getting the victim’s money and/or identity.

 

One might ask, how do they find victims? There are a variety of ways.  Maybe your contact information was purchased, or they prowled your social media accounts, or quite sometimes, by infiltrating groups you belong to. They even have the nerve to go door-to-door, hoping to find a victim.

 

Scammers are highly skilled at their trade. They will appeal to emotions such as sympathy, fear, or loneliness. These scammers try to never take “no” for an answer. Most often, they insist on secrecy. The last thing they want you to do is check with your family members or your bank for advice or to confirm their story. They also count on vulnerable victims.

 

So, how do you protect yourself? It is important to know a scam when you see or hear one. Some of the more popular scams today fall in these categories.

 

Giveaways: winning a prize or lottery. These letters, emails, or calls often announce you’re a winner! It will require an immediate response and sometimes request payment upfront so that they can send your winnings. Another is a free vacation, but your free trip requires a monetary payment to make your reservation.

 

Sweetheart: I cannot tell you how many widowed surgeons who “love” my profile photo or post that they want to meet me on social media! They will often ask you to ‘friend” them because, for some reason, they cannot “friend” you. They target a population of those grateful for the attention. Make sure you have your social media accounts set up as “private!” If you don’t know how ask for help.  We have all asked for help here and there when it comes to computer technology.

 

Family Imposter: Someone will call and say, “Grandma” or “Grandpa,” “I need your help!” Personally, my family has a code word, which might be forgotten in a real emergency, but ask questions only your family will know. Remember, they’re very good at this. Call your family to check the validity of the call before acting. These callers never seem to want the police involved. That is a red flag! They’ll try to convince you it has to be your secret!

 

Government Imposter: This can be fake stories about a failure to show up for jury duty, back taxes, a Social Security or Medicare suspension pending your personal information verification. DO NOT use the number provided to make a call to check on this status. Look up the number yourself and make the call. They will often give you a 24-hour deadline to “make your payment,” often by purchasing gift cards, wire transfer, bankers check, or even cryptocurrency! Both Nikki and Ashley stated when you withdraw large sums of money from their bank, they will ask you what it is for…They are not trying to be nosey.  They want to be sure you are safe and not being taken advantage of by a scammer.  This practice alone has prevented scams from happening.  

 

Tech Support: These scams also come in many forms. Some begin with pop-up warnings with a fake message and a number to call. DO NOT call the number provided. If you think you have an issue, look up the number yourself to verify. It was recommended to shut down your computer ASAP if you suspect this scam to protect your accounts. Other scams of this nature begin with a phone call from Google, Apple, or Microsoft to get you to allow them remote access to your computer to “fix the problem.” DO NOT give remote access to your computer.

 

Again, shut down your computer quickly to protect your accounts. Their goal is to get your money and access your personal information.

 

Charities: While we all try to be generous to those in need, scammers use that compassion to get you to donate to their cause. Be mindful of who you donate to. Google the company make an informed decision. If the request is on social media, make sure it is not a fake request from a legit charity. If the Facebook page doesn’t have a lot of followers, pictures, etc., it may just be a ghost site mirroring a great charity. Remember, scammers will play on your sympathies to provide immediate support (financially) to myriad causes. Sometimes, they will ask on behalf of an actual charity; however, the money will never reach the intended cause.

 

Investment tips or deals: Let’s always remember. “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is!” If these investments are touted as “risk-free” or “above average return,” that should send up a red flag. We have many ways to invest locally. Find someone you trust and forego anything that seems tempting. Ask friends for referrals to a licensed broker or registered investment adviser.

 

Contractor: These people will often solicit a job by pointing out an “urgent” problem. They will ask for up-front payment in cash. They may need money to buy the materials needed for your project. They might begin the job but claim it’s much more serious than initially thought; then of course, they will demand more money. Often, they disappear after the initial payment is made, or they will do a partial job, then disappear. These scams all have warning signs, immediate action, money up front, and insist on secrecy, such as, I‘m giving you a deal, but please don’t tell anyone else; I can’t do this for everyone. Keep in mind the Village of Bourbonnais requires contractors to be licensed and registered with the village.

 

Why Target Senior Citizens?  Senior citizens seem to be a target because we have a regular income, a lifetime of savings, a tendency to be more trusting and willing to listen to their spiel, and we are often eager to help one in need. So, be cautious or even rude if confronted with someone who communicates with you and wants personal information or your money. Make sure you say no or hang up if you begin to feel those red flags starting to go up.  

 

What Are Some Basic Protections?  Register your phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov) to limit calls; Limit junk mail by visiting DMAchoice.org; use anti-virus software on our computers; don’t answer surveys on social media that ask for information which may expose personal information a scammer can use to trick you; and be very, very careful when you click on a link, or open emails/directed messages.  Again, check your privacy settings on social media accounts and limit the information you provide.

 

One other suggestion made was to consider turning off your credit report with Transunion, Equifax, and Experian.  All three credit bureaus allow you to create an account and freeze your credit.  If someone pretends to borrow money as you, a credit report cannot be pulled, and you will be notified.  You can turn it back on if you ever need to. If you don’t want to do that, you can get your free credit report once a year.  This way, you can see if there are any accounts in your name you are unaware of. Just visit freecreditreport.com to request your report.

 

If you act quickly enough, you can divert the scam before you lose money. Call your bank and the police. If either is unaware of a new scam, it’s more difficult for them to help others prevent more victims from falling prey.

Know that if you are a victim of a scam, please don’t be embarrassed. Very smart, capable, and savvy people have been scammed. Maybe your story, if shared, can help someone else learn enough not to be taken.

 

Have you been scammed?  

Our local firefighters were recently replacing batteries in our smoke alarms; we appreciate that! However, many of us discovered that our smoke alarm units are expiring, not just the battery. Soon, your ten-year-old smoke detector will begin that annoying chirp at 2 a.m. despite the brand new $4.49 Eveready. 

 

Things to know: All of our alarms are hard-wired, in sequence, to our homes per Code. Why? When one goes off, they ALL go off, meaning if the one in your garage goes off in the middle of the night, you may not hear it, but you most certainly will notice the one directly above your bed. The lesson: Do not be tempted to replace your Hard-Wired detector with a less expensive ‘Battery Only’ device. Very important: The fire chief has informed us that code now requires a 10-year Sealed battery in all household smoke detectors. They will not install a Non-Sealed, read your packaging. A couple of other things: Carbon monoxide detectors are required within 15 feet of every sleeping area, namely your bed; a combination Smoke/CO2 unit is a good option here. Of note: Wireless models are available; however, our local fire chief does NOT recommend them, as they have not been perfected; when there is an interruption in internet service, it may cause all your alarms to go off. (Not Comcast, surely!). 

 

Thanks for the information; now, how about some shopping tips for all the thrifty folk here in our Grove.

 

A little comparison shows Lowe's website listing The BRK First Alert-SC9120LBL Hard Wired Smoke & CO2 Alarm -10-year Sealed battery for $64.98, Ace for $49.99; Amazon has the same model for $44.75; further research discovered the exact same model at – www.wholesalehome.com that lists this model for $39.99 each. The 10-year battery backup Smoke ‘only’ unit retails for about $22.00 at both Lowes and Wholesalehome.com.

 

Of course, our local Girard Ace and Big Box stores carry similar detectors, and various brands are available. It has been discovered that many of these devices may be hard to find locally, but there are plenty available to order online, delivered to your door, or to your favorite local retailer. 

 

This article is intended only for comparison and to bring awareness to the age of our smoke-detecting devices and the variety of choices when considering replacement. And YES, indeed! Those cute Firemen will gladly do the

 installation at no charge.

 

FYI, these great folks will be having a Community Day on October 28th. The Bourbonnais Fire Protection District is celebrating 75 Years of serving the greater Bourbonnais area. They are planning a pancake breakfast, food trucks for lunch, demonstrations, trunk or treat for the kids, face painting, vendors, and more. 

First off, Arbor Grove Homeowners Association has an incredible group of folks who comprise The Finance Committee. The finance committee assists the association board, particularly the HOA treasurer, in myriad ways. They are our quiet heroes who function all year long with little glitz or glamour. So, let’s take a quick look at what the Finance Committee does. 

 

 

Preparing the annual budget is one of the significant tasks of Arbor Grove’s finance committee. Creating a line-by-line breakdown of expenses and revenue is a tedious and time-consuming task. 

 

 

As part of the Annual Budget process, the Reserve Plan is updated to ensure monies are available when needed for major repairs and replacements, as well as unexpected expenses or emergencies. It's similar to a savings account; the funds will only be used when there is a need for them.

 

 

Under the direction of Dianne, Marlene Ganci performs the day-to-day bookkeeping needed to keep track of all the money coming in and out of our accounts. They monitor bank reconciliations to ensure everything is in order and that funds are available to pay bills and keep funds invested. Maintaining financial records to create realistic budgets and file accurate tax returns is essential. 

 

 

While the committee oversees the finances, they do not have the authority to make financial decisions on behalf of the HOA. They review and recommend the relevant information. The board will make decisions for the association on whether to increase HOA fees to cover expenses or limit spending. Those who attended the last board meeting were on hand as the budget was reviewed and discussed. Every resident will have an opportunity to review the budget prior to it being finalized at the September Annual Arbor Grove Meeting.

 

We are lucky to have Arbor Grove Finance Committee led by co-chairpersons Dianne Schaafsma, a Certified Public Accountant, and Rosemary Wieliczko, who has had an extensive career in banking. Both co-chairs have solid financial backgrounds. The remaining committee members come with a variety of business experiences and have a keen pulse on all things financial.

 

“All things the same, except for the differences, and different, except for the similarities.” Thomas Sowell. 

 

In making the excellent choice to make Arbor Grove your home, you entered the world of becoming a part of a homeowner’s association.  A first time for many.  There’s no way to quickly digest all the bylaws, covenants, conveyances, etc.  Hopefully, by taking bits and pieces occasionally and highlighting them in this monthly feature, everyone will learn, understand and be more comfortable knowing Arbor Grove is organized and operationally together.

 

For a general definition, let’s look at the firm Sharper Management, which lays it out nicely. “A Common Element is typically a space or component that is “shared” by all.”  In our case, think of the Clubhouse, Pool, parking lot in front of the clubhouse, Pond, internal sidewalks, and greenspace, including grass, trees, and landscaping.  

 

The association is responsible for maintaining these areas and components, hence, collecting our monthly fees and understanding the need to set aside reserve funds for future repairs, replacements, etc.  The exteriors of our buildings are all considered common elements.  This is why committees and the board must approve changes or repairs to an individual unit. It is also why several units have been repainted, and more to be done this summer and next.  As the old saying goes – There’s a reason for everything!

 

Now, for Limited Common Elements.  This is where the individual homeowner comes in. They are components of your unit and immediate surroundings where use is “exclusive” to you and your guests.  When you think about it, who should be allowed to walk through your front door or enter your garage without your express permission. The same goes if you have a patio or terrace with your unit. You do not have to share any of these items with anyone.  I should never be able to hang out on your patio because the sunshine is better there unless I am explicitly invited.

 

Now here is the part that needs to be clarified.  Again, going back to Sharper Management: Limited Common Elements, The responsibility for maintenance and replacement could be entirely the homeowners. Again, all those documents you received when you purchased your unit have the details.  

 

In essence, though – Homeowners are responsible for exterior doors, including your garage door, windows, screens, patio repair, and replacement. Now, not that this will ever happen, but what if a homeowner doesn’t take care of their limited common element?  Well, the board, for the betterment of all, may have to consider making the necessary repair made for the benefit of the individual homeowner and the overall integrity of the Association as a whole and assess the individual unit owner for the cost of the repairs.  This is one more example of how as members of the Arbor Grove Homeowners Association, we can be sure the overall maintenance and aesthetic excellence can be maintained well into the future.

 

“While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many.”  Lady Bird Johnson

 

It may seem redundant, but the Maintenance Committee is another example of the exemplary talent and volunteer spirit we have here at Arbor Grove.

 

We have been incredibly lucky to have so many talented folks over the years with the knowledge and skill sets to assist Arbor Grove with projects and, oftentimes, save us all money when we don’t have to hire contractors.  Can’t imagine the amount of funds we have saved by volunteering at the Pool by Barry Gadbois and Garry Goselin.  Yikes! Time and again, they step up to the plate. Rich Allers, along with Scott Stevenson, co-chair this committee.

 

Even in instances where a professional needs to be hired, this fine committee has the knowledge to ensure the work is necessary, priced right, and completed in a proper manner.  Maintenance Committee members have even gone above and beyond to help repair or lend advice for a problem within the interior of a home, which is totally outside their responsibility. They’re just good neighbors.

 

Whether it is getting concrete work done, roofs replaced/repaired, taking care of the pond and fountain, and now, overseeing the rebuild of the 707 Unit, they’re on it.

 

Along with co-chairs Rich and Scott, the team is made up of Rick Balthazor, Joe Donovan, Sandi Frenzki, Gary Goselin, Jack Dorn, Terry Schaafsma, John Wieliczko, Barry Gadbois, and their very newest member and Arbor Grove resident, Mike Magruder.  Mike has already been instrumental in working with pool/hot tub issues.

 

Have an issue? Don’t call or text; go right to this website, click on the Committees tab, then click on Maintenance/Pool/Pond. This takes you to the page where the form resides so you can report your issue to be addressed by the maintenance committee. Not only is it the fastest way to get the committee involved, but the website also automatically sends your information to the appropriate person to address the issue and get it resolved as soon as feasibly possible.

 

Using the website to complete the request also tracks the issue so we have documentation and can study various inputs to determine where future issues may occur; for example, Information on the website identified that we had one of our units had significantly more issues with shingles blowing off than all others.  It turns out that the unit was constructed during the winter months, and apparently, shingles applied during cold weather don’t stick as well as those applied during the warmer months.

The maintenance committee also functions as the architectural committee. Any projects residents wish to address outside their units are subject to the committee’s approval.  Some common requests include installing or expanding a patio, putting up (or taking down) a fence, installing a generator, painting your door, installing a storm door, etc.  These issues all require approval from the committee.  Reasons for this include:

• General aesthetics – to ensure that all units maintain a level of conformity that maintains the standard of the community.
• To confirm licensed and bonded contractors do all upgrades.  This is to ensure that proper materials and methods are used.  This also protects Arbor Grove from potential liability issues due to sub-standard workmanship.

Hopefully, few of us need to report an issue to the Maintenance/Pool/Pond Committee, but if we do, it is an easy process. Best of all, you can trust this fine group to do whatever they can to rectify an issue or address a concern. 

First, let’s address the coverage Arbor Grove is required to have (Article XV,15.1: Commercial Property Insurance if you are so inclined to look for yourself) as follows:

 

• General Liability Insurance – This coverage protects Arbor Grove in the rare instance of someone filing a claim, including bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and others that can arise from our operations.

• Directors & Officers Insurance – This insurance policy protects the board members in the event there is ever an accusation or lawsuit from a homeowner.

• Fidelity Bond – protects against theft or embezzlement by employees, directors, management personnel, or others who might have access to our funds. Not one of us can imagine ever needing this coverage, but alas, it is required, and the Board is going to fulfill its obligations.

Let’s start this month’s Monthly Matters with a little humor…..

 

 

While funny, the same can be said for anyone purchasing their home in any PUD or Condominium Association.  Yes, when you signed on the dotted line at closing, you agreed to the terms & conditions of the Association.

 

While the general by-laws, declaration of covenants, and guidelines were set at the time Arbor Grove was originally established, the first-ever Board of Directors established the Arbor Grove Rules Committee.

 

The purpose of the committee is to periodically review the declarations, covenants, guidelines, etc. The Rules Committee then makes recommendations to the Board and ensures they are kept up-to-date, all for the end result of assuring residents our community will remain attractive, well-maintained, having continuity in appearance, and continue as a harmonious place to live.

 

Only the Board has the authority to accept or reject committee recommendations for “guidelines.” Any change to “covenants” and/or “bylaws” must receive approval from 67% of Arbor Grove homeowners (referred to as “the membership”). Of course, Illinois State law can also affect the need for changes.  Please know, all changes are sent to our attorney to ensure we are in full compliance with the law.

 

Nine Arbor Grove homeowners serve on the Rules Committee.  They all take this responsibility seriously and have spent countless hours reviewing documents and discussing potential recommendations for change.  Your neighbors who serve are:

  Mark Argyelan and Jean Henley, Co-chairs

  Marlo Beeman

  Karen Denoyer

  Marlene Ganci

  Debbie Helgeson

  Donna Miller

  Lois Ware

When you run into any of these fine people, please be sure to extend a “thank you” their way.

 

All the documents relating to rules, regulations, by-laws, covenants, etc., are available on this website under the “Documents” tab.

 

While all the information in these documents is essential, the committee recommends you pay particular attention to the following:

  Article VIII – Meetings and finance

  Article XI    - Resale of units 

  Article XV   - Insurance

 

And all three pages of the “Community Guidelines” and “Use of Amenities.”

 

Finally, the rules committee was not put in place to police violations but to recommend sensible suggestions to make our Arbor Grove community the most enjoyable place to live in the county. Anyone with a suggestion for change, don’t hesitate to reach out to any committee member.

 

This article began with a little humor to bring a smile upon your face.  

 

In closing, our current By-laws and Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Easements, and Restrictions, last updated in 2022, are good for the next 39 years.  Yes, 39 years!  In the meantime, who knows what might change. If anything does change, the Rules Committee and Board will be sure you are aware.