Regarding financials and accounts payable/receivable, let's start by showing some love to key players. Marlene Ganci is the running back here at Arbor Grove. Bills are submitted by vendors or individuals in various ways to Dianne or Wayne for approval. Once verified, the bill is approved and sent to Marlene for payment. Marlene plays a vital role in the budget by correctly categorizing payments, so QuickBooks reports are accurate.   So much time and effort go into this process, and every effort is made to make things as efficient as possible. So, a huge pat-on-the-back to all who use ACH to pay your monthly HOA fee. 

 

QuickBooks reports are generated as needed. It’s what you see posted on the AG website after each board meeting and at year-end, listing every bill paid for the year. These financial reports are the basis for building the annual budget. Thanks to Mar and Dianne for keeping our information correct and available!

 

 

The real work begins long before the owners receive the budget before the annual meeting, which is shared with homeowners. In July, the committee chairs are asked to submit their budgets for the upcoming year. The committee work is highly involved and requires getting bids for painting and lawn care or estimating next year's chemical needs for the pool and pond. The committees estimate and plan maintenance work or projects for the upcoming year. This work involves committees getting estimates from various vendors and submitting RFPs (Requests For Proposals) so every effort is made to get the best price within our marketplace. 

 

Next, we review and estimate day-to-day items such as utilities, insurance, etc. Reserve items are reviewed for accuracy and future needs to ensure the monies are available when needed. Using all the information above to determine next year's expenses is the playbook for suggesting the HOA fees for the upcoming year’s budget. 

 

Here's where the Finance Committee starts their work. They review the proposed budget in detail. We frequently must return to the committees to discuss their budgets and potentially reduce some optional expenses. The Finance Committee is also the reserve's watch guard to ensure we have enough funds to keep Arbor Grove up to snuff, as it were, where we all want to live. When finished, the Finance Committee recommends a proposed budget to the Board of Directors.

 

Finally, the Board reviews the Finance Committee's recommendations and approves sending it in the annual package to all owners. The Board eventually approves the budget at the annual meeting.

 

How are we doing Financially?  

 

Our operating funds are good.  We have been able to build up some working capital from the closing fees received from the sale of units.  We do our best to estimate costs, but some things may change, like the amount of snowfall or increases in utility or insurance rates that are beyond our ability to estimate.  Operating Budget funds are not spent unless necessary or approved by the board.  Arbor Grove saves a tremendous amount of money through the volunteer work of all committee members and by not hiring a management company.

 

Every year, during the budget analysis, Rosemary and Dianne review the Reserve Projections with input from various committee members.  AG does not spend money based on what is in the reserves but rather on the necessity of the work.  Building costs increase regularly, and we try to increase our estimates as they do.  Our reserves are not fully funded.  Our goal is to contribute to the reserves every year.  At the present time, it appears the reserves will be able to cover projected expenses until 2034. 

 

           The Finance Committee includes:

 

Dianne Schaafsma & Rosemary Wieliczko
Chairpersons

Committee Members
Jack Dorn
Sandi Frenzke
Marlene Ganci
Roy Quanstrom
Sharon Schiller

We have flourished as a community for seven years because of Volunteerism! Every activity, event, function, meal, meeting, and project here at Arbor Grove has a volunteer coordinating it—in most cases, multiple volunteers. It is essential to have volunteers in our community to keep us afloat.

 

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. While studies show that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment. We always need volunteers to help the community with basic jobs and activities. 

 

If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please visit the Arborgrove.org website to view the various committees. See what interests you, and contact one of the chairs or a board member for more details. 

 

Make This Your Best Summer Yet at Arbor Grove!
 

Yes, summer is upon us.  With May Day, the official celebratory day of Spring, coming later this week, there is much to look forward to. Hope many Grovers were able to get to Container Gardening with Lois Ware earlier this month. 

 

On May 6th, our pool service folks will be on hand to get the pool ready for opening (we still want more volunteers if you can contact Gary Goselin or Barry Gadbois).  Once filled, with proper chemicals in place and water warmed, we will be up and running.

 

For those who don’t swim, why not come poolside to get fresh air and a little vitamin D in your system?  Bring a good book, good mood and just enjoy the day. 

 

If you are an angler at heart, bluegills, sunfish, catfish, and largemouth bass are waiting to be caught—and, of course, released.  

 

In order for everyone to share our wonderful grounds and amenities to their fullest, there are, of course, AG policies and rules in place so everyone can enjoy themselves. 

 

While this article will include a link to these community guidelines, there are some that many seem to be unaware of. Sometimes, folks have confusion about:

 

Have you rented the clubhouse?  Enjoy, but party guests are not allowed poolside.

 

If the Clubhouse is rented by someone else, feel free to enter the side or pool entrance if exercising or swimming.  The bathrooms and exercise room are always accessible to residents.  If you do go from pool to bathroom, please thoroughly dry off so no one slips and hurts themselves on a wet floor. 

 

Have family members visiting?  Enjoy, but do not give them access to the clubhouse, pool, or fishing pond unless you are onsite with them. Children under age 18 are not to be in clubhouses unattended by an adult. Remember – pool guests are limited to 4 guests per unit and residents are responsible for their behavior and noise level.  AG’s pool is a place for both fun and relaxation so consideration of others is a must.

 

When you are ready to leave the pool/clubhouse area, please take all your belongings with you and clean up after yourself. if you use a table, wipe it off.  It is only fair to the next person who comes along.

 

We have phenomenal amenities here at Arbor Grove to make summer fun, so, please visit the pool/clubhouse/pond area often and make this Your Best Summer Yet at Arbor Grove!

 

Full Use Amenities – Click Here

We all own a home in prestigious Arbor Grove, a home we worked hard to pay for, right? So why wouldn’t we want to protect our home and our financial investment by having enough homeowner’s insurance to repair or rebuild following a catastrophic claim or ward off a liability suit?

 

To help our residents remember some key aspects of a homeowner’s insurance policy, we have developed a checklist you can reference when renewing your home insurance coverage each year before your renewal.  This form will also help you compare apples to apples when you get renewal quotes from multiple agents (there are several good ones in our area).

 

Just remember, this checklist is not professional advice from a “licensed” insurance agent.  It is merely highlighting examples that may prove helpful as recommended by folks who have worked in the biz.

 

Feel free to give the checklist to your agent to ensure you have the proper amount of insurance coverage and are in compliance with the Arbor Grove HOA covenants and our HOA master insurance policy.

 

Arbor Grove is a great place to live; we care about and for each other; however, there have been a few incidents over the past two years in which things would have been much easier had we known whom to contact in an emergency. So, as the song goes, “There is a season for everything,” Now is the season for our community to gather much-needed Emergency Contact information for all residents willing to share.  

 

 

Everyone in Arbor Grove. Those who live alone are the obvious answer. However, it is also crucial for residents who leave for any period. Along with having a Knox Box, knowing who should be contacted if you are not available can save valuable time in an emergency. 

Where will my Emergency Contact Information (EC) be kept, and who can see it?

 

Your EC will be kept in your profile on the Arbor Grove website.  That way, you can update it anytime your life situation changes.  Other residents will not see your information. ONLY Board members will be able to view your EC information. 

 

 

Family, friends, neighbors, roommates, and coworkers are great choices for emergency contacts, but it's important to consider who might be the most useful when faced with real emergencies. Ideally, your emergency contact should know your essential health information and where to find your legal documents. This information includes your medical history, current medical conditions, medications, and previous surgeries or hospitalizations.

 

 

Just click on this link to access Your Profile. You will need to log on using your username and password. Your current profile has blank fields for Emergency Contact name and phone number. Remember the format for phone numbers is ten digits and must include the dashes (000-000-0000).   You will see a box in which you can provide additional information, including a second emergency contact if you’d like. Please remember to include their phone number.

 

You can also enter your information by logging on to the website, selecting “Your Profile” in the upper right-hand corner, and then selecting “Update Profile.”

 

 

 

You can change your EC information anytime by going to your Profile at the top right of the website and selecting Update Profile from the list of options.

 

Are you having any difficulties? Please don’t hesitate to contact Rosemary Wieliczko at rwieliczko@aol.com for help or to ask questions.

 

Please take time to complete this vital information.

Yep, the publishers of these monthly articles believe thoroughly that what you think does matter.

 

So, with this in mind, we ask everyone who cares to do so to please share your opinion on the reoccurring articles and, give suggestions for topics you believe will be of interest to you.

 

In essence, whether or not these articles continue is really up to you, the residents of Arbor Grove.

 

Monthly Matters Survey – Click Here to Begin

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.