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COMMUNITY NEWS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2014 7 6 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2014 | COMMUNITY NEWS Safety & Facilities Committee "It's a group thing," said Dennis Gray. "It's everybody cooperating that makes it work." Gray is chair of the Safety and Facilities Committee and he knows whereof he speaks. As its name implies, the committee has two areas of responsibility: the safety of Four Seasons residents and the care and maintenance of its common facilities. In those areas, to some degree or other, Safety and Facilities has worked with the Landscape Committee, the now disbanded Ad Hoc Water Committee, and Finance, Bistro, Event Systems, Emergency Preparedness Committees and, the Neighborhood Watch program. On the facilities side, the responsibility is continual care and maintenance of existing properties and planning for future projects like the new recreation centers. The existing Lodge with its Ballroom, Bistro, Billiards Room, Library, Pool, Workout Center and other amenities are all kept up under the eye of Safety and Facilities. The common area landscaping — directly under the Landscape Committee — is supported by such things as sprinkler systems that require constant maintenance. The Bistro is overseen by the Bistro Committee, but maintaining its stoves, refrigerators and coffee makers are a Safety and Facilities responsibility. Event Systems buys its own equipment, but it must be maintained. All of this costs money and the Finance Committee must be consulted about that. "Having sufficient reserves to pay for repairs and maintenance to facilities as they get older is critical," said Gray. The proof of the success of the cooperative approach "is in the sights you see as you drive through our community — our beautiful Four Seasons." The Emergency Preparedness Committee is an outgrowth of Safety and Facilities. "There was just too much to do," said Gray. "We needed a separate committee to concentrate on those problems." He said EPC Chair Anita Worthen, "has done a fantastic job working for the good of the community." The safety side plays to Gray's experience; he was a policeman for 36 years, in Perris (where he grew up), Banning, and Inyo County where he was a sheriff's investigator for 27 years. He also spent three years in the Army as a criminal investigator. The Safety and Facilities Committee originated the idea of having Beaumont Police patrol Four Seasons to suppress speeding and enforce other traffic laws. The Board adopted the proposal and eventually signed a contract with the city to provide that service. Gray was also instrumental in getting other Four Seasons residents into the Civilian Volunteer Patrol in Beaumont. In cooperation with the Beaumont Police, qualified civilians in uniform patrol in specially marked police cars. There are four volunteers from Four Seasons now. "If you want, they'll check your home for you while you're on vacation," said Gray. He is a different kind of volunteer with Beaumont Police. He registers offenders who are on probation or parole for a variety of serious crimes that require registration. "There are two of us volunteers who do that." The proof of the success of this type of cooperation is in the local crime statistics. "If you look at the Municipal Crime Reports — all type one felonies — they are extraordinarily low," he said, "particularly on our side of the tracks." When he retired from Inyo County, he and his wife, Diane, returned here. "This is kind of home. We came back to family. My wife's mother lives in Sun Lakes still." "I'm from this area. I grew up here." He spent three years on the Banning Police Department and took college criminal justices courses in Banning from the Highway Patrol. "I remember when (Four Seasons) was pasture. I used to ride my motorcycle through here." And he is pleased with how it looks and works these days. "It's the group thing, the tie-ins, getting community resources used here. I couldn't ask for better committee members. "When I moved here I had a choice. I know the place. I like it here." By Cindy Graves If you haven't been on the fourseasonsatbeaumont.com website lately I'd like you to take a look. The first things you'll notice are the four new banner window spots displaying some lovely photographs of the community. The largest picture window provides a slideshow of six rotating photos that were generously provided by resident photographer extraordinaire, George Johnson. Our website host allows us to change those banner window photos four times a year, so those will be changed seasonally. Next you'll see some large graphic link buttons for: "Upcoming Events," "Movie Showings," "Breaking News," "Forms" and "Clubs and Classes." There is nothing mysterious about what you might find under "Upcoming Events," I try to keep the big events for the next month or two updated with the latest information. Under the "Movie Showings" graphic link, you might want to know that Nelly uploads a new movie schedule for the week on either Friday or Saturday, so you can look forward to checking up on the new movies on those days. If you're in need of a particular Lodge form check the "Forms" graphic link button. We have everything from Parking Request forms to ARC forms, Warranty Request forms, Club Applications and the like. Just find your desired form, print it out, fill it out and drop it by the Lodge the next time you come in. The "Clubs and Classes" graphic link button is constantly being revised as new leadership gets voted into the various Clubs and Groups and as the Classes change. If your organization has a change that needs to be updated on the web, please give us a call and we'll get the correct information on there. I also want to encourage any club or group that might want to have more information or pictures available to residents, to feel free to start your own website (like the Racquet Club, Amateur Radio Club or the Four Seasons "Roll of Honor" Veterans Group). Just send me your organization's link and I'll embed it into your club information, so people can click on it and get to your website. At the far right-hand top of the home page is a little "Bistro" icon. Click on that and you'll find the Bistro Daily Menus, the Weekly Specials and the various Catering Menus among the other menus of interest and the phone number to place an order for a delivery… remember that Smitty's delivers your order to your home for free, if you're not up to coming down to the Lodge for dinner. The side-bar links will take you to helpful pages like the "Contacts" (any number that you might possibly need) as well as a place for you to send a suggestion, comment or question. The "Dwelling –Live" link takes you to the Gate Access web page for you to insert your pertinent guest info, etc. Be sure to check the "Board and Committees" link if you are looking for the monthly Board meeting agendas or the days and times of the committee meetings. "Community Information" has lots of random info that you might find helpful including "Holiday Hours" an "All Things Plant and Landscape Related" section and a printable map of the Four Seasons walking trails. The "Governing Documents" link is exactly that, plus that's where you can find the archives for all of the back Board Meeting Minutes throughout the years. "Homeowner Businesses" display the business cards of Four Seasons residents who have decided to advertise on our site. The cost to advertise is $5 per month, accepted in six month or one year increments (January and June) of $30 or $60 dollars. Be sure to investigate the kinds of products, and services your neighbors are providing here in the community. The latest side bar link added to the website is the "Euclid Management" link. Click on this link to discover what services the Management Company can provide you, including helping you sign up for auto-pay homeowner assessments and the big money saver for you and the Association is signing up for the e-mailed version of the Annual Report and Annual Policy Statement. Each time a homeowner signs up for this huge package to be received by e-mail, it saves the Association over $5 in postage per package. That would be a huge savings if most everyone signed up for that option. You are also able to make a one time on-line payment as well. I hope after reading this article you feel a little more acclimated to what's going on with our revised website. Don't forget that when you apply for a password to access the website, it will usually take a day or two until your residency is verified and your password is mailed to you. I hope to keep putting new features on the website, including community interest interviews, small videos taken at various events, community candid camera pictures and other surprises. Contact me if you have any ideas for me to take to the Communications committee on ways to make the web better… it will always be a project in process. foUr SEaSonS SPotLiGHt By Leighton McLaughlin A Tour Around Our New and Improved Website Visit fourseasonsbeaumont.com

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