Repercussions of lawsuit in Leisure World
Dan Schaeffer, our Leisure World Administrator, is suing us poor old folk. He says he doesn’t like the hostile work environment. He blames the hostility on the GRF directors, but I suspect he is stressed out because he is not really academically prepared for this job. Thus it would seem if he is so stressed, why doesn’t he just quit and find another job to fit his talents? Undoubtedly he is reluctant to give up his 260 thousand dollar annual salary.
The residents of Leisure World are currently struggling to pay his overly generous salary and benefits.
Now they must find the money to pay for this lawsuit, which is making them very hostile. Some are crying “senior abuse” and suggesting we have the attorney general look into this.
I shudder to think of the repercussions of this lawsuit. Will our senators and representatives now sue the United States because they work in a hostile environment?
Keith Fancher
Seal Beach Leisure World
Accurate report in Sun
The Sun Newspaper reports in its Oct. 18, 2012 issue that “Dan Schaeffer accuses Golden Rain Foundation of slander and retaliation.”
The front-page article by Charles M. Kelly reports that the “lawsuit comes a year and two days after the executive director was suspended—and claims the suspension was retaliation for complaints about the work environment in Leisure World” and that Schaeffer has accused his employers [GRF] of “slander, creating a hostile work environment and deliberately inflicting emotional distress.”
The article accurately describes the allegations put forth in plaintiff Schaeffer’s complaint filed with the Superior Court of Orange County on Sept. 28, with the exception that it does not make clear that the alleged “suspension” was actually “administrative leave” with pay that was less than two-weeks duration, and that Schaeffer resumed his duties upon the completion of an investigation by the GRF Board of Directors.
Despite the filing of his lawsuit against GRF, he currently remains on the job as executive Director of Leisure World.
The only other flaw in otherwise excellent reporting is misspelling the name of the GRF Director representing Mutual One, Larry Blake. Blake had served as vice president of the GRF board in 2010 while D. Bruce Smith was President of the board. The third director named as an individual in the lawsuit is Michael Supple, the current vice president of the GRF Board of Directors and chair of its executive committee.
Dave Lyon
Seal Beach Leisure World
Golden Eggs
Attention residents of Seal Beach and surrounding areas. We sane shareholders (residents) in Leisure World want to know where the following was published or the location of the bill board that reads:
To all Law Firms and Attorneys: There is easy money to be had at Seal Beach Leisure World.
Be advised that Leisure World is the “Goose that lays golden eggs.” It is a senior community. Its residents are old, tired, sickly, many not too bright.
They are easily swayed by folks with titles such as attorney and legal-speakese.
Here is your opportunity to produce easy, billable hours.
Much of the above is true, as a majority of past Golden Rain Board representatives voted in and hired a man who had no prior experience in working in a common interest community.
Two years under the old director and then his hiring was based on the recommendation of the prior director. The old director then left in a cloud of golden dust particles.
The big problem is that the golden dust particles belonged to the shareholders.
Then there was the lawsuit, which the old timers on the Golden Rain Foundation Board took to court numerous times, later with the support of the present director and this cost the shareholders. More shiney eggs out the gate.
Now with the latest Golden Rain Foundation election, the composition of the board contains more representatives with business expertise and they are trying to serve the shareholders in the community by verifying that our money is being spent wisely by the employees.
They want to use our Golden Eggs for the community and for us.
Why the legal suit? Well the question of many shareholders is why should the GRF renew the contract of a man who lacks adequate experience and did not even oversee that our taxes were sent in on time resulting in payment of many golden eggs-a large fine.
All mistakes made by employees are being paid for by shareholders and the current legal suit is another opportunity for a person to try and collect more Golden Eggs from we seniors.
The majority of us proudly stand behind those listed in the lawsuit.
This is nothing but a sham to get our Golden Eggs before getting the boot.
Margarita Bahr
Seal Beach Leisure World
Some Gave All
A Hero Mission will take place today at The Joint Forces Training Base honoring the life of Army Ranger Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson, who was killed on Oct. 12 during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The MacPherson family has invited the public to attend his planeside honors at Los Alamitos Army Airfield Oct. 25 at a time to to be determined.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26th at at Cottonwood Church at 4505 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos.
MacPherson, who was 26 years old and a graduate of Los Alamitos High School, was killed by small arms fire in the Ghazni Province in Afghanistan as he led an assault against an enemy position, U.S. Army officials said.
MacPherson was a team leader assigned to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
This was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan and he had also previously served one deployment in Iraq.
MacPherson is survived by his wife, Claudia MacPherson, and their son, Brayden, of Tacoma, Wash., and his parents, Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach.
Supporters are asked to arrive early to stage prior to the plane arrival
Honoring Our Fallen, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support to the Families of all Fallen Heroes within 24 hours of notification by local, state or federal officials. We work with appropriate government agencies and community members to provide comprehensive assistance during their greatest time of need. This assistance includes linking Families with the resources they need to cope with life after loss.
Laura Herzog
Honoring Our Fallen
Seeking information on former Seal Beach resident
My name is Genevieve Bowers (Wenborn). I am an architectural historian living in New Zealand trying to research a forgotten but really quite significant Seal Beach modernist architect who was originally from Vienna.
Being at the bottom of the world I need some help from someone in Seal Beach who might remember Architect Leopold Fischer who lived and worked and designed in Seal Beach from 1960-1975.
Leopold Fischer was a modern architect.
He designed wooden residences, apartments, houses. before he moved to Seal Beach he worked with the famous American modernist Frank Lloyd Wright.
Is there someone in your community at Seal Beach that would be able to help me find out more about this local design hero of yours?
Someone interested in modernist architecture?
I can be reached at Genevieve can be contacted at genevieve95@yahoo.com.au by persons who remember architect Leopold Fischer from the 60s and 70s might please be in contact with me to help me put Seal Beach on the map in my book.
Thanks for any help Seal Beach residents might be able to give me.
Genevieve Bowers (Wenborn).
Auckland, New Zealand
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun.
The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be about 300 words maximum.
Letters should be e-mailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication).
The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
