Two board members of the Golden Rain Foundation of Laguna Woods Village were recalled at a special corporate members meeting Sept. 5 at the Performing Arts Center.

GRF President Jim Hopkins and Director Yvonne Horton were voted off the board 18-6 in a secret ballot by the directors of the Village’s three housing mutuals – Third Mutual, United Mutual and Mutual 50/The Towers – who are known as the corporate members.

“The vote speaks for itself,” Third Mutual board member Jim Cook said after the meeting.

More than 300 residents attended the meeting; 21 people had a chance to address the corporate members during the 30-minute comment window and spoke out against the recall.

The recall was initiated by the Third Mutual board. It was “without cause,” which is allowed under GRF bylaws, and no reasons for the recall were given.

But at the meeting, Third board President Mark Laws said in a statement, “This recall is not about the decisions that the GRF board has made, but rather it is about the actions of Directors Hopkins and Horton, many of which are not seen nor experienced by mutual members.”

Among the reasons for the recall, Laws said, is Hopkins’ conduct of pushing his own opinions at board and committee meetings, disregarding other opinions and potential solutions, and seeking legal loopholes to circumvent requests from mutual board members if those requests deviated from his own agenda.

Laws mentioned the Building E Space Planning issue as one area in which, he said, Hopkins had been seeking loopholes.

Laws also said that as GRF treasurer, Hopkins refused to change GRF’s investment policy despite requests from United and Third board directors that he do so. Laws said that resulted in a loss of more than $1.5 million of residents’ money.

In addition, Laws said, “Director Hopkins inappropriately used his forum as GRF chair to denigrate the Third board’s action and its leaders, make up reasons for the recall, and use scare tactics to sway directors and members to his opinions.”

As for Horton, Laws said that during committee meetings, the director is “continually mean, rude and openly hostile to other directors, breaching the code of conduct signed by all directors as well as generally accepted standards of decorum.”

He said that the Third board had received many comments from residents agreeing that Horton should be recalled because of her “abrasive treatment” of residents.

Laws added: “What the Third board is objecting to is the ongoing behind-the-scenes actions and shenanigans of Directors Hopkins and Horton that are not appropriate for any board director regardless of which board they are on or the decisions their boards make for the community.”

Hopkins, in his remarks at the meeting, called Laws’ allegations a “pileup of charges.”

He said that as he listened to the remarks, “I was wondering who they were talking about and how they misread this.”

“It’s kind of interesting to hear all of the causes that were without cause,” he said. “One of the comments that I heard is that we’re uncommunicative. I don’t know how many of you know me here, but many times, you can’t shut me up. So I find that difficult to understand myself.”

Hopkins said he believes one of the reasons for the recall was indeed the Building E Space Planning issue – the fact that he opened up the discussions to residents, given the importance of the issue.

“Bottom line, it opened up to the community what before was going on behind closed doors,” he said, adding that “input from residents is how we function.”

Hopkins also defended his investment strategy of waiting to get out of bond funds.

“GRF generated another $600,000 in the investments as a result of waiting and getting out at select times. United lost an opportunity for another $350,000,” he said. “And for someone to come in and say that I should be recalled for mishandling investments, GRF is in good shape financially.”

Hopkins again proffered his belief that the recall was “about the weaponization of the recall statute to change the governance and management structure and balance set up by the GRF Trust … and endured in Laguna Woods for 60 years.”

He concluded by saying that “Yvonne and I sincerely apologize to anyone who has been offended by our straightforward nature.”

Horton kept her remarks in response to Laws’ statement brief, saying that “several things were untrue.”

“I believe it’s irresponsible for board members to lie and point fingers at other boards. It causes dissension in the Village,” she said. “I suggest that they step away from their computer screens and do some investigation for themselves. That’s what I do. … As chair of CAC (Community Activities Committee), I get up off of my rusty dusty and I go out and find out what these people need.

“You might not like some of my decisions, but nobody can say I’m not fair, and I look at every problem that is presented to me.”

Residents who spoke during the comment period had harsh words about the recall, calling it “shenanigans,” “buffoonery,” “cowardly,” “un-American” and a “kangaroo court.”

JR Davis called the recall process a “travesty of justice,” adding, “These people did nothing wrong. They are fine servants of the community.”

Gerry Geffin agreed, saying she was “impressed with (Horton’s) knowledge and broad-scale interest” and called her a “devoted worker for the good of the community.”

The financial costs of a recall was of concern to some residents, who called it “not fiscally responsible” and “wasted money.”

As for the Building E issue, residents stood on Hopkins’ side.

Jack Salvador lauded Hopkins’ move to open up the discussions to residents.

“There should be much more transparency in all of these processes,” Salvador said, calling the Building E process “a breath of fresh air.”

Carmen Pacella said he has heard nothing but glowing reviews of Hopkins and Horton. He also noted that GRF dues had gone up only $5 in 10 years.

“I want those people on my team,” he said, “not the ones that keep raising the dues every single year.”

After the meeting, Horton said in an email that she was grateful for the support she received from residents who signed petitions and attended the meeting.

“The only good thing that happened out of the recall was the residents becoming aware of what their mutual boards are doing,” she said. “And a lot of people aren’t happy.”

“Shogun” and “Hacks” were the big winners at the 76th annual Emmy Awards on Sunday, with “Shogun” winning best drama series as well as best actor and actress in a drama, and “Hacks” taking the Emmy for best comedy series and best lead actress in a comedy for star Jean Smart.

“Baby Reindeer” dominated the limited or anthology series categories, winning best limited series, best lead actor in a limited series for its creator Richard Gadd, and best supporting actress for his costar Jessica Gunning.

“Shogun,” a period drama with the majority of its dialogue in Japanese with English subtitles, had already won 14 Emmys after the Creative Arts Emmys were held a week ago. That set a new record for the most Emmys by any show in a single year.

With four more Emmys on Sunday, including best actor in a drama for Hiroyuki Sanada and best actress in a drama for Anna Sawai, who is the first actress of Asian descent to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series. “Shogun” ended up with 18 Emmys, shattering the previous record of 13 Emmys set by the limited series “John Adams” in 2008.

“You guys greenlit a very expensive period drama in Japanese whose central climax revolves around a poetry competition,” “Shogun” co-creator Justin Marks said of FX the show’s network. “I have no idea why you did that but thank you.”

Jean Smart picked up the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series for a second consecutive year for her work in “Hacks.”

“It’s very humbling, it really is,” Smart said as she accepted the award. “And I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention.”

The audience inside the Peacock Theatre roared with laughter – Smart is a very beloved actress.

“I’m serious!” she insisted with mock dismay.

Country star Jelly Roll sang his hit “I Am Not Okay” on the Emmy stage Sunday as the slideshow of TV figures who died since the last Emmys screened behind him.

Among the most recognizable faces in the roll call were actors such as Martin Mull, Piper Laurie, Gena Rowlands, and Shannen Doherty. Television personalities such as Dr. Ruth Wertheimer and fitness advocate Richard Simmons, and game show host Peter Marshall.

The loudest cheers from the audience came with the name of James Earl Jones, who died just days ago, and Bob Newhart, who got his own tribute from talk show host Jimmy Kimmel after Jelly Roll finished singing.

“And the Emmy for the industry professional we will most goes to … ,” Kimmel said as a photograph of Newhart remained on screen.

Kimmel talked about the personality and career of Newhart, noting that “Bob had what few comedians have today. A degree in accounting.

“Bob Newhart was one of our most loved and funniest people for more than 60 years and we will miss him for many years to come,” he concluded.

“Baby Reindeer” creator and star Richard Gadd barely had time to accept the Emmy for best actor in a limited series before he was called back to the stage to accept another Emmy for the show itself as best limited or anthology series or TV movie.

“This is unbelievable,” when Gadd, who earlier won the Emmy for best writing for a limited series, returned for the final award. “I know the industry is in a slump right now and it might put pressure to tighten the purse strings. I do think no slump is broken without being willing to take risks.

“You don’t need big stars long-running series to have a hit,” he continued. “The only constant across any success in television is good story, and telling a story that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable in order to achieve.”

In addition to Gadd’s two individual awards and that for the overall show, “Baby Reindeer” also won the Emmy for best supporting actress for Jessica Gunning. A week earlier, it won two Emmys at the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony.

The other big award in the limited series category went to Jodie Foster who won her first-ever Emmy as the star of “True Detective: Night Country.”

Foster made special note of the collaboration the series shared with the Indigenous peoples of Alaska where the story was set.

“The Indigenous people, the Inuit people of northern Alaska who just told us their stories and allowed us to listen,” Foster said. “That was a blessing. It was love, love, love, and when you feel that something amazing happens. It’s deep and wonderful and older than time.”